Honor’s latest foldable phone, the Magic V2, boasts the title of the lightest and thinnest foldable phone on the market. Weighing just 231 grams (8.15 ounces), it’s lighter than some regular candybar phones, including the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The Magic V2 will only be released in China at launch, as it comes on the heels of the global arrival of its predecessor, the Magic VS. There it will be available starting at 8,999 yuan, which converts to about $1,250, 970 or AU$1,850, and is expected to ship later this month.
The arrival of Honor’s latest foldable flagship also comes just weeks before the rumored launch of Samsung’s next generation of foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 5. I had a chance to test the Magic V2 hardware ahead of launch, though the software is still in development, so that’s not the focus here.
In addition to the streamlined design, Honor has refined and updated its second-generation foldable. It uses an upgraded type of battery technology known as carbon silicon, which helps maintain a large 5,000mAh battery capacity despite the slim, foldable design. The crease on the internal screen is less visible and Honor has added a stylus in the box for all variants. However, there isn’t a slot on the phone for the stylus. By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has a stylus slot, but that’s sold separately.
The Magic V2 folds like a book.
The Magic V2 also offers incremental upgrades such as a faster processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), a more advanced camera setup (at least on paper), and a higher refresh rate on the internal screen.
However, there is still no official IP rating for water and dust resistance. This feature isn’t yet common in foldable phones, but both the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Huawei Mate X3 have an IPX8 rating for water resistance, though not for dust.
Honor is a former Huawei sub-brand, but unlike Huawei phones, Honor phones bring the full power of Google’s mobile services, which includes the Google Play Store, Google Maps, and other critical parts of the Android ecosystem.
The Magic V2 (left) is noticeably thinner than the Magic VS, its predecessor.
The Honor Magic V2 is lighter and thinner
As soon as I unboxed the Magic V2, I was impressed by its lightweight design and ultra-thin hardware. It is noticeably thinner and shorter than its predecessor, the Magic VS. When folded, the V2 is just 9.9mm thick, which is just 1.3mm thicker than the standard iPhone 14. The Magic V2 is also lighter and thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 4, although I expect Samsung to improve on this over the generations of the Z Fold series.
Apart from that, I was impressed with the great hardware of the device, which allowed the two halves of the phone to fold against each other without leaving any gaps. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 still has a wedge-shaped gap when closed. However, this design may not necessarily be better than Samsung’s, as Google found out the hard way.
The Pixel Fold’s displays bend against each other, which may be one reason why the screens on so many models have broken. Ron Amadeo on ArsTechnica suggested that when screens go flat with dirt or other things stuck between them, it can cause pressure resulting in cracking, especially since the Pixel Fold’s screen protector for the internal display doesn’t cover the entire OLED display underneath . That said, the Magic V2’s predecessor didn’t have these issues, so whether or not it causes a problem with this phone remains to be seen.
For the first time, I find myself convinced that foldable book-style phones could have a place in my future, provided a phone has the right price and the right user experience. (For a full disclosure, I haven’t spent much time with Samsung’s foldable offering or Google’s Pixel Fold.)
Watching Wimbledon outdoors in full brightness. Honor claims that the Magic V2’s internal screen can peak at 1,600 nits.
The two displays of the Magic V2
The Magic V2 is easy to use when folded, as its 6.43-inch coverage screen is similar to standard non-folding phones. It was easy to just use the cover screen without even opening the device to use the internal screen. Its maximum brightness of 2,500 nits made it easy to watch videos in sunny environments, even if not in direct sunlight.
Inside, you’ll find a 7.92-inch internal display with a barely noticeable crease. I had to maneuver the phone to specific angles to see it. While it was discernible to the touch, the crease didn’t interfere with my experience. I was able to watch videos and read the news without any problems. This is a big improvement over the older Magic VS, which had a clearly visible crease.
The company said the hinge is made from a titanium alloy which helps make it lighter and potentially stronger. Honor claims the zipper can withstand up to 400,000 folds. This theoretically means that the hinge will provide 10 years of use (assuming 100 folds per day), though whether or not the flexible screen itself will last that long remains to be seen. CNET was unable to independently verify that claim.
My first sample unit had limited functionality, so I haven’t been able to test the camera, battery, performance, or evaluate the software. I will update this article once I receive a final review unit.
Honor Magic V2 vs Magic VS vs Galaxy Z Fold 4
| Honor Magic VS 2 | Honor Magic VS | Galaxy Z Fold 4 5G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution, refresh rate | Internal: 7.92-inch OLED (2,3442,156 pixels), 120Hz, 1,600 nits; external: 6.43-inch OLED (2,3761,060 pixels), 120Hz, 2500 nits | Internal: 7.9 inches, 90Hz (2,272×1,984 pixels); external: 6.45 inches, 120Hz (2560×1080 pixels) | Internal: 7.6 inches (2,176×1,812 pixels); external: 6.2 inches (2,316×904 pixels) |
| Pixel density | Internal: 402 ppi External: 402 ppi | Internal: 381 ppi External: 431 ppi | N/A |
| Dimensions (mm) | Folded: 156.7×74.1×9.9mm; open: 156.7×145.4×4.7mm | Folded: 160.3×72.6×12. 9mm; open: 160.3×141.5×6.1mm | Folded: 67.1×155.1×15.8mm (hinge) ~ 14.2mm (sagging); open: 130.1×155.1×6.3mm |
| Weight (ounces, grams) | 8.15oz, 231g | 9.23oz, 261g (Orange); 9.42 oz, 267 g (black and cyan) | 9.27 oz; 263 g |
| mobile software | Android 13 | Android 13 | Android 13 |
| Camera | 50 megapixels (main), 50 megapixels (ultrawide), 20 megapixels (telephoto) | 54 megapixels (main), 50 megapixels (ultrawide), 8 megapixels (telephoto with 3x optical zoom) | 50 megapixels (main), 12 megapixels (ultrawide), 10 megapixels (telephoto) |
| Front camera | 16 megapixels (internal) 16 megapixels (cover) | 16 megapixels | 4 megapixels (below display), 10 megapixels (front cover) |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen Plus 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen Plus 1 | Snapdragon 8 Gen Plus 1 |
| Storage/RAM | 16GB + 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 12GB + 512GB | 12GB + 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Expandable storage | Nobody | Nobody | Nobody |
| Battery charger | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh | 4,400mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | Side | Side | Side |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone socket | Nobody | Nobody | Nobody |
| Special features | Stylus inside the package for all models, 66 watt quick charger supplied | 3x optical zoom, supplied 66 watt quick charger | Foldable phone, 30x optics, 30x spatial zoom, IPX8, 25-watt fast charging (no charger included) |
| Price | 8,999 yuan, converted to $1,250, 970, AU$1,850 | 1,599 Euros (512GB), converts to $1,770, 1,370, AU$2,620 | $1,800 (256GB); $2,000 (512GB), $2,160 (1TB) |
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Image Source : www.cnet.com