Honor Magic Vs Review: Punching Up

Worth When Reviewed

Not obtainable within the US

Ever for the reason that first Galaxy Z Fold cellphone launched – 4 years in the past – Samsung has loved primarily zero competitors within the West.

Huawei has launched a string of book-style foldables that no-one will purchase as a result of they don’t run Google; Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi have pushed their fashions in China however nowhere else; and strange gamers together with Pablo Escobar’s brother have run a string of small choices (and typically scams) to construct out {the marketplace}.

Lastly although, that adjustments. Honor is formally bringing its Magic Vs foldable to markets worldwide (besides North America), and for a worth designed to undercut its huge Samsung rival.

With a hinge that closes totally flat, a reasonably highly effective triple rear digital camera, and an exceptionally slim physique, the Magic Vs undoubtedly has the {hardware} to place Samsung as an alternative. 

There’s a predictable lack of polish that holds the software program expertise again although – and some luxurious options I’d wish to see at this worth – that make the Z Fold 4 a greater purchase for many. However what a aid to see Honor giving Samsung a run for its cash.

Design & construct

• Hinge that closes totally flat
• Exceptionally skinny for a foldable
• No IP ranking

Essentially the most attention-grabbing selection that Honor made in designing the Magic Vs is to construct it as a cellphone first, and a foldable second.

By that I imply that it’s designed to work in addition to potential when closed, supplying you with one thing fairly near a standard smartphone.

Henry Burrell / Foundry

To that finish, the Magic Vs is skinny – simply 12.9mm thick when shut, making it solely a bit heftier than the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely. Don’t get me incorrect, it’s nonetheless chunkier than mainly any customary slab cellphone, however not a lot that it feels bothersome. 

Importantly, Honor has additionally made certain that when the cellphone closes, it closes flat. Samsung’s newest foldables nonetheless shut right into a wedge form, with a slight hole between the 2 halves of the show. 

Against this the Magic Vs seals shut, feeling stable and safe when closed. If something it’s a bit too comfortable – it’s unimaginable to open with one hand, and even with each typically it feels such as you’ve bought a battle in your palms to unfold the cellphone.

That solidity in all probability helps the haptics, which have a reassuring heft to their buzzes, and are one a part of why the cellphone feels so premium within the hand.

Henry Burrell / Foundry

Honor is boastful of how a lot it simplified the hinge for the Vs – down to simply 4 elements, supposedly – however a part of the value for that’s that it’s not as succesful because the Z Fold 4 at sitting open at numerous angles, with an inclination for the display screen to slowly wobble open should you attempt to prop it up.

It’s not helped by the chunky, lopsided digital camera module. I just like the look of this – a barely curved rectange set towards the cyan or black physique of the cellphone – however it protrudes sufficient to make the cellphone exceptionally wobbly when mendacity down, and its weight imbalances issues additional when the display screen is partially open.

There’s one remaining draw back to the design right here: whereas Samsung has managed to waterproof its newest foldables, there’s no IP ranking in any respect on the Magic Vs, and Honor has stated little to counsel you may safely get this cellphone moist. It’s survived some gentle rain throughout testing, however I wouldn’t belief it with way more than that.

Henry Burrell / Foundry

As at all times, a caveat for foldables: sturdiness is difficult to foretell, and even Samsung units have routine points. Solely purchase considered one of these should you can afford for it to interrupt down, and ideally ensure you’ll be coated by good insurance coverage. That is an additional edge for Samsung, which has extra widespread restore services you may fall again on if wanted.

Screens & audio system

• Wonderful, tall 120Hz AMOLED outer show
• Sq.-ish 90Hz internal show
• First rate, however quiet, audio system

As I stated earlier than, Honor determined to concentrate on optimising the Magic Vs to work nicely when it’s closed. With that in thoughts, the corporate really put a greater panel on the cellphone’s exterior than on its inside.

Henry Burrell / Foundry

The outside cowl show here’s a 6.45in 120Hz AMOLED panel with a decision of 1080×2560. It has a quicker refresh price and better decision than the internal display screen, and runs brighter, with specs that mainly match most flagship cellphone panels, apart from missing LTPO tech for a dynamic refresh price.

I’ve discovered myself utilizing this outer show way more than the cellphone’s internal one – as appears to be meant – and it’s by no means felt like a compromise from every other cellphone I overview. It’s a fine condition, comfy dimension, and appears implausible.

That stated, the inner show is barely extra restricted. The large one is the drop to a 90Hz refresh price, however it’s additionally a contact dimmer and fewer vibrant than the opposite display screen. It’s definitely not a unhealthy show, however you’ll discover the distinction.

Henry Burrell / Foundry

As with all foldable cellphone there’s a crease within the center. It’s onerous to identify head-on, however simply seen from an angle, and deep sufficient to note as you swipe over it. In order for you the direct comparability, I’d say the crease right here is on a par with the one you’ll discover on Samsung’s Fold, and extra noticeable than on the likes of Oppo’s China-only Discover N2.

The audio system are one of many cellphone’s slight disappointments. I often don’t care a lot both means about cellphone audio system, however the ones listed below are quieter and tinnier than I’d anticipated from a cellphone this dimension. Honor has additionally put each on the entrance half of the cellphone, which means they’re on the identical aspect when it opens up, ruining the stereo impact.

Specs & efficiency

• Flagship-level Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip
• 12GB RAM and 512GB storage

One factor Honor hasn’t skimped is on energy. The Magic Vs is provided with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 – not fairly the newest flagship chip from Qualcomm, however nonetheless current, and highly effective sufficient to maintain up with essentially the most demanding stuff you are able to do on a smartphone.

For the worldwide launch, Honor has additionally determined to maintain issues easy, with only one model obtainable, outfitted with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That’s greater than Samsung presents by default, another excuse the Honor could look compelling primarily based on worth alone.

Taking a look at benchmarking apps, the Magic Vs lags behind among the newest slab flagships, however is a detailed match to the Z Fold 4 on pure efficiency.

Observe that relating to graphical efficiency, there’s a distinction between the cellphone’s two shows. Whereas the outer display screen has larger pixel density, the bigger internal display screen has extra pixels general. Which means it hits decrease body charges on the GFXBench graphics exams, and also will run video games barely slower. That’s true for any e book foldable in fact, however value taking into account.

Elsewhere, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC make up the cellphone’s networking capabilities – all par for the course.

As for biometrics, as is typical for foldables there’s no in-display fingerprint scanner, however as an alternative one is constructed into the ability button, and works nicely. Face unlock is an choice too.

Digicam & video

• Spectacular triple rear digital camera
• Versatile setup
• Two an identical selfie cameras

Most foldables compromise on cameras to some extent. That’s true right here too actually – Honor’s finest digital camera is in its Magic 5 Professional flagship, not the Magic Vs – however I’ve been impressed with how succesful the providing right here is.

Let’s begin with the rear cameras, the place you discover a trio of choices: a 54Mp, f/1.9 primary digital camera, a 50Mp ultrawide, and an 8Mp telephoto with 3x optical zoom.

Henry Burrell / Foundry

As you’d anticipate from any cellphone this worth, the principle digital camera impresses. Pictures are crisp and detailed, even in decrease gentle, with first rate dynamic vary. Colors positively skew in direction of the brilliant, punchy, and over-saturated, however not often go to this point in that route as to look completely unnatural.

Nighttime and low gentle efficiency isn’t up there with the most effective of the most effective, however the cellphone is greater than able to taking detailed photographs of a nighttime cityscape, solely sometimes tripping up on deal with vivid lights inside an in any other case darkish body – an issue even the iPhone 14 Professional Max struggles with, so the Magic Vs is in good firm.

The 50Mp ultrawide doesn’t impress as a lot. Regardless of the same sensor decision there’s a definite drop intimately if you swap to this lens, which is exacerbated by dimmer lighting. Dynamic vary suffers too, and colors usually appear darker and flatter than the principle digital camera. 

It’s removed from a foul digital camera, and stays a superb choice to have for group photographs or panoramic vistas, however don’t be fooled by the megapixel rely into pondering that is on a par with the first lens.

Fortuitously the telephoto is healthier. It’s a 3x zoom optical lens, with a digital camera app shortcut for 10x, and an choice to go so far as 30x by pinching in. 

Pictures taken at 3x zoom look good, with little noise, a great deal of element, and a superb color match for the principle shooter. Even that 10x choice marks a pointy drop in high quality although, handing over photographs with that comfortable watercolour impact even in good lighting, so I wouldn’t wish to push this zoom too far. Listed below are a couple of comparability photographs on the 3x and 10x settings:

You get two selfie cameras, one on every show, supplying you with choices for each photographs or video calls. To maintain issues easy, Honor has outfitted every show with the very same 16Mp, f/2.4 digital camera, so there’s no motive to want one over the opposite relating to picture high quality.

Selfies come out nice from each cameras, with oodles of element and pure pores and skin tones. The algorithmic portrait mode impresses too, with a variety of bokeh choices and wonderful edge detection that handles the wispy ends of my hair nicely, with solely a few stray strands caught within the blur.

See should you can spot the distinction between the 2 lenses in these photographs (with the internal digital camera first in every pairing):

Video recording goes as much as 4K@60 from the rear lenses, or 1080p@60 for both selfie shooter, and is typical for Android (which is to say: it’s good, however no iPhone). The principle draw back is that with no optical picture stabilisation on the principle rear digital camera, you received’t be capable to get particularly steady footage should you’re taking pictures on the go. 

Battery & charging

• Large battery that runs all day
• Quick wired charging
• No wi-fi charging

Regardless of making a thinner foldable than Samsung, Honor has one way or the other managed to squeeze in a much bigger battery.

The 5000mAh capability right here is among the many finest you’ll discover in any flagship cellphone, and even with two shows to fret about it makes the Magic Vs an all-day cellphone.

In reality, I examined it whereas masking the MWC 2023 commerce present the place it was given its worldwide launch. Which means heavy utilization, with roaming information, hot-spotting my laptop computer, and taking loads of photographs. By means of all that, I nonetheless often had 30% of the battery left by the point I hit my lodge mattress.

Charging is quick too, with 66W wired charging over USB-C. I discovered that might restore 40% of the battery in simply quarter-hour, and 77% in half an hour – quick sufficient for nearly anybody.

The one actual draw back is that there’s no wi-fi charging assist, which is the trade-off to get these quicker wired speeds.

Software program & updates

• Ships with Android 13 and MagicOS 7.1
• Foldable implementation is imperfect
• Three OS upgrades and 5 years of safety patches

The software program is the only largest motive to skip the Magic Vs and purchase Samsung’s foldable as an alternative.

The Vs ships with Android 13, working Honor’s MagicOS 7.1 pores and skin on high. MagicOS is much from my favorite Android pores and skin at the most effective of instances, and isn’t helped right here by a half-hearted integration of foldable options – even omitting many which can be constructed into Android itself.

Henry Burrell / Foundry

Not one of the additions discovered within the foldable-focussed Android 12L are included right here, such because the taskbar or Google’s personal tackle multi-tasking.

The software program model I’m working doesn’t even embody an app drawer – a elementary and fundamental a part of the Android OS – although I’ve been assured that’s on the way in which within the subsequent replace, so must be included by the point the cellphone is on sale.

Honor does supply its personal vertical split-screen choice for working two apps, and it really works fairly nicely, however there’s extra versatility in Samsung and different rivals’ units.

Simply as irritating is the truth that each different time you open and shut the cellphone a pop-up warns that some apps received’t show correctly and suggests you re-open them. For what it’s value, solely 1Password and Slack have really struggled to adapt to the altering side ratio, and I’d in all probability somewhat simply put up with these edge circumstances than be warned each time.

Henry Burrell / Foundry

The opposite software program annoyance isn’t actually Honor’s fault: too many Android apps merely can’t deal with the big, sq. internal show nicely. Some apps open in narrower home windows and letterbox the show. Some open totally however enlarge content material so hardly something matches within the show anyway. Video calls routinely crop awkwardly, slicing off half the feed.

It’s been years since foldables began rolling out and app assist nonetheless doesn’t really feel significantly better, even from main gamers like Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp. Hopefully elevated competitors from Honor and others will pace up progress, however for now be able to compromise.

Lastly, in a welcome contact Honor has introduced that it’ll ship three years of Android model updates to the Magic Vs, with 5 years of safety patches. That doesn’t fairly match Samsung’s four-year software program promise, however it’s a serious enchancment from earlier Honor handsets, and means the Magic Vs ought to final you a couple of years of use.

Worth & availability

The Honor Magic Vs is launching within the UK on 19 Might, with a launch rolling out throughout Europe and Asia too. It prices £1,399/€1,599 for a mannequin with 12GB of RAM and 512GB storage, however should you purchase it from the Honor retailer by 26 Might and subscribe to its publication it can save you £200 on that.

At full worth it’s round £250/€200 cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 4, and consists of double that cellphone’s default storage, with an excellent larger worth hole from the Google Pixel Fold.

Nonetheless, contemplating the Samsung presents slicker software program, S Pen assist, waterproofing, wi-fi charging, and higher restore choices, it stays the higher purchase for most individuals. In spite of everything, should you can afford to purchase a cellphone this costly, you may in all probability afford to spend a bit extra.

Take a look at our full information to the most effective Android telephones for extra choices, or the most effective Honor telephones for extra from the model.

Verdict

The Honor Magic Vs is a formidable foldable cellphone, and a notable step up in high quality from the first-gen Magic V.

The {hardware} is slick, with a slim physique and safe hinge design, and this base appear and feel positively trumps Samsung’s providing. Quicker charging and extra highly effective rear cameras give the Magic Vs an additional edge.

However in a cellphone at this worth level, the dearth of software program polish is a serious downside – and options like waterproofing and wi-fi charging appear to be unacceptable omissions.

Honor hasn’t fairly crushed Samsung at its personal sport – however it will get kudos for being the one firm courageous sufficient to attempt.

Specs

• Android 13 (MagicOS 7.1)
• 7.9in 90Hz foldable OLED, 2272 x 1984
• 6.45in 120Hz exterior OLED, 2560 x 1080p
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
• 12GB RAM
• 512GB storage
• Digicam:
  • 54Mp primary digital camera (f/1.9)
  • 50Mp ultrawide & macro digital camera (f/2.0)
  • 8Mp 3x optical zoom digital camera (f/2.4)
  • 16Mp entrance digital camera (f/2.45)
• Facet-mounted fingerprint sensor
• WiFi 6
• Bluetooth 5.2
• NFC
• 5G
• 4900mAh battery
• 66W wired charging
• Twin-SIM
• Peak
• Width
  • Unfolded: 141.5mm, folded: 72.6mm
• Depth
  • Unfolded: 6.1mm, folded: 12.9mm