Pushing the boundaries of the foldable type issue

The global variant of the HONOR Magic V2 lastly launched, and right here’s our overview of it. I’ve been utilizing this machine for fairly a while now, really, regardless of the very fact it launched globally as we speak. First I had some expertise with the Chinese language mannequin in Berlin at IFA, which was final September. Then the worldwide variant was shipped my method weeks in the past. I’ve been utilizing the machine for over two weeks at this level, and I do have loads to say.

The HONOR Magic V2 managed to wow me again at IFA. It had the identical impact on many different individuals, primarily attributable to its design. This cellphone was (and nonetheless is) extremely skinny and lightweight for a book-style foldable, and it doesn’t really feel low cost or unhealthy due to that. HONOR managed to realize one thing nice right here, and I couldn’t wait to get my fingers on it. So, let’s see what you’re getting right here, we could?

Desk of contents

HONOR Magic V2 Overview: {Hardware} / Design

The HONOR Magic V2 is made out of metallic and both glass or vegan leather-based, relying on the mannequin. There’s additionally the Porsche Design variant, which appears to be like a bit totally different, nevertheless it nonetheless has glass on the again. Both method, we’re specializing in the common mannequin with a glass again, as that’s the one I reviewed. I bought the Purple variant. The opposite variant that can be accessible outdoors of China is the ‘Black’ mannequin, and that mannequin has a vegan leather-based backplate.

The HONOR Magic V2 is attractive, but in addition very slippery

First issues first, the glass Magic V2 is immensely slippery. It’s very comfy to carry when folded, attributable to its rounded form, however that solely makes it extra slippery. A really slim case is included for the cellphone’s again, and it does add loads of grip, and it even has a kickstand, extra on that later, although. The HONOR Magic V2 is simply 10.1mm thick when folded, the vegan leather-based mannequin is 0.2mm thinner. When unfolded, it’s extremely skinny at 4.8mm (0.1mm much less for the vegan leather-based unit). My mannequin weighs 237 grams, whereas the vegan leather-based unit is 6 grams lighter. In translation, this cellphone is lighter than some common flagships on the market.

HONOR does an excellent job designing its merchandise, as they’re often very nice to carry. That goes for its mid-range smartphones too, such because the HONOR 90, and funds telephones just like the Magic6 Lite. The identical goes for this foldable. It’s very comfy to make use of. Its sides are usually not flat, however barely curved. The hinge may be very slim, and it solely helps make this cellphone look actually distinctive. All of the bodily buttons are on the appropriate facet when the machine is folded, whereas the quantity rocker buttons soar on the left facet whenever you unfold the cellphone. You additionally do get that satisfying thump (for lack of a greater phrase) when the cellphone is unfolded or folded. It confidently folds and unfolds, and it’s really a pleasure to do, which is the exact opposite of what the HONOR Magic Vs supplied. In order that’s nice to see.

The bezels round each shows are very skinny

On the cellphone’s major show, you’ll discover a centered show digicam gap. The bezels across the show are very skinny, and the appropriate facet is even barely curved. There may be additionally a digicam on the primary show, which is centered on the appropriate half of the show if that is smart. The bezels round the primary show are additionally fairly skinny.

If we flip the machine round, you’ll see a gorgeous-looking purple backplate. HONOR used darkish purple colour right here, nevertheless it does change shades relying on the ambient mild. It additionally has this glitter impact when it’s out within the solar. All in all, it actually does look excellent. The digicam island sits within the top-left nook, and it does protrude a bit. HONOR included three cameras in there. HONOR’s emblem can be on the left facet, however within the bottom-left nook, and it’s vertically aligned.

This cellphone appears like an everyday smartphone when folded

If one in every of Samsung’s foldable flagships is the one one you’ve used to date, merely dealing with this cellphone will seem to be a revelation. Not solely is it a lot thinner, and lighter, nevertheless it merely feels nicer within the hand. On prime of that its show crease is nearly not there. It’s significantly better than the one on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, for instance. You possibly can see it underneath sure angles, however you may barely really feel it together with your finger. Total, HONOR did an impressive job with the design right here, that’s for certain.

A pleasant case is included within the field

There’s a case included within the HONOR Magic V2 field. It’s a really skinny case for the again facet of the cellphone. It covers the complete again when folded, and half of it when unfolded, after all. The case appears to be plastic, nevertheless it’s really very grippy. It’s not your low cost, slippery plastic. Additionally, there’s a stand constructed into this case, on the again. It stays in place with the assistance of a magnet, and you may simply pop it out when wanted. You should utilize it to carry the cellphone, or to prop it up on the desk. It additionally rotates, so getting the right angle is a pleasure. I actually do respect HONOR included this case within the field. Not solely does it add some much-needed grip to the machine, nevertheless it barely provides any bulk to the cellphone. Contemplating the inclusion of this case, I didn’t even really feel the necessity to get one other one.

HONOR Magic V2 Overview: Show

Contemplating this can be a foldable cellphone, there are two shows to talk of, after all. The principle one is a 7.92-inch panel with a decision of 2156 x 2344 pixels. That is an LTPO OLED show that may venture as much as 1 billion colours. It helps HDR10+ content material, and it’s ‘IMAX Enhanced’. The refresh price right here goes as much as 120Hz. Its peak brightness is at 1,600 nits, and the bezels round it are very skinny. There’s a show digicam gap on the appropriate facet of that panel, up prime. It’s centered on the appropriate portion of the show if that is smart. The quilt show, on the flip facet, measures 6.43 inches. That panel has a decision of 2376 x 1060 pixels. It’s additionally an LTPO OLED show that may venture as much as 1 billion colours. It helps HDR10+ content material and its refresh price peaks at 120Hz. HONOR used nanocrystal glass 2.0 to guard this panel. This show peaks at 2,500 nits, theoretically.

Each shows are glorious, and an enormous enchancment over the Magic Vs

Now, the HONOR Magic Vs, the corporate’s foldable cellphone that got here earlier than this one, didn’t have very balanced shows. Its major show had a decrease refresh price than the quilt one, and utilizing them felt disjointed. That’s not the case right here. You’re getting the very same expertise, and it’s additionally nice, by the way in which. Each panels are immensely responsive and do get very brilliant. It’s wintertime right here, however we did have some solar throughout my utilization, and each panels have been very brilliant outdoor, I don’t see brightness being an issue, in any respect. The viewing angles have been additionally nice on each shows, and so was the contact response. The colours do pop, and the blacks are as deep as you’d count on them to be. Each shows are additionally greater than sharp sufficient. The quilt panel does have decrease sharpness, nevertheless it’s additionally smaller. You received’t actually discover the distinction, to be fairly trustworthy.

The crease on the primary show just isn’t very noticeable

The cellphone’s foldable show does have a crease, however you’ll solely discover it underneath sure angles in the event you tilt the cellphone to the facet. You’ll barely really feel it when going over it together with your finger, and can even neglect it’s there after a quick time period. This crease is likely one of the most minimal ones within the business. It’s on par with what OPPO has to supply in that regard, and significantly better than what Samsung provides on its foldables. It needs to be mentioned, because the distinction actually is monumental. It’s exhausting to explain how not a difficulty this crease is. You must expertise it for your self to really respect it.

I don’t actually have any complaints about both of those two shows. They’re brilliant, vivid, responsive, have nice viewing angles, and even the bezels are minimal. You’ll get pleasure from utilizing each of them equally, however for various issues, after all.

HONOR Magic V2 Overview: Efficiency

The HONOR Magic V2 is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. That’s technically not probably the most highly effective processor Qualcomm has to supply at this level. It was again when the Magic V2 launched, however not anymore. That doesn’t imply that it doesn’t supply nice efficiency, although, as a result of it does. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 remains to be across the prime of the meals chain, and that exhibits on this cellphone. Earlier than we get into the efficiency, do word that our mannequin runs 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of storage.

Normal day-to-day efficiency is excellent

The overall efficiency was excellent. The cellphone was capable of multitask with ease, and it fired up apps actually shortly. Every part starting from shopping and taking footage, to picture processing and consuming multimedia labored flawlessly. The gaming was additionally not a difficulty, and though the cellphone did get fairly heat after an extended session of Genshin Impression, it by no means bought too scorching to carry or something like that. That’s fairly a feat contemplating how skinny the HONOR Magic V2 is. Video games that weren’t as demanding solely made the cellphone heat, nothing above that.

I didn’t discover any uncommon slowdowns or excellent performance-related crashes. I’ll discuss extra concerning the software program itself in a unique part, as there’s a lot to speak about. Relating to efficiency itself, there’s nothing to complain about.

Benchmarks

We’re not the most important followers of benchmarks, however lots of you wish to see them. Additionally, they’re nice indicators of uncooked efficiency capabilities in some circumstances. Beneath, you’ll see three totally different benchmarks. The Geekbench 6 will provide you with a basic concept of the uncooked energy of this cellphone, contemplating its specs. You’ll see each the Magic V2’s CPU and GPU efficiency ranges. The second benchmark is the 3D Mark Wildlife Excessive Stress Check. That take a look at runs 20 loops of simulated utilization on the cellphone, and it actually pushes the cellphone to its limits. The Magic V2 didn’t get too heat at any level, not even throughout this stress take a look at, which is nice to see. The final benchmarks exhibits how lengthy it takes for the HONOR Magic V2 to export a video (1080p, 30 FPS) utilizing CapCut.

Geekbench 6

CPU (single-core): 1,908
CPU (multi-core): 4,573
GPU: 8,745

3D Mark Wildlife Excessive Stress Check

Video export take a look at

It took the cellphone 16.99 seconds to export a full HD 30 FPS video.

HONOR Magic V2 Overview: Battery

HONOR managed to pack a 5,000mAh battery inside this cellphone. Does that appear unattainable contemplating how skinny and lightweight it’s for a foldable cellphone of that dimension? Effectively, it might be, if the corporate used an everyday battery. HONOR reached for a silicon-carbon battery with a purpose to make that occur. That battery provides the next density and thus wants much less house to supply the identical battery capability. These batteries present a 12.8% greater power density in comparison with lithium batteries, in case you have been questioning.

HONOR managed to slot in a 5,000mAh battery right here, the next density battery

With that being mentioned, a 5,000mAh battery pack is definitely nice for a foldable smartphone of this dimension. The Magic V2 principally has a bigger battery pack than the competitors. Does that replicate by way of battery life? Effectively, I wouldn’t say that the cellphone has excellent battery life, nevertheless it certain is great. In our battery stress take a look at, it landed under the OPPO Discover N3. That’s only a benchmark that we use and doesn’t essentially replicate real-life utilization. In real-life utilization, nonetheless, the Magic V2 did carry out equally to the very best from OPPO.

I’m getting over 7 hours of screen-on-time, and even over 8 hours at instances. Do word that my utilization between the 2 screens is considerably balanced, however I’m utilizing the outer display extra. I’d say it’s about 60:40. Additionally, I spend most of my days on Wi-Fi. I did use 5G extra on a few days, and have observed a dip by way of endurance. Reality be mentioned the sign was additionally not the very best, so… take that under consideration. I’d say that is actually good battery life, although, I didn’t must plug within the cellphone earlier than the tip of the day in any respect, not as soon as.

The battery life was actually good

Additionally, to clear issues up, I didn’t play video games on the machine, outdoors of testing. I do use my telephones fairly intensely, although. Starting from messaging, sending emails, shopping and taking footage, to processing photographs, processing movies, transferring information, consuming multimedia through YouTube and TikTok (principally), and so forth. The HONOR Magic V2 dealt with all that with grace, not solely on the efficiency facet of issues however within the battery division as nicely.

66W charging is quick sufficient

What in the event you run out of battery earlier than the tip of the day? Effectively, don’t fret, as 66W wired charging is on supply right here. Wi-fi charging just isn’t on supply, as HONOR needed to maintain the cellphone as skinny and lightweight as doable. That omission might hassle a few of you, however we’re getting slightly quick charging. Getting this cellphone from 0 to 100% takes lower than an hour. That’s a lot sooner than the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has to supply, for instance. After I particularly examined how lengthy it takes, the cellphone absolutely charged in 55 minutes. You’ll be glad to know {that a} charger is included within the field too. OPPO gives a 66W charger, together with a Sort-A to Sort-C cable within the field.

HONOR Magic V2 Overview: Digicam

The HONOR Magic V2 doesn’t precisely have probably the most highly effective digicam setup on the market, however to be fairly trustworthy, I used to be pleasantly stunned. Don’t get me unsuitable, the digicam setup itself just isn’t unhealthy in any respect, however some telephones available in the market actually pushed up the ante. In any case, you’re getting a 50-megapixel major digicam right here with OIS, Laser autofocus, and PDAF. 8×8 dToF is included, and we’re an f/1.9 aperture lens right here.

One other 50-megapixel digicam sits on the again, the cellphone’s ultrawide snapper. That digicam has an f/2.0 aperture lens and an 13mm lens. It’s much less fancy than the primary shooter, after all. The third digicam is a 20-megapixel telephoto unit with 2.5x optical zoom. That digicam does supply OIS assist, and PDAF as nicely. It’s the equal of a 62mm lens, in case you have been questioning. Every show has a 16-megapixel digicam positioned on it, and a gap punch too.

The digicam efficiency is sweet, however not glorious

With that being mentioned, is the digicam efficiency any good? Effectively, sure, it’s, although it’s not on the very prime of the pecking order. The pictures that come out of the primary digicam are good in most lighting circumstances. The factor is, they will look a bit synthetic at instances. The colours is usually a bit too saturated. Additionally, in some scenes, you’ll discover a bit extra sharping than needs to be used, however that isn’t an typically incidence on the subject of the primary digicam. The principle digicam really does a very good job with processing. In case you pixel peep, you will see flaws, after all, as the pictures are usually not as sharp as the perfect telephones on the market supply, however these are usually not the variations most individuals will care about.

In low mild, the cellphone tends to brighten up the scenes fairly a bit. That’s what most telephones do, as they don’t have the benefit of giant 1-inch digicam sensors. More often than not, I used to be proud of the outcomes. Simply bear in mind you’ll have to preserve your hand slightly nonetheless in low mild and let the cellphone do its factor, in any other case you’ll find yourself with a blurry shot. I spotted that’s extra of the case right here than on some flagship telephones, nevertheless it’s not an enormous deal. There’s a separate evening mode included, however you received’t have to activate it. The cellphone acknowledges whenever you’re in low mild, and can do every thing by itself. It doesn’t take too lengthy to take photographs both until you’re in actually pitch-black conditions.

Ultrawide digicam does handle to maintain up with the primary sensor, the place it issues

The ultrawide digicam does its finest to maintain up with the primary shooter by way of the colour profile. It really doesn’t do a foul job with it both. More often than not, the colours are related, however that’s not the rule. All of it depends upon the scene. The standard of the primary snapper is clearly greater whenever you evaluate the pictures, although. The ultrawide digicam does have extra of a darker tone typically although, and is usually a bit colder than the picture the primary digicam gives. You’ll discover a extra pronounced distinction in low mild, as noise will creep in a bit, and pictures received’t be as sharp as those offered by the primary sensor.

What managed to shock me most was the telephoto digicam, nonetheless. I didn’t count on a lot from this 20-megapixel digicam, because it solely provides 2.5x optical zoom. To my shock, nonetheless, 5x pictures weren’t unhealthy in any respect more often than not, and even some 10x pictures that I took have been usable. Don’t get me unsuitable, having a devoted 5x or 6x digicam could be much better, however for what it’s, it’s not unhealthy. Throughout the day, the digicam is definitely actually good, whereas the standard does deteriorate in nighttime conditions, nevertheless it’s nonetheless good.

Portrait ought to can look a bit synthetic, however they’re typically good

The cellphone additionally takes actually good portrait pictures, and macro photographs are usually not unhealthy both throughout the day. The purpose I’m making an attempt to make is… this cellphone can take actually good photographs. it’s not the very best digicam on the market, under no circumstances, however for the overwhelming majority of individuals, this can be greater than sufficient. I used to be pleasantly stunned, although my expectations weren’t as excessive.

Major digicam samples:

Ultrawide digicam samples:

Telephoto digicam samples:

HONOR Magic V2 Overview: Software program

The HONOR Magic V2 comes with Android 13 out of the field. On prime of it, you’ll discover HONOR’s MagicOS 7.2 pores and skin. These of you who’ve used one in every of HONOR’s smartphones within the final couple of years can be proper at residence right here. Not a lot has modified, and there are some options that HONOR added for foldable shows, however not a lot. I’ve seen much more choices and basic options accessible on different units, so I do hope that MagicOS 8 will change that. This cellphone may benefit from extra options that concentrate on its foldable type issue, and by that, I primarily imply revamped multitasking. Among the opponents are forward in that regard.

MagicOS just isn’t for everybody, nevertheless it works nicely

With that being mentioned, there’s a lot to love in MagicOS, so long as you don’t thoughts entering into one thing totally different. MagicOS just isn’t precisely all that much like inventory Android. Actually, it’s extra totally different than quite a lot of different Android skins are, together with OxygenOS, ColorOS, ZenUI, and so forth. HONOR’s units are rocking a pores and skin that could be a mixture of Android and iOS in a method and the corporate’s customers appear to love it… so, so long as it really works… you understand how the saying goes. We’ll get a bit extra into it, after all, because it’s the primary factor you must learn about MagicOS going ahead.

What precisely am I speaking about? Effectively, to start with, all of your apps are on your property screens by default. Not their shortcuts, however your property display acts as an app drawer. That’s the case on many different Android skins although, and by chance you may change that. On some earlier variations that was not doable. That’s not too unhealthy. What else? The notification shade can be significantly totally different, as is the display with fast toggles. Sure, these are two separate screens, sadly, and no, you can not mix them. You entry the notification shade by swiping from the top-left facet of the display whereas doing the identical from the top-right will get you your fast toggles.

It’s clearly impressed by iOS

Even the notification playing cards are clear, which is extra according to Apple than some other Android OEM. To make issues much more much like iOS, the notification playing cards are navigating in the direction of the underside of the display whenever you’re on the lock display. In addition they disappear from the lock display whenever you see them, even in the event you didn’t open them. The identical method it really works on iOS, principally. The factor is, it doesn’t occur with every thing, though the settings are the identical. For instance, it didn’t occur with Gmail for me, though the settings are precisely the identical as for my messaging apps… and but it occurs with all of the messaging apps. I didn’t discover a approach to change this habits, which was annoying.

There’s some customization included, however not loads

There may be some customization right here, however not loads. MagicOS permits you to change up the icons, however the choices are usually not precisely huge. It doesn’t assist third-party icons from the Google Play Retailer, sadly. You’re additionally fairly restricted by way of the house display. There isn’t a double faucet to lock display possibility, nor are you able to swipe from top-down with a purpose to name up the notification shade. That motion is reserved for HONOR Search (system-wide search), and in the event you don’t wish to use it, you may disable the gesture. There isn’t a secondary possibility, sadly. You possibly can change the icon format on the house display, however barely. Solely 4×6 and 5×6 choices are at your disposal.

What about some particular options, it’s possible you’ll marvel? Effectively, there are some. The All the time-On Show (AOD) is on the market, and there are fairly just a few choices you can select from there. HONOR has a very nice one-hand mode too. By swiping from left to proper (or vice versa, on the backside of the display), and pausing for a second, you’ll activate one-hand mode. The display will shrink down, and navigate to the nook you activated it from. This manner it’s nice for each lefties and righties, and it makes every thing slightly simple to achieve whenever you’re utilizing the cellphone in folded mode.

You do have entry to knuckle gestures, Multi-WIndows, and extra

What else? Effectively, there are knuckle gestures. You should utilize your knuckles to seize a screenshot, a partial screenshot, and so forth. The so-called ‘Multi-Window’ dock can be fairly helpful. By swiping from the appropriate facet of the display and pausing, that dock will open. From there, you may soar right into a break up display mode, or open a floating window. That’s one thing most of you’ll be utilizing on the primary show, after all.  You possibly can obtain the identical issues and not using a Multi-Window dock, by the way in which. You’ll see a white horizontal line on the prime of the display whenever you’re in an app. Dragging that someplace will activate totally different features, which can be slightly helpful.

There’s not a lot to seek out within the ‘Foldable telephones’ submenu. It’s principally issues associated to app scaling. There’s additionally the ‘Parallel House’ possibility. That is really a really neat function that permits you to separate your workspaces, basically. It’s particularly helpful on the primary show. It really works very well. One factor I’d like to notice on the subject of leaping from the primary to the quilt show, and vice versa, is that some apps don’t actually play good with it. The apps received’t reload on their very own, however as an alternative get a bizarre format and a notification that gives you the prospect to reload the app manually. It will be good to have an choice to keep away from this solely, and easily power the app to reload or one thing if it’s not coded correctly to change between screens. I’m speaking about third-party apps right here, by the way in which, the native ones work fantastically. What’s odd is that some apps that swap screens properly on different foldables don’t do the identical right here, apps like Feedly, for instance. That leads me to consider it’s attributable to MagicOS, however I can’t be certain.

There are fairly just a few pre-installed apps, however you may take away the overwhelming majority of them

In the case of pre-installed apps, there are fairly just a few right here. Google’s important apps are included, and HONOR does embrace fairly just a few of its personal apps. The factor is, you may simply take away loads of these. You possibly can even take away most of HONOR’s pre-installed apps, all however the important ones. HONOR Search, for instance, is detachable, and the identical goes for Machine Clone. You possibly can even ditch the HONOR Push service in order for you, although that one can solely be disabled, not faraway from the cellphone solely. You shouldn’t be anxious about pre-installed software program, to be fairly trustworthy, you actually can ditch lots of it in the event you select to take action.

Total, I do really feel like MagicOS wants a revamp. I’ve been having that thought for fairly a while now. Sure, it really works very easily and all that, nevertheless it simply doesn’t appear coherent from one facet to the opposite. In a single menu there’s a see-through card, within the different, there’s not. Additionally, HONOR ought to supply some extra customization choices, and introduce some options that different Android OEMs have been carrying for fairly a while now. On prime of that, a brand new multitasking UI for the primary show wouldn’t harm both. In case you do have a tendency to love MagicOS, nicely then, that is simply the appropriate Android pores and skin for you, because it actually does work very well from the efficiency facet of issues. The animations are as clean as butter, and every thing merely flies.

MagicOS 7.2 on the HONOR Magic V2:

HONOR Magic V2: Do you have to purchase it?

HONOR made a substantial transfer ahead with the Magic V2, in comparison with the HONOR Magic Vs. Not solely is the {hardware} loads higher than it was, starting from the final really feel to the dimensions, folding mechanism, and so forth… however the usage of a silicon-carbon battery can be a sensible transfer. This cellphone just isn’t good, however in the event you don’t thoughts MagicOS; or really like HONOR’s software program, this might be an excellent possibility for you. The cellphone initially launched in China, however the firm did announce its availability for Europe as nicely. In different phrases, the worldwide variant is now additionally accessible, and this cellphone absolutely has loads to supply. It certain just isn’t low cost, however in order for you the most effective foldables round, which shocked the world with its thinness and weight, this can be a nice alternative.

You should purchase the HONOR Magic V2 in the event you:

…need the thinnest book-style foldable available on the market
…need a foldable cellphone that appears like an everyday cellphone when folded
…want good battery life in a compact foldable type issue
…wish to expertise a unique really feel to a foldable cellphone
…want a big show, however hate cumbersome foldable smartphones
…need a good digicam, nevertheless it doesn’t must be the perfect
…need a cellphone that adapts to you

You shouldn’t purchase the HONOR Magic V2 in the event you:

…want water and mud resistance
…need the perfect digicam on a foldable cellphone
…want wi-fi charging