HONOR Magic V3 Review: The Thinnest Foldable Yet—Does It Deliver?

The foldable smartphone market is experiencing a revolution, and the HONOR Magic V3 is at the forefront of this movement. With its cutting-edge design and engineering, this device promises to redefine how users interact with foldable technology. HONOR is no stranger to innovation, but the Magic V3 takes things up a notch, presenting itself as the thinnest foldable smartphone in the world. From its ultra-slim form factor to its immersive displays and powerful internals, the HONOR Magic V3 has garnered considerable attention. But is it just hype, or does it genuinely have the capabilities to stand out in a competitive market?

As a mobile expert and content writer, I’ll delve deep into everything the HONOR Magic V3 has to offer, from its design and hardware to the software experience, cameras, and overall performance. By the end of this review, you’ll know whether this foldable device is right for you and if it has what it takes to be the best foldable phone of 2024.

Unboxing the HONOR Magic V3: A Premium Experience

The first thing you’ll notice about the HONOR Magic V3 is the premium feel of the packaging. HONOR has clearly made an effort to elevate the unboxing experience. Inside the box, you’ll find the phone itself, neatly folded. Alongside the device, the box includes a fast-charging brick (66W), a USB-C cable, and a sim ejector tool. The presentation is clean and minimalistic, much like the phone itself, underscoring HONOR’s focus on design.

What stands out during the unboxing process is how incredibly thin the phone feels, even when folded. HONOR claims the Magic V3 is the thinnest foldable ever made, and it certainly delivers on that front. The device measures a mere 4.35mm when unfolded, making it almost paper-thin compared to its competitors. Even in its folded state, it’s impressively slim, at 9.9mm.

Hardware and Design: The Pinnacle of Thinness

The HONOR Magic V3 is a masterpiece of engineering, with its design clearly focused on minimizing bulk. The foldable is thinner than most regular smartphones, a feat that is almost unheard of in the foldable segment. Despite this slim profile, HONOR has managed to pack in high-quality materials and offer a robust build.

One of the most striking aspects of the design is the hinge mechanism. HONOR has developed an advanced waterdrop hinge that allows the device to fold with minimal gaps. This not only makes the phone look sleeker but also adds durability to the folding mechanism, ensuring long-term reliability. The hinge feels sturdy, and opening and closing the device is smooth, with no signs of wobble.

The back of the device features a glass finish, which feels premium but also attracts fingerprints. The matte variant offers better resistance to smudging. The device comes in several colors, including classic black, luxury gold, and midnight blue, allowing users to choose a variant that fits their style.

Build Quality and Durability

For a device as thin as this, questions about durability are inevitable. HONOR has ensured that the Magic V3 isn’t just thin, but also durable. The phone is water and dust resistant, boasting an IP54 rating. While this is not as high as some rugged devices, it’s impressive for a foldable, ensuring that the phone can handle daily wear and tear.

Display Quality: Two Displays, Maximum Immersion

The HONOR Magic V3 features two stunning displays, one on the front cover and a larger internal screen when unfolded. The outer display measures 6.4 inches, which is about the same size as most standard smartphones today. This makes the device usable even when it’s folded, offering a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and navigation.

When you unfold the device, you’re greeted with a 7.92-inch OLED display that offers a near-tablet-like experience. This main screen is also 120Hz, meaning it’s silky smooth for everything from social media browsing to gaming. The resolution is sharp, with excellent color reproduction, deep blacks, and vibrant contrasts thanks to the AMOLED panel. Watching videos and playing games feels immersive due to the expansive screen real estate.

Key Display Features:

• Outer Display: 6.4 inches, 120Hz, OLED
• Main Display: 7.92 inches, 120Hz, OLED
• Brightness: Up to 1600 nits, making it easily viewable outdoors
• Color Accuracy: DCI-P3 100% color gamut, offering vivid colors

Foldable Screen Experience

The inner screen is made of ultra-thin glass, making it much more resistant to scratches and cracks than plastic displays seen in earlier foldables. While there’s still a crease in the middle of the display where the phone folds, HONOR has minimized its visibility and feel. Under regular usage, the crease becomes less noticeable, especially when you’re fully immersed in the content.

Software and User Experience: Custom Features for Foldables

The HONOR Magic V3 runs on MagicOS 7.0, which is based on Android 13. HONOR has done a great job in optimizing the software to take advantage of the foldable form factor. The software offers multi-window functionality, allowing you to run up to three apps simultaneously. For instance, you could be watching a video on YouTube, chatting on WhatsApp, and browsing Twitter, all on the same screen without any lag.

One standout feature is App Continuity. When you unfold or fold the device, apps instantly adjust their layout to fit the screen. This seamless transition makes it feel natural to switch between tablet mode and phone mode.

There are also features designed specifically for multitasking. You can use split-screen mode to run two apps side by side or drag and drop content between them. For professionals, this can be a productivity boost, allowing for better management of emails, documents, and presentations.

HONOR has included additional gestures and shortcuts that take advantage of the foldable’s large screen. For example, swiping from the middle of the screen with two fingers will split the display, and long-pressing certain apps will open them in floating windows.

Camera Performance: A Foldable That Takes Photography Seriously

One of the common trade-offs with foldable phones has been camera quality, but HONOR Magic V3 doesn’t cut corners in this area. It is equipped with a triple-camera setup on the back, consisting of a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 20MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom.

Key Camera Specs:

• Main Camera: 50MP, f/1.9 aperture, OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)
• Ultra-Wide Camera: 12MP, f/2.2
• Telephoto Camera: 20MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom
• Front Cameras: 16MP on both outer and inner screens

Daylight Photography

In daylight conditions, the HONOR Magic V3 captures vivid and detailed shots. The 50MP sensor shines, delivering sharp images with excellent color reproduction. Whether it’s landscapes, portraits, or macros, the main camera performs admirably, with fast autofocus and a good dynamic range.

Low-Light Performance

Low-light photography is impressive as well. The phone uses Night Mode to brighten up scenes while retaining natural colors. The OIS on the main camera ensures that you get sharp shots even in challenging lighting conditions.

Ultra-Wide and Telephoto Performance

The 12MP ultra-wide sensor produces decent results with minimal distortion, although details can soften at the edges. The 20MP telephoto lens, on the other hand, excels at zoom shots, delivering crisp images even at 3x optical zoom.

Battery Life and Performance: Power and Efficiency Combined

The HONOR Magic V3 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, one of the most powerful mobile chipsets on the market. This ensures that the phone handles anything you throw at it, from gaming to multitasking, without breaking a sweat. Paired with 12GB of RAM, the phone offers fluid performance even under heavy workloads.

Despite being incredibly thin, HONOR has managed to fit a 5000mAh battery inside the Magic V3. Combined with 66W fast charging, you can juice up the phone quickly if you run low on battery. On average usage, the battery easily lasts a full day, even with heavy multitasking and media consumption.

Battery Breakdown:

• Capacity: 5000mAh
• Charging Speed: 66W (Fast Charging)
• Wireless Charging: 50W
• Battery Life: Up to a full day on regular use

Final Thoughts: Is the HONOR Magic V3 the Best Foldable Phone?

The HONOR Magic V3 is undoubtedly a groundbreaking device in the world of foldable smartphones. Its incredibly thin design, paired with high-end hardware and software optimization, makes it one of the most compelling foldable phones available today. Whether you’re someone who values innovation, productivity, or multimedia consumption, the Magic V3 offers something for everyone.

However, foldables are not for everyone. While the Magic V3 solves many of the issues that plagued earlier foldable phones—such as bulkiness and software limitations—it still comes at a premium price. But if you’re looking for the best foldable on the market, the HONOR Magic V3 deserves serious consideration