All the foldable phones that I have tried so far have had 1 major problem – they’re all rather chunky. They’re either besides dense or just besides thick that it feels like carrying a brick in my pocket — and this comes from individual who uses an iPhone 14 Pro Max with a Casetify case, which is already rather chunky and heavy.
However, erstwhile I saw HONOR’s Magic V2 at IFA last year, I was amazed. How has HONOR been able to pack specified specs and powerful hardware into a device this slim and light? This foldable offers something unique compared to the likes of OnePlus Open, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, and Pixel Fold. And now, after having spent a good part of more than 3 weeks with it, I think it has the possible to be the best foldable telephone of the year.
Of course, there are any drawbacks, like the absence of an authoritative IP rating, the little awesome software, and the advanced price tag, even though it gets many things right. But the question remains: Can the Magic V2’s strengths justify its steep price, or do its weaknesses hold it back? Here’s our full review of the HONOR Magic V2.
Honor Magic V2
Thin, Light, and Mighty
The Honor Magic V2 is the thinnest and lightest foldable telephone on the market. The Magic V2 has a large 7.92-inch interior foldable display and a 6.43-inch cover display. It besides features a triple camera array and runs on the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
- Both cover and foldable screens are excellent
- Sleek and slim plan makes it very easy to usage and carry
- Fast charging and amazing battery life
- Smooth performance with MagicOS, thanks to a powerful chipset
- Feels like a regular telephone erstwhile closed
- Camera performance could have been better
- Lacks authoritative IP rating for dust and water resistance
- Uses Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 while Gen 3 is already available
Price and availability
Nearly six months after launching in China, HONOR officially launched the Magic V2 in Europe and the UK on January 26, 2024. There’s only 1 model of the foldable, which comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of retention and is priced at £1,699.99 (~$2,150) in the UK and €1,999 in Europe.
While it is simply a crucial jump compared to the Magic Vs, which retailed for £1,399, HONOR is offering various pre-order incentives. The pre-order gifts include Bang & Olufsen Headphones valued at £459, 6 months of screen protection, and a 66W HONOR SuperCharge Power Adapter. If you place your order before March 1, 2024, you can catch an additional £200 discount by utilizing the code “AV2PR200” at checkout.
The HONOR Magic V2 comes in 2 colour options: Phantom Purple and Black Vegan Leather. It seems that the Magic V2 RSR edition, which the company has developed in partnership with Porsche, will only be available later this period — the company has teased its launch at MWC later this month.
plan and Display
Pocketnow / Sanuj Bhatia
Let’s start with the design, and as you might have already figured out, the HONOR Magic V2 is incredibly thin and light foldable. This device is only 4.7mm thin erstwhile unfolded and 9.9mm thin in the folded state. To put this in perspective, it’s akin in thickness to today’s regular slab phones; for example, OnePlus’s latest OnePlus 12 is 9.2mm thick.
The device is besides rather lightweight, weighing either 237g (glass version) or 231g (vegan leather version), depending on the variant you choose. For comparison, Samsung’s latest Galaxy S24 Ultra besides weighs 233 grams. In the hand, the Magic V2 feels like a regular slab telephone erstwhile it’s closed, thanks to it being highly thin and slim.
On the back, you get a triple-camera setup in a somewhat protruded rectangular cutout with HONOR branding on the bottom. I truly like the finish of the Phantom Purple unit I have here with me. As for the buttons, they’re well-placed and on the other side erstwhile unfolded, making them easy to use. erstwhile folded, they’re at different levels (and height), which makes them easy to differentiate. And for those wondering, the power button besides doubles as a fingerprint reader.
HONOR Magic V2 next to an iPhone 14 Pro Max
Now, let’s talk about the hinge, which is constructed from a durable Titanium alloy and tested for over 400,000 folds, according to HONOR. It makes a small squeaky sound erstwhile opening, but it is overall truly sturdy. The hinge allows you to open the device at an angle between 60 and 150 degrees, and erstwhile folded, there’s no gap between the 2 halves. However, the device is so slim, and since there is no gap, I initially found it hard — and was almost tense — about beginning it besides forcefully.
However, the overall build quality is premium, utilizing materials like glass, metal, and titanium. The device feels luxurious. For the front display protection, HONOR has opted to usage a Nanocrystal Glass 2.0 — no Corning Gorilla Glass here — but the company says this glass offers 10 times better drop opposition than typical glass. There is no authoritative IP dust or water opposition here, which could have provided extra assurance out there in the wild, but it seems HONOR has left that for the next version.
Pocketnow / Sanuj Bhatia
But, in case you’re worried about your device, HONOR includes a kickstand case in the box for added protection. The satin glass finish of the Magic V2 can be slippery, and given its price, you wouldn’t want to hazard dropping it. The kickstand case, which has a leather-like finish, provides a better grip as well as any protection from regular wear and teardrop protection (including the hinge).
While you can perfectly usage this telephone only with the front 6.43-inch OLED display, the real magic happens erstwhile you unfold the device. You are welcomed to a large 7.92-inch OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a pixel resolution of 2,344 x 2,156. But, the best part of the Magic V2 is that the display crease is barely noticeable. I handed over my Magic V2 unit to quite a few first-time foldable device users, and they were left amazed at how subtle the crease is; you truly gotta look for it.
Pocketnow / Sanuj Bhatia
Both the outer and interior displays are of excellent quality. The cover screen boasts a 6.43-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and an awesome highest brightness of 2500 nits. The interior display has a highest brightness of 1600 nits, making it easy visible outdoors. Not only that, but both screens support HDR10+ playback, providing an outstanding media consumption experience.
Similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Magic V2 supports stylus input, but HONOR doesn’t include a stylus in the standard edition package. The Porsche plan variant does come with a stylus in the box, but there doesn’t appear to be a purchasable accessory for the standard edition on the company’s website.
Software and Performance
Honor Magic V2
The HONOR Magic V2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. And while it may not be the latest chip on the block – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 takes that crown — the foldable inactive offers fantastic performance for your everyday needs. Coupled with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, this foldable runs snappy. Apps open rapidly (and stay in memory), the gameplay is smooth (even during long periods), and it doesn’t overheat.
While any may say that the staggering €2000 price does not justify getting a year-old chip, and while there’s any fact to that argument, we have come to the day and age where the chipsets are more powerful than what we require, making the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 more than capable. In fact, it is the same chipset that powers the OnePlus Open and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, so you won’t miss out on anything.
Regarding gaming, popular titles like “Player Unknown’s conflict Grounds,” “EA Sports FC Mobile,” and even Netflix’s latest GTA games make excellent usage of the interior screen, taking up the full space and providing an immersive experience. Overall, you’ll be pleased with the speedy performance of the V2 fold.
Pocketnow / Sanuj Bhatia
Now moving onto software, the Magic V2 runs on MagicOS 7.2, based on Android 13 out of the box. While it may not be the latest software, HONOR tells me the device will receive Android 14 sometime in the future. In fact, HONOR tells me that it will supply 4 years of software upgrades and 5 years of safety updates for this device, which is on-par with what its rivals offer. And for those wondering, the Magic V2 comes with Google Play store and all Google services out of the box (if that was always a question).
As for the MagicOS 7.2, it is heavy skinned, and just like another Chinese ROMs, it is heavy modded to look like iOS. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing; you get plenty of customization options in the settings, from changing the Always On display to the themes, and app icons. But it’s just that I’m more of a fan of a Pixel-like UI. Regardless, the software on Magic V2 is polished and user-friendly. App switching between the cover screen and the interior foldable screen is instantaneous, and often, apps adapt to the screen without requiring relaunching.
Pocketnow / Sanuj Bhatia
The Magic V2 supports multitasking with up to 3 apps open simultaneously (two side by side and a 3rd with a floating window on top). You can add even more apps and store them in a sidebar for easy access. Entering the multitasking view is beautiful seamless as well. erstwhile you’re utilizing the interior screen and the app is in full-screen mode, you’ll see a tiny bar appear over the app, and then you can either control to full-screen, side-by-side mode, or floating views.
However, there’s no conventional dock at the bottom. Instead, HONOR uses a different navigation style, where you press and hold the back button, and a tiny side screen of apps appears. It’s not necessarily bad, just a unique approach compared to what you might be utilized to, especially if you’ve been utilizing an iPad for years like me.
On the whole, the Magic V2 is simply a multitasking powerhouse, and if you’re a power user who is utilized to doing things side by side, you’ll love this foldable. While HONOR has to work with any partners and app developers to full optimize apps for this foldable, most of the essential apps work as required out of the box and that results in an enjoyable experience.
Pocketnow / Sanuj Bhatia
Speaker
Until now, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has been the gold standard for stereo sound setup for me. Most Android phones neglect to match the iPhone’s deep and powerful audio quality — which, in my opinion, makes or breaks the media consumption experience of a device. However, the Magic V2’s speakers are a pleasant surprise. They deliver exceptional sound that’s unlike any another Android telephone I’ve utilized before. The audio is rich, loud, and packs a punch, putting it on par, if not better, than my iPhone.
Camera
Pocketnow / Sanuj Bhatia
Foldable phones frequently lag behind conventional smartphones in terms of camera performance, and the same holds actual here. On paper, the HONOR Magic V2 has a beautiful versatile camera setup, including a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 50MP f/2.0 ultra-wide camera, and a 20MP f/2.4 telephoto sensor with 2.5x optical zoom. There’s besides a 16MP selfie shooter on both the cover and foldable interior screens.
In good lighting conditions, the camera fares great. It captures sharp, detailed images with vibrant (and sometimes overly punchy) colors. Colors aren’t washed out, if anything, and the camera captures clear details and eye-catching contrasts. However, it’s worth noting that the primary camera tends to overprocess images, making them look somewhat artificial or overly vibrant at times.
One thing I noticed is that the shutter velocity of the primary camera is very fast. This means the foldable excels at capturing fast-moving subjects. For example, check out the image below of a road sign captured from a moving bus at 50km/h – the details are impressively crisp.
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The 2.5x optical zoom camera proves useful in various scenarios and delivers detailed and sharp results. And even though there’s a 10x zoom option in the camera app, I’d advise against utilizing it, as the resulting images tend to be blurry and noisy, as shown in the samples below. The ultra-wide images keep good detail, though there is simply a slight colour shift. In low-light conditions, the camera performs on par with another foldables, preserving colour accuracy and producing pleasing-to-eyes photos.
Overall, if you like the image processing kind of iPhones, which tends to be more toned down and natural-looking, you might find the HONOR Magic V2’s camera a bit besides vibrant. However, if you like photos with details and vibrant colors, you’ll love this camera. You can check out our full camera samples of the Magic V2 down below:
Camera Samples
Battery
Pocketnow / Sanuj Bhatia
Now, this is where the Magic V2 beats all another foldable on the market. Despite being this thin and slim, the Magic V2 features a large 5,000 mAh cell, which is more than what all another foldable on the planet offers. This has been possible due to a fresh silicon battery tech that HONOR is utilizing in the Magic V2, and the foldable does offer exceptional battery life. You can easy go a full day on a single charge, and the latest device update seems to have further improved this.
Even with extended usage of the interior foldable screen, which consumes more power due to its size and 120Hz refresh rate, I consistently ended my day with at least 20% battery remaining. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and MagicOS 7.2 seem optimized adequate for a good battery experience.
In terms of charging, the Magic V2 provides 66W fast USB-C charging, which can take the device from 0% to 100% in about 45 minutes. Unfortunately, there is no wireless charging, which is kind of disappointing given the premium price of the device. Nevertheless, a fast top-up in the morning should easy keep you powered throughout the day.
Final Verdict
Pocketnow / Sanuj Bhatia
So, the question remains: is the HONOR Magic V2 worth spending £1,700? Well, the answer to this question is simply a bit complicated. On 1 hand, the Magic V2 stands out as an ultra-thin and lightweight foldable that feels amazingly like a regular phone. It packs a capable processor, a large battery that easy lasts a full day, and impressively fast charging. Its cover screen offers a acquainted telephone experience, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, which has a narrower cover screen – something I’m not a fan of.
However, it’s crucial to consider that the Magic V2 lacks wireless charging, an authoritative IP rating for water and dust resistance, and it comes with a hefty price tag. That said, erstwhile you consider the overall package the Magic V2 delivers, it surely ranks among the best foldable phones available. It’s peculiarly appealing if you’re looking to transition from a conventional Android telephone since it offers a foldable experience in a likewise sized form factor.
However, if you’re willing to wait for foldable prices to drop and stick with a regular smartphone for now, that’s a valid choice — possibly even wait for the company’s Magic6 Pro. However, with the Magic V2, HONOR has set a fresh standard for foldable devices, and it’ll be intriguing to see how the competition responds in the coming year.
Honor Magic V2
The Honor Magic V2 is the thinnest and lightest foldable telephone on the market. The Magic V2 has a large 7.92-inch interior foldable display and a 6.43-inch cover display. It besides features a triple camera array and runs on the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
