At IFA final September, I encountered the Honor Magic V2 for the primary time, which debuted in China in July 2023. The recipient of one in every of our Best of IFA 2023 Awards, the Magic V2 went world on Jan 26, 2024. Comparable to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open in measurement and efficiency, this foldable cellphone includes a thinner and lighter chassis. Honor additionally unveiled the Porsche Design model on the Leipzig, Germany, launch occasion, and we are going to publish the evaluation quickly.
Some folks expressed reservations about final yr’s Qualcomm flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. However, the Magic V2 stays potent, with 16GB RAM and 256/512GB storage choices. Its standout function is being the thinnest and lightest giant foldable available on the market, coupled with good digicam efficiency for such a slim physique.
Competition, Price, and Availability
From a show high quality and computing energy viewpoint, the Honor Magic V2 is on par with the Galaxy Z Fold 5, apart from its lack of a waterproofing IP ranking (the Fold 5 is IP X8), its thinner chassis, and its considerably sooner charging pace.
The Magic V2’s show and SoC are additionally just like the thicker Oneplus Open, apart from the digicam efficiency.
Thinner and lighter than all its foldable counterparts, the Magic V2 appears to be like like a typical 8-inch high-end smartphone, making it an interesting possibility for journey, doubling as a pill for content material consumption or work. At Ubergizmo, we’re critically contemplating ditching our cellphone and pill combo for the Magic V2, attributable to our intense touring schedule.
However, its multitasking function lags behind the heavier Z Fold 5, which additionally provides further functionalities with the optionally available new Z Fold 5 S Pen and the S Pen Pro (together with air actions and distant management just for the latter).
Launching with out Android 14, its replace program stays just like the competitors. The HONOR Magic V2 is priced at £1,699.99 within the UK, and €1,999 in choose E.U. international locations (roughly $2,150). We advocate shopping for the Honor 66W quick charger along with your order,in some international locations just like the UK, it’s supplied as a bundled present (as of right this moment).It prices solely €1 in Germany (as of right this moment), as a substitute of the €29.90 value supplied on the Honor France web site (as a substitute of the common €49.90 value, as of right this moment).
Design

The Honor Magic V2 stands out for its key design parts, notably its skinny chassis at 10.1 mm / 237 g (or 9.9 mm / 231g for the vegan leather-based model), surpassing the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (13.4mm, 253g), the Pixel Fold (12.1mm, 283g), and the OnePlus Open (11.7-11.9mm, 239-245g).
Unfolded, it measures solely 4.7 mm or 4.8 mm (glass-finish model), which is only one mm thicker than common smartphones such because the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is 8.25mm and 221 grams.
The construct high quality is great, and we think about the Honor Magic V2 one of many best-designed foldable telephones, that includes a sublime purple shade for the glass end model (our evaluation unit).
“THE BUILD QUALITY IS EXCELLENT, AND WE CONSIDER THE HONOR MAGIC V2 ONE OF THE BEST-DESIGNED FOLDABLE PHONES”
The folding expertise is smoother than the Z Fold 5. However, not like the Samsung’s giant foldable, it lacks a 45-degree folding place, which is a minimal trade-off. The redesigned hinge eliminates gaps, making the cellphone ultra-thin whereas decreasing crease depth.
The package deal features a case with a built-in kickstand, usable in numerous orientations, sustaining the Magic V2’s thinner profile in comparison with the Z Fold 5, even with the case connected.
Displays

The Honor Magic V2 includes a 6.43-inch OLED show on the entrance with a decision of 1060 x 2376,a 120Hz refresh price, and a theoretical peak brightness of two,500 nits.
Internally, it homes an almost sq. attractive 7.92-inch show with a decision of 2156 x 2344, a 120Hz refresh price, and a claimed peak brightness of 1,600 nits. HONOR highlights its 3840Hz PWM dimming tech, doubtlessly aiding customers liable to eye pressure throughout extended cellphone use.
The exterior display mirrors the dimensions of a daily smartphone with a curved proper edge, whereas the inner crease is barely noticeable throughout media consumption or gaming. Tested for 400,000 folding cycles, equal to 10 years of folding 100 occasions each day.

Camera

The Magic V2 has a typical triple rear digicam, together with a 50-megapixel fundamental, a 20-megapixel telephoto with a 2.5x optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide. There is a 16 MP punch-hole selfie digicam on every display, able to capturing 4K video at 30 fps. The rear digicam can shoot 4K video at 60 fps.
Primary digicam night time:

The Magic V2 has a barely much less performing major digicam at night time in comparison with the opposite giant foldable telephones. However, it does a great job total, and the outcomes are passable for such a skinny chassis.
The Magic V2 night time image high quality is closest to the Pixel Fold, however the particulars are barely extra blurry, partially due to the robust filtering and sharpening algorithms, particularly when you zoom in shut or crop the photographs. Besides that, the digicam does a terrific job of capturing pure colours and preserving the temper of the night time scene as you see it. The lighting stays pure and on-point and captures in a predictable method.
Overall, the digicam has good efficiency each in low mild and in shiny daylight. We couldn’t calculate Ubergizmo’s HW digicam rating attributable to an absence of particular metadata within the photographs we shot, so we can not evaluate the {hardware} digicam system towards the opposite foldable telephones we examined. We will attempt to get the data and replace the evaluation accordingly.

Ultrawide digicam:
Day: The sundown shot is de facto fascinating as a result of it challenges the digicam to concurrently seize particulars and high-dynamic vary. The Magic V2 did properly with the HDR and particulars seize (together with texture) in our exams. However, it tends to overshoot the publicity settings and different filters, making the ultimate photograph look somewhat unnatural (too shiny/vivid) in comparison with what your eyes see.

Night: At night time, the Magic V2 Ultrawide digicam does a great job of preserving the lighting, coloration, and temper of the scene. However, the ultrawide digicam module will not be as highly effective as the first (huge) digicam, and the feel of sure supplies may be troublesome to protect. In this scene, the Ultrawide shot is corresponding to what we obtained with the OnePlus Open.
Zoom digicam:
The 2.5X zoom of the Magic V2 is extra suited to seize portrait photographs than competing with telephoto cameras that function 6X or 10X optical zooms. At long-range (10X), the digicam will depend on digital zooming, making small particulars comparatively blurry in comparison with the acute zoom cameras. That apart, the final 2.5X zoom picture high quality is kind of good, however like it’s usually the case with this digicam, the photographs can typically look much less pure attributable to how the publicity is ready and the way filters are being utilized.

Camera conclusion:
The Magic V2 rear digicam system’s photograph high quality is spectacular when you think about how skinny the chassis is. Indeed, cell cameras want as a lot depth (thickness) as doable to host the digicam lenses, and HONOR appears to have efficiently balanced cellphone design and digicam high quality.
SoC, reminiscence, storage, efficiency& software program updates
Software updates
Honor commits to offering 5 years of safety patches and 4 years of Android updates for the Magic V2, aligning with Samsung and OnePlus’ assurances for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open, respectively. Google’s Pixel Fold ensures three years of Android model updates and 5 years of safety patches. While the Magic V2 ships with Android 13, one replace is required to carry it updated with Android 14. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Magic V2 is but to obtain an Android 14 replace.
It homes final yr’s Qualcomm flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with configurations of as much as 16GB RAM and 512GB storage (expandable to 1TB within the Porsche Design variant).
Perceived Performance
Performance stays fluid in each day utilization, together with 3D gaming (I attempted a couple of video games).
Measured Performance
CPU efficiency
As you’ll be able to see from the charts, the Honor Magic V2 has glorious efficiency within the context of foldable telephones regardless of its superb thinness. This might be attributable to Honor’s efforts to provide a complicated cooling system referred to as Ultra-thin Bionic Cooling System.
According to the corporate, the brand new cooling know-how combines an ultra-thin vapor chamber, ultra-high thermal conductivity graphite, thermal conductivity gel, and copper foil.
It ranks among the many highest CPU efficiency, which generally ensures that apps load quick and most duties are accomplished sooner.


GPU efficiency
From a graphics standpoint, the scores are additionally very excessive, making it a excessive performer for basic graphics (GPU efficiency) but additionally video games. Keep in thoughts that with prolonged gaming classes, the warmth will finally construct up. That’s why all devoted gaming programs are inherently thicker with additional cooling.


Battery
Battery capability
Despite its ultrathin chassis measuring 4.7 or 4.8 mm, the Magic V2 impressively integrates a 5000 mAh battery (the largest for a foldable cellphone), due to its two-part silicon carbon battery know-how.

Debuting because the thinnest twin Silicon-carbon Batteries, averaging solely 2.72mm in thickness, the progressive battery system extends its cycle life by 40%, based on HONOR.
It incorporates an electrochemical system that enhances longevity and options HONOR’s low-voltage cost energy-gathering know-how for enhanced energy output on the identical voltage as graphite-based batteries.
With common use, linked to each 5G and Wi-Fi, the Magic V2 ought to final no less than a full day on one cost. During my evaluation, which was carried out solely on Wi-Fi (with out 5G) with intermittent use, the battery lasted for 3 days. I can not vouch for battery life as battery drainage extremely varies relying on utilization, with looking and electronic mail having minimal affect in comparison with excessive workloads akin to intense photograph shoots, video streaming, or 3D gaming classes. As regular, the battery’s capability (in mAh) is your finest indicator for potential battery life.

Charging pace

The Honor Magic V2 prices 71% of its 5000 mAh battery in half-hour with the optionally available €30 66W charger (free or €1 bundle in some markets). This is just like the OnePlus Open charging time of 79% in half-hour for its 4805 mAh battery (with the included OnePlus 67W fast-charger). By comparability, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 prices 49% in half-hour with its optionally available 50W Samsung charger.
Conclusion
The Honor V2 delivers spectacular construct high quality and show high quality within the thinnest and lightest foldable type issue available on the market.
This distinctive function ought to persuade folks reluctant to hold thicker and heavier smartphones to attempt the folding smartphone expertise. Travelers ought to think about switching to the Magic V2 because it can be used as a pill for productiveness and leisure throughout flights.
Although the digicam efficiency is barely beneath the one present in aggressive units, it’s glorious for such a skinny chassis.
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Highs
- Super skinny and lightweight designed for a foldable
- Large and shiny shows for the light-weight
- Good digicam system for such a skinny physique
- Support 66W SuperCost quick charging (71% in 30 min with optionally available 66W charger)
- 5000 mAh highest battery capability for a big foldable cellphone
Lows
- No waterproof IP ranking
- No wi-fi charging
- Last yr Android 13
- Expensive (charger not included in all international locations)
- Not accessible within the U.S., you must purchase it abroad (UK, Germany, France…)
Rating + Price
- Rating: 9.6/10
- Price: ~ $2150
Filed in Foldable Smartphones, Honor, Mobile Camera Reviews, Smartphone Reviews, Smartphones and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
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