When HONOR first made the Magic V5 look impossibly thin (and briefly taking the title of thinnest foldable smartphone in the world), the lingering question at large is more or less on its durability capabilities. While the Magic V5 certainly did its job, the HONOR Magic V6 is upping the ante even further as the foldable smartphones soon reach the physical limits of how thin they can go – so the next logical step is to make it as tough as possible, closing the gap to conventional smartphones.
Behind HONOR Magic V6’s Durability Prowess
HONOR Super Steel Hinge
Perhaps the most impressive among all is the company’s new Super Steel Hinge, which HONOR claims introduces the strongest special steel ever used commercially in this category. The hinge carries a tensile strength rating of 2,800MPa, a figure that it claims exceeds the structural strength found in a typical car’s A-pillar (the vertical bits on both sides of the windshield); the figure is also pretty close to that of Kevlar (3,500MPa), which is typically used for ballistic materials. That, is precisely why it is strong enough to tow a small plane or a car.
More importantly, for daily use, the hinge has a claimed durability rating of 500,000 folds, or roughly 13 years of opening and closing the device in typical use. There’s a near-zero chance that the phone would be in use for that amount of time, but that’s besides the point – the key here is that foldable hinge longevity is no longer be the major concern it once was.
HONOR Anti-Scratch NanoCrystal Shield & Ultra-Tough Glass Layer
Display durability remains another key in the foldable space, and the Magic V6 checks those boxes. The external display uses the new HONOR Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield, featuring a 5,600-layer silicon nitride coating structure that results in 10x better drop resistance, 15x improved scratch resistance, and 3x higher wear resistance, alongside improved anti-reflective performance. The company subject the outer display to 27,000 cycles of steel-wool abrasion testing to prove the point, and that’s enough assurance that you won’t get an unpleasant surprise once you take the phone out of your bag.
The internal folding display, meanwhile, gets an upgraded Ultra-tough (not just Ultra-thin) Glass flexible layer. The smartphone maker says that crease depth on this foldable has been reduced by 44%, resulting to a near crease-free viewing experience while also improving impact resistance and anti-reflective performance. Additionally, the panel carries SGS 5-Star Reliability Low Reflectivity Certification and is said to rank first in wear resistance performance.
IP68/IP69 Dust & Water Resistance
Beyond hinges and displays, the Magic V6 also gets IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance ratings, which an area where foldables historically lagged behind conventional smartphones due to moving parts and internal gaps around the hinge. HONOR says the device can withstand submersion in water up to 1.5 meters deep, which is quite a feat, and more importantly, that removes the anxiety around rainy weather or accidental splashes for its owners.
In many ways, the durability conversation may determine the next phase of foldable adoption more than thinner designs or larger batteries. Buyers who once dismissed foldables as fragile and delicate may change their minds as foldables become tougher, and ideally, matching that of a typical flagship today; the HONOR Magic V6 is one such model that may finally convince the doubtful to finally make the switch, without worrying about the compromises.
