At solely 4.1mm thick at its thinnest unfolded level, the Honor Magic V5 is extremely skinny. In reality, the corporate has mentioned it is the world’s thinnest foldable measuring in simply 0.1mm skinnier than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7. That declare is debated — it relies upon whether or not you embody the built-in display protector or not — however we’re nearly actually splitting hairs at this level. World’s thinnest or not, it is mind-blowingly svelte. Well, it blew my thoughts, anyway. The different foldables I’ve been utilizing not too long ago embody Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the OnePlus Open, each of which really feel positively bloated when held towards the Magic V5. Getting my fingers on Honor’s newest foldable made me realise simply how far the know-how has are available in just a few quick years. Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content material and lab-based critiques. Add CNET as a most well-liked Google supply on Chrome.But you may pay for that skinny design. Starting at £1,700, the Magic V5 is hardly what you’d take into account low-cost, though it is round £100 cheaper than Samsung’s equal. Honor does not promote its telephones formally within the US, so for reference that UK value converts to $2,299. I’ve spent the final couple of weeks with the telephone and here is what I Iike about it. The digicam unit dominates the rear of the telephone. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Skinny design It’s an apparent begin, actually. That skinny physique addresses my primary concern about book-style foldables. It’s barely thicker than a daily telephone when folded up, so it is a lot simpler to carry and simpler to slip right into a denims pocket. Well, most of it’s. While the telephone’s physique is just 8.8mm thick when shut, the digicam unit protrudes an extra 7mm — nearly doubling the general thickness of the telephone. As a photographer I’ve by no means mentioned this a couple of telephone earlier than but it surely’s nearly a disgrace Honor did not actually in the reduction of on the cameras. I’d have liked to see what a foldable telephone felt like that was so slender the entire means throughout. While you’d in all probability think about such a skinny telephone could be extremely delicate, Honor really boasted that it holds a Guinness World Record for the heaviest weight (104 kilograms) lifted by a foldable telephone. How that truly interprets to real-world sturdiness over time stays to be seen, however the telephone definitely felt sturdy in my hands-on time. The Honor Magic V5 (backside) is an effective deal skinnier than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (prime). Andrew Lanxon/CNETIts IP59 mud and water resistance may even assist maintain it protected from spilled drinks and different particles, however Google’s newest Pixel 10 Pro Fold takes the crown as the primary foldable to supply IP68 resistance, giving it better safety towards mud or different particles getting inside and probably harming the hinge. The interior display measures 7.95 inches and gives a great deal of room for movies or video games. Like most guide foldables, it has an nearly sq. facet ratio, so widescreen films will nonetheless play as a strip via the center. The crease is not particularly noticeable below blended lighting situations. The outer 6.43-inch show fills the entrance of the telephone and it is shiny and vibrant. Powerful processor and Android software program The Magic V5 runs on the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and it put in some nice outcomes on our suite of benchmark exams. Navigating across the interface is swift and video games like Genshin Impact and PUBG play nicely, even at max settings. They additionally look nice when performed on the huge interior show. The outer show is as large and vibrant as you’d anticipate any customary smartphone to be. Andrew Lanxon/CNETIt runs Android 15 at launch though an replace to Android 16 is predicted later within the 12 months. Honor has personalized the interface with its personal UI which makes varied adjustments to the structure, apps and textual content, though it is nonetheless simple to familiarize yourself with. It comes with varied Honor AI instruments inbuilt, together with a picture editor that does issues like object removing or increasing the canvas — the latter giving me the infinitely lengthy arms I at all times dreamed of. It additionally consists of the image-to-video generative AI device that rocked my world beforehand by bringing my dad again to life. It works simply the identical right here. You’ll additionally discover the standard array of Google AI instruments together with Gemini Live and Circle to Search. Honor says the telephone will obtain a complete of seven years of software program and safety updates. The interior show is large, vibrant and the crease is minimal below most lighting situations. But as with most guide foldables, watching widescreen content material ends in a variety of wasted black area on the almost sq. facet ratio. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThe telephone has a 5,820-mAh battery, which must be good for a minimum of a full day of blended use, relying on what you stand up to with it. Spend the entire morning streaming video on the huge interior display and you may in all probability want to offer it a prime up later within the day. Doing so is fast, although: It helps 66W wired charging, so long as you’ve got a appropriate charger. Solid cameras for a foldable That huge rear bump homes three cameras: a 50-megapixel vast digicam, a 50-megapixel ultrawide and a 64-megapixel telephoto digicam offering 3x optical zoom. I’ve not spent a lot time testing the cameras, however from my early use I’d say they’re respectable. But they can not fairly problem at this time’s prime digicam telephones just like the iPhone 16 Pro or Galaxy S25 Ultra. Lovely crisp particulars and correct colours on this picture taken with the primary digicam. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Also taken with the primary digicam, this avenue scenes appears over-processed, with a crunchy HDR look and oversaturated colours. Andrew Lanxon/CNET While this avenue scene appears far more pure. Lovely stuff. Andrew Lanxon/CNET The portrait mode has carried out a very good job of separating this topic from their background and whereas the colours nonetheless look vibrant. It really works within the picture’s favor on this occasion. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Taken with the interior selfie digicam, this picture of me — ready for what turned out to be a scrumptious flat white — is sharp and nicely uncovered. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Then I wished to see what the AI editor would do with it. Apart from making use of magnificence results to my face (which make me extra pale and easy my pores and skin horribly) I additionally used the generative develop device to offer me a physique so lengthy so that you’d want oxygen to climb to the highest of it. No, I don’t know what is going on on with these pipes on the prime. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThis is just about par for the course for foldable telephones. Most firms are likely to outfit their foldables with extra midrange digicam {hardware} so as to attempt to maintain the already excessive value from going any larger. While the cameras on the V5 are definitely respectable (particularly for a foldable), if images is your primary consideration when shopping for a telephone then it is probably not the handset for you. Is the Honor Magic V5 a very good telephone to purchase? Its slim design alone makes it one of many extra spectacular foldable telephones I’ve held. It seems like a completely completely different degree of machine from earlier book-folding foldables just like the OnePlus Open and it is completely value having a look for that purpose alone. Add within the highly effective Qualcomm processor, the promised sturdiness and the strong digicam efficiency and the Honor Magic V5 has loads to supply. The digicam unit actually pokes out. Andrew Lanxon/CNETAnd it does it at a value that barely undercuts Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7. Sadly, I have never had my fingers on the Z Fold 7 so I can not say how the 2 telephones evaluate, however on paper it looks as if it is a shut battle. The primary purpose for these of you within the US to purchase the Samsung over the Honor is easy; You cannot purchase the Honor within the US. Everyone else, you may have a harder time deciding.
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