The Honor Magic V5 is a magic of slim design, powerful hardware and a camera that will sting your eyes – but is global availability still an illusion? When is it coming to Europe?!
Honor announced by Honor Magic V5, an extremely thin foldable phone that measures only 8.8mm, wears the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite, to 16 GB RAM and battery to 6 100mAhA dream on paper, but in practice...? Let's see if it's just aesthetics or if the phone also has a deeper soul.
Honor Magic V5: Thin as a sheet of paper? Almost.
If you're a fan of tech specs that measure things in tenths of a millimeter, then you'll be 8.8mm thickness in the white version of the Magic V5 applauded. With this, Honor (for a meager 0.1 mm) overtake Oppo Find N5 – which is, honestly, a victory that deserves a paper medal. And that's also why it can earn the title of the world's thinnest foldable phone.
The other color variants (black, gold, brown) are a little fatter on the 9 mm, which is still impressive until we add the camera, which protrudes from the case like a little space module and spoils that original “ultra sleek” aesthetic. Thinness? Yes, but only if you look at it from a sufficient distance… and at an angle.
When open, the Magic V5 is wide 4.1mm, which is slightly less than Oppo's 4.2mm – and at this stage we are talking about you law of diminishing returnsThe engineers have clearly already had their coffee while looking for extra space, because it simply can't get any thinner - unless we give up USB-C, a SIM card, or common sense.
Hardware without compromise
Beneath the minimalist exterior of the Honor Magic V5 lies a beast: Snapdragon 8 Elite, to 16 GB RAM and up to 1TB of internal memory. Apparently, today's Ferrari phones really need that much space – for all those 4K cat videos.
Screens? Of course two: internal 7.95″ and external 6.45″, both LTPO OLED with 120Hz refreshing and with incredible 5,000 threads brightness. Yes, brightness that almost deserves sunglasses.
The battery is a story in itself – with 5 820 mAh to 6 100mAh, depending on the configuration, with 66 W wired and 50 W wireless So, not only thin, but also extremely durable - a true fitness icon among phones.
And because today you can't do without protection: IP58/IP59 certifications mean the Magic V5 can survive dust, rain, and probably a spilled latte – although we recommend you don't experiment anyway.
Camera: be careful because it sees you
On the back of the Honor Magic V5 we find a triple camera: 50 MP main sensor, 50 MP ultrawide, and 64 MP periscope telephoto lens with 3× optical zoomThe camera bulges like the hump of a school backpack, and for good reason – better sensors and brighter apertures mean your nightclub photos will look better than your memory of them.
Both selfies (indoor and outdoor) have 20 MP, which means your “morning face” will look… let’s say, too honest.
Honor vs. Samsung: David and Goliath in tech version
Honor didn't choose the timing of the launch by chance - the Magic V5 saw the light of day just before the expected launch Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7coming July 9Samsung will likely offer a slightly thicker but more globally accessible device, while Honor will… well, stick to its promises.
Global availability of the Honor Magic V5? Sort of like a lottery ticket – theoretically possible, but practically dependent on luck, knowledge of Chinese and local ID. However, predictions suggest that Honor could arrive in Europe in August or September, but until it's on the shelves, it's all just - magic. We're aiming for IFA and Berlin, when it could be on sale in the EU as well.
Global availability: a (too) narrow circle of select people
For now, the Honor Magic V5 only exists on the Chinese market, with a global forecast expected only on IFA BerlinIf you want one today, you'll have to overcome language and logistical barriers - and be prepared to be stared at with amazement by local service centers.
Honor thus remains "that cute Chinese innovator" who would like to play in the Champions League, but still doesn't have a visa. At least not for America.
The Honor Magic V5 comes in three configurations – 12/256GB, 16/512GB and royal 16GB/1TB – and in four color variations: from classic Ivory White (white), mysterious Black, luxurious Dawn Gold (gold) to elegantly earthy Reddish BrownPrices in the Chinese market start at 8,999 yuan (approx 1.070 €) and end at 10,999 yuan (around 1.300 €), which, to be honest, is completely in line with expectations for a technological pen among the pen lovers.
But beware: there is currently no confirmation as to when – and if – the Magic V5 will arrive on European market. Honor is sticking to its proven tactic of "first at home, then maybe somewhere else", while Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is already waiting for his global premiere and is preparing for a place in the spotlight. And with Samsung's newcomer also reportedly vying for the title of the thinnest foldable phone, it seems Honor will have to rely on more than just its own magic if it wants to stay in the game.
Conclusion: ultra-thin, ultra-special… but not for everyone
Honor Magic V5 It's a fascinating piece of technology - thin, powerful and without a doubt one of the most refined foldable phones ever. The camera is impressive, the screens are breathtaking and the battery is surprisingly long-lasting.
But don't let the decimals fool you: 8.8mm The thicknesses may sound impressive, but in everyday use they don't translate into a significantly different experience. And without global availability, the Magic V5 remains something we admire from a distance – like a sports car in a showroom that we're afraid to ask for its price.
Why should you be interested?
For all of you who follow technology trends, Honor is Magic V5 an experiment that proves what's possible today. But if you're looking for a device that you can buy from your nearest carrier and use to take a selfie at sea tomorrow, then you'll probably want to wait until Galaxy Z Fold7 – a less exotic, but more accessible reality.
