Samsung received an early begin with foldables, however Chinese producers are actually totally invested on this burgeoning section. The OPPO Find N2, Xiaomi MIX Fold 2, and Vivo X Fold showcase the most effective that these manufacturers have to supply, however the greatest downside is that every one of those gadgets are restricted to China and will not get a world launch.That’s the place Honor comes into the image. The model is making an attempt to reclaim its market share following its divestment from Huawei, and a giant a part of that push is its foldable technique. I lined the Honor Magic Vs in a hands-on submit final yr, however that was the Chinese variant, and it lacked the Play Store and different Google hooks that make Android the dominant cellular platform globally.Honor stated on the time that it will launch the Magic Vs internationally, and it’s following by means of on its phrase at MWC. The Magic Vs is launching globally in Q2 2023, turning into the primary actual different to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. I used the worldwide model of the Magic Vs for simply over per week, and this is what you must know concerning the newest challenger to Samsung’s dominance on this class. Honor Magic Vs: Pricing and availability(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Honor unveiled the Magic Vs in China again in November 2022, and the foldable made its international debut at MWC 2023. Honor says the Magic Vs will go up on the market globally in Q2 2023, and whereas the model hasn’t shared availability particulars, we all know what it can value: €1,599. Honor is promoting a single model of the Magic Vs in international markets with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.While that’s some huge cash, it’s €200 lower than the beginning model of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and if you happen to’re eyeing the 12GB/512GB configuration, you will have to shell out €1,899 — €300 greater than the Magic Vs.Honor Magic Vs: Design(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The Magic Vs is Honor’s second foldable, and the primary to launch outdoors China. But you would not have guessed that by trying on the system; it has a refined design that is on par with the most effective foldables at present. Where Honor deserves quite a lot of credit score is the hinge — it makes use of simply 4 transferring elements and is 60% lighter than the first-gen Magic V, and that could be a large deal.By going with a lighter hinge, Honor was capable of match a bigger 5000mAh battery contained in the Magic Vs, giving the foldable a particular edge over the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The hinge feels clean and has a clear articulation, and the most effective half is that it stays unlocked in any angle from 45 to 130 levels — identical to the Z Fold 4.Image 1 of 6(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)While it’s 4g heavier than the Z Fold 4, that is not evident in each day use, and the burden distribution is ideally balanced. The proven fact that it closes flat means the Magic Vs is 1.3mm thinner than the Z Fold 4 when folded, and that makes a distinction when utilizing the outer display. That stated, attending to the internal display is a little bit of a trouble as the edges are flat, so I discovered myself having to exert just a little little bit of power to unfurl the system.Otherwise, the design itself is slightly elegant, and the cyan mannequin I’m utilizing appears to be like slightly good. The massive digital camera housing on the again provides the telephone a definite look, however the draw back is that it creates quite a lot of wobble when utilizing the foldable on a flat floor. The again has a shiny end and a shimmering impact that appears fairly good, however I might have preferred a matte texture right here. Furthermore, the Magic Vs misses out on ingress safety. That’s a letdown contemplating the caliber of design you are getting right here, however for now, Samsung is the one model providing this function on foldable telephones.Overall, Honor did all the correct issues with the design of the Magic Vs, and the foldable appears to be like each bit as premium as its price ticket suggests.Honor Magic Vs: Displays(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The Magic Vs is a fold-out system just like the Z Fold 4, and it has a big 6.45-inch OLED outer display. The greatest distinction over Samsung is that the outer display right here is bigger, and with a 21:9 ratio, it feels simply pretty much as good to make use of as an everyday telephone. As a outcome, I ended up utilizing the Magic Vs in its folded state way more than the Z Fold 4.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The panel itself is vibrant and has good coloration vibrancy, and I did not see any points with brightness ranges. There’s no LTPO tech right here, however the display goes as much as 120Hz, and it holds up properly  in each day use. Unfolded, the Magic Vs goes as much as 7.9 inches, 0.3 inches greater than the Z Fold 4. The internal display additionally has an OLED panel, nevertheless it solely hits 90Hz.Like the outer display, you get good colours right here, however the truth that it does not hit 120Hz is a little bit of a letdown. Most mid-range telephones and above now function 120Hz refresh as customary, and for a high-end foldable to overlook out on the function appears like an oversight. The positioning of the digital camera on the internal display can be annoying because it cuts into the display actual property when streaming movies.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)Neither display will get as vivid as these on the Z Fold 4, and that’s noticeable when utilizing the gadgets subsequent to one another. Honor ought to have carried out just a little extra on this regard — notably across the internal display — and whereas each panels are serviceable, they do not measure as much as what Samsung is providing on its foldable.There is the inevitable crease right here, nevertheless it is not as noticeable because the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The Find N2 continues to be the most effective round if you would like a foldable with an almost invisible crease, however Honor did a very good job on this space. The Magic Vs additionally manages to shut totally flat with no seen hole in any way between the screens, making it look that a lot sleeker.Honor Magic Vs: Performance and battery(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)For a telephone launching in Q2 2023, the Magic Vs does not have the newest {hardware} — it misses out on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, as a substitute providing the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Now, the 8+ Gen 1 continues to be a robust chipset in its personal proper, and holds up simply high quality. But it does not have the identical effectivity because the 8 Gen 2, and does not fare as properly throughout sustained efficiency.Of course, I haven’t got any foldables powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, however utilizing the Magic Vs alongside the most effective Android telephones of 2023, I observed the system getting hotter throughout prolonged gaming classes. Other than that, it presents an analogous degree of efficiency as Qualcomm’s newest chipset, and that should not change for a number of years.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryHonor Magic VsOSMagicOS 7.1 based mostly on Android 13Outer Display6.45-inch 120Hz OLED, 2560 x 1080, HDR10+, 1200 nitsInner Display7.9-inch 90Hz OLED, 2272 x 1984, HDR10+, 800 nitsChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 1 x 3.0GHz Cortex X2, 3 x 2.5GHz Cortex A710, 4 x 1.8GHz Cortex A510, Adreno 730, 4nmRAM12GBStorage512GB UFS 3.1Rear digital camera 154MP f/1.9 Sony IMX 800, 1.0um pixels, PDAFRear digital camera 250MP f/2.2 wide-angle lens, 122-degree FoVRear digital camera 38MP f/2.4 telephoto, 3x optical zoom, OISFront digital camera16MP f2.5 ffixed focusIngress protectionNoneSecuritySide-mounted fingerprint sensorAudioStereo sound, USB-C Battery5000mAh, 66W wired chargingDimensions (unfolded)160.3 x 141.5 x 6.1mmDimensions (folded)160.3 x 72.6 x 12.9mmWeight267gColorsCyan, BlackHonor is rolling out the Magic Vs in a single configuration with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. You miss out on UFS 4.0 storage, however I did not see any points in any way in the case of the storage. Elsewhere, you get Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, a good set of Sub-6 5G bands, dual-band GPS, twin SIM connectivity with the power to make use of an eSIM, and NFC.The side-mounted fingerprint reader is quick to authenticate, and it is ideally positioned the place you relaxation your thumb on the aspect. The vibration motor is great, delivering granular suggestions that feels nice whereas utilizing navigation gestures and the keyboard.Thanks to a big 5000mAh battery, the Magic Vs lasts longer than the Z Fold 4 and nearly each different foldable. I did not have any points getting the foldable to final a full day even with heavy use, and within the week I used the system, the battery did not go under 20%. While I’m not a fan of the truth that the internal display is restricted to 90Hz, it was clearly carried out to extend battery longevity.There’s excellent news on the charging entrance as properly, with the Magic Vs that includes 66W wired charging. You’ll discover a 66W charger bundled within the field, and the system takes just below 45 minutes to completely cost the battery. The charger makes use of a USB-A connector and is slightly cumbersome, however the truth that it is included is a giant deal in and of itself. The telephone misses out on wi-fi charging; like ingress safety, that exact function is restricted to Samsung’s foldables in the intervening time.Honor Magic Vs: Cameras(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The Magic Vs has three cameras on the again: a 54MP Sony IMX800 fundamental lens that is joined by a 50MP wide-angle with 122-degree discipline of view, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS. You get twin 16MP cameras — one on the duvet display, and one over the internal display — they usually function the identical lens and have mounted focus. The wide-angle lens doubles as a macro shooter, and it does a very good job on this space.When folded, the digital camera interface is much like different manufacturers; you get a ribbon on the backside with all of the taking pictures modes, toggles for the assorted lenses, AI results, flash, magnificence results, and so forth. The interface stretches to fill the display when unfurled, with the shutter button and modes on one aspect and the toggles on the opposite.Now, whereas the hinge of the Magic Vs may be locked at varied angles, there is not any method to leverage that for taking photographs. Samsung’s foldables do an incredible job on this space with FlexForm mode — the place the viewfinder is pushed to at least one aspect and the controls to the opposite half — and OPPO can be getting in on the motion with the Find N2 and N2 Flip. Annoyingly, the Magic Vs does not have any of those options, and due to the best way the interface is laid out, it is laborious to even take a photograph with the internal display half-folded — the shutter button sits alongside the crease.You additionally miss out on different options like the power to take selfies with the rear cameras. You can use the outer display as a preview, nevertheless it serves as only a viewfinder — you aren’t getting any controls right here. These are primary options that different manufacturers are getting proper, and for a €1,600 telephone to overlook out on this space appears like an oversight.Image 1 of 8(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)While the interface does not take full benefit of the foldable kind issue, the Magic Vs takes good photographs in most conditions. Daylight pictures from the 54MP digital camera are vibrant and have good dynamic vary, with no seen noise in any way. Colors are detailed and do not look too saturated, foliage is rendered appropriately, and whilst you can take full-res 54MP pictures, they do not ship extra element.The wide-angle lens does an excellent job in its personal proper, producing photographs of the identical caliber as the primary module. I additionally preferred the pictures I received out of the telephoto lens, and Honor did a very good job with the auxiliary cameras. The telephone takes vibrant pictures in low-light situations, with the Night mode kicking in routinely — like most different telephones, there is not any method to flip it off. The auxiliary cameras measure as much as the primary lens in difficult conditions as properly, and that is nice to see.Overall, I’ve zero points with the cameras on the Magic Vs, and the one factor lacking right here is the added feature-set to completely make the most of the foldable design.Honor Magic Vs: Software(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)I used the Honor Magic Vs for a bit again when it launched, however as that variant did not have the Play Store and different related Google companies, I could not use it as my each day driver. Thankfully, the worldwide model does not have any such shortcomings, and it comes with MagicOS 7.1 based mostly on Android 13 out of the field and consists of all the Google suite of companies.While it is nice that the telephone is launching with Google companies, utilizing the present iteration of MagicOS 7.1 took me straight again to the early days of Chinese ROMs. ColorOS, MIUI, and Funtouch OS really feel refined now, however their preliminary variations had been clearly aimed toward a Chinese viewers and missed out on quite a lot of options that we take without any consideration. That’s the case on the Magic Vs as properly — there is not any app drawer, you will not discover any Material You influences in any way, and the system misses out on foldable-focused options that debuted with Android 12L, like a break up notification pane and a taskbar.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)As a outcome, though the Magic Vs is working Android 13, it does not really feel that manner. The overt customization together with the truth that you aren’t getting an app drawer makes utilizing the foldable that rather more annoying, and throwing a launcher on the drawback does not sort things. I have a tendency to make use of Lawnchair, and switching to the launcher broke gesture navigation — I needed to press the again button to exit the overview menu — and I could not get any icon packs to load. It did not scale throughout the internal display both, so I needed to swap again to the default residence display.The greatest downside to the software program is the shortage of the foldable-focused options. Honor stated it labored with Google to allow foldable use circumstances, however I do not see that in motion. The better part about utilizing the Z Fold 4 is the software program, and whereas Honor nailed the {hardware} transient, it clearly has quite a bit to do on the software program aspect of issues.(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)That stated, there are some things that MagicOS 7.1 does properly, and a type of is multitasking. It’s straightforward to arrange multi-window mode on the internal display, and you need to use floating home windows as properly. While there is not a taskbar, you’ll be able to pull up a sidebar with a protracted press of the again gesture, and you may customise it.The Magic Vs will get three Android OS updates together with 5 years of safety updates, one lower than what you get with Samsung and most Chinese producers.Honor Magic Vs: The competitors(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the plain different to the Honor Magic Vs, with Samsung providing the most effective general package deal on this class. The Z Fold 4 has a narrower outer display and the hinge is not as clean, and it does not shut totally flat. That stated, it has an enormous benefit in that it presents IP68 mud and water resistance, a function no different foldable has in the intervening time. You additionally get the most effective software program of any foldable, with Samsung delivering significant additions that make the Z Fold 4 an absolute pleasure to make use of.There is not a lot else in the intervening time if you happen to’re trying to purchase a foldable outdoors China. While I just like the Find N2 fairly a bit, I would not advocate choosing it up because it does not have Google companies out of the field.Honor Magic Vs: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)You can purchase this if:You need a foldable with a refined designYou want a big outer display and a hinge that closes totally flatYou’re searching for the foldable with the most effective battery lifeYou want good camerasYou should not purchase this if:You need easy-to-use software programYou want foldable-focused optionsYou want a telephone with ingress safetyYou need wi-fi chargingIt is not honest to pit the Magic Vs towards different Chinese manufacturers as these foldables are nonetheless restricted to China. The proven fact that Honor is launching the Magic Vs in international markets makes the foldable the primary actual menace to Samsung’s dominance on this class, and fortunately, Honor received quite a bit proper.The Magic Vs feels nice in each day use, and quite a lot of that has to do with the hinge design; the lighter hinge system simply feels higher, and it closes totally flat with no seen hole — giving it a definite edge over the Z Fold 4. There is not a lot in the best way of a visual crease both, and whereas it is not pretty much as good because the Find N2, it’s positively much less intrusive than the Z Fold 4. My solely quibble on this space is that the internal display is restricted to 90Hz — a 120Hz panel would have made the Magic Vs that rather more engaging.While Honor clearly nailed the design transient, it has quite a lot of work to do on the software program entrance. In its present iteration, MagicOS 7.1 does not maintain a candle to One UI 5.1, ColorOS 13, and even Funtouch OS 13. The interface misses out on primary options like an app drawer, and you aren’t getting any foldable-focused options launched in Android 12L.Honor’s Magic Vs is notable as a result of it’s the first credible menace to Samsung’s foldable dominance in international markets, and that is at all times good for the class as a complete. But the software program is underwhelming for a tool that prices this a lot, and that makes me unwilling to advocate the Magic Vs — for now, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 continues to be the higher all-round system.