HONOR Magic V5 Review 5820mAh The World’s Thinnest Foldable Redefines Premium Smartphones

How HONOR’s Engineering Marvel Combines 8.8mm Design with 6100mAh Battery and Snapdragon 8 Elite Power

The HONOR Magic V5 has emerged as one of the most technologically impressive foldable smartphones of 2025, setting new benchmarks for thinness, battery innovation, and performance in the increasingly competitive foldable segment. Launched initially in China on July 2, 2025, and globally on August 28, 2025, this device represents HONOR’s ambitious attempt to dethrone established players like Samsung and Google in the premium foldable market . With its revolutionary silicon-carbon battery technology, 8.8mm folded thickness, and Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the Magic V5 offers a compelling package that challenges conventional wisdom about what’s possible in foldable design .

Priced starting at £1,699 (approximately $2,287) in global markets, the Magic V5 undercuts competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 while delivering exceptional specifications and innovative features . This comprehensive review examines whether HONOR’s engineering marvel delivers on its promises or falls short in critical areas that matter to premium smartphone users.

📌 Key Specifications at a Glance

🎨 Design & Build: Engineering Marvel with Premium Materials

The sleek and premium design of the HONOR Magic V5 in Dawn Gold color

The HONOR Magic V5 represents a significant achievement in industrial design, claiming the title of world’s thinnest inward-folding smartphone with a folded thickness of just 8.8mm (for the Ivory White model) and an astonishing 4.1mm when unfolded . While other color variants (Dawn Gold, Black, Reddish Brown) measure slightly thicker at 9.0mm folded and 4.2mm unfolded, the device remains exceptionally slim by foldable standards .

Despite its slim profile, the Magic V5 doesn’t compromise on build quality or durability. The device features an aerospace-grade aluminum frame with a choice of premium materials on the back, including glass (Ivory White, Black) and vegan leather (Dawn Gold, Reddish Brown) options . The hinge mechanism incorporates HONOR Super Steel with a tensile strength of 2300MPa, rated for 500,000 folds—equivalent to over 13 years of use with 100 folds per day .

Perhaps most impressively, the Magic V5 achieves IP58 and IP59 ratings for dust and water resistance, a rarity among foldables that provides protection against immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes and high-pressure water jets . The display protection is equally impressive, with an Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield on the cover screen and a Carbon Fiber Reinforced Inner Display Panel that offers 380GPa deformation resistance and 40 times greater impact strength than standard glass .

📺 Display: Dual Brilliant Screens with Cutting-Edge Technology

The Magic V5 features two exceptional displays that provide a seamless experience whether the device is open or closed. The main interior display is a 7.95-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2172 × 2352 pixels (403 PPI), offering a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 5000 nits peak brightness, and support for 1.07 billion colors and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut .

The 6.43-inch cover display uses similar LTPO OLED technology with a 1060 × 2376 resolution (404 PPI), matching the main display’s 120Hz refresh rate and 5000 nits peak brightness . Both screens feature 4320Hz High Frequency PWM dimming for reduced eye strain and Dolby Vision support for enhanced HDR content consumption .

HONOR’s display engineering extends beyond raw specifications with innovative features like AI Motion Sickness Relief, which uses dynamic dots at the screen edges to reflect vehicle movement and reduce motion discomfort—particularly useful when using the device in cars or public transportation . The almost crease-free inner display represents a significant improvement over previous foldable generations, with minimal visibility of the fold during regular use .

⚡ Performance: Flagship Power with Snapdragon 8 Elite

At the heart of the Magic V5 beats the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, built on an advanced 3nm process that delivers exceptional performance and efficiency . This flagship chipset is complemented by LPDDR5X RAM (12GB or 16GB) and UFS 4.0 storage (256GB, 512GB, or 1TB), creating a hardware foundation that handles everything from daily multitasking to demanding gaming and productivity workloads .

Benchmark results demonstrate the device’s capabilities, with an AnTuTu v10 score of approximately 2,202,004 points, a GeekBench 6 multi-core score of 8,700, and a 3DMark Wild Life Extreme score of 5,798 . These numbers place the Magic V5 among the fastest Android devices available in 2025, with particular strengths in GPU performance and AI processing capabilities .

The thermal management system incorporates a vapor chamber cooling solution that effectively dissipates heat during intensive tasks, preventing thermal throttling and maintaining consistent performance . Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and comprehensive 5G band support for global roaming capabilities .

📸 Camera System: Versatile Triple Array with Periscope Zoom

The HONOR Magic V5 features a capable triple-camera system housed in a prominent circular module on the back. The setup includes:

• 50MP Main Camera: f/1.6 aperture, 23mm equivalent focal length, with PDAF and OIS for stable, detailed shots in various lighting conditions 
• 50MP Ultra-Wide Camera: f/2.0 aperture, 122° field of view, 13mm equivalent focal length for expansive landscapes and group shots 
• 64MP Periscope Telephoto: f/2.5 aperture, 70mm equivalent focal length, offering 3x optical zoom, OIS, and capabilities for up to 100x digital zoom 

The camera system benefits from HONOR’s AI Falcon Camera algorithms that enhance image processing for improved detail, dynamic range, and color accuracy . Reviewers particularly praise the telephoto camera’s performance, noting its ability to capture detailed images with natural bokeh effects and excellent stabilization . The night photography capabilities are also impressive, with the large-aperture sensors capturing sufficient light in low-light conditions .

For selfies and video calls, the device features dual 20MP cameras—one on the cover display and another on the interior display—both with f/2.2 apertures and capable of 4K video recording . The camera app includes various AI-powered features such as AI Remove for eliminating unwanted objects from photos and AI Perfect Shot for optimizing group photos where subjects may have blinked or looked away .

🔋 Battery & Charging: Revolutionary Silicon-Carbon Technology

One of the most innovative aspects of the Magic V5 is its battery technology. The device features a silicon-carbon battery with 15-25% silicon content (depending on region), representing a significant advancement in energy density . The global model contains a 5820mAh battery, while the Chinese variant boasts an even larger 6100mAh capacity—remarkable achievements for a device of this thickness .

This innovative battery technology enables exceptional endurance, with reviewers reporting up to 37 hours of mixed usage and 5+ hours of screen-on time even with heavy use patterns . The device supports 66W wired charging (0-100% in approximately 50 minutes), 50W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wired charging for powering other devices .

HONOR’s AI Power Management System optimizes battery usage based on individual patterns, while the battery is rated for 1,200 full charge cycles while maintaining at least 80% of its original capacity—equivalent to approximately 4 years of daily charging .

📱 Software & AI Features: MagicOS 9 with Gemini Integration

The Magic V5 runs Android 15 with HONOR’s MagicOS 9.0.1 interface, offering a feature-rich experience with several AI-enhanced capabilities . The software includes deep integration with Google Gemini, serving as a comprehensive AI assistant that can help with tasks ranging from content creation to scheduling and information retrieval .

Multitasking capabilities are particularly robust on the large interior display, with support for up to four simultaneous apps through split-screen and floating window implementations . The HONOR Magic-Pen accessory (sold separately) enhances productivity with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and a “true-to-paper” writing experience across both displays .

Other notable software features include:

• HONOR Share: Enables seamless file transfers between HONOR devices and even Apple products like iPhones and MacBooks 
• AI Call Translation: Provides real-time translation during phone calls, preserving linguistic nuances 
• AI Deepfake Detection: Identifies AI-generated scam content to enhance security 
• System-Wide Switch: Simplifies migration from other platforms (HarmonyOS, iOS, Android) with transfer speeds up to 8GB/min 

While MagicOS offers extensive functionality, some reviewers note that the interface can feel overwhelming initially with numerous pre-installed apps and customization options that require patience to configure optimally .

💰 Pricing, Availability, and Variants

The HONOR Magic V5 is available in multiple configurations and color options:

Configurations:

• 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage: Global pricing to be announced
• 16GB RAM + 512GB Storage: £1,699 (global) / RMB 8,999 (China) 
• 16GB RAM + 1TB Storage (China only): RMB pricing to be announced

Color Options:

• Global Markets: Ivory White, Dawn Gold, Black 
• Asian Markets: Additional Reddish Brown/Silk Brown variant 

The device launched initially in China on July 2, 2025, with global availability beginning on August 28, 2025, in markets including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the Czech Republic . As with previous HONOR flagships, the Magic V5 is not officially available in the United States, though import options may exist .

⚖️ Final Verdict: Who Should Consider the HONOR Magic V5?

Based on its comprehensive specifications and performance, the HONOR Magic V5 emerges as an excellent choice for specific user profiles:

Ideal For:

• Tech Enthusiasts seeking the latest innovations in foldable technology
• Productivity-Focused Users who benefit from large-screen multitasking
• Early Adopters interested in cutting-edge battery technology (silicon-carbon)
• Travelers needing global network support and all-day battery life
• Content Consumers who appreciate high-quality displays with HDR support

Less Suitable For:

• Users in the United States lacking official support and warranty coverage
• Budget-Conscious Buyers unable to justify premium foldable pricing
• Photography Professionals requiring ultimate camera performance (though capable, it doesn’t match dedicated flagship cameras)
• Those Preferring Simplicity who may find MagicOS overly complex

💎 Conclusion: A New Benchmark in Foldable Innovation

The HONOR Magic V5 represents a significant leap forward in foldable smartphone technology, particularly in its revolutionary slim design, innovative silicon-carbon battery, and comprehensive feature set. By achieving what seemed impossible just a generation ago—combining extreme thinness with exceptional battery capacity—HONOR has demonstrated its engineering prowess and positioned itself as a serious competitor in the premium foldable market.

While the software experience may require some acclimation and the camera system, while capable, doesn’t quite match the best traditional flagships, the Magic V5’s overall package offers a compelling alternative to established options like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel Fold . For those seeking cutting-edge foldable technology with exceptional battery life and performance in a sleek form factor, the HONOR Magic V5 deserves serious consideration as one of the most advanced smartphones of 2025.