Honor Magic V2 Review: Raises the Portability Bar for Foldables
The portable Magic V2 nudges foldable phones closer to the mainstream with its thin lightweight design and solid features.
The Portability of the Magic V2
The Magic V2 impresses with its lightweight design and bright, expansive displays. It also offers respectable cameras and dependable battery life. However, its standout feature is its portability. The Magic V2 proves that a foldable phone can be a powerful productivity machine without burdening you with its size and weight. It feels like a regular phone unless you slide your thumb over the place where the screens meet.
The Magic V2 is the lightest and slimmest book-style foldable phone available. When folded, it's just 9.9 millimeters thick, making it convenient to carry around. In comparison, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 is 13.46 mm thick. The Magic V2 weighs 231 grams, making it feel more like a regular phone and less like an experiment.
Impressive Hardware and Software
Despite its compact size, the Magic V2 is packed with flagship specs. It features last year's Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a triple-camera module with a telephoto lens, and a large battery that supports fast charging. It also comes with four years of Android software upgrades and five years of security updates.
However, the Magic V2 does have a few shortcomings. It lacks an official IP rating for water and dust resistance, doesn't support wireless charging, and not all apps are optimized for its screens. However, these issues are common among foldable phones.
Design and Displays
The Magic V2's supremely lightweight design is made possible by a titanium alloy hinge. It has a 6.43-inch cover screen and a 7.92-inch inner display with a barely noticeable crease. The inner display has a peak brightness of 1,600 nits, making it easy to watch videos outdoors.
The Magic V2's five cameras, including a 50-megapixel main camera and a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, capture crisp and color accurate images in bright lighting environments. However, indoor or low light images may appear shadowy.
The Magic V2's battery life is impressive, lasting throughout the day with moderate use. It also features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which can handle graphic-intensive games and Zoom video calls with ease.
