·       The Magic V5 is the thinnest book-type foldable available at launch. Despite its thinness, the V5’s IP58/IP59 ratings and robust hinge construction inspire confidence.

·       AI is deeply integrated – Google Gemini powers most smart features, including translation, call assist, and live screen sharing.

·       A dual-cell silicon-carbon battery rated at 5,820mAh delivers impressive endurance.

HONOR has launched its latest foldable, the Magic V5. While the product had its China launch in July, the international launch took place at a well-attended event in London in late August. There was significant participation from European operators, retailers and media. While the Magic V5 was the star of the show, HONOR also launched updates to both its tablet, the MagicPad 3, and its laptop, the MagicBook Art 14 (2025), though oddly, only with an Intel processor, with no Qualcomm Snapdragon variant available.

In my initial use, the HONOR Magic V5 makes a convincing case for the future of foldable smartphones. With a design focused on thinness and durability, the Magic V5 balances premium hardware, robust battery life, and powerful productivity features.

Foldable smartphones accounted for around 2% of European smartphone sales in 2024, but the sales volume is growing fast, driven by a broadening range of products, and consumers becoming more confident in their durability.

Design and build

The defining feature of the Magic V5 is its thinness and lightweight construction. The Ivory White model measures just 8.8 mm when folded (4.1 mm unfolded) and weighs 217 gm, making it the thinnest book-type foldable available at launch. Even the slightly thicker Black and Dawn Gold models are still lighter than most competitors. Build quality is excellent, with carbon fiber reinforcement and HONOR’s Super Steel Hinge claiming resilience for over 500,000 folds, complemented by IP58/IP59 ratings for dust and water resistance.

Despite being so thin, the phone feels substantial in hand. The camera bump is noticeable, however, and its placement makes the phone slightly unwieldy. The included case is excellently designed. It has a flip stand which is useful for content consumption on a tabletop, as well as for providing cosmetic protection and supporting the hinge when closed. It also makes the device easier to hold and reduces the likelihood of accidental drops.

Button placement on the V5 adopts a more traditional layout, making one-handed navigation intuitive. The power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner and has reliable haptic feedback. Opening the device is a little awkward, as it is on every other book-type foldable I have tried, but I do find myself using it unfolded more than previous foldables I have used.

Display experience

Both the inner and outer displays impress, boasting up to 5,000 nits peak brightness and supporting 120Hz LTPO refresh rates for smooth interaction. The inner 7.95-inch OLED panel is good for immersive multitasking, while the 6.43-inch outer display matches most conventional phones for convenience. HONOR implements advanced eye comfort technologies — AI Defocus, ultra-high-frequency PWM dimming, and dynamic dimming — to reduce eye strain during extended use.

The inner display has a very unobtrusive fold line, almost imperceptible in most use cases. When showing it to friends who are not immersed in the technology sector, they are highly impressed.

A useful feature is stylus support on both displays (although HONOR’s Magic-Pen is not included and must be purchased separately), something Samsung’s Z Fold series limits to the inner display. The displays are reinforced with HONOR’s proprietary glass for scratch and drop resistance, meaning the phone should be able to shrug off accidental knocks and everyday abrasion.

Performance and battery

Under the hood, the Magic V5 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC built on a 3nm process node and paired with up to 16GB RAM and up to 1TB storage. Everyday performance is swift and fluid, whether running demanding apps, multitasking with multi-window setups, or gaming. Advanced cooling (vapor chambers) keeps the device from overheating, even under heavy loads. I am not much of a gamer, but I did try running a few graphics-intensive games, which it handled without any problems.

The battery is a highlight – a dual-cell silicon-carbon design rated at 5,820mAh delivers impressive endurance. Even with heavy use of video streaming and power-intensive applications, the phone easily lasts a full day (sometimes well over), while 66W wired and 50W wireless charging mean it is never tethered to a plug for long. HONOR’s AI-powered power management intelligently adapts to conditions to maximize safety and battery health. However, like most phones these days, there is no charging block in the box as standard.

Camera capabilities

HONOR equips the Magic V5 with a triplet of high-spec cameras – a 50MP wide main shooter, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 64MP periscope telephoto (3x optical, 100x digital zoom). The hardware is supported by sophisticated AI image processing for improved portraits, motion detection, and enhanced zoom.

Day-to-day photography output seems good in my initial testing, with sharp, contrast-rich images. Portrait mode, in particular, is a highlight, consistently producing pleasing bokeh and accurate skin tones. The cameras excel in good lighting and offer solid low-light performance thanks to the large main sensor and fast apertures.

Both selfie cameras (front sensors on the inner and outer displays) deliver clear, vibrant portrait shots and reliable 4K video. On the video front, 4K capture at 60fps is supported and offers excellent image and audio quality, making the Magic V5 a great option for content creators.

The camera’s AI features provide for novel experiences, although these can sometimes look a little false on close inspection.

Software and AI features

Running MagicOS 9.0 (based on Android 15), the V5 includes various productivity enhancements, including multitasking. HONOR’s Multi-Flex software enables up to three apps to run side by side, ideal for business use, content creation and more. The interface is fairly intuitive, though some gestures need some adjustment; the desktop mode is promising but not perfectly polished.

AI is deeply integrated – Google Gemini powers most smart features, including translation, call assist, and live screen sharing. MagicOS also offers local AI tools for photo cleanup, deepfake detection and more, minimizing reliance on cloud connectivity and keeping private data secure. But, notably, HONOR is deferring more to Google than its initial ambition suggested it would.

HONOR’s improved connectivity features, such as Magic Portal and HONOR Share, make cross-platform file transfers (including iOS/Mac compatibility) seamless and fast. Device cloning simplifies migration from other platforms, and PC-level software compatibility further solidifies the V5’s productivity credentials.

There are still some minor software quirks, but nothing that significantly impacts usability. And HONOR has resisted packing the device with bloatware, which is always welcome.

Durability and everyday use

Despite its thinness, the V5’s IP58/IP59 ratings and robust hinge construction inspire confidence. The carbon fiber-reinforced inner display and multi-layered external screen provide excellent durability. AI-powered foreign object detection helps protect the inner display, alerting users to debris when folding.

During the launch, HONOR showed the device supporting more than 100 kg across its hinge – a feat for which it has been awarded a Guinness World Record. HONOR is clearly going all out to underscore that durability should not be a concern.

Audio quality is enhanced by thoughtful speaker placement, providing clear stereo separation whether folded or open. Connectivity is future-proofed, with robust support for 5G bands and the latest Wi-Fi/Bluetooth standards.

Value and competition

At launch, the Magic V5 pricing starts at GBP 1,699 or Euro 1,999 – pricey but slightly below flagship competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, with pre-order bundles further improving value (price credit, free stylus, charger, etc.).

Initial impressions

The HONOR Magic V5 is the most complete foldable phone HONOR has produced to date, and arguably the strongest non-Samsung option on the market in 2025. Its ultra-thin form factor doesn’t compromise on durability, performance, or battery life, making it comfortable and reliable for daily use.

It offers good multitasking and AI-driven features and an excellent display, and stands shoulder to shoulder with Samsung and Google in the camera department. I am still getting to grips with the device and will update if anything stands out negatively, but so far, the experience has been positive.