Foldable smartphones have become an integral part of the smartphone market. They are no longer experimental devices, not fragile technology demos intended only for early adopters. In 2027, the key question is simple: can a foldable smartphone completely replace your primary phone without compromising the user experience? The HONOR Magic V5 convincingly proves that it can.
This device is an improvement on what HONOR has been developing for years. It's thinner, has a larger battery, is more durable, and runs on a powerful processor.
Foldable devices are no longer experimental developments or fragile technology demos.
Our test unit is equipped with 16 GB of RAM и 512 GB of internal memory , as well as a silicon-carbon battery with a capacity of 5820 mAh. Prices for imported equivalents currently range from $1,600 to $1,700, putting it on par with the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Vivo X Fold5. At this price point, expectations aren't modest, they're uncompromising. The Magic V5 lives up to them.
Design: A foldable body that no longer feels like a foldable
Next to the iPhone Pro Max
The most surprising thing about the Magic V5 is more psychological than technical. When closed, it feels like a regular phone, and I can confirm this by observing how often I use it folded: I hold it with one hand without hesitation. The only thing I miss is an in-screen fingerprint scanner, as the one on the side is not very convenient for one-handed use.
External display versus iPhone Pro Max
The weight of the device is 217 grams, and the thickness when folded — less than 9 mm , so it doesn't feel like just a folding gadget. It feels like a premium flagship product, and that's largely due to the high-quality materials. Several of our friends picked it up without realizing it was foldable. When they discovered it unfolded, they were genuinely surprised.
Magic V5 open (right)
This reaction is telling: the first folding phones always gave the impression of being stacked on top of each other (which is precisely what they were). This model, however, is fading into the background. Now, that feeling has migrated to the world of three-piece devices.
For those concerned about the phone's size, it's worth noting that its dimensions are slightly smaller than those of ultra-large, flat-panel phones. It's likely more comfortable to use than devices like the Galaxy S Ultra. The leather-textured back panel improves grip and prevents fingerprints.
Open it and the effect is reversed. 7.95-inch display When unfolded, it reveals an incredibly thin profile, approximately 4.3–4.6 mm thick: most people are still shocked when they first see it. It looks almost impossibly thin. Because the weight is distributed over a larger surface area, it it feels lighter, than you expect.
The hinge is strong and reliable. It doesn't open wobbly, yet it moves smoothly and can lock partial viewing angles for viewing media content.
Living with a Foldable Device: Does the Novelty Wear Off?
The real test of a foldable device is whether you'll actually use the internal display a few weeks after the initial wow factor sets in. In our experience, the answer is... Yes , especially if you often use it while sitting, such as if you travel a lot by train or plane. Plus, the large screen makes it an excellent car GPS navigator if your car doesn't have a built-in large screen.
I spent about two-thirds to three-quarters of my time using the device open. This means that unfolding it becomes instinctive when needed (while waiting, while sitting, when using it with a Bluetooth keyboard, etc.).
Over time, this dual-mode behavior becomes completely natural.
Reading long articles has become more natural. Emails are easier to scan. Slack conversations are less crowded. Social media feeds display more context at a glance, and Instagram photo quality has improved threefold.
Watching videos on a larger screen is more convenient, and you don't even need to use landscape mode. You get the same experience as on a "standard phone" in full-screen landscape mode, but you're using the expanded portrait mode, with all the graphical interface elements and video controls visible.
Do you need to use two hands? Yes. Unfolding and using the large screen inherently requires two hands. This device encourages focused use. When you need to quickly interact with interface elements, the external display behaves like a regular smartphone. When you need to get a deeper view, you open it. Over time, this dual-mode behavior becomes completely natural.
Displays: large, bright and responsive.
The internal 7.95-inch AMOLED display operates at 120Hz and is exceptionally responsive. During our testing in direct sunlight, we measured a brightness of approximately 810 nits. The external 6.43-inch AMOLED display reached a brightness of approximately 1010 nits.
These are compelling figures. More importantly, brightness control is stable and predictable outdoors. Can it be better? Of course! It never hurts to be "too bright," as it can be very bright outdoors in some situations. But we tested it in direct sunlight, and everything was great.
The user interface remains consistently smooth. We used the "adaptive refresh rate," which peaks at 120Hz but slows down for static images to conserve battery life. The Magic V5 delivers smooth animations and responsive touch controls. Lag is minimal, and transitions are seamless.
I really like what HONOR has provided dedicated Quick Layout button For split-screen multitasking. This small design decision significantly simplifies the experience. You don't have to memorize gestures or retrain muscle memory when switching from another ecosystem. The foldable phone experience can be significantly enhanced by the ability to quickly and easily split the screen into two apps. The Magic V5 handles this perfectly.
The reality of display folds
Fear of foldable bags remains one of the biggest concerns for new buyers. Here's the honest answer: Yes, folds exist. No, it doesn't matter in everyday use .
When the screen is off and light hits it at an angle, this is visible. When reading on a white background, you may notice a slight reflection if you tilt the device. When swiping your finger across the center of the screen, this reflection is barely noticeable.
The fold doesn't matter
But in normal use, it's unnoticeable. It doesn't distort text. It doesn't interrupt video playback. It doesn't disrupt immersion. Folding panels have improved significantly since 2019. It's no longer a fragile or visually distracting compromise. It's simply part of the technology, and people shouldn't worry about it.
Software maturity: Foldable devices have come of age.
One of the key differences between the first foldable smartphones and modern ones is the maturity of the software. App scaling is no longer a matter of luck. Most core apps work seamlessly on the internal display. Layout customization allows for the full benefit of the format, rather than stretching it (for example, E-Trade).
Email clients benefit from expanded list views. Calendar apps display more context. Browsers have become more like tablet apps. Productivity apps like Slack and document editors are becoming truly useful, not just gimmicks. This is a proven, stable, and practical system, thanks to Google's work on the Android operating system.
Performance: Flagship level
With a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 16GB of RAM, the Magic V5 delivers high responsiveness in real-world situations. Apps launch quickly, multitasking is seamless, and interface transitions are smooth.
This device isn't marketed as a gaming device, and rightfully so. It's designed for work and media consumption, and in this regard, its performance is excellent.
In most cases, app continuity between minimized and maximized states works. However, some apps do restart or update during the transition, but this is more of an optimization issue by developers than a hardware limitation. Performance remains stable and reliable in daily use on flagship devices.
Battery: Incredible capacity and speed.
A giant silicon-carbon battery capacity of 5820 mAh — one of the most impressive achievements of this device.
Fitting such a capacity into such a thin body is a true engineering achievement. Users of foldable devices typically rely heavily on the internal display, which consumes more power due to its size. A larger battery allows for extended use. In real-world use, battery life is reliable and predictable.
Add to this the 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. A charger isn't included, so you'll need a compatible adapter (Honor brand) to achieve maximum charging speeds. For such a slim device, battery life is a distinct advantage.
Cameras: Unapologetically Competitive
Folding smartphones used to require additional cameras, but that's no longer the case. The Magic V5 offers a practical focal length range, based on a main camera with a 23mm equivalent focal length, complemented by a 13mm ultra-wide-angle lens and a 70mm zoom lens. In everyday shooting, image quality is comparable to other flagship Android devices and the latest iPhone models.
Low-light performance is good, although thicker flagship phones with larger camera arrays may shoot night scenes with shorter shutter speeds. Larger cameras always have an undeniable advantage; it's just physics. The Magic V5 balances exposure well without excessively slowing down the shutter speed.
HDR mode demonstrates its reliability: one of the practical tests we use involves photographing extremely bright TVs at trade shows. These scenarios test extreme dynamic range. The Magic V5 handled this well, preserving highlight detail without blowing out the scene. This is precisely what a premium foldable smartphone should strive for: an absence of obvious flaws.
Ultimately, the visual experience of viewing photos simply can't compare to phones with smaller screens. There's nothing we can do about it. Viewing photos on a foldable phone is simply a phenomenal experience.
The Magic V5 camera body provides more internal volume.
Durability and risk
The device is rated for 500,000 folds and has IP58 and IP59 ratings. On paper, durability appears high. However, its thinness poses its own challenges. The biggest risk isn't dust or water, although water poses a serious threat to all phones. The real danger lies in drops and impacts. Dropping a thin foldable phone creates a different load dynamic than dropping a thicker slab-style phone.
Using a case is recommended, but it slightly reduces the advantage of thinness. It's a tradeoff. If durability is important to you, protection is a smart choice. Folding devices are less fragile, but they still require a little more attention.
Artificial Intelligence: Strive for Pragmatism.
HONOR integrates its proprietary MagicLM LLM technology into the device, along with call transfer, contextual shortcuts, and voice assistant enhancements. Real-time call translation is particularly noteworthy. Latency is low, often less than half a second. Text and audio translations appear quickly enough to assist during live conversations.
I tested it in English and French, and it proved to be good enough to help in a real-world situation. These features are genuinely useful, not just quirks and checkboxes. The AI here supports practical workflows and doesn't chase novelty. This is what you've been promised for years, but now it's quite practical, if not perfect.
Audio, communications, biometrics
The infrared emitter is always a welcome addition, and it remains surprisingly useful when traveling, in hotels, and guesthouses. The stereo speakers provide loud and clear sound, suitable for podcasts and general media consumption. I use it daily for listening to podcasts.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is accurate and generally good. However, it's not ideal for switching hands, ergonomically speaking. An under-display solution would be more neutral, but the device itself works reliably. I understand the technical challenges associated with an in-display fingerprint scanner, but from a consumer perspective, it would be the best solution.
Wi-Fi 7 and 5G support ensure modern connectivity standards. We encountered no connection issues during our review. If you're importing a phone from another region, check which 5G bands are supported by both your device and the carrier you'll be using it with. This applies to all phones.
Competition and positioning
The Magic V5 competes directly with the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Vivo X Fold5 in price and design. In this context, we don't consider the Pixel Fold a direct competitor. Its thickness places it in a different ergonomic category. At this price, you should expect a design that rivals the Magic V5. Here, we're in the ultra-thin premium foldable smartphone segment.
The products are available in markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, providing them with a wide international reach.
Conclusion
The HONOR Magic V5 demonstrates that the foldable phone market has matured. We've finally reached a level of thickness that makes this phone feel like a regular phone when folded. When unfolded, the magic remains, and that's what makes these phones so appealing.
The MagicV5 fits discreetly in your pocket. It makes a striking impression when opened.
The V5 fits discreetly in your pocket. When unfolded, it's impressive. It delivers flagship performance, long battery life, competitive cameras, and improved multitasking. It's no longer a niche device of interest only to enthusiasts. It's a true premium smartphone worth considering for anyone who can afford one. Personally, I'd love to see a foldable phone that's even larger when folded (like the S-Ultra) and a true beast when unfolded.
High performance
- Ultra-thin, feels like a regular phone when folded.
- Large internal display enhances visual perception.
- Impressive battery capacity
- Competitive premium camera system
Low performance
- The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is less ergonomic for one-handed use.
- Some apps still refresh/relaunch when switching between folded and unfolded screen states.
- Brightness is good, but not the best in its class.
Rating + Price
- Rating : 9,1/10
- Price : ~1600 dollars.