The HONOR Magic V5 might just be the last major foldable phone of 2025—and depending on how you see it, that timing could either be a blessing or a curse. Late arrivals are expected to do more. They face the inevitable comparisons, the “but is it better than Samsung’s latest Fold?” questions, and the lingering sense that we’ve already seen it all before.
This is HONOR’s last big launch of the year. Some people might see that as risky—arriving after Samsung’s Z Fold 7 and other rivals. But maybe that timing helps. HONOR had the chance to study what others got right, and where they fell short.
I’ve been using the Magic V5 for only a short while. A full review is coming soon. For now, I’ll share some early impressions that might help you decide if this foldable deserves your attention.
First Impressions: Thin, Almost Unbelievably Thin
Let’s start with what stands out the most. The Magic V5 measures 4.2 mm when unfolded, and 8.8 mm when folded shut. These numbers are hard to picture until you hold it. Imagine stacking two credit cards. That’s about the folded thickness.
Compared to HONOR’s last foldable, the V4, the difference looks small—just 0.2 to 0.3 mm. Yet it feels different in the hand. Slimmer, cleaner, easier to slip into a pocket. That’s perception for you. Tiny numbers on paper can feel bigger in real life.
Side by side with the Samsung Z Fold 7, the Magic V5 looks almost like a regular phone. In fact, when folded, it’s slimmer than some bar-style flagships. That caught me off guard. I even lined it up against an iPhone 16 Pro Max and found myself double-checking the dimensions.
How did HONOR pull this off? The answer lies in the battery. The company has pushed ultra-thin cell technology further than before. Their marketing even compares the cells to sheets of paper. That sounds over the top, but when you see the phone, you start to believe it.
Design: Subtle, Premium, and Slightly Quirky
The review unit I received is – perhaps the most impressive of all, called “Reddish Brown.” It shifts from a red leathery texture to a more reflective shade depending on how the light hits. HONOR has added a glossy-like effect that makes the sides of the phone shimmer without looking cheap. I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but after a few days, it’s grown on me.
The edges of the frame are flattened but still have a slight curve, which makes it comfortable to hold. Around the camera module, HONOR has used a Clous de Paris texture—fine, ridged detailing that gives the design a touch of elegance. It’s the kind of finish you normally see on watches, not phones.
Now, about that camera bump. Because the phone itself is so thin, the module sticks out more than usual. It isn’t ugly, but it does feel oversized compared to the rest of the device. I’m on the fence about it. Some people might find it bold. Others will see it as clunky. Personally, I don’t mind—it’s just something you notice right away.
Performance: Flagship-Level Power
HONOR has equipped the Magic V5 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. This is the same processor you’ll find in most top-end Android phones in 2025. That matters because foldables often use weaker or older chips. HONOR didn’t take that shortcut.
So far, performance feels excellent. Apps open instantly. Scrolling is smooth. Jumping between the cover screen and the larger inside display feels seamless. I also ran a few quick gaming tests, and the results were strong.
Compared to Samsung’s Z Fold 7, the Magic V5 seemed to sustain higher frame rates for longer in the same titles. That’s not a full benchmark, but it’s enough to suggest HONOR’s cooling and software are tuned well.
Of course, I need more time before I can confirm how it holds up under heavier loads. Still, the early impression is clear: this is one of the fastest foldables you can buy right now.
Battery: Size Meets Speed
Battery life has always been the Achilles’ heel of foldables. Thin bodies mean small batteries. The Magic V5 pushes back on that narrative.
Its capacity is 5,820 mAh. That’s only about 200 mAh smaller than Vivo’s X Fold 5, yet the HONOR is slimmer overall. More importantly, it’s far bigger than the 4,400 mAh cell inside the Samsung Z Fold 7. The gap is obvious, and Samsung will need to respond.
In my short time with the V5, I’ve been impressed. A day and a half of use seems realistic, maybe more if you’re light on gaming and video streaming. When you do need to charge, you get 66W wired charging and 55W wireless charging. Both are quick. HONOR includes the charger in most regions, though not in the EU.
That decision will frustrate some buyers, but at least the phone itself supports fast speeds.
Cameras: Not an Afterthought
Many foldables treat cameras as a secondary feature. HONOR didn’t. The Magic V5 offers a triple-lens setup that feels worthy of a flagship. The telephoto is particularly good. Despite the high megapixel count, the AI-assisted zoom doesn’t overdo the smoothing. Shots of buildings and street signs came out sharp and clear.
The ultra-wide also impressed me. Too often, “ultra-wide” means “slightly wider.” Here, it really does capture a broader field of view without distorting too much at the edges.
Video is equally solid. Colors look natural, and stabilization seems reliable, at least in my early tests. I’ll push it harder in low light for the full review, but so far, it feels like HONOR has avoided the trap of underpowered foldable cameras.
Living With the Magic V5
The question that keeps circling in my head is simple: does being thinner actually matter? At first, I wasn’t sure. Foldables are all about versatility—phone when closed, tablet when open. Why obsess over thinness? But after carrying the V5 around for a few days, I get it.
Thinness changes the experience. The phone slips into a pocket more naturally. It feels lighter when you hold it one-handed. Even typing on the cover screen feels closer to using a normal bar phone. The compromises that usually scream “foldable” fade into the background.
That said, I’m still cautious about durability. HONOR has worked on the hinge, but physics is physics. A thinner body often means less room for reinforcement. Until I’ve used it longer—opening and closing it hundreds of times—I won’t know how well it holds up. That’s one of the biggest questions for the full review.
Short Verdict (For Now)
So far, the HONOR Magic V5 is impressive. It’s slim, powerful, and packs a large battery. The cameras hold their own against traditional flagships, and the design feels refined, if not perfect.
It isn’t flawless. The camera bump looks oversized, and long-term durability remains unproven. The price is another factor we’ll need to discuss once it’s official. Still, the Magic V5 feels like one of the strongest foldables released this year—and perhaps one of the best foldables to date.
The full review is coming soon. That’s when I’ll dive deeper into the crease visibility, hinge strength, extended battery life, and day-to-day usability. But for now, HONOR deserves credit. They’ve built a foldable that challenges old assumptions and makes thinness feel like more than a spec sheet number.
Source from Gizchina
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