Honor Magic V5: The Thinnest Foldable Phone, But There’s More
▼ Summary
– The Honor Magic V5 is the world’s thinnest book-style foldable, but its 0.1mm advantage over rivals is imperceptible and practically irrelevant.
– It features a significantly larger battery than competitors, with up to 5,820mAh capacity, providing excellent battery life due to silicon-carbon technology.
– The phone was released in Europe at £1,699.99/€1,999 and is not available in the US, giving it an advantage over the Asia-only Oppo Find N5.
– Despite its thin design, the camera bump adds noticeable thickness, and the phone has an IP58/59 rating for dust and water resistance.
– It offers strong performance with a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, capable cameras, and good software features, making it a compelling alternative to Samsung and Google foldables.
The Honor Magic V5 has officially claimed the title of the world’s thinnest foldable smartphone, though its slim profile is so minimal it’s nearly imperceptible in daily use. What truly sets this device apart isn’t just its sleek design, but its impressive battery performance and thoughtful engineering, making it a strong contender in the competitive foldable market.
At just 4.1mm when unfolded and 8.8mm when closed, the Magic V5 is a mere 0.1mm thinner than rivals like the Oppo Find N5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. In practical terms, that difference is virtually unnoticeable. However, Honor’s real achievement lies in packing a substantial 5,820mAh battery into such a slender frame, a capacity that significantly outpaces many competitors. This is made possible through the use of advanced silicon-carbon battery technology, which offers higher energy density in a smaller footprint.
Despite its slim build, the phone doesn’t compromise on durability. It features a carbon-fiber-reinforced display and a super steel hinge, designed to withstand the rigors of folding. The device also carries an IP58/IP59 rating, providing solid resistance to water and dust, though it falls slightly short of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s IP68 certification in dust protection.
Performance is top-tier, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, up to 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. Both the inner and outer displays are vibrant LTPO OLED panels with 120Hz refresh rates, ensuring smooth and vivid visuals whether open or closed. The camera system is another highlight, with a 50-megapixel main sensor that performs well in various lighting conditions, along with an ultrawide and a 3x telephoto lens. While digital zoom extends to 100x, results are best kept within 6x for optimal clarity.
Software-wise, MagicOS 9 (based on Android 15) offers a clean and intuitive experience with robust multitasking capabilities, including split-screen and floating windows. Honor also includes several AI-powered features, such as on-device live translation powered by OpenAI’s Whisper model.
Available in Europe at €1,999, the Magic V5 presents a compelling alternative to Samsung and Google’s offerings, particularly for users who prioritize battery life and sleek design. While it may not revolutionize thinness, it delivers where it counts, offering a balanced, high-performance foldable that stands out in a crowded field.
(Source: The Verge)
