HONOR Launches Magic V5: Thinnest Foldable But with AI on the Core

At an occasion in London, HONOR launched the international model of the Magic V5, its newest foldable flagship. The gadget made its debut in China on July 2, 2025, and is now arriving in worldwide markets because the thinnest book-style foldable so far. With this launch, HONOR goals to construct on its rising success within the foldable class by combining slim engineering, enhanced sturdiness, and superior AI-driven options for customers worldwide.

Slimmer Than Ever, Stronger Than Earlier than

At simply 8.8mm thick when folded, the Magic V5 is a hair thinner than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, which measures 8.9mm. The Ivory White variant ideas the dimensions at 217 grams, making it barely heavier than its Samsung rival by simply 2 grams—a trade-off that also leaves the Magic V5 among the many lightest foldables in its class.  Throughout our briefing, HONOR acknowledged some debate relating to the measurement of thickness in foldables, however acknowledged its benchmark is taken on the central flat portion of the gadget. The spokesperson confirmed the Ivory White version is the thinnest mannequin because of its aerospace-grade fiber again cowl.

Sturdiness has additionally been a spotlight. The telephone incorporates a Tremendous Metal Hinge and a again cowl crafted from aerospace-grade specialty fiber, a cloth that HONOR claims is lighter than paper but stronger than metal. The corporate claims the hinge and fiber design ship a major leap in long-term resilience in comparison with earlier generations and competing fashions. The V5 can also be rated IP58 and IP59 for mud and water safety and makes use of a second-generation Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Protect for enhanced resistance towards drops and abrasions.

Silicon-Carbon Battery with Sooner Charging

The Magic V5 debuts HONOR’s silicon-carbon battery expertise, with a capability of 5,820mAh within the European model. HONOR says the battery not solely lasts as much as 9 hours longer than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 but additionally options 15% increased silicon content material for improved vitality density, low-temperature stability, and prolonged lifespan. Charging is supported at 66W wired HONOR SuperCharge and 50W wi-fi charging, enabling sooner top-ups than many foldable rivals.

Show, Stylus, and Eye Safety

The V5 is provided with a 7.95-inch foldable OLED interior show and a 6.43-inch outer show, each of which help the HONOR Magic Pen. The corporate confirmed the stylus is appropriate throughout generations, that means pens from the Magic V2 and V3 additionally work with the brand new mannequin.

HONOR emphasised eye consolation as a differentiator, introducing an ultra-high frequency PWM dimming system that reduces flicker extra successfully than competing foldables. The corporate claims the V5 achieves 9 instances the glint discount of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, making it extra snug for extended use.

Cameras with AI Tremendous Zoom

The Magic V5 options HONOR’s AI Falcon Digicam System, which features a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, a 50-megapixel predominant digital camera, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide digital camera. HONOR demonstrated its AI Tremendous Zoom, which may sharpen distant particulars and is now enhanced by cloud-based AI coaching for higher accuracy in comparison with earlier HONOR fashions, such because the Magic 7 Professional. The telephoto system helps macro-style close-ups in addition to long-range pictures, with claims of capturing clear pictures at distances as much as 20 kilometers.

AI Integration with Google Gemini

Working on Android 15 with MagicOS 9.0.1, the V5 integrates AI extra deeply than any prior HONOR foldable. A brand new partnership with Google Gemini brings contextual help into on a regular basis duties. For instance, customers can drag textual content from assembly notes into Gemini for fast explanations, examine merchandise throughout buying, and even share screens throughout reside conversations. A double-tap gesture on the telephone’s again panel prompts Gemini immediately, simplifying entry.

Different AI instruments embrace on-device real-time translation, multi-participant video convention deepfake detection for added safety, and multitasking with Multi-Flex mode, which permits as much as three apps to run in resizable home windows concurrently. HONOR confirmed Multi-Flex will later roll out to older foldables however debuts first on the V5.

{Hardware} and Software program Help

The Magic V5 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage within the European configuration. HONOR confirmed that different markets, corresponding to China, might obtain bigger 1TB variants with greater batteries (6,100 mAh), although the EU model tops out at 5820mAh.

The corporate has pledged seven years of Android OS upgrades and 7 years of safety patches for European consumers, aligning with the long-term software program help supplied by Google and Samsung’s flagship units.

Availability

Beginning at £1,699.99 (€1,999), the HONOR Magic V5 might be obtainable in a number of coloration choices, together with Ivory White, Black, Gold, and Reddish Brown, with slight variations in supplies relying on the end. Some areas will obtain chargers within the field, although the European packaging will omit them attributable to native laws.

Filed in Cellphones. Learn extra about Android, Foldable Smartphones, Google, Honor and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite.