The Magic V5 is shaping up to be a bold strike at Samsung’s dominance, with specs and design that aim to turn heads and change minds.
HONOR isn’t just dipping its toes into the foldable market—it’s diving in with both feet, all eyes locked on its latest flagship: the Magic V5. At MWC Shanghai 2025, CEO James Li didn’t hold back. He called it their “most powerful foldable yet,” and if the specs are anything to go by, he might just be right.
This isn’t the first time HONOR has made noise in the foldable space. But this time, the buzz feels louder. The launch is locked in for July 5th in China, and it looks like the company wants to do more than just compete—it wants to dominate.
A Foldable That Redefines Thin
8.8mm when folded. Just let that sink in.
That’s thinner than most modern smartphones, let alone foldables. HONOR already stunned everyone with the Magic V3, which stood at 9.2mm folded. The Magic V5 shaves off nearly half a millimeter—and when you’re playing the thinness game, that’s not a small feat.
And there’s more.
According to trusted leaker Digital Chat Station, the phone will weigh just 217 grams. That’s 9 grams lighter than its predecessor, and still managing to pack some serious internals.
The Magic V5 is poised to become the lightest foldable in its class. It’s not just about being thin—it’s about making it feel like a regular phone again.
Under the Hood: Performance Looks Serious
Let’s talk specs, because HONOR clearly didn’t compromise.
Powering this engineering marvel is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset—a top-tier processor designed to handle just about anything you throw at it. HONOR says it’s pushing the envelope on AI with this one, promising “PC-level productivity” with advanced on-device intelligence.
Yep, PC-level. In your pocket.
If that sounds like marketing fluff, let’s break it down:
-
Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC brings faster multitasking and improved thermal management.
-
HONOR’s AI optimization could allow for things like live meeting summaries, smart document editing, and even predictive app behavior.
-
The foldable display is said to stretch 7.95 inches with a 2K+ LTPO panel—making it practically a tablet when unfolded.
Basically, this thing isn’t just for scrolling Instagram.
A Camera Setup Built for More Than Selfies
We’re looking at a triple-lens setup: a 50MP main sensor, an ultra-wide for the sweeping city shots or crowded group pics, and a 3x optical zoom periscope lens.
That telephoto might be the real surprise.
It’s not easy to fit that kind of zoom in a foldable this thin. But somehow, HONOR seems to have done it. Could it be enough to rival the Galaxy Z Fold7’s rumored quad camera? Too early to tell—but this one’s close.
Folding Without Compromising Battery
Foldables often struggle with battery life. Thinner designs usually mean smaller batteries. But not here.
The Magic V5 is rumored to come with a third-gen silicon-carbon battery clocking in at around 6100mAh. That’s not just good. That’s record-breaking for a foldable.
Here’s what’s rumored:
-
6100mAh silicon-carbon battery
-
66W fast charging
-
Optimized battery health management via AI-based usage pattern tracking
This could easily stretch all-day use, even with that massive screen. For context, most foldables in the market hover around 4500–5000mAh. HONOR’s trying to leapfrog them by a wide margin.
Here’s a look at how it compares:
| Device | Folded Thickness | Weight | Battery | Display Size | Charging |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HONOR Magic V5 | 8.8mm | 217g | ~6100mAh | 7.95″ | 66W |
| HONOR Magic V3 | 9.2mm | 226g | ~5000mAh | 7.9″ | 66W |
| Galaxy Z Fold7 (rumor) | ~11mm | ~239g | ~4700mAh | 7.6″ | 45W |
That’s a solid lead for HONOR. At least on paper.
July Showdown: HONOR vs. Samsung
Timing is everything.
HONOR’s launch on July 5th puts it just ahead of Samsung’s expected global unveiling of the Galaxy Z Fold7. This isn’t a coincidence. It’s a challenge.
James Li didn’t name Samsung directly during his MWC keynote—but he didn’t need to. Everyone knew who he was talking about. HONOR wants to shake up a segment that’s long been dominated by just a handful of brands.
Their edge? Aggressive specs, sleek design, and a clear focus on making foldables more practical.
Could it work?
Well, there’s definitely momentum. The Magic V3 got solid reviews and decent traction. If HONOR can deliver a glitch-free, feature-rich Magic V5 with good pricing and strong after-sales support, it might finally have a shot at global foldable credibility.
What Comes Next?
The company hinted that a global launch is in the cards later this year, possibly Q3 or Q4. No dates confirmed yet, but sources say the team is actively preparing for international certifications and regional testing.
We’re also waiting to see final pricing. If HONOR plays the value card well, this could land as a seriously tempting alternative to Samsung’s pricy lineup.
More specs, features, and possibly even hands-on previews are expected to trickle out before July 5th. For now, though, the Magic V5 already looks like the foldable to beat this summer.
