Honor Magic V2 review: Hardware shines, software disappoints

The super-premium phone-tablet is the thinnest and lightest foldable device yet, but it makes compromises in the camera department

Honor’s Magic V2 stands out as the best-designed folding phone-tablet to date. When closed, it feels like a regular phone, but when opened, it reveals a large, luxurious screen that unfolds like a book.

Although launched in China last year, the Magic V2 has now arrived in Europe at a price that cannot be considered affordable. Priced at £1,700 (€2,000), it sits between the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the slightly cheaper OnePlus Open.

However, it boasts a significant advantage over its competitors: its slim profile. Honor has managed to reduce the bulk typically associated with folding phones by slimming down the hinge and body. The device’s large and vibrant outer screen features slim bezels and curved edges, providing a user experience similar to that of a standard Android device when closed. When unfolded, the tablet measures just 4.8mm thick – equivalent to a stack of six credit cards – which is remarkable.

The 7.92-inch internal screen of the Honor Magic V2 is slightly larger than its competitors, offering the same level of brightness, smoothness, and visual appeal. While the crease in the middle is slightly more noticeable than that of the OnePlus Open, it easily fades into the background during use.

The hinge is designed to withstand at least 400,000 folds and can hold the phone open at various angles. However, the hinge may not feel as sturdy as some competitors, and the phone does not offer any water or dust protection.

Specifications

Main screen: 7.92-inch (402ppi) 120Hz OLED flexible display
Cover screen: 6.43-inch (404ppi) 120Hz OLED
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB
Operating system: MagicOS 7.2 (Android 13)
Camera: 50MP + 50MP ultrawide + 20MP 2.5x telephoto; dual 16MP selfie
Connectivity: 5G, dual SIM + eSIM, USB-C, Wi-Fi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, GNSS
Water resistance: None
Dimensions folded: 156.7 x 74 x 10.1mm
Dimensions unfolded: 156.7 x 145.4 x 4.8mm
Weight: 237g

Last year’s top Android chip

The Honor Magic V2 features Qualcomm’s leading chip from 2023, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, rather than the newer Gen 3 version that began appearing in phones last month. Despite the high price, it provides ample power for multitasking, gaming, and other tasks. However, it does not feature the latest technology. The battery offers long-lasting performance, lasting up to 49 hours between charges with active use of the two screens for well over six hours and 5G for three hours, equating to a recharge every two days.

Sustainability

Honor does not specify the expected lifespan of the battery, but it is estimated to last over 500 full charge cycles with at least 80% of its original capacity. The phone is generally repairable by Honor, with full battery replacements priced at £110 and folding screen replacements costing £737.80 out of warranty. The phone includes recycled plastic, and Honor publishes a breakdown of its environmental impact and provides trade-in schemes.

MagicOS 7.2 lacks polish

The software is the Magic V2’s primary drawback. It comes with MagicOS 7.2, based on Android 13 from 2022, rather than the expected Android 14 for a new device in 2024. Honor will offer only four years of Android updates and a total of five years of security updates from its release, which falls short of the standard set by Google, Samsung, and Apple, all of which provide at least two additional years of updates.

While MagicOS introduces some interesting features, such as a mode that transforms the phone into a digital desk clock when not in use, it falls slightly short in polish compared to the top software experiences offered by competitors. It includes advanced multitasking capabilities, allowing for up to four apps on the screen simultaneously: two in split-screen mode and two in smaller, free-floating pop-out windows.

However, when you tap on a notification for a message (e.g., an email or WhatsApp), the phone always opens the respective app in a mini floating window rather than full screen. While this can be useful at times, it can also be frustrating, and there is no way to disable this behavior. For instance, Gmail should not open like a chat app.

Additionally, the phone comes with preinstalled apps such as Booking.com, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and WPS Office, which can all be uninstalled. However, considering the price of £1,700, the device should not include this kind of bloatware typically found on budget devices.

Camera

The Honor Magic V2 features three cameras on the back, one front-facing selfie camera, and one inside the screen.

While both selfie cameras perform well, they are outperformed by the main cameras, which can easily capture selfies using the outside screen as a viewfinder.

The main 50MP camera takes good photos in various lighting conditions, although it tends to oversaturate colors and often brightens scenes excessively, resulting in loss of contrast and a somewhat flat appearance. The 50MP ultrawide camera performs well in bright scenes, and the 20MP 2.5x telephoto lens generally produces satisfactory images. However, it lacks significant reach, especially when compared to competitors offering double the optical magnification.

All three cameras struggle in lower light conditions, leading to a loss of fine detail and sharpness, and they become increasingly inconsistent at night. Additionally, there is a noticeable color difference between the ultrawide and the other two cameras, which is disappointing given the phone’s price.

While these issues are not deal-breakers, Honor has some ground to cover to compete with the best cameras on the market.

Price

The Honor Magic V2 is priced at £1,699.99 (€1,999.90).

In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is priced at £1,749, the Google Pixel Fold is also priced at £1,749, and the OnePlus Open is priced at £1,599.

Verdict

The Honor Magic V2 boasts exceptional hardware but falls short in terms of software performance, failing to meet expectations.

When folded, the device resembles a regular phone so closely that its large, hidden screen on the inside can be easily overlooked.

However, the software lacks the refinement and capability of its competitors and does not receive support for as long. The absence of a water-resistance rating raises durability concerns, and the camera performance is somewhat lacking in certain aspects. While none of these issues are deal-breakers, they are disappointing for a device in this price range, especially when compared to cheaper competitors that excel in these areas.