The competitive landscape of foldable smartphones is constantly pushing boundaries, with manufacturers vying for dominance through innovative design and cutting-edge technology. Chinese tech giant honor has stepped into this ring with a bold claim, launching the Honor Magic V5, which it bills as the “world’s thinnest” foldable phone. While the device certainly boasts an impressively slender profile, a closer look reveals nuances to this headline-grabbing assertion.
Launched initially in China with an international release anticipated soon, the Magic V5 aims to redefine expectations for portable, large-screen devices. Its design focuses heavily on achieving minimal thickness and weight without compromising on core functionality or specifications.
Unpacking the “Thinnest” Claim: Measurements and Realities
Honor proudly states the Magic V5 measures a mere 8.8 millimeters when folded shut. This specific dimension is indeed marginally thinner than competitors like the Oppo Find N5, which comes in at 8.9mm. While a 0.1mm difference might seem negligible in practice, Honor suggests a subtle curvature in the Magic V5’s design helps it feel even slimmer in hand.
However, there are critical caveats to this claim. The 8.8mm measurement applies exclusively to the “Ivory White” variant of the phone. This particular model utilizes a unique “special fiber” finish. Other color options, featuring different materials like fiber and vegan leather, are slightly thicker at 9mm.
The Camera Bump: A Notable Exception
Perhaps the most significant qualification to the “world’s thinnest” title is the device’s prominent rear camera module. Housing a powerful triple camera system, the circular camera bump on the Magic V5 rises substantially from the phone’s rear surface. This raised section is almost twice as high as the camera array found on the Oppo Find N5. Consequently, despite the sleek body, the phone feels thicker overall because of this substantial protrusion. While higher resolution sensors and faster apertures across the board may technically justify the camera’s size for performance, its physical dimension undeniably impacts the device’s perceived thinness.
When unfolded, the Magic V5 maintains its slender form, measuring 4.1mm at its thinnest point. This again narrowly beats the Oppo Find N5’s 4.2mm when unfolded. It’s worth noting, however, that some asymmetrical designs, like Huawei’s trifold Mate XT, can achieve even thinner points (3.6mm), albeit often in sections without critical components like the USB-C port.
The Race to Shrink: Diminishing Returns?
This intense focus on shaving off fractions of a millimeter isn’t new for Honor or the foldable market. Honor’s previous model, the Magic V3, held the thinness crown before the Oppo Find N5 arrived. The industry anticipates further competition, with rumors suggesting Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 might also push boundaries, although it’s expected to be slightly thicker than the Magic V5.
The persistent battle over minimal thickness raises questions about the future direction of foldable innovation. Some experts suggest that without fundamental design shifts, such as removing ports or adopting significantly asymmetric structures, the potential for further significant reductions in thickness is limited. This could signal “diminishing returns,” pushing manufacturers to explore new avenues for generating excitement and value in future foldable launches beyond just making them marginally thinner.
Beyond Thinness: Packed with Premium Specs
Despite the marketing focus on dimensions, the Honor Magic V5 is not just about being slim. It packs a suite of high-end specifications designed to compete at the flagship level.
The device is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, paired with generous RAM options going up to 16GB. Storage configurations are available up to 1TB, providing ample space for apps, media, and documents. The phone runs Honor’s MagicOS 9.0.1, which is based on the latest Android 15.
Both the large 7.9-inch internal foldable display and the 6.4-inch external cover screen utilize 120Hz LTPO OLED panels. Honor highlights impressive display capabilities, including a peak brightness of 5,000 nits and an ultra-high frequency 4,320Hz PWM dimming system, designed to enhance eye comfort.
Innovative Battery and Charging
Powering these components requires a substantial battery, and Honor addresses this within the slim design using innovative silicon-carbon battery technology. This “razor-thin” construction allows for a large capacity battery. Depending on the configuration tier, the Magic V5 houses either a 5,820mAh or an even larger 6,100mAh battery. The device supports rapid charging, offering 66W wired fast-charging and 50W wireless charging capabilities.
Durability is also a factor Honor emphasizes, claiming a shock-absorbing structure. The phone holds IP58 and IP59 ratings for dust and water resistance, offering protection levels approaching those of many non-foldable flagship phones.
A Powerful Camera System
As noted earlier, the prominent camera module houses a capable triple rear camera setup. This array includes a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a high-resolution 64MP periscope telephoto lens. The periscope camera boasts 3x optical zoom and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). With the assistance of an AI Super Telephoto feature, it can achieve an impressive 100x digital zoom, with Honor claiming clarity and detail even at maximum zoom levels. Video recording is supported up to 4K resolution (3840×2160) with anti-shake features. For capturing selfies or making video calls, the Magic V5 is equipped with two 20MP wide-angle front cameras, one on each display.
Driving Innovation with On-Device AI
Beyond hardware, Artificial Intelligence is a significant focus for Honor and the Magic V5. The phone features a built-in agentic AI assistant named Yoyo. Honor positions Yoyo as capable of handling a wide range of complex tasks directly on the device, reducing reliance on cloud processing.
Yoyo’s demonstrated capabilities include analyzing and summarizing documents like articles, medical reports, or financial statements, integrated with DeepSeek AI. It can extract and remember important dates from viewed content. For multitasking, Yoyo can assist in coordinating actions across different apps, such as booking a ride through one service while simultaneously managing orders on others, facilitated by communication with AI agents within those apps. The AI also helps users find files contextually based on descriptions, not just file names, and even includes a feature designed to reduce motion sickness.
Honor has outlined a strategic pivot towards becoming an AI hardware company, backed by a significant $10 billion investment over the next five years to integrate AI across its entire product ecosystem, including PCs, tablets, and wearables. A partnership with Alibaba Group Holding is also planned to further develop agentic AI capabilities in areas like productivity, transportation, and shopping. This strong emphasis on AI represents a key differentiator for Honor in a highly competitive market.
Market Positioning and Competition
The Honor Magic V5 enters the market at a starting price of 8,999 yuan (approximately US$1,256). Its launch targets China’s intensely competitive smartphone segment, where the foldable category saw substantial growth last year, increasing by 27% according to Counterpoint Research. Book-type foldables, like the Magic V5, are particularly popular among Chinese consumers who value the larger screen for both productivity and entertainment, including viewing “short dramas.”
Honor held a 13% share of China’s smartphone market in the first quarter of 2025, positioning it behind key players like Vivo, Oppo, and Apple, according to Counterpoint data. However, Honor is increasingly targeting the premium market with devices like the Magic V5 to drive growth through higher-value sales. The company faces stiff competition, particularly from the resurgence of Huawei, which held a dominant 76.6% share of the domestic foldable market in Q1, with Honor being a distant second at 9.1% according to IDC data. Huawei’s recent introduction of the trifold Mate XT further intensifies this rivalry. Apple is also reportedly planning to enter the foldable space in 2026, posing a future challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key features or specs of the Honor Magic V5 foldable phone?
The Honor Magic V5 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and offers configurations up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. It features a 7.9-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED internal display and a 6.4-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED cover screen, both with high brightness and advanced dimming. It includes a substantial 5,820mAh or 6,100mAh silicon-carbon battery with 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. The camera system comprises a 50MP main, 50MP ultrawide, and 64MP 3x periscope telephoto lens, alongside advanced Yoyo AI capabilities for tasks like document analysis and multitasking.
Where can I find information on the Honor Magic V5’s international release?
The Honor Magic V5 was initially launched for the domestic market in China. While Honor has announced that an international release is coming “soon,” specific details regarding the launch date, availability regions, and pricing outside of China have not yet been fully disclosed. Prospective international buyers should monitor official Honor announcements and reputable tech news outlets for updates on global availability.
Is the Honor Magic V5 actually the thinnest foldable phone available?
Honor claims the Magic V5 is the world’s thinnest foldable, measuring 8.8mm when folded. However, this measurement applies specifically to the “Ivory White” color variant; other finishes are 9mm thick. Crucially, this measurement excludes the phone’s substantial rear camera bump, which adds significant overall thickness. While very thin, especially when unfolded at 4.1mm, the claim requires considering these design nuances and comparing the entire device profile against competitors, including the camera module.
Conclusion
The Honor Magic V5 undeniably pushes the envelope in foldable smartphone design, particularly in achieving a remarkably thin profile. Its impressive measurements, especially in the specific Ivory White variant and when unfolded, set a new benchmark for the category. However, the prominence of the camera bump serves as a reminder that balancing cutting-edge design with advanced components remains a significant challenge.
Beyond its dimensions, the Magic V5 is a flagship powerhouse, featuring top-tier performance, vibrant displays, innovative battery technology, a versatile camera system, and a strong focus on integrating on-device AI. These features, combined with Honor’s strategic investments and competitive positioning in the Chinese market, make the Magic V5 a formidable contender. While the industry debates the future of chasing marginal thinness, Honor is betting that a combination of sleek design, robust specs, and intelligent AI can capture consumer interest in the evolving foldable phone market.
