Foldable phones have long had a bad reputation. Too thick, too heavy, with batteries that die just by looking at TikTok, cameras that prefer to pretend to belong in the middle class, and apps that still don't know how to behave on two screens. Waterproof? Half-hearted. Sensitivity? Too bad for anyone who has ever had their phone slip out of their hands. All of this sounded like a typical description of a foldable phone from 2023 until recently. Then along comes the Honor Magic V5 and confidently says: "No thanks, I'm not making these compromises anymore."
Let's admit it: Foldable phones tend to look like a futuristic experiment that slipped out of a lab. Honor Magic V5 impresses at first handshake. The white version weighs only 217 grams, measures a mere 4.1mm when open and 8.8mm when closed — figures that come dangerously close to conventional phones. While Honor's design language may not win awards for artistic daring, the ergonomics are convincing. The 6.43-inch front display is almost ideal for everyday use, although some would like a bit more space.
Two screens without compromise
When you open the phone, a 7.95-inch LTPO OLED display is revealed, while its 6.43-inch sibling awaits you outside. Both with 120 Hz refresh rate, both with a brightness of up to 5000 nits and both with high-frequency dimming to protect your eyes from fatigue. In short: sunny beach, cafe or home couch — Honor Magic V5 is readable everywhere.
The Honor Magic V5 is extremely readable in bright rooms or even on the beach.
The little things that count
He's hiding under the hood Snapdragon 8 Elite, connected to Wi-Fi 7, which translates to: no more excuses for performance. The battery is among the largest in the world of foldables — 5820mAh in the global version, and with Chinese configurations even up to 6100 mAh. Charging? 66 W by cable and 50 W wireless, which translates to: fast really means fast.
The camera that refuses to be boring
Honor is in Honor Magic V5 built five cameras. One 20 MP on the front, another 20 MP on the internal screen, and a triple on the back: a 50 MP main sensor with optical stabilization, a 64 MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x zoom, and another 50 MP ultrawide. The special feature is Honor's AiMAGE system, which promises better zoom, better night shots, and less blurred moving objects with the help of artificial intelligence. If this is true, the foldable will finally be able to become a serious photographer. Although we have not yet tested the photos in all conditions, we were surprised by the performance of AiMAGE, which really naturally improves photos and turns average ones into great ones.
Skepticism dominated by enthusiasm
The first reactions of tech YouTubers are unanimous: the Honor Magic V5 impresses with its mass, thinness and almost invisible crease on the screen. Consensus? The hardware is excellent, but software optimization of applications remains an eternal stumbling block for all foldable phones. Honor bears no blame for this. I agree with this. Perhaps Honor optimized everything too much and created a dimensionally "medium-sized phone", but I would have preferred to see it a little larger.
Common sense at last
It's not for everyone. For me personally, it's still too sensitive, as my phone is my main tool and I admit — it lands on the ground almost every day. That's why I praise the IP58/IP59 rating, which is a serious improvement, but still falls short of the classic IP68 that classic smartphones like to boast about. But if I look outside my perspective and see this device in the hands of a polished gentleman or businesswoman, this phone will impress, as it combines a phone, a workstation, a camera, and a tablet all at once.
Supplement for "adults"
For those who like to doodle, sign and draw, it is Honor Magic V5 also compatible with the Magic Pen, which works on both screens. It is not included in the package, but can be purchased separately — just like "serious adults" who like neat notes (or at least the convincing appearance of having them).
It will be available in Slovenia in white and black.
Conclusion: the first serious everyday foldable?
Honor Magic V5 is the first foldable phone that makes skeptics stop rolling their eyes. Its thinness, lightness, performance, and battery finally show that foldables are no longer just expensive prototypes for enthusiasts, but can become serious everyday phones. Like a carbon road bike: crazy about technology, impressive in numbers, and — let's be honest — a little too showy.
@janmacarol I just met Honor Magic V5 – the world's thinnest foldable phone. Thinner than a pancake, almost like a sheet of sushi seaweed. 😳 But the question is 👉 just for flex or real power? 👀 My short test is here! Don't miss it. 🚨 📌 Paid collaboration with @honorslovenija @citymagazineslo @honorglobal #HonorMagicV5 # Foldable Phone #HonorMagic #TechTok #CityMagazineTech ♬ original sound – jan.macarol.vrabec
Honor Magic V5: foldable, but not breakable — and finally good enough for a "daily driver."
