Foldables are now fully part of the smartphone landscape. They are no longer experimental, no longer fragile tech showcases meant only for early adopters. In 2026, the real question is simple: can a foldable completely replace your primary phone without experiential compromise? The HONOR Magic V5 (official page) makes a very strong case that it can.
This device refines what HONOR has been building for years. It is thinner, equipped with a larger battery, rated for improved durability, and powered by a powerful processor.
Foldables are no longer experimental, no longer fragile tech showcases
Our review unit comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, paired with a 5,820 mAh silicon-carbon battery. Import pricing currently ranges between $1,600 and $1,700, placing it directly against the Galaxy Z Fold7 and the Vivo X Fold5. At this level, expectations are not modest. They are uncompromising. The Magic V5 meets them.
Design: A Foldable That Stops Feeling Like One
The most surprising thing about the Magic V5 is psychological rather than technical. When closed, it feels like a normal phone, and I can measure that by looking at how often I use it folded up: I have no hesitation using it one-handed. The one thing that I wish was integrated is an in-screen fingerprint reader as the one to the side isn’t ideal when using one hand.
At 217 grams and under 9 mm at its thinnest folded point, it does not feel like a gadget that happens to fold. It feels like a premium flagship, and a huge part of this is due to the premium materials. Several people we know picked it up without realizing it was foldable. When they discovered it opened, there was genuine surprise.
That reaction is revealing: early foldables always felt like devices two phones stacked on top one another (which they were). This one fades into the background. This sensation has now moved into the tri-fold world.
For people who are worried about large phones, its footprint is slightly smaller than ultra-large slab phones. It probably feels easier to manage than a Galaxy S Ultra-class device. The leather-textured rear panel improves grip and resists fingerprints.
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