Foldable smartphones have been around for years, but recently, there appears to be a race to have the slimmest foldable in the market. The Honor Magic V5, freshly unveiled on July 2nd, has been making a compelling case for itself as the device that might just have cracked the code.
SLIM MATTERS
Honor’s latest foldable flagship immediately distinguishes itself with its almost impossibly slender design. At a mere 8.8mm when folded, and an astonishing 4.1mm unfolded (for the Ivory version), the Magic V5 isn’t just thin — it’s a statement. It reclaims the “world’s thinnest foldable” title, a testament to the brand’s engineering prowess. This isn’t just about bragging rights; it fundamentally changes the in-hand feel. This foldable truly feels like a regular candy bar-style smartphone when closed, shedding the bulky perception that has plagued many of its predecessors.
But thinness without substance is just a gimmick. Fortunately, the Magic V5 has the substance to back it up as a true flagship device. Underneath its sleek exterior lies the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform, and this is complemented by a generous 5,820mAh silicon-carbon battery — an impressive feat given the phone’s dimensions; and with extended usage times, this is a significant leap forward for foldable battery life. In the box, there’s a 66W charger that supports Honor SuperCharge — Honor’s term for fast charging — and 50W wireless fast charging too.
PERFORMANCE
Durability, often a contentious point for foldables, is also a major focus for Honor. The “Super Steel Hinge” is rated for over 500,000 folds, promising over a decade of daily use. Coupled with IP58 and IP59 ratings for dust and water resistance, and the “Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield” on the outer display, the Magic V5 is positioned as a robust device designed for real-world scenarios. The internal screen even boasts a Non-Newtonian Fluid Material that hardens on impact and an AI-powered system to detect foreign objects, showcasing a comprehensive approach to protection.
The display experience is incredible too. Both the expansive 7.95-inch inner foldable OLED and the 6.43-inch outer OLED screens boast a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, 1.07 billion colours, and a decent brightness of 5000 nits. The crease is also noticeably less pronounced on the Magic V5 (compared to previous models).
CAMERA SYSTEM
The triple-camera setup features an impressive 64MP Ultra Sensing Periscope Telephoto Camera with OIS, a 50MP Ultra Light-Sensitive Falcon Main Camera with OIS, and a 50MP Ultra-Wide Camera. There’s also dual 20MP front-facing cameras on both screens for good-quality selfies and video calls, regardless of the phone’s orientation.
Depending on the focal distance, the Magic V5 auto selects the most appropriate lens to shoot with; so you can go up close to an object and Macro mode activates. There’s a Motion Sensing Capture function as well that shoots in burst mode, and in Portrait Mode, you can manually adjust the bokeh, or try AI Enhanced Portrait that sharpens subjects so you capture every detail. Not a fan of crisp pictures? There’s a built-in Beauty filter where you can adjust how smooth you want your subject to be.
AI EXPERIENCE
Beyond the hardware, Honor has integrated AI deeply into the MagicOS 9.0.1 (based on Android 15) experience. The YOYO intelligent assistant offers a range of AI-powered features, from screen recognition and image editing to file search and memory management. The seamless cross-platform sharing with iOS, Android, HarmonyOS, Windows, and macOS is a further welcome addition, bridging ecosystems and enhancing productivity.
The Honor Magic V5 feels like a mature, refined step forward for foldable technology. It’s not just about pushing the boundaries of thinness; it’s about delivering a cohesive, powerful, and durable device that genuinely elevates the foldable experience. If Honor can maintain this impressive balance of design, performance, and innovation in its global rollout, the Magic V5 will be the foldable that convinces a wider audience to embrace the future of smartphones.
Singapore will be the first country outside of China to receive the Honor Magic V5. It will be available in four colours: Dawn Gold (featured throughout here), Ivory White, Silk Brown, and Black, all in a single configuration of 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage.
The device is now available for pre-order at $2,199. Pre-order by 22 July to receive up to $837 in premium gifts — including a Honor Pad 10, Honor Magic Pen, and a 1-Year Extended Warranty — while stocks last. You’ll receive the Honor Magic V5 by 23 July 2025.
