Honor Magic V5 Review vs Magic V3

I previously reviewed the Honor Magic V3 a year ago and the Magic V2 in January of 2024, and was incredibly impressed; they were far better than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 I reviewed back in 2023 due to the display design and overall phone dimensions, plus many other things, including battery life.

Honor is now back with the Magic V5, which is now just 8.8mm thick for the ivory white model, making it the thinnest inward-folding phone on the market. For traditional slab phones, I am indifferent to the thickness of the phone, but with these foldables, getting it as thin as possible makes the phone have similar dimensions to non-foldable phones.

In the case of the Honor Magic V5, its dimensions are actually smaller than the Honor Magic7 Pro and just 0.6mm thicker than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Beyond that, Honor has upgraded many of the other important aspects of the phone, including an improved camera system with upgrades to the periscope lens and ultrawide lens. Small improvements to the internal display, which has a slightly larger display and resolution, and a much higher peak brightness. A significantly improved battery life, which is always welcome, especially on foldables. Then, of course, the usual chipset upgrade.

As you might expect, the Honor Magic V5 continues to be one of the best foldable phones on the market with a much more appealing specification than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7.

Specification

Unboxing / Design

At 8.8mm folded, the Magic V5 approaches the comfort of a standard slab flagship, and when unfolded, the panel is just 4.1mm at its narrowest, making it feel almost impossibly svelte. The White version is the lightest at 217g; if you opt for Black or Dawn Gold, it edges up to 222g, but still sits below most competitors.

Handling is closer to a traditional smartphone than previous generations, passing the “does this actually fit in my jeans pocket” test. I noticed this especially after lengthy commutes with multiple devices in tow.

Durability is always a worry for any foldable. The V5 steps up with a dual IP58/IP59 rating, meaning dust and water resistance now covers high-pressure jets and immersion (up to 1m for 30 minutes). For practical use outdoors in the inclement UK weather, this adds genuine peace of mind. The carbon fibre supported inner panel is rated for up to 380GPa deformation resistance, whilst the hinge steps up its “Super Steel” to a tensile strength of 2,300MPa, statistically stiffer than last year’s V3.

The internal screen’s scratch resistance (advertised as 15 times that of conventional glass) and outer NanoCrystal shield are welcome, though real-world durability remained mine-and-yours-to-test over months rather than weeks.

The phone does come with a case, but it only covers the back cover. I would hope that third party solutions get release for increase protection. Even with its durable design, I am not sure I’d trust myself with such an expensive phone without a good quality case.  

Displays

The increase in brightness is a headline figure, but not a gimmick. Both internal and external panels reach up to 5,000 nits peak, which makes them useable in direct sunlight, something even the Z Fold 7 struggles with. The inner display grows very slightly to 7.95in; it’s marginally taller and wider than the V3 but not so much that you’ll notice unless comparing side by side. Resolution ticks up to 2,172 x 2,352 px (~403ppi). The outer display sticks to 6.43in, with effectively identical specs as the inner.

I measured the colour accuracy and dynamic range with supported Dolby Vision and HDR10+ content; the 100% DCI-P3 coverage is real, and movies look superb. The 4,320Hz PWM dimming, along with dynamic dimming and hardware-based blue light reduction, gives confidence for those prone to eye strain after long periods. Circadian light and night display options are software tweaks I found more situational, but they’re there for the few who need them.

The biggest upgrade is visible not just under strong sunlight but in auto-brightness behaviour: the V5 doesn’t fall dim in harsh conditions, maintaining legibility for navigation and camera usage. For those coming from older or midrange foldables, this should make outdoor usability less of an inconvenience.

Camera

Honor brands the V5’s rear setup as the “AI Falcon Camera System”. In practice, this consists of a new 64MP Ultra Sensing Periscope Telephoto (3x optical, up to 100x digital zoom), a 50MP Ultra-Light Sensitive Falcon main (f/1.6, 1/1.56in sensor), and a 50MP Ultra-wide (122° field of view, f/2.0). This is a clear shift up from the Magic V3, which used a 50MP main, 50MP periscope (3.5x optical), and 40MP ultra-wide (112°).

Daytime shots are sharp, with punchier colours than last year’s sensor; low light autofocus is improved, though I found a tendency towards slight over-smoothing on faces compared to the V3. The 64MP periscope lens is much better than last year’s, particularly for distant subjects and stabilisation at high zoom. I was able to get usable shots at 20x, though anything beyond 30x is, as always, more of a party trick.

AI-fuelled features, including portrait enhancements, motion sensing for sharper action shots, and a suite of edit tools like Cutout and Eraser, ran faster and cleaner than on the V3. Removing backgrounds and objects works fine for most, though edges can get aggressive, especially in busy scenes. For users wanting a more professional experience, RAW and HDR enhancements may help, but don’t expect this to beat dedicated pro-level cameras.

Video offers 4K at 60fps, and OIS keeps shake reasonably in check. Honor claims “image to video” and automated cut-downs, which were passable for casual use but not quite creator-ready.

The selfie camera is unchanged from the V3: 20MP, wide, capable for video calls and social media. Cover cameras retain similar quality, though colour balance is a little warmer on the V5. Both record 4K video at up to 30fps.

Photo Samples

Performance and Benchmarks

The jump to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite (second-gen, on a 3nm node) means plenty of extra headroom. The V5’s 8-core architecture and Adreno 830 GPU delivered strong figures: AnTuTu scores hit 1,636,564 in my tests. GeekBench scores at 1106 for a single core or 5022 for multi-core for the V5 are solid, sitting nearly 30% above the V3’s Gen 3 chip.

The 3DMark Wild Life Stress Test is also impressive, with a best loop score of 20380 and a lowest score of 11967, giving it a stability rating of 57.4%. This equates to a 22% and 41% uplift in performance for the high and low scores.

Multitasking, launching heavy apps, and flipping across split screens all worked without lag, with MagicOS 9 showing snappier transitions and a marked improvement over the V3. The Oryon CPU core pairing enhances workload handling, particularly for gaming and video editing, which foldables increasingly require as users transition from casual to productive use.

The AI features for multitasking do claim a 45% performance boost, and in cross-app splitting and window resizing I did see tangible improvements. Whether this matters to casual users is questionable, but for those intending to use the stylus to run three apps simultaneously, V5 is a clear step up.

Battery Life

Honor’s 5,820mAh cell (with 15% silicon content) leads the segment, edging out the Magic V3’s 5,150mAh and trouncing many competitors. Silicon-carbon chemistry enables higher energy density, meaning longer active use without added weight. My tests yielded roughly 10 hours of screen-on time with the V5, compared to just over 9 hours on the V3. Heavy days, streaming, camera usage, split-screen navigation, and some light gaming, left me with 20% by midnight. If battery is your sole concern, the V5 outlasts nearly all current foldables.

Charging speed stays fast: 66W wired and 50W wireless, The V5 can hit 50% in 16 minutes and a full charge in 43 in my trials. The V3 is quick, but not quite this snappy. Fast charging is proprietary, so buy compatible chargers if you want maximum speed. Both phones offer reverse charging but only at 5W (wired).

Software Experience with Android 15 & MagicOS 9

As you’d expect, this ships with the latest version of Android and MagicOS 9.

MagicOS 9 impresses with genuinely useful multitasking. Multi-Flex, which runs three apps side by side with customisable window proportions, is the best implementation I’ve seen on a foldable and better than Samsung’s current One UI efforts in my opinion. The stylus works across both screens, including in split view, making this genuinely suitable for productivity. In practice, I managed research, note-taking, and calls seamlessly.

Google Gemini comes pre-loaded and feels less bolted-on than rivals; double-tapping for quick launch cuts friction, and context-aware window and drag-and-drop features perform reliably rather than acting like mere novelties. AI call translation is processed fully on-device and supports English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. I tested bilingual calls, and the quality was decent, if not flawless; privacy-conscious users in the UK will appreciate the lack of remote processing.

The built-in Translate app is meant for two users sharing a device, functioning much like “face-to-face” options seen elsewhere, though Honor’s low-latency hardware made it tractable for travel. Magic Portal is another contextual “drag and send” utility, useful for sending addresses or images straight to apps without several manual steps.

File and device sharing are much more polished: Honor Share works cross-platform (including iOS and macOS) and the Super Workstation manages up to 60MB/s file transfers. Users, often navigating between Android and Apple PCs, will appreciate the extensive native file support, from Keynote and Pages to DOCX and CAD.

Seven years of OS and security updates is a market-leading promise, outpacing even Google’s Pixel devices, though, as ever, wait for long-term feedback before taking any corporate claims at face value.

Connectivity and Features

Support for 21 5G bands means the V5 is more “world ready” than the V3, and both feature dual-eSIM and nano-SIM options. Wi-Fi 7 makes an appearance, up from Wi-Fi 6e in the V3, improving future-proofing for those keen to stay ahead of network upgrades. Bluetooth 6.0 with aptX HD is supported; range and quality did appear superior to last year’s hardware.

Both offer infrared, though the V5 drops radio support which is not unusual, but worth noting if you’re upgrading from older handsets. The V5 uses a side-mounted fingerprint reader, which stays quick and reliable.

USB Type-C 3.1 remains, with support for DisplayPort 1.2.

Price and Alternative Options

At the time of writing, I have not been told the RRP of the new Magic V5, but the V3 launched at £1700. For pre-order bonuses, you got an Honor Watch 4 & Magic-Pen & Earbuds X6 & SuperCharge Power Adapter 66W.

You can currently get the Magic V3 for £1200, which is available from both Amazon and directly from Honor.

Samsung’s Z Fold 7 remains the primary competitor, but it’s heavier (215g), thicker, and lacks the ultra-bright display found in the V5. Software polish is a little superior for desktop multitasking owing to DeX, but Samsung’s update commitment varies, and real-world battery still doesn’t match Honor’s silicon-carbon cell.

For the base model, which comes with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, the price is £1800. The top-end model, which features 1TB of storage and 16GB of RAM, is priced at £ 2149.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has an RRP of £1749 and is currently available from £1399. The Pixel 10 Fold is due to launch on the 20th of August (I wrote this on the 15th)

The OnePlus Open received rave reviews and was arguably the best foldable when it was launched. The launch price was £1700, and it appears to be out of stock from most places now.

Overall

Honor has managed to bring meaningful upgrades to the foldable form factor with the Magic V5, especially in ways that improve real-world usability: thinner, lighter, brighter, and longer-lasting with updated hardware and software. While some marketing claims should be taken with a pinch of salt, and proprietary accessories remain a frustration, the V5 stands out as a practical choice for serious users. The extra year of updates is notable and may tip the balance for cautious buyers.

For existing V3 owners, the choice is less clear-cut, as most of the practical upgrades are incremental rather than transformative. But for anyone buying new, the V5 earns strong recommendation, not for headline-grabbing innovation, but for quietly making foldables feel like normal phones again.

Overall, Honor’s Magic V5 isn’t revolutionary, but it’s absolutely the best foldable for most UK users right now. Only the most demanding creators or desktop multitaskers might consider a Samsung Z Fold 7 as an alternative, but for my money, and most practical use cases, the V5 is where foldables finally come good. If you can find it around RRP and need the upgrades, don’t hesitate. If you own the V3, weigh your needs before taking the plunge.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

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.