Foldable smartphones have been steadily gaining traction, and Honor’s latest model, the Magic V3, marks a significant leap forward in both design and functionality. While the Magic V2 initially reshaped my perception of how practical foldable phones could be, the Magic V3 takes it even further. It’s a refined evolution that not only impresses with its innovative technology but also proves to be a highly practical daily driver. Offering an exceptional mix of performance, aesthetics, and usability.
The first thing you notice when holding the Honor Magic V3 is how incredibly thin it is. Foldable phones tend to be bulkier than standard smartphones, but at 4.35mm when open and 9.2mm when closed, the Magic V3 is noticeably thinner than competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. I might sound like I’m splitting hairs, literally, but these figures are based on the black version, as the other two colourways are 0.1mm thicker when folded, 0.05mm thicker when unfolded, and 4g heavier.
When folded shut, it feels like a regular candy bar-style smartphone. Despite its thinness, the Magic V3 feels sturdy and well-built, with no sense of fragility. The folding mechanism is robust, giving you confidence in the phone’s durability over time. Honor has managed to strike an ideal balance between sleekness and reliability, ensuring it’s aesthetically pleasing and functional for everyday use.
It’s great to see manufacturers providing a case in the box of their premium devices, and Honor includes a faux leather case with a built-in kickstand. This is a great addition, particularly for those who want to use the phone hands-free when watching content or making video calls.
The case also provides decent protection for the phone’s camera bump, ensuring that the lenses aren’t exposed to scratches when placed on flat surfaces, but it will add weight and a little bulk.
Honor’s Sapphire coating makes the device up to five times more durable than the previous generation. For the first time, it features an IPX8 rating, offering water resistance up to 2.5 meters.
Honor has perfected the transition between folded and unfolded modes with the Magic V3. The 6.43-inch OLED external display feels intuitive and natural in its folded form, featuring a 20:9 aspect ratio that offers a full, seamless smartphone experience without feeling cramped. This wider cover display is a key reason why the Magic V3 works so well as my main device. It functions just like a regular phone, and typing is effortless — unlike the narrower cover display of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which can feel limiting.
When you open up the Magic V3 to reveal its expansive 7.92-inch internal display, you’re immediately drawn to the rich colours and deep blacks, making it ideal for content consumption. What truly stands out, though, is what doesn’t stand out — the near-invisible crease on the foldable display. Unlike other foldables where the crease can be a constant, distracting feature, Honor’s engineering ensures that the fold is barely noticeable.
Out of curiosity, I used a depth gauge to measure the crease on the Magic V3, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, just to compare. While I didn’t use industrial-grade instruments, the results confirmed what I could see and feel. The Z Fold 6 had a crease depth of 0.56mm, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold measured 0.38mm, and the Magic V3 was an astonishing 0.08mm. Though you can still see and feel the crease, it’s incredibly shallow.
The OLED screens on both the external and internal displays are exceptional. With vivid colours and sharp detail, the Magic V3 is a dream for binge-watchers. Whether you’re streaming your favourite series on Netflix or catching up on your favourite YouTube channels, the visual experience is immersive. The foldable screen shines when you want to dive into content, as its expansive size provides a mini-tablet experience in your pocket.
While the inner display is perfect for multitasking and media consumption, the outer display also impresses with its top-tier specs. Boasting a stunning 5,000 nits of peak brightness, it ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The 120Hz 8T LTPO technology offers ultra-smooth scrolling and animations while intelligently adjusting the refresh rate to optimise power efficiency.
However, not everything is perfect in real-world use, as some apps don’t always adapt smoothly to the larger internal display. This can lead to awkward aspect ratios and stretched content, which may feel a bit off. Thankfully, Honor includes options in the settings that allow you to adjust the resolution to better fit certain apps. While this isn’t a dealbreaker for most users, it’s worth noting if you frequently use apps that haven’t yet been optimised for foldable screens. The experience can still be enjoyable, but this is a common challenge for foldables across the board.
The Honor Magic V3 is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which provides plenty of power. Whether you’re navigating between apps, gaming, or watching videos, the Magic V3 performs without a hitch. Everything runs incredibly smooth, including intense games like Wreckfest, even on the expansive internal screen.
One significant advantage of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is how well it balances performance with energy efficiency. The Magic V3 comes with 12GB of RAM, 512GB storage and dual SIM support.
Low-light photography is also decent, and the Honor AI Eraser tool is a neat feature that lets you clean up your images by removing unwanted objects with a simple touch — similar to Google’s Magic Eraser.
The phone also includes dual 20MP selfie cameras (one on the external display and one on the internal). The selfie cameras are fine for video calls, but I used the rear camera for selfies where possible because of the vastly better image quality.
The rear cameras can record video at up to 4K 60fps, and the selfie cameras can record at 4K 30fps.
The Honor Magic V3 is equipped with a 5150mAh battery, which can easily last a full day of moderate use, including web browsing, gaming, and media consumption.
Although there isn’t a charger in the box, the device supports 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. In my testing, I used a 100W Ugreen charger, and the Magic V3 went from 9% to 100% in under an hour — a very impressive result. However, to achieve the 50W wireless charging speeds, you’ll need to invest in Honor’s wireless charger.
Honor has made strides with its software, and the Magic V3 includes several AI-enhanced features, such as AI Eraser, Studio Harcourt Portrait Mode, and AI Portrait Enhancement. However, the Honor MagicOS still needs some refinements, especially regarding app optimisation for the larger foldable screen. It doesn’t feel as slick as the Samsung OneUI or stock Android on the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Still, apart from a few minor quirks, I found the UI experience relatively smooth.
That said, multitasking is a breeze with features like Magic Portal, which allows you to drag items between apps seamlessly. You can even split the screen to run two or even three apps simultaneously, making it easier to be productive on the go.
The Honor Magic V3’s hardware sets it apart from the competition, leaving other foldables in the dust. Its ultra-slim design makes it highly portable and elegant, offering a sleek and sophisticated look. For those considering entering the foldable category, the Magic V3 is a compelling option.
€1,999 Harvey Norman
