Offer price: 6999
Currency: MYR
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Appearance - 8.5/10
8.5/10
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Efficiency - 8.2/10
8.2/10
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Features - 8.3/10
8.3/10
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Materials - 8.8/10
8.8/10
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Performance - 8/10
8/10
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Portability - 8.8/10
8.8/10
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User Experience (UX) - 8.5/10
8.5/10
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Value - 7.5/10
7.5/10
Summary
The HONOR Magic V5 sets a new standard for slim foldables without compromising on performance or features. It delivers solid photography, smooth display performance, and excellent battery life in a surprisingly thin package. While the camera bump and video playback quirks are notable drawbacks, its value proposition is hard to ignore, especially at a competitive price point of RM6,999.
Overall
8.3/10Pros
+ Slim and Lightweight Design
+ Good Performance
+ Decent cooling despite foldable nature
+ Excellent Camera System
+ High-Quality Displays
+ Display Crease Reduced Even Further
+ Strong Battery Life
+ Fast Charging Support for Both Wired and Wireless
Cons
– Bulky Camera Bump
– Thermal throttling is an issue
– Unoptimized Video Viewing
Unboxing the HONOR Magic V5
The HONOR Magic V5 comes with the following items:
- Documentations
- 66W HONOR SuperCharge charger
- USB-C to USB-C cable
- SIM ejector tool
- Protective case
- The HONOR Magic V5 smartphone itself
Specifications
Performance
The HONOR Magic V5 seemingly underperformed in Antutu v10, considering that it’s using a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. This seems more on par with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 from what I can see. Perhaps it was underclocked for efficiency, as it didn’t feel hot to the touch so I don’t think overheating played a role in the lower score.
In Geekbench 6, it really seems to show that the Snapdragon 8 Elite powering it is intentionally limited. Given how hot of a chip it is, we’re not surprised if this was done intentionally, especially given its foldable nature. Sure, HONOR did boast a vapor chamber cooling system but it can only do so much against such a hot chip.
As for 3DMark, the HONOR Magic V5 once again fell into the realm of last year’s flagship chip in terms of performance levels across all tests. This time, it did feel warmer and, based on the reading given in the stress tests, the stability rating of 65.1% reflects that. This means that it certainly thermal throttled quite a bit, but it’s certainly on the better spectrum compared to other Snapdragon 8 Elite devices.
For PCMark in its Work 3.0 benchmark, this is the closest we can see it reaching a Snapdragon 8 Elite device. It’s not the best but it’s more than enough as a daily driver for most consumers today.
As for battery life, we managed to get 13 hours and 44 minutes when folded while unfolded sees a significant drop to 9 hours and 33 minutes. I still believe they are solid figures, and one can easily get a full day’s worth unless one were to exclusively use the bigger display throughout the day.
Camera
Equipped with a 50MP main sensor, 64MP periscope telephoto, and 50MP ultrawide lens, the Magic V5 delivers detailed and vibrant photos in various lighting conditions. The latter two cameras definitely see an improvement over last year’s model.
AI Super Zoom works well but quality will start to soften past 10x, and additional features like motion sensing and scene recognition add flexibility without being intrusive. If you’re not looking for crisp photos, pictures at 50x zoom stilll can look decently well if it’s not a dark area.
The Good
At just 8.88mm thick when folded and 4.1mm when unfolded, the Honor Magic V5 is one of the slimmest foldable phones on the market. It feels surprisingly close to a regular phone in hand, and its rounded edges make it comfortable to hold for extended use.
The 7.95-inch inner OLED display and 6.43-inch outer OLED screen both support 120Hz refresh rates. The crease on the main display is barely visible, enhancing usability for reading, browsing, and social media scrolling. The improved brightness certainly makes for a better overall display on both sides but if you’re expecting an entire world’s difference from the V3, it’s not happening in this version, but it’s still a good upgrade nonetheless.
While battery life is pretty good from what we’ve tested, the ability to charge superbly fast is something many people will surely appreciate. After all, the device supports 66W wired and 50W wireless fast charging, and a charging brick that takes full advantage of it is included in the box.
The Bad
The large rear camera module sticks out noticeably and creates an uneven surface when the phone is unfolded on a flat surface. While it adds camera performance, it affects balance and aesthetics. A protective case is a must when using this device.
While this may be one of the better devices to run Snapdragon 8 Elite, and probably the best within the foldable space, it doesn’t change the fact that the chip is prone to thermal throttling. If you’re a heavy user or a gamer, do expect occasional performance drops.
Despite having a large 7.95-inch screen, widescreen content on apps like Netflix doesn’t fully utilize the space, resulting in large black bars and a less immersive experience. The bigger screen is better for multitasking, especially running apps side-by-side but if you want a true full screen experience, just be mindful that not all apps can make use of it.
HONOR Magic V5 Verdict
The HONOR Magic V5 sets a new standard for slim foldables without compromising on performance or features. It delivers solid photography, smooth display performance, and excellent battery life in a surprisingly thin package. While the camera bump and video playback quirks are notable drawbacks, its value proposition is hard to ignore, especially at a competitive price point of RM6,999. For those considering a foldable phone, the Magic V5 is a serious contender.
At the end of our HONOR Magic V5 review, I award this foldable smartphone with our coveted Gold Pokdeward.
Big thanks to HONOR Malaysia for sending us this foldable for the purpose of this review.
