Honor is clearly building momentum with its foldable smartphones, successfully capturing a significant share of the market from industry giants like Samsung in key global regions. While Honor's presence in North America is limited, the brand is thriving in various Western countries. The recent launch of the Magic V5 aims to solidify this progress, entering a market already buzzing with exciting foldable devices.
The foldable smartphone landscape is heating up, with competition from the likes of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, which boasts attractive upgrades, and the Vivo X Fold 5, a commendable all-rounder despite its older silicon. Google has also entered the foldable fray with its upcoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold, set to debut at the end of October. Manufacturers are clearly focused on making foldables a mainstream category, and after extensive use of the Z Fold 7 and X Fold 5, it’s evident that these devices offer usability comparable to regular smartphones. With the global debut of the Magic V5, let’s examine how it stacks up against its competitors.
Honor first unveiled the Magic V5 in China in July, followed by its global launch in London on August 28, 2025. The device will be available in a 16GB/512GB configuration outside of China, offered in sophisticated color variants including Ivory White, Black, Dawn Gold, and Reddish Brown. The pricing is set at £1,699 ($2,286) in the U.K. and €1,999 ($2,324) in other regions, which positions it competitively against the 512GB model of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, priced at £1,899 in the U.K.
The design of the Magic V5 is indeed impressive, though it may not be as thin or light as the Vivo X Fold 5 or Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7. However, it still presents itself as a sleek foldable device, featuring a cutting-edge hinge design that minimizes visible creases. Honor claims the Magic V5 to be the thinnest foldable available; however, independent testing suggests that the Vivo X Fold 5 is 1mm thinner and the Z Fold 7 is 2mm thinner. Despite these claims, the Magic V5 remains a stylish competitor, feeling comfortable in hand when folded, and showcasing a generous 7.95-inch display when opened.
The aesthetic appeal is notable, especially in the gold variant, with a striking patterned design around the hinge. The device features rounded edges, making it easy to hold while folded. The hinge operates smoothly, requiring little effort to unlock, and it maintains its position at various angles, which is particularly useful for photography. The absence of a visible crease when unfolded is a testament to Honor's advancements in this area over the past two years. Additionally, the Magic V5 boasts IP58 and IP59 ingress protection ratings, offering superior resilience against the elements compared to the Z Fold 7's IP48 rating.
Weighing in at 226g, the Magic V5 is slightly heavier than the Vivo X Fold 5, despite housing a smaller 5820mAh battery. The camera module protrudes significantly, adding to the overall thickness, making the Magic V5 measure 16.5mm with the camera included, which is bulkier than both the X Fold 5 and Z Fold 7. This size can lead to usability issues, as the device tends to wobble when placed on a flat surface, making it difficult to use unfolded. Nevertheless, the Magic V5 performs admirably overall, standing strong against its direct competitors.
When it comes to displays, the Magic V5 features the best cover and inner OLED panels available in the foldable market. Both panels are exceptionally bright and equipped with 4,320Hz PWM dimming, making them easy on the eyes. The Magic V5 sets the standard for OLED panels in foldables, with a 6.43-inch cover display that, while narrower than its competitors, does not compromise usability. Similarly, the 7.95-inch inner display, although slightly smaller than those on the X Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 7, performs beautifully in everyday tasks.
Both OLED displays support a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smooth interactions and vibrant color quality. Additional features like a dedicated ebook mode turn the inner panel monochrome, transforming the Magic V5 into a premium e-reader, which many users will find enjoyable. Honor also prioritizes user comfort with a variety of eye-care solutions such as defocus eyecare, natural tone, and hardware-assisted blue light protection, highlighting the Magic V5’s superiority over competitors like Google and Samsung, which lack similar features.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Magic V5 excels in daily performance and gaming situations. While it tends to run hotter than some rivals, it remains comfortable to use. The device performs fluidly during regular tasks, and while gaming, it handles demanding titles well. However, its foldable design limits extensive thermal management, leading to earlier throttling compared to conventional smartphones. Despite scoring lower on Geekbench tests than the X Fold 5, it shines in demanding 3DMark benchmarks.
In terms of connectivity, the Magic V5 offers seamless call quality and reliable network connections. The haptic feedback has received improvements, addressing previous issues that plagued Honor devices, though it still lacks the depth of feedback seen in other devices. Overall, the performance of the Magic V5 is commendable, delivering a solid user experience.
The global variant of the Magic V5 is equipped with a 5,820mAh battery, down from the 6,100mAh found in the Chinese model. Despite this reduction, the device incorporates higher silicon content, contributing to slightly longer battery life than its competitors. Users can expect a full day's use from a single charge, alleviating battery anxiety that is often experienced with other foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The device supports 66W fast charging, reaching 50% in just 18 minutes and fully charging in under 50 minutes, making it highly efficient.
The Magic V5 is equipped with one of the best camera systems in the foldable segment. It features a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 64MP telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP wide-angle lens. Additionally, there are 20MP selfie cameras located beneath each panel that support 4K video. While the camera interface remains largely unchanged, it provides users with familiar shooting modes and filters.
Photographic performance is impressive, producing high-quality images in various lighting conditions. While I personally prefer Vivo's image tuning, the Magic V5 stands out for its excellent dynamic range, white balance, and detail retention. The telephoto lens performs admirably, delivering clean images at up to 10x magnification, while the wide-angle lens, though good, is less remarkable than the other two. Overall, the camera capabilities of the Magic V5 are exceptional for a foldable smartphone.
Out of the box, the Magic V5 runs on Android 15 with the MagicOS 9.0.1 interface, which may disappoint some users expecting Android 16. Although packed with useful AI features and utilities, the UI requires a modernization overhaul. While other manufacturers like Google and Samsung have already begun using Android 16, Honor’s delay in this aspect could deter potential buyers.
Despite the outdated interface, MagicOS offers a range of functionalities including multitasking features for split-screen use. However, the inability to pin the taskbar is a notable drawback compared to other foldables. The on-device AI capabilities are commendable, offering tools for image and video editing, real-time translation, and audio-to-text transcription. Honor’s collaboration with Google has yielded a superior AI suite, making the Magic V5 a strong contender.
The Vivo X Fold 5 remains a top choice among foldables, combining excellent camera quality with remarkable battery life. Although it lacks the latest hardware, it performs well in everyday tasks. While not available outside Asia, it serves as a viable alternative to Samsung for consumers in that region. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is also worth considering, particularly for those familiar with Samsung's software, although it falls short in camera performance and battery longevity compared to the Magic V5.
Consider purchasing the Honor Magic V5 if:
You seek a stylish foldable smartphone. You require robust AI features. You desire powerful internal specifications. You need a foldable with exceptional battery life.However, you might want to reconsider if:
You prioritize having the best software experience. You expect Android 16 to be pre-installed.In conclusion, the Magic V5 is a strong entry in the foldable market, holding its own against rivals like the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Vivo X Fold 5. While the oversized camera module can be inconvenient, the outstanding camera quality, superior battery life, and impressive OLED displays make it a worthwhile consideration. Although the MagicOS interface requires refinement, the Magic V5 is an enticing option for those looking for a premium foldable smartphone in Western markets.
