Six ways that the Honor Magic V2 is foldable magic

Foldables are the most exciting development in mobile technology, offering all the screen space of a small tablet with the form factor of a smartphone.

But early models haven’t quite lived up to that promise: they’ve been bulky and fragile with weak battery life and sky-high prices.

That changes with the Honor Magic V2, which finally delivers everything you’ve been looking for in a phone and tablet in one easily pocketable device. Here are six ways in which it refines the foldable experience, delivering on all that potential in an attractive, powerful package.

1. As thin and light as a regular smartphone

If you’ve ever tried a tablet-style foldable phone before, you’ll know that the biggest problem is bulk. That’s unsurprising, given it’s essentially two devices in one, but it makes carrying one more awkward than with a regular svelte smartphone.

Enter the Honor Magic V2. When closed, its dimensions of 156.7 x 74mm are somewhere between an iPhone 15 Pro (146.6 x 70.6mm) and Pro Max (159.9 x 76.7mm).

It’s marginally thicker at 9.9mm against 8.25mm, but it becomes impossibly thin when unfolded into tablet mode, reaching just 4.7mm in depth.

Despite essentially being a tablet and smartphone in one, it’s not hugely heavy, either, tipping the scales at just 231g. That’s actually two grams lighter than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra!

2. A giant screen for streaming, work or play

Of course, the clever folding design hides a feature that regular smartphones can’t beat: a larger second screen, just perfect for when you need a bit more space. That’s more screen real estate for the latest boxset, your favourite game or getting work done on the go.

And the Honor Magic V2’s internal screen is great tech in its own right, too. It’s a 7.92in OLED panel with a sharp 2,344 x 2,145 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. In other words, all your content will look super sharp and super smooth, while being incredibly easy on the eyes thanks to the Magic’s PWM Dimming technology that combats fatigue.

3. Battery to go the distance

Battery life has been a real Achilles heel of foldable phones, with two screens to power. Thankfully, the Magic V2 takes no chances with a giant cell and Honor’s SuperCharge technology.

The battery itself is split into two to maintain the phone’s incredible thinness but comes to a total of 5,000mAh – significantly larger than both the Pixel Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.

That should be enough to keep even power users going all day, but if not, Honor has included a 66W fast charger in the box. That means the handset can go from empty to full charge in less than an hour at the socket.

4. Built to last

We’re not used to screens that bend, and you might automatically assume that means the phone is fragile. Not so with the Honor Magic V2, which has taken a couple of design precautions to ensure longevity.

First, it’s coated with second-generation Nanocrystal Glass, making it ten times more resistant to drops than similarly sized handsets with ordinary glass.

Second, the hinge is made from titanium, which is known for being both lightweight and strong. Indeed, the hinge has been SGS certified for its reliability and as a result the shaft is 150% stronger than aluminium parts of the same size.

5. Superb cameras to capture life’s unmissable moments

Foldable cameras have sometimes been a little lacking, and the Honor Magic V2 aims to put that right with a strongly specced triple array to help capture the wonderful moments of everyday life.

There are two 50-megapixel lenses: a f/1.9 main camera and a f/2.0 ultrawide one. These are complemented by a 20-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto lens capable of 2.5x optical zoom for longer distance shots. All of this can be enhanced by Honor’s clever artificial intelligence which makes all snaps both bright and sharp.

The phone can even take action hands-free shots with AI Motion Sensing Capture too. Just prop your phone open on a flat surface and let the phone capture the perfect shot.

6. A lower price — with amazing freebies

Despite improving the foldable experience in every way, the Honor Magic V2 actually undercuts its big-screen foldable rivals on price. It comes in at just £1699.99 – cheaper than both the Pixel Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.

While that’s certainly not the cheapest handset around, it’s good value for a tablet and phone in one – and that’s before you get to the free extras Honor is including. Early adopters not only get the 66W SuperCharge power adapter, but also six months of screen protection cover and a set of over-ear headphones from the audiophiles and Bang & Olufsen. Taken together, that’s £600’s worth of free extras.