Introduction
The Honor Magic V5 stakes its claim firmly in the premium foldable segment as one of the thinnest and lightest book-style devices to date. At just 8.8 mm thick when folded (and an ultra-slim 4.1 mm when unfolded) and weighing a mere 217 g, its design elegance immediately sets it apart. Paired with a stunning 7.95‑inch LTPO OLED inner display clocking up to 5,000 nits in brightness and a crisp, high‑refresh-rate outer screen, it epitomizes visual finesse.
Under the hood, the Magic V5 packs the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite, up to 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage, powering both everyday use and demanding multitasking with ease. The global variant that we have for review features a 5820 mAh silicon‑carbon battery with 66W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Honor Magic V5 specs at a glance:
- Body: 156.8×145.9×4.1mm, 217g; aluminum frame; IP58/IP59 dust protected and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1m for 30 min), Stylus support.
- Display: 7.95″ Foldable LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 5000 nits (peak), 2172x2352px resolution, 9.75:9 aspect ratio, 403ppi; Cover display:, LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 5000 nits (peak), 6.43 inches, 1060 x 2376 pixels, 404 ppi, Honor Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield.
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm): Octa-core (2×4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6×3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M); Adreno 830.
- Memory: 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM.
- OS/Software: Android 15, MagicOS 9.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm, PDAF, OIS; Telephoto: 64 MP, f/2.5, 70mm, 1/2.0″, 3x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, AF.
- Front camera: Wide (main): 20 MP, f/2.2; Wide (main): 20 MP, f/2.2.
- Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30/60fps (10-bit), 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, OIS; Front camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS.
- Battery: 5820mAh; 66W wired, 50W wireless, 5W reverse wired.
- Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Wi-Fi 7; BT 6.0, aptX HD; NFC; Infrared port.
- Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); stereo speakers; Circle to Search.
Available in Europe at a price point hovering around €1700, the Magic V5 competes with heavy hitters like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, while offering distinct hardware advantages. Specifically, it boasts a larger battery, brighter display, better water resistance (IP58/IP59), and a higher-resolution periscope zoom camera. Its folded slimness also claims bragging rights over the Z Fold 7 – 8.8 mm versus Samsung’s 8.9 mm – though measurement debates persist.
Yet, the Magic V5 is not without its trade-offs. Honor’s limited market availability, especially in the U.S., and comparatively modest software support and ecosystem compared to Samsung, remain important considerations. Nonetheless, for users who prioritize cutting-edge hardware, sleek design, and performance, the Magic V5 stands out as a compelling and perhaps disruptive alternative.
In the sections that follow, we’ll dive deeper into the hardware and software experience, and see whether this slim powerhouse lives up to its lofty potential.
Unboxing
The Honor Magic V5 ships in a lavish two-piece package. It seems to be made of cardboard, but with some soft, rubbery finish on top. The whole thing is gray and looks very premium with embossed lettering. In terms of materials, the box seems to be made of cardboard, but it is very thick and protective. There is a cradle for the phone on the inside, which is made of plastic.
Despite the sizeable box, our unit only came with a USB Type-C to Type-C cable. There is no charger in the box (which will likely be the case for EU retail units), but there should also be a protective case inside, though we didn’t get one.