The foldable smartphone market is heating up, and Honor’s latest offering, the Honor Magic V5, is a bold contender aiming to steal the spotlight. With a razor-thin design, a vibrant foldable display, and a promise of seamless performance, it’s positioned as a premium device for tech enthusiasts. But does it live up to the hype, or does the prominent camera bump overshadow its strengths? In this 1400-word review, we dive deep into the Honor Magic V5’s design, performance, display, camera, software, and battery life to see if it’s worth your investment.
Design and Build: A Slim Marvel with a Catch
The Honor Magic V5 is a triumph of engineering in the foldable space. At just 9.9mm when folded and 4.6mm unfolded, it’s one of the slimmest foldables on the market. Weighing 229 grams, it feels surprisingly light for a device with a 7.92-inch inner display. The vegan leather back (available in Amber Orange and Midnight Black) adds a touch of sophistication, while the titanium hinge ensures durability with a claimed 500,000-fold lifespan.
However, the camera bump is impossible to ignore. Protruding noticeably from the back, it creates an uneven surface that wobbles when the phone is placed on a flat surface. While the circular camera module is visually striking with its starburst-like lens arrangement, it disrupts the otherwise sleek aesthetic. The IPX8 water resistance is a welcome addition, but the lack of dust protection might concern some users. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, though its placement feels slightly awkward when unfolded.
Display: A Visual Feast
The Magic V5 boasts a 7.92-inch OLED inner display with a 2344×2156 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Colors are vibrant, blacks are deep, and the LTPO technology ensures smooth scrolling while optimizing battery life. The 10:9 aspect ratio is ideal for multitasking, allowing two apps to run side-by-side without feeling cramped. The crease is minimal—barely noticeable during daily use—but it’s still there if you look closely.
The 6.43-inch cover display (2376×1060) is equally impressive, offering a 120Hz refresh rate and 2500 nits of peak brightness. It’s perfect for quick tasks like replying to messages or checking notifications without unfolding the device. Both displays support HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, making the Magic V5 a fantastic choice for media consumption. However, the glossy finish attracts fingerprints, and the lack of an anti-reflective coating can make outdoor viewing challenging in direct sunlight.
Performance: Powerhouse in Your Pocket
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Honor Magic V5 delivers blazing-fast performance. Paired with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, it handles everything from gaming to video editing with ease. Benchmark tests place it on par with flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, with AnTuTu scores hovering around 1.9 million.
Multitasking is a breeze, thanks to Honor’s optimized software and the large inner display. You can run three apps simultaneously in split-screen mode or use floating windows for quick access. Gaming performance is stellar, with titles like Genshin Impact running smoothly at high settings. However, the device can warm up during extended gaming sessions, though it never reaches uncomfortable levels.
Camera: Good, But Not Great
The Honor Magic V5’s camera system is a mixed bag. The triple-lens setup includes a 50MP main sensor (f/1.6), a 40MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), and a 50MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom (f/3.0). In well-lit conditions, the main camera captures detailed shots with accurate colors and impressive dynamic range. The ultra-wide lens performs admirably, though there’s a slight drop in sharpness at the edges. The telephoto lens shines for portrait shots and distant subjects, delivering crisp images even at 10x hybrid zoom.
Low-light performance is decent but not class-leading. Images tend to lose detail in darker environments, and noise creeps in despite the Night Mode. The 16MP front cameras (one on the cover display, one on the inner display) are adequate for selfies but struggle with overexposure in bright settings. Video recording maxes out at 8K at 30fps, with smooth stabilization and decent audio capture.
The camera bump, while functional, draws attention for the wrong reasons. Its size makes the phone feel unbalanced when held for photography, and it’s prone to collecting dust and scratches. Compared to competitors like the Google Pixel Fold 2, the Magic V5’s camera system feels a step behind in consistency and low-light prowess.
Software: MagicOS 9.0 Shines Bright
Running on MagicOS 9.0 (based on Android 15), the Honor Magic V5 offers a polished software experience tailored for foldables. The interface is clean, intuitive, and packed with features like customizable split-screen layouts, a one-handed mode for the cover display, and AI-powered tools for productivity. The AI-assisted text editor and real-time translation features are particularly useful for professionals.
Honor has promised four years of major OS updates and five years of security patches, which is competitive but falls short of Samsung’s seven-year commitment. Bloatware is minimal, and the pre-installed apps are easy to uninstall. However, some users may find the occasional notification from Honor’s ecosystem apps intrusive.
Battery Life and Charging: All-Day Power
The Magic V5 houses a 5000mAh battery, which is impressive for a foldable. It easily lasts a full day of moderate use, including streaming, browsing, and gaming. Heavy users might need a top-up by evening, but the 66W wired charging gets you from 0 to 100% in about 45 minutes. The 50W wireless charging is a nice touch, though the proprietary charger requirement is a minor inconvenience. Unfortunately, there’s no reverse wireless charging, which feels like a missed opportunity.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
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Slim and lightweight design
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Stunning dual OLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates
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Top-tier performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
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Versatile multitasking capabilities
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Fast charging and solid battery life
Cons:
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Prominent camera bump affects aesthetics and usability
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Camera performance lags in low light
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No dust resistance rating
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Software support could be longer
Verdict
The Honor Magic V5 is a compelling foldable that nails the essentials: a sleek design, vibrant displays, and powerhouse performance. It’s a joy to use for multitasking, media consumption, and gaming, and its slim profile makes it feel like a futuristic marvel. However, the camera bump is a constant reminder of its flaws, both in design and photography performance. At a starting price of $1,299, it’s a premium device that competes well with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and OnePlus Open but falls short in camera consistency and long-term software support.
If you prioritize design and performance over photography, the Magic V5 is a fantastic choice. For shutterbugs, you might want to look elsewhere or wait for Honor to refine its camera game in future iterations. The Magic V5 is a bold step forward for Honor, but it’s not perfect—yet.
The Honor Magic V5 pushes the boundaries of foldable design with its slim profile and impressive displays, but the camera bump and middling low-light performance hold it back from greatness. It’s a device for those who want cutting-edge tech with a few quirks they’re willing to overlook.
