HONOR Has Launched its Slimmest Foldable Yet, the Magic V5
While foldables have surged in popularity this year, HONOR is what you’d call an “OG” in the space – and its latest model might be its best yet.
HONOR has announced the Magic V5, the latest generation in its foldable lineup. The device, which measures 8.8mm when folded and 4.1mm when open, is one of the thinnest foldables ever made – a category that’s seen a surge in popular interest recently, bolstered by stuff competition between brands including HONOR, Samsung and OnePlus. (Even the rumors that Apple is working on its own foldable have grown louder in recent months, too.)
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the Magic V5 comes with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. It features a 6.43-inch external LTPO OLED display and a 7.95-inch folding internal display, both running at 120Hz and reaching peak brightness levels of around 5,000 nits. Inside is a 5,820mAh silicon-carbon battery supporting 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. The device is rated IP58 and IP59 for water and dust resistance, making it one of the few foldables to carry a formal ingress protection rating.
The Magic V5 features a 6.43-inch outer screen, and a 7.95-inch inner display when unfolded that provides a combined 5,000 nits of maximum brightness. To maximize productivity, HONOR has included Multi-Flex mode allowing users to multi-task with up to three apps open simultaneously – a feature that takes the smartphone away from “just a phone” and firmly into tablet territory. Additi0nally, both displays – folded and unfolded – support stylus input, further increasing opportunities for users to take notes, sketch, and so forth.
The device runs HONOR’s MagicOS 9.0, a custom-built version of Android that – on the surface – feels more like iOS than it does Android. And that’s not a bad thing: for any users transitioning into Google’s ecosystem from Apple, or for those who use both, HONOR’s MagicOS is one of the cleaner, easier to use Android operating systems there is.
Like most smart devices in 2025, AI plays a role – big or small, depending on personal preference – in the overall user experience with the Magic V5, which is fully integrated with Google’s powerful Gemini AI model and offers additional, custom-built AI-powered features including HONOR Notes and various other creative tools.
In terms of photography, the rear camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 64MP periscope telephoto camera offering 3× optical zoom. The front-facing cameras are positioned on both the cover and inner displays for video calls and selfies regardless of whether the device is folded or unfolded.
James Li, HONOR’s CEO, called the launch a “significant milestone” for the brand, one in which sees it “push the boundaries of innovation across smartphones, PCs, and tablets.” He added that through its collaboration with key partners like Google and Qualcomm, HONOR has been able to “seamlessly combine [its] next-generation AI capabilities, ultra-slim designs, and long-lasting performance” to open up “new possibilities for productivity and creativity in the everyday lives of users worldwide.”
The HONOR Magic V5 is available now with pricing starting at £1,699 GBP / €1,999 EUR. Color options include Ivory White, Black, Dawn Gold and Reddish Brown. There’s no news yet, but stay tuned to find out if there will be another collaboration with Porsche Design.
