HONOR's foldable revolution: Can the Magic V5 dethrone the king?

At a massive event recently held in London, Honor has just unveiled what is undoubtedly its new crown jewel, its new Honor Magic V5 foldable phone. At ABC, we've been using it for several weeks. We've opened it, closed it, folded it, and folded it again. We've used it as a normal phone, as a tablet for work, for gaming, for watching movies, and also as a powerful and unconventional photography tool. We've tested its smart features, its power, its performance... And the conclusion is clear: the new Magic V5 isn't just a new foldable phone; it's the culmination of meticulous engineering work that, this time, puts Honor head-to-head with Samsung and its recent and hitherto hegemonic Galaxy Z Fold. Honor has done it again, and this time, the impact has been more resounding than ever.

There's no doubt that the foldable market has become a race for innovation. A race in which competition is dizzying, and one in which Honor has been able to be present almost from the beginning, from the pioneering V Purse, which in 2023 already showed promise and paved the way with its unique design, to the established Magic V3. And now, with the new Magic V5, we find ourselves with a well-rounded device that offers a user experience that, in many ways, surpasses that of its direct competitors.

The first thing that strikes you when you hold the Magic V5 in your hand is its thinness. At just 8.8 mm thick when folded, this phone not only feels thinner than any other foldable phone, but even rivals many traditional phones. Its weight, however, is perhaps a bit heavier than desirable. At 217 g, it feels like holding a premium device, yes, but a bit too heavy.

It goes without saying that the device is the result of a meticulous engineering process that has focused on every detail. The hinge, for example, one of the most delicate points in a foldable phone, is made of super-resistant steel and has been certified by Guinness World Records for its extraordinary lifting capacity of 104 kg, demonstrating bomb-proof durability. This gives us enormous peace of mind: we can open and close the phone up to 500,000 times without the hinge failing. More than any competing foldable phone offers.

The design of this phone, however, hasn't compromised its durability. The Magic V5 boasts IP58 and IP59 certification, effectively protecting it against dust and water. Furthermore, the inner screen is reinforced with carbon fiber, and the outer panel features Honor's NanoCrystal Shield anti-scratch coating, providing a triple layer of protection against bumps and scratches. In short, despite its apparent delicacy, this is an extraordinarily robust and secure phone.

Ergonomics are another plus. The Magic V5's displays are indeed designed to be comfortable to use. The 6.43-inch outer screen makes it easy to operate the phone with one hand, while when unfolded, the 7.95-inch inner screen becomes a perfect 'digital canvas' for work and leisure. Both displays, with their 120Hz LTPO 8T technology, are extraordinarily fluid. And here comes one of the big surprises: a maximum brightness of 5,000 nits, almost double the 2,600 nits of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. This translates to perfect visibility even in direct sunlight, a critical point for any high-end smartphone user. Furthermore, the integration of Honor's eye comfort technology, with high-frequency PWM dimming, makes prolonged use much less tiring on the eyes.

Beneath its minimalist design, the heart of the Magic V5 beats with formidable power. And with good reason, as it's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8 Elite mobile platform, the phone not only guarantees spectacular performance but also takes artificial intelligence to a new level. In short, a beast that moves with astonishing speed, whether for the most demanding work or the most immersive gaming. It doesn't matter how many apps we have open at the same time. In our tests, we had up to 40 apps running simultaneously, something no average user usually does, and yet the phone didn't slow down.

And now, an important detail. Although we're not big fans of each brand adding its own software layers on top of pure Android, we have to admit that, in this case, the combination of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with the optimized MagicOS 9.0 has been a real surprise, proving to be a well-oiled tandem that works smoothly. In this regard, multitasking is undoubtedly the star of the show. With the Multi-Flex feature, for example, we can interact with up to three apps simultaneously, dragging and dropping content from one to another with complete ease. It's an experience that transforms the use of the phone, transforming it from a simple phone into a portable productivity center. Additionally, compatibility with the HONOR Magic-Pen opens up a world of possibilities for note-taking and drawing, both on the outer and inner screens.

But the AI ​​integration doesn't stop there. In this area, Honor has collaborated closely with Google to include Gemini as standard. A double-tap on the back of the phone activates the assistant, allowing for fluid and natural interaction. From texting to trip planning, Gemini becomes a luxurious companion. The Gemini Live feature is particularly notable, allowing you to share your screen or camera in real time to get help with complex tasks.

And for those who travel or communicate globally, AI Call Translation is a real lifesaver. This feature translates in real time in up to six languages, and more importantly, it does so locally, on the device itself, prioritizing user privacy. It's one of those innovations that, while not obvious, makes a difference in everyday life.

Foldable phones have historically sacrificed photo quality in favor of design and other more "practical" features. But the Magic V5 has broken that trend forever. The HONOR AI Falcon camera system is undoubtedly one of the most advanced on the market, with specifications that speak for themselves. On the one hand, we find the 50 MP Falcon main camera, equipped with an ultra-light-sensitive sensor that captures high-quality images even in the most challenging lighting conditions.

On the other hand, we have an ultra-wide angle, also 50 MP, perfect for landscapes and group photos, with an astonishing level of detail. Rounding out the trio is a 64 MP periscope telephoto lens: the true ace up the Magic V5's sleeve. It offers best-in-class 3X optical zoom and lets you capture distant subjects with unprecedented clarity, thanks also to the AI-assisted 100x digital zoom.

The images we obtained during our testing are sharp, with vibrant colors and excellent dynamic range. The HONOR IMAGE ENGINE's AI works intelligently to optimize each shot. Features like AI Super Zoom and AI Enhanced Portrait produce effortlessly professional results, even at maximum magnification. AI Motion Detection capture is also ideal for photographing subjects that can't stay still, such as children or pets. AI editing tools like Crop and Eraser make it easy to intuitively retouch images, while the new AI Image to Video feature, developed with Google, transforms still photos into dynamic clips in seconds. This is ideal, for example, for turning old family photos into short videos that will wow everyone.

And the moment of truth arrives. With the arrival of the Magic V5, the duel with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is inevitable. Which is the better of the two? In our opinion, Honor has not only risen to the occasion, but in several critical areas it has far surpassed its rival. For example, in terms of durability and resistance, which clearly fall on the side of the new Magic V5, with its IP58 and IP59 certification against dust and water, while its Korean rival remains at IP 48. In practice, this means that while the Honor can be submerged and remain underwater for up to 30 minutes, the Samsung is 'only' splash-resistant. The super-strong steel hinge and the carbon fiber-reinforced inner panel also give it an advantage in durability. In terms of thickness (8.8 mm versus 8.9 mm for the Samsung), the difference is minimal, but enough to allow the Honor to boast of being the world's thinnest foldable.

Honor also beats Samsung in the battery and charging sections: The Magic V5, in fact, integrates the largest battery in the industry in a foldable, with 5,820 mAh, a notable difference compared to the 4,400 mAh of the Z Fold 7. This, combined with 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging (compared to Samsung's 45W and 15W), ensures superior autonomy and recharging speed.

As for the display, we've already said it: The Magic V5's 5,000 nits maximum brightness far outshines its competitor's 2,600 nits. In practice, this translates into an unparalleled viewing experience from the Magic V5 in any lighting conditions. Still, the photography department remains, and while Samsung is more than competent in this area, it's worth noting that the Magic V5's 64MP periscope telephoto lens, coupled with its best-in-class 3X optical zoom, offers versatility and image quality that, to date, the Z Fold 7 can't match.

Despite what has been said, it's not all plain sailing, and criticisms of the Magic V5, while small, are not inexistent. The first is its weight. Although Honor has done an excellent job for a foldable phone, its 217 grams may still be considered heavy by some users accustomed to lighter phones. In this regard, in fact, the Z Fold 7 wins, weighing 'only' 215 g. Another criticism we can't resist is, as mentioned, the Magic OS customization layer deployed on top of Android, which can be intrusive, although it must be admitted that the improvements in fluidity and AI make the matter more bearable.

Perhaps the main barrier, as with any high-end device, is the price. €1,999 is a considerable investment (the Galaxy Z Fold costs €2,109). However, considering the specifications and user experience it offers, there's no doubt that more than one person (though not the majority) will be willing to pay it.

Ultimately, the HONOR Magic V5 is the culmination of serious and dedicated work, which has listened to the market and corrected some of the competition's most significant weaknesses. With an elegant design, brutal performance, enviable battery life, and top-notch cameras, it's not just a rival to Samsung; it's a genuine contender to be the best foldable smartphone of the year. And it will most likely succeed.