HONOR Magic V5 launches globally with foldable OLED and Snapdragon 8 Elite

Thursday, 28 August 2025 at 18:16

After months of anticipation, HONOR has finally launched the Magic V5 outside of China. The new foldable phone is thinner, lighter, and noticeably more polished, with improvements in design, performance, and software that put it among the most advanced devices on the market.

Slim, bright, and portable

The Magic V5’s design is one of its strongest selling points. The Ivory White model is particularly striking, weighing just over 217 grams — lighter than most foldables out there. Folded, it’s 8.8mm thick, while fully open it measures only 4.1mm, making it feel almost like a regular tablet in the hand.

Inside sits a large 7.95-inch OLED screen, while the outer display measures 6.43 inches, handy for quick interactions. Both screens refresh at 120Hz, support stylus input, and can reach an impressive peak brightness of 5,000 nits. To reduce eye strain, HONOR added features like adaptive dimming, motion compensation, and a natural light filter.

Software with an AI twist

Running MagicOS 9.0 (based on Android 15), the Magic V5 leans heavily into AI features. Google Gemini is deeply integrated and can be triggered with a simple double-tap. Real-time translation, transcription, and even creative tools like AI Image-to-Video and AI Cutout are available. The updated HONOR Notes app also makes the phone more useful for work and multitasking.

Built for power and endurance

Under the hood, the phone carries Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, paired with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage. The redesigned Super Steel Hinge is tested for half a million folds, which should mean years of reliable use. A 5,820mAh silicon-carbon battery keeps things running, with 66W fast charging, 50W wireless charging, and reverse charging for accessories.

Triple-camera versatility

HONOR’s “Falcon” camera system includes a 50MP main shooter, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 64MP periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom. The phone also supports up to 100x digital zoom, boosted by AI tools that sharpen portraits, zoom shots, and fast-moving subjects. Both the inner and outer screens house 20MP selfie cameras.

Price and availability

The Magic V5 is already shipping in Europe and the UK. It comes in a single 16GB + 512GB version, priced at £1,699.99 in Britain or €1,999 in European markets. Color choices include Ivory White, Black, Dawn Gold, and Reddish Brown.

HONOR Magic V5 specifications

7.95″ foldable OLED (2352×2172), 6.43″ outer OLED (2376×1060); 120Hz; 1.07B colors; HDR Vivid, Dolby Vision, ZREAL; Peak brightness of 5000 nits
Up to 4.32GHz Octa Core Snapdragon 8 Elite 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 830 GPU
16GB RAM, 512GB storage
MagicOS 9.0.1 based on Android 15
50MP wide, 50MP ultra-wide, 64MP periscope telephoto (3x OIS, up to 100x digital zoom)
20MP inner and outer front cameras
USB Type-C audio, Stereo speakers
Dimensions & Weight: 156.8 x 74.3x 8.8mm (Ivory White) / 9mm (others) (folded) / 145.9 mm (unfolded); Weight: 217 g (Ivory White) | 222 g (others)
Dual 5G, Wi-Fi 7 802.11 be, Bluetooth 6.0, Dual-band GPS (L1+L5), Beidou, GLONASS, Galileo, NFC, USB Type-C
Dust and water resistant (IP58 + IP59)
5820mAh battery, 66W wired fast charging, 50W wireless charging, wireless reverse charging