HONOR Magic V5 Hands-On First Look: Slimmest Foldable Without Compromise

So I recently got an early sneak peek on the upcoming HONOR Magic V5, and I got to say, the demonstrations got me a bit blown away. The first thing that hit me is how HONOR being able to make even thinner, and yet it doesn’t feel like anything is missing.

Yeah we’ve seen thin foldables before, but there’s always some compromise somewhere. Either the battery’s weak, the camera’s just okay, or the processor feels inadequate. But with the Magic V5, HONOR has gone full “No Compromise” mode, and so far, it’s actually living up to that.

Got my hands on a unit, tried it out for some days, the full review article is brewing, but don't worry we're giving you some sort of early view as well, and here's what you need to know ahead of its launch.

No Compromise on Battery

Let’s start with the battery, because this part really surprised me during my own usage. It comes with a 5820mAh HONOR silicon-carbon battery, which is already impressive for such a slim build. HONOR even break down a unit for us to see it from the inside. You can see the battery is literally as slim as a piece or two credit cards. and ya that's 5820mAh in this two pieces of battery.

Tested it myself with some 1440p YouTube streaming on the inner screen, consumed 32% of battery, and an hour of Honor of Kings at maximum graphic settings, consumed 21% of battery. Very impressive I would say, and we'll do more testing on games and usage scenario too.

On top of that, it supports 66W HONOR SuperCharge. Personally timed it myself and it took 50 minutes to go from 1% to 100%, which is almost same like the 5120mAh on the Magic V3, so that's actually quite an improvement in charging efficiency. There’s also 50W wireless charging, which makes it super convenient if you're not a cable person.

Battery charged at each 10 minute interval

I’ve tested quite a few foldables before, and battery life is usually the weak spot as it's really hard to strike a balance between thickness and battery life. But the Magic V5 really held up.

No Compromise on Camera

I also spent time trying out the camera, and I can say confidently this is one of the best setups I’ve seen on a foldable. The 64MP periscope lens with up to 100X zoom is no gimmick and with the AI Super Zoom, it works like wonder. You can see how far away the towers are from my place at 1X zoom, and the results are still so clear and detailed.

I also did some impromptu night shots when I went for dinner. The photos came out vibrant with good control over light and shadows with very minimal noise. There isn't much significant difference under Normal Mode and Night Mode most of the time, but when the lighting conditions gets challenging, it would get more obvious. I still find both modes equally good, and I would say it depends on your main subject. If you're capturing a subject with the night view as the background, Normal mode looks more natural to me, and if your focus is the night view itself, Night Mode would make it looks more vibrant.

▾Left: Normal, Right: Night Mode

▾Left: Normal, Right: Night Mode

▾Left: Normal, Right: Night Mode

▾Left: Normal, Right: Night Mode

I also happened took a shot of the moon with the Magic V5 using the 100X zoom and it come out way better than I expected.

As usual, HONOR also packed in some fun AI tools like AI Eraser and AI Cutout etc., which is pretty useful when you want to do some pro-level quick touch-ups right in your gallery app before posting it. We'll try them out more in our upcoming full review article.

No Compromise on Durability

Now, while I haven’t personally done any drop tests and stress tests, I did get to see a proper durability showcase demonstrated by HONOR. That’s where HONOR really showed off what this phone can take.

The inner screen uses Non-Newtonian fluid technology. Basically, it uses a type of material that hardens on impact, but its liquid in natural. During the session, they showed how this screen material could take serious hits while maintaining the softness when gently touching it. This tech is now integrated into the Magic V5’s inner display to make it much more durable and drop resistant.

The hinge is equally impressive. HONOR’s second-generation Super Steel Hinge is incredibly strong despite its lightweight. According to HONOR's lab test, it's rated for 500,00 folds. Some simple math right here, means even if you open and close it 100 times a day, it’ll still last around 13 years, and that is wild. In case you are not good with numbers, HONOR also did some actual demonstration on the durability. The hinge is able to withstand a dumbbell up to 35kg, and HONOR even go all out and use 3 units of Magic V5 to lift a sofa!

On the outside, the screen is protected by HONOR’s Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield, which gives better scratch resistance and drop resistance, perfect for clumsy users like me, while the back uses aerospace special fiber that gives 40 times more impact resistant (not for the Silk Brown variant which is of a leathery material).

Plus, with IP58 and IP59 ratings, it’s better protected against dust and water, which helps prevent issues like screen malfunction or those dreaded green lines. There's also an AI-powered Foreign Object Detection feature which notifies user when particles as small as 0.8mm enters the inner screen, but it have yet to trigger throughout my usage. We'll see if it works in our coming days of testing.

Verdict (For Now): Foldable Without the Flaws?

Using the HONOR Magic V5 for just this few short time has already changed the way I see foldables. This device isn’t just about looking sleek. It performs well, lasts long, takes great photos, and holds up under pressure.

I’ve only just started using the HONOR Magic V5, and I’m already amazed by what it can do. This phone isn't just about looking slim. It performs well, lasts long, takes great photos, and is genuinely exciting to explore. I can't wait to dive deeper and share more with you guys soon. Stay tuned for the official launch on 15th July, and also keep an eye out for our full review which will come right after the launch.