Almost two months after its preliminary launch, the Honor Magic V2 is coming to European markets, regardless that Honor nonetheless received’t affirm a value or launch date.
We’ve identified virtually all the key specs since July, so there are not any large surprises right here. Honor’s third book-style foldable is a refined model of the Magic Vs, which itself solely launched globally in February.
Like most flagship Android gadgets in 2023, it’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. A 6.43in cowl display screen opens to disclose a 7.92in inside show. Both are OLED, and have an adaptive 120Hz refresh fee.
Three rear cameras (50Mp fundamental, 50Mp ultrawide, 20Mp telephoto) are joined by 16Mp selfie lenses at the high of each shows, whereas there’s a decent 5000mAh battery. 66W wired charging is right here, even when there’s no wi-fi charging.
So far, so unremarkable so far as foldables go. But what stands the Magic V2 above the competitors is the way it feels to make use of, one thing you possibly can by no means decide from specs alone.
After spending time with the system, I can confidently say that is nearly as good as foldable telephone design will get proper now. The slick {hardware} retains all the versatility of a phone-tablet hybrid, but avoids some of its ordinary drawbacks.
The Magic V2 can be utilized as a telephone, pill or in the ‘hover mode’ proven aboveAnyron Copeman / Foundry
Let’s begin with the thickness, or lack thereof. At 9.9mm when closed, Honor says the Magic V2 is the world’s thinnest folding telephone, and far nearer to a daily handset than the 13.4mm Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.
3.5mm may not sound like a lot, however it makes a giant distinction. Choosing this book-style foldable not means having to place up with such a cumbersome design, making me rather more inclined to make use of one. Rather than being a advertising gimmick, a thinner foldable appears like a real step ahead.
The Magic V2 additionally units new requirements in relation to weight. At 231g, it’s lighter than not solely all different book-style foldables, but additionally common flagship telephones akin to the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
As somebody who’s utilizing the S23 Ultra at the second, choosing up the Magic V2 was an actual shock – in a great way. But it doesn’t really feel like sturdiness has been sacrificed to get there, with Honor claiming it might final for as much as 400,000 folds.
The 7.93in inside show actually seems the half, however the 6.43in cowl display screen is much more spectacular. Not solely is it a pretty 120Hz OLED, it stretches proper to the edge of the entrance panel like a daily smartphone.
Rather than the awkwardly slender cowl show of some book-style foldables, the one on the Magic V2 feels very comfy to make use of. The possibility to show it right into a small pill (full with barely-noticeable crease) is there, however you don’t all the time want it.
From the entrance, the Magic V2 seems like a daily smartphoneAnyron Copeman / Foundry
However, nearly as good as the system feels to make use of, query marks stay. The Magic V2 runs a full model of Android (together with all Google apps), however Honor is but to show that it might optimise the MagicOS pores and skin for foldables. Samsung’s One UI nonetheless has it beat for pure utility. Software finesse was the fundamental weak spot of the Magic Vs, and I haven’t spent lengthy sufficient with its successor to determine if it’s been totally addressed.
Then there are the cameras. Results from each the rear sensors and selfie lens have been spectacular briefly testing, however that was in a well-lit room in the center of the day. It stays to be seen whether or not the Magic V2 can ship a real flagship-level images expertise.
And then there’s the value, which may make or break the Magic V2. The Chinese beginning value (¥8,999, round $1,250/£970) isn’t a dependable indicator, however it could be near the Magic Vs (from £1,399/€1,599).
It’ll most likely have to undercut each the Z Fold 5 (from $1,799.99/£1,749) and Pixel Fold (from $1,799/£1,749) to make an impression in the UK and Europe. A launch date can be but to be confirmed, however don’t anticipate the Magic V2 to ever come to North America.
https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2049137/honor-magic-v2-best-folding-phone-design.html
