- HONOR has launched the Magic V3, the thinnest book-type foldable with a folded thickness of 9.2mm and a weight of 226g. It has also introduced the budget-friendly Magic Vs3, slightly thicker but still under 10mm.
- The Magic V3 uses Pol-less technology for a thinner display and ultra-thin hinge design.
- Equipped with a third-generation Qinghai Lake battery, the Magic V3 boasts a 5150mAh capacity and a slim 2.6mm thickness, alongside an IPX8 waterproof rating for enhanced durability.
Imagine a book-type foldable as thin and lightweight as a bar-type smartphone. Wouldn’t that be incredibly attractive? This is exactly what HONOR has been striving for and in summer 2023, the OEM launched the Magic V2, the thinnest book-type foldable, measuring a folded thickness of 9.9mm.
On July 12, 2024, HONOR launched the Magic V3, which is even slimmer than the predecessor, breaking its own record. The latest book-type foldable is 9.2mm thick when folded and weighs 226g. In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is in the same price band as the Magic V3, is 8.1mm thick and weighs 221g. However, the Magic V3 features a 7.92-inch foldable display in addition to a 6.43-inch cover display.
At the same event, HONOR also launched the budget-friendly HONOR Magic Vs3, which is slightly thicker than the V3 but remains under 10mm. The Magic V3 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while the Magic Vs3 uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
Source: HONOR
Source: HONOR
HONOR uses Pol-less technology for the display to reduce the overall thickness. Meanwhile, the peak brightness of the inner display has been increased to 1800 nits from the peak 1600 nits of the Magic V2.
To enhance battery life, the HONOR Magic V3 is equipped with the third-generation Qinghai Lake battery. According to HONOR, the battery’s silicon content has been increased to over 10%. As a result, the V3’s battery capacity reaches 5150mAh, with an average thickness of only 2.6mm.
Durability is one of the biggest concerns for potential foldable customers. The HONOR Magic V3 uses new materials for the back cover and display cover to increase display reliability. It is also the only foldable phone with an IPX8 waterproof rating. At the launch event, HONOR demonstrated its leading waterproof capabilities by placing the foldable phone in a laundry machine.
Source: Counterpoint Research
The HONOR Magic V3 and Vs3 have quite different back designs, as well as distinct camera setups. The HONOR Magic V3 features a 50 MP wide camera, a 50 MP telephoto camera, and a 40 MP ultrawide camera. In contrast, the Magic Vs3 comes with a 50 MP wide camera, an 8 MP telephoto camera and a 40 MP ultrawide camera.
Following are some sample photos captured by the Magic V3:
Source: Counterpoint Research
Source: Counterpoint Research
To avoid showing the passerby’s face, this photo has been modified using the generative AI feature on the Magic V3. Can you tell where the passerby was?
Shot using telephoto camera, 3.5x zoom.
Shot using telephoto camera, 3.5x zoom.
Shot using telephoto camera, 10x zoom. Details have been well captured by the 50MP telephoto camera. The lines on the distant building and fog can be seen clearly.
Shot using wide camera, the flower’s color is vivid and vibrant. The camera and algorithm accurately captured and restored the picture as seen by the human eye.
Impressive performance under low-light environment. The contrast between light and shadow is obvious and vivid. The texture of tree leaves under strong light has been clearly captured by the camera. The neon text on the right side of the photo is very sharp and readable.
Currently, HONOR has the broadest foldable lineup, ranging from book type to clamshell, from inward folding to outward folding. The recent launch of the Magic V3 and Vs3, along with the previous Magic V Flip, reflects HONOR’s persistent investment in the foldable segment and its ambition to strengthen its presence in the premium sector with diversified offerings to global smartphone users.
In 2024, China’s foldable segment saw diverging strategies in foldable development by Chinese OEMs. Some reduced the related investments and shifted focus to the rising migration towards generative AI. Beyond question, HONOR still attaches great importance to its foldables. During the launch event, HONOR also showcased the improving interaction experience leveraging the on-device AI capabilities with the larger display, namely the well-received “Magic Portal.” Counterpoint believes the integration of generative AI and foldables’ multi-window display strength can enable greater productivity and become a key driving factor for the speedy growth of the foldable segment.
