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I only reviewed the Honor Magic V2 back in January 2024, and Honor has released its successor, the Honor Magic V3.
The reason for this was that Honor had initially released the V2 in China 6 months prior, and by the time they launched it in the UK, it was already facing stiff competition from the OnePlus Open, which was superior in many ways and slightly more affordable.
For the V3, Honor has been much quicker in launching the device in the UK and EU, whereas it is rumoured that OnePlus won’t launch their next foldable in a few months.
This leaves the new Honor Magic V3 competing with the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6, arguably the best option of the three.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HONOR Magic V3 5G AI Mobile Phone, Sim Free, 9.2mm Folding... | 2 Reviews | £1,620.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Honor Magic V3 vs Magic V2 Specification
| Honor Magic V3 | Honor Magic V2 | |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 156.6 x 145.3 x 4.35 mm or 4.4 mm | Unfolded: 156.7 x 145.4 x 4.7 mm or 4.8 mm |
| Folded: 156.6 x 74.0 x 9.2 mm or 9.3 mm | Folded: 156.7 x 74.1 x 9.9 mm or 10.1 mm | |
| Weight | 226 g or 230 g (7.97 oz) | 231 g or 237 g (8.15 oz) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM, eSIM or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) Stylus support | Nano-SIM, eSIM or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) Stylus support |
| Type | Foldable LTPO AMOLED, 1B colours, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 120Hz, 1800 nits (peak) | Foldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced, 1600 nits (peak) |
| Size | 7.92 inches, 201.6 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 7.92 inches, 201.6 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 2156 x 2344 pixels (~402 ppi density) | 2156 x 2344 pixels (~402 ppi density) |
| Cover Display | LTPO OLED, 1B colours, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, 5000 nits (peak) 6.43 inches, 1060 x 2376 pixels, 402 ppi, nanocrystal glass 2.0 | LTPO OLED, 1B colours, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2500 nits 6.43 inches, 1060 x 2376 pixels, 402 ppi, nanocrystal glass 2.0 |
| Protection | King Kong Rhinoceros | |
| IP Rating | IPX8 water resistant (up to 2.5m for 30 min) | |
| OS | Android 14, MagicOS 8.0.1 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 740 |
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM UFS 4.0 | 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Modules | 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/3.0, 90mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.51″, 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF, OIS 20 MP, f/2.4, 62mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2.5x optical zoom, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm (ultrawide), AF |
| Features | Laser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Multi-zone Laser AF (8×8 dToF), LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps (10-bit), 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30/60fps (10-bit), 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+, OIS |
| Modules | 20 MP, f/2.2, 90˚, 21mm (wide), 0.61µm Cover camera: 20 MP, f/2.2, 90˚, 21mm (wide), 0.61µm | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Audio | No 3.5mm 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio | No 3.5mm 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LDAC | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes; NFC-SIM, HCE | Yes; NFC-SIM, HCE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2 |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum |
| Type | Si/C 5150 mAh, non-removable | Si/C 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 66W wired | 66W wired |
| 50W wireless | 5W reverse wired | |
| 5W reverse wired | ||
| Colors | Velvet Black, Snow, Tundra Green, Red | Black, Silk Black, Silk Purple, Gold |
| Price | £1,700 | £1200 (currently) £1700 launch price |
Honor Magic V3 vs Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
| Specification | Honor Magic V3 | Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Google Tensor G4 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (Galaxy Edition) |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 16GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB, no card slot | 256GB / 512GB |
| Inner Display | 7.92 inches, LTPO, 120Hz | 7.6 inches, LTPO, 120Hz | 7.6 inches, LTPO, 120Hz |
| Outer Display | 6.43 inches, LTPO, 120Hz | 6.3 inches, OLED, 120Hz | 6.2 inches, AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Battery | 5150mAh | 4650mAh | 4400mAh |
| Charging Speed | 66W wired, 50W wireless | 30W wired, wireless supported | 25W wired, 15W wireless |
| Camera (Main) | 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/3.0, 90mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.51″, 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF | 48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10.8 MP, f/3.1, 112mm (telephoto), 1/3.2″, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 10.5 MP, f/2.2, 127˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.4″, PDAF | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 66mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Front Camera | 20 MP, f/2.2, 90˚, 21mm (wide), 0.61µm Cover camera: 20 MP, f/2.2, 90˚, 21mm (wide), 0.61µm | 10 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.94″, PDAF Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.94″, PDAF | 4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/3″, 1.22µm |
| Weight | 226g | 257g | 239g |
| Thickness (Folded) | 9.2mm | 10.5mm | 12.1mm |
| OS | MagicOS (Android 14) | Stock Android 14 | OneUI (Android 14) |
| Water Resistance | IPX8 | IP68 | IPX8 |
| Stylus Support | Yes | No | Yes (optional) |
Key Differences:
- Build and Design: The Honor Magic V3 is the thinnest foldable, measuring just 9.2mm when folded, compared to the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold at 10.5mm and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 at 12.1mm.
- Battery Life: The Magic V3 boasts the largest battery (5150mAh) and fastest charging (66W wired), while the Z Fold 6 has a smaller 4400mAh battery with 25W wired charging.
- Camera Systems: The Magic V3 offers a 50MP main camera with 3.5x periscope zoom, giving it superior zoom capabilities over the Z Fold 6’s 3x zoom and Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s 5x optical zoom.
- Performance: All three phones use flagship-level chipsets, with the Z Fold 6 slightly outperforming the Magic V3 in benchmarks. The Google Tensor G4 in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is not as good as the Qualcomm chipset in the other phones, but you are unlikely to notice much difference.
- Software: While all three devices run on Android 14, the Magic V3 uses Honor’s MagicOS, which may feel less polished compared to Google’s stock Android or Samsung’s OneUI.
Unboxing / Design
The Honor Magic V3 continues the trend of ultra-thin foldable devices, measuring just 9.2mm when folded. This makes it notably slimmer than its main rivals, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (10.5mm) and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (12.1mm). The device weighs 226g, which is lighter than both competitors, contributing to a more comfortable in-hand feel.
Honor has improved the hinge mechanism, which now feels smoother and more robust than the previous generation. At IFA, the company demonstrated the durability of the Magic V3 by playing ping pong with the device, showcasing its resilience to impacts and daily wear and tear.
One notable addition is the IPX8 water resistance rating, allowing the Magic V3 to withstand submersion in up to 2.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. This brings it in line with other premium foldables and adds peace of mind for users.
The device is available in Velvet Black, Snow, Tundra Green, and Red colour options, offering a good range of choices to suit different tastes.
Display Technology
Both the cover and inner displays of the Honor Magic V3 utilise LTPO OLED technology, which allows for variable refresh rates between 1Hz and 120Hz. This adaptive refresh rate helps conserve battery life while still providing smooth animations when needed.
The inner foldable display measures 7.92 inches with a resolution of 2156 x 2344 pixels, resulting in a sharp 402 ppi pixel density. It supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, enhancing the visual experience when watching compatible content. The peak brightness of 1800 nits ensures excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions.
The cover display is 6.43 inches with a 1060 x 2376 pixel resolution, maintaining the same 402 ppi pixel density as the inner screen. It also supports a 120Hz refresh rate and features a peak brightness of 5000 nits, which is exceptionally high for a smartphone display and much brighter than the Samsung and Pixel.
Both screens are protected by Honor’s nanocrystal glass 2.0, which should provide good resistance against scratches and minor impacts.
The crease where the inner display folds is still visible, but it’s less pronounced than on the Magic V2. It’s most noticeable when viewing the screen at an angle or when the display is off. During normal use, the crease becomes less apparent and doesn’t significantly detract from the overall experience.
Camera
The Honor Magic V3 boasts a versatile triple-camera setup on the rear:
- 50MP main camera (f/1.6, 23mm equivalent)
- 50MP periscope telephoto (f/3.0, 90mm equivalent, 3.5x optical zoom)
- 40MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 16mm equivalent, 112° field of view)
This configuration offers users a wide range of focal lengths to work with, from ultrawide landscapes to zoomed-in portraits.
The main 50MP camera performs well in various lighting conditions. In good light, images are sharp, with accurate colours and good dynamic range. Low-light performance is also commendable, with the large f/1.6 aperture allowing plenty of light to reach the sensor. Night mode further enhances low-light shots, though some noise is still present in very dark scenes.
The periscope telephoto camera is a standout feature, offering 3.5x optical zoom. This allows for clear, detailed shots of distant subjects without relying on digital zoom. The camera can digitally zoom up to 100x, though image quality deteriorates significantly beyond about 10x zoom.
The ultrawide camera captures expansive scenes with minimal distortion at the edges. Colour consistency between the three cameras is good, making it easy to switch between lenses without jarring differences in image quality.
For selfies, there are two 20MP front-facing cameras – one on the cover display and one on the inner display. Both produce decent self-portraits, though they lack the detail and dynamic range of the rear cameras.
Video recording capabilities include 4K at 30 or 60 fps, with good stabilisation thanks to both optical and electronic image stabilisation systems. The camera app offers various modes and features, including a pro mode for manual control over settings.
While the camera system on the Magic V3 is capable and versatile, it doesn’t quite match the performance of the Honor Magic6 Pro which has a superior sensor for all three cameras.
Performance and Benchmarks
The Honor Magic V3 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which represents the latest in mobile processing technology. This chip offers improved performance and efficiency compared to its predecessor found in the Magic V2.
In the UK, the device comes in a single configuration of 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.
The phone has UFS 4.0 storage, which provides fast read and write speeds, benefiting app loading times and file transfers.
In benchmark tests, the Magic V3 performs admirably, often matching or slightly trailing behind the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, which uses a specially optimised version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, in real-world usage, the difference is negligible, and the Magic V3 handles all tasks with ease.
The device manages heat well during intensive tasks, thanks to its vapour chamber cooling system. However, extended gaming sessions or prolonged use of demanding apps can cause the phone to warm up noticeably, especially given its thin profile.
Multitasking is smooth, with the 16GB RAM variants particularly excelling at keeping numerous apps open in the background. The large inner display lends itself well to split-screen multitasking, allowing users to run two or three apps simultaneously without feeling cramped.
Benchmark Results
- Antutu
- Honor Magic V3: 1,692,275
- Honor Magic V2: 1,410,658
- Honor Magic6 Pro: 1,874,472
- GeekBench 6
- Honor Magic V3:
- Honor Magic V2: 2017 / 5361
- Honor Magic6 Pro: 2220 / 6897
- 3Dmark WildLife Stress Test
- Honor Magic V3: 16,718 high, 8,477 low, 50.7% stability
- Honor Magic V2: 13,281 high, 8,550 low, 64.4% stability
- Honor Magic6 Pro: 18,160 high, 11867 low, 65.4% stability,
- AI Benchmark
- Honor Magic V3: 2977
- Honor Magic V2: 2989
- Honor Magic6 Pro:
Android 14 and MagicOS 8.0.1
The Honor Magic V3 runs on MagicOS 8.0.1, which is based on Android 14. This custom skin offers a range of features designed to take advantage of the foldable form factor, though it may feel less refined than Google’s stock Android or Samsung’s One UI.
The software includes a split-screen mode and floating windows, allowing users to multitask effectively on the large inner display. However, the implementation of these features can feel somewhat clunky compared to Samsung’s more polished approach.
Honor has included some AI-powered features, such as Magic Portal, which allows users to drag and drop content between apps. There’s also a knuckle gesture feature that lets users quickly capture and share screenshots or portions of the screen.
The device supports stylus input on both the inner and outer displays, which is useful for note-taking and sketching, though a stylus is not included.
App compatibility with the foldable display has improved since earlier generations of foldable phones, but some apps still don’t scale properly or take full advantage of the larger screen. This is an industry-wide issue rather than a problem specific to Honor, but it’s worth noting for potential buyers.
Honor promises three years of major Android updates and five years of security patches for the Magic V3, which is good but falls short of the longer support periods offered by Google and Samsung for their flagship devices.
Battery Life
The Honor Magic V3 is equipped with a 5150mAh silicon-carbon battery, which is larger than those found in its main competitors. This, combined with the efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and adaptive refresh rate displays, contributes to impressive battery life.
In typical use, which includes a mix of web browsing, social media, video streaming, and some light gaming, the Magic V3 can easily last a full day. Heavy users who spend more time on the larger inner display may find themselves needing to charge before the end of the day, but for most users, the battery life should be more than adequate.
The device supports 66W wired fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in about 40 minutes. This is significantly faster than the charging speeds offered by the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (30W) and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (25W).
Wireless charging is also supported at up to 50W, which is impressively fast for wireless charging. However, to achieve these speeds, you’ll need to use Honor’s proprietary wireless charger. Standard Qi wireless chargers will work but at lower speeds.
The Magic V3 also supports reverse wireless charging at 5W, allowing you to charge other devices or accessories like wireless earbuds using the phone’s battery.
Audio and Connectivity
The Honor Magic V3 features stereo speakers that produce clear, loud audio. While they can’t match the depth and richness of dedicated external speakers, they’re more than adequate for casual media consumption and video calls.
The device supports 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio, which is a nice addition for audiophiles.
In terms of connectivity, the Magic V3 supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, and 5G networks. It also includes NFC for contactless payments and an infrared port, which can be used to control compatible home appliances.
The phone uses a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. While not as convenient as an under-display sensor for some users, it’s fast and reliable.
Price and Alternative Options
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| HONOR Magic V3 5G AI Mobile Phone, Sim Free, 9.2mm Folding... | 2 Reviews | £1,620.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The Honor Magic V3 has launched for £1700. There is a pre-order offer on until the 3rd of October, where you can get it for £300 plus free gifts, including Honor Watch 4 & Magic-Pen & Earbuds X6 & SuperCharge Power Adapter 66W.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is £1749 which comes with one year of free Gemini Advanced, plus 2 TB of cloud storage.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 starts at £1899 for 256GB and 12GB and goes up to £2100 for 1TB and 12GB.
Overall
The Honor Magic V2 was undeniably an impressive device. Its overall engineering was incredible, and its oddly thin display and thick build made the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 look dated. The main problem was that the Honor Magic V2 was launched in the UK six months after the Chinese launch, which made it less value for money in comparison to the OnePlus Open.
That is not the case with the Honor Magic V3. Its main competitors are the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6. I have not reviewed these devices, but on paper, the Honor Magic V3 is a superior device. The main selling points for Pixel and Samsung are the underlying OS and features. Samsung certainly has much more experience with optimising its One UI for foldables.
While the Honor Magic V3 isn’t a massive upgrade from the V2, it is a much more refined product, especially with the overall build quality, which Honor demoed at IFA by playing ping pong with the device.
Strengths of the Magic V3 include its sleek design, impressive displays, long battery life, and fast charging capabilities. The periscope zoom camera is also a standout feature, offering versatility that some competitors lack.
Overall, the Honor Magic V3 is an outstanding foldable phone, and I think that anyone considering a premium foldable phone should have the Honor Magic V3 at the top of their shortlist.
Honor Magic V3 Review
Summary
For those specifically seeking a foldable device, the Honor Magic V3 is one of, if not the best, options on the market. It balances cutting-edge hardware with practical features, wrapped in a design that pushes the boundaries of how thin a foldable phone can be.
Overall
90%-
Overall - 90%90%
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
Last update on 2024-10-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
