The HONOR Magic V2 is the latest book-style foldable from HONOR that sets new standards for thinness and lightness. It is 231 grams heavy and measures only 9.9mm thick when closed, making it comparable to a regular smartphone. (For comparison, an iPhone 14 Pro Mac is still thinner at 7.85mm thick. But it weighs more at 240 grams.)
This is a remarkable achievement considering that other foldable phones like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold4 (14.2mm and 263g), Google’s Pixel Fold (12.1mm and 283g), and Huawei’s Mate X3 (11.8mm and 239g) are much thicker and heavier.
The HONOR Magic V2 comes in two variants: a glass-backed one that is slightly thicker and heavier at 10.1mm and 237 grams and a “Silk Black” one that uses vegan leather for a sleeker look and feel.
All about the hinge
The secret behind the Magic V2’s slim design is a “proprietary steel” that forms 67% of the hinge material. HONOR claims this steel is 25% thinner and 20% stronger than the one used in the Magic VS. The hinge also has a redesigned support structure that reduces its thickness by 75%.
The HONOR Magic V2 is not just thin and light. It is also sturdy and durable. HONOR boasts that it’s the world’s first phone to pass the Swiss SGS high-reliability folding quality gold standard certification. It can endure 400,000 folding cycles with minimal crease change of only 36μm (equivalent to a hair, half the wire diameter). The external screen of the Magic V2 also features second-generation nano-ceramic glass that boosts its drop resistance by 30% compared to the previous generation.
The only caveat is that the Magic V2 does not have an IP rating for dust and water resistance, so its hinge performance over time remains to be seen.
Let’s talk screens
The HONOR Magic V2 series boasts dual screens with stunning specifications and quality. Both the external and internal screens have a refresh rate of 120Hz and support 3840Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, making them brighter and more eye-friendly. They have also passed the TÜV Rheinland flicker-free certification, reaching the Zero risk dimming eye protection level.
The outer display is 6.43 inches with a 20:9 aspect ratio, 2,376 x 1,060 resolution, and an impressive peak brightness of 2,500 nits. Meanwhile, the inner folding screen is 7.92 inches large with an almost square resolution of 2,344 x 2,156 and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits.
Both screens are compatible with the stylus, supporting functions like smart lasso, magnifying glass, color picking, shorthand, and more. The HONOR Magic V2 also features a “one-step drag and drop” method that lets you manipulate the split-screen window easily, making the interaction more comfortable and efficient.
Another highlight of the HONOR Magic V2 is the multi-angle hovering function. You can use it in various scenarios such as watching movies, conferences, music, shooting, office, and more. The hovering camera function lets you enjoy the exclusive folding screen experience in horizontal and vertical modes.
Everything else about the HONOR Magic V2
HONOR improves a few more features on the Magic V2. It might still pack in a 5,000mAh battery, but it’s impressive to see that on a thinner foldie. The phone supports 66W fast charging. It also now runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor.
The HONOR Magic V2 gets a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 20-megapixel telephoto camera. It also has two 16-megapixel selfie cameras.
The HONOR Magic V2 is available in China first in three variants:
- 16GB+256GB – CNY 8,999 (around USD 1,255)
- 16GB+512GB – CNY 9,999 (~USD 1,394)
- 16GB+1TB Ultimate Edition – CNY 11,999 (~USD 1,673)
We don’t know if HONOR plans to bring this device to more markets. But you’ll hear from us if it does.
We love seeing innovation in the foldable space, and so the new HONOR Magic V2 is our Cool Tech of the Week! What do you think of this new foldie?