measures and weight
At 5 millimeters thick when closed and weighing 8,8 grams, the Magic V217 is one of the thinnest and lightest foldables currently available. When unfolded, the case measures just 4,1 millimeters. This makes it virtually indistinguishable from traditional smartphones in terms of handling. Especially compared to previous foldables, which were often significantly thicker and heavier, the V5 feels more suitable for everyday use.
Hinge and protection
The hinge is made from a combination of Super Steel and a carbon fiber support structure, complemented by a reinforced back made of aluminum-coated glass. HONOR claims significantly higher resistance to scratches and impacts compared to its predecessor. In the hands-on test, the hinge moved smoothly without any play. The display crease is still visible, but is less noticeable when the screen is turned on.
A special feature is the protection class. With IP58 and IP59 ratings, the device is protected against both dust and water. Among foldable devices, only the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold currently achieves a higher standard with IP68.
Displays
The outer display measures 6,43 inches, has a resolution of 2376 × 1060 pixels, and supports an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Inside is a 7,95-inch LTPO AMOLED with 2352 × 2172 pixels, also at 120 Hz. According to HONOR, both panels achieve a peak brightness of up to 5.000 nits, making them easy to read even in direct sunlight.
Stylus support applies to both displays. This allows the device to be used not only for handwritten notes or sketches, but also for more productive purposes, such as editing documents.
Hardware
Inside is the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm's current flagship model. In Europe, HONOR offers the V5 with up to 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. In China, there's also a version with 1 TB of storage and a larger battery, but this isn't available here.
The European model's battery has a capacity of 5.820 mAh, which is comparatively high for a foldable device. Charging is possible with up to 66 watts via cable and 50 watts wirelessly.
camera
The rear triple camera consists of a 50 MP main camera with optical image stabilization, a 50 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 64 MP periscope camera with 3x optical zoom, also with OIS. On the front, there are two 20 MP cameras on the outer and inner display.
With foldables, users have often had to compromise on camera quality because other components, such as the hinge and display, were the focus. With the V5, HONOR is moving closer to the premium segment of traditional flagship smartphones. Whether the image quality can truly keep pace remains to be seen in a detailed review.
HONOR relies on the Falcon Engine for image processing, which is designed to optimize zoom and portrait shots, among other things.
software and functions
The Magic V5 comes with MagicOS 9 based on Android 15. Special features include the integration of Google Gemini, which can be used directly on the device, as well as a Multi-Flex mode, which allows up to three apps to be displayed simultaneously on the large internal display.
At the same time, HONOR is already testing MagicOS 10 based on Android 16 in a beta for the Magic 7 Pro. It's therefore likely that the Magic V5 will also receive this update in the near future.
Technical data in comparison
| Model | HONOR Magic V5 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 | Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold |
| Dimensions (folded) | 156.8 × 74.3 × 8.8mm / 9.0mm | 158.4 × 72.8 × 8.9 mm | 155.2 × 76.3 × 10.8 mm |
| Dimensions (unfolded) | 156.8×145.9×4.1/4.2mm | 158.4 × 143.2 × 4.2 mm | 155.2 × 150.4 × 5.2 mm |
| Weight | 217 g (Ivory White) / 222 g (other colors) | 215 g | 258 g |
| Class | IP58 / IP59 | IP48K | IP68K |
| Outdoor display | 6.43″ LTPO OLED, 2376 × 1060 px, 120 Hz, up to 5000 nits | 6.5″ AMOLED, 1080 × 2520 px, 120 Hz, up to 2600 nits | 6.4″ OLED, 1080 × 2364 px, 120 Hz, up to 3000 nits |
| Interior display | 7.95″ LTPO AMOLED, 2172 × 2352 px, 120 Hz, up to 5000 nits | 8.0″ AMOLED, 1968 × 2184 px, 120 Hz, up to 2600 nits | 8.0″ LTPO OLED, 2076 × 2152 px, 120 Hz, up to 3000 nits |
| chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) | Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) | Google Tensor G5 (3nm) |
| CPUs/GPUs | Octa-core (2×4.32 + 6×3.53 GHz), Adreno 830 | Octa-core (2×4.47 + 6×3.53 GHz), Adreno 830 | Octa-core (1×3.78 + 5×3.05 + 2×2.25 GHz), PowerVR DXT-48-1536 |
| Storage | 12/256 GB, 16/512 GB, 16/1 TB | 12/256GB, 12/512GB, 12/1TB, 16/1TB | 16/256 GB, 16/512 GB, 16/1 TB |
| Battery | 5820 mAh (EU) / 6100 mAh (CN) 66W wired, 50W wireless, 5W reverse | 4400 mAh 25W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse | 5015 mAh 30W wired (PPS), 15W wireless (Qi2), bypass charging |
| reverse camera | 50 MP main (f/1.6, OIS) 50 MP ultra wide angle (AF) 64 MP telephoto (3x, OIS) | 200 MP main (f/1.7, OIS) 12 MP Ultra Wide Angle 10 MP telephoto (3x, OIS) | 48 MP main (f/1.7, OIS) 10.5 MP Ultra Wide Angle 10.8 MP telephoto (5x, OIS) |
| Front camera | 20 MP outside + 20 MP inside | 10 MP outside + 10 MP inside (UDC) | 10 MP outside + 10 MP inside |
| OS | MagicOS 9 (Android 15) Update to MagicOS 10 (Android 16) expected | OneUI 8 (Android 16) | Pixel UI (Android 16) |
| Price (Europe) | €1.999 RRP (€1.699 to start) | from €1.400 (RRP $1.699) | $1.799 / ~€1.799 |
Impression of the event
In our brief hands-on, the Magic V5 made a solid impression. Its weight and thickness are now at a level that's barely distinguishable from conventional smartphones. The hinge feels robust, and the displays are bright and high-contrast.
A more extensive test is required for a definitive assessment, particularly regarding endurance, camera quality, and everyday software performance. A corresponding test unit should arrive shortly.
Price and availability
The HONOR Magic V5 is now available in Europe. The recommended retail price is €1.999. There's a €300 discount at launch, bringing the price down to €1.699. The device is available in Ivory White, Black, and Dawn Gold.
