Category: Foldables

If you’re choosing between Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold—with the incoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold hovering just offstage—this breakdown is for you. The short version: Google’s 10 Pro Fold will add a newer chip (Tensor G5), a slightly larger battery, and full IP68 dust/water resistance. Otherwise it’s effectively the 9 Pro Fold you can buy today. With that cleared up, let’s go head-to-head with the device you’ll actually be cross-shopping: Z Fold 7 vs. Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

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Hardware & in-hand feel

Size & shape. Z Fold 7 is a touch taller and narrower; Pixel Fold is shorter and wider. That alone drives a lot of the experience: Samsung’s cover screen feels more “phone-like” than older Folds, while Pixel’s wider cover screen is easier for typing and one-hand use.

Edges & comfort. Pixel’s sides are rounded and friendly to the palm. Z Fold 7 keeps sharper edges and corners; it looks slick, but after long sessions you may find yourself shifting your grip.

Camera bump & table wobble. Samsung’s vertical triple-camera strip rocks like a seesaw on a desk. Pixel’s square island keeps things flatter and steadier.

Hinge & bezels. Samsung trimmed the hinge noticeably; Pixel’s hinge is still more pronounced (the 10 Pro Fold will slim this a bit). Think closer to OnePlus Open for how tight a modern hinge can look.

Glare & protectors. My Pixel unit had no anti-reflective top layer, so it reflects more; the Samsung I tested wore an anti-reflective protector and stayed calmer under lights.

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Cover & inner displays

Both panels are 120 Hz and smooth. Indoors they’re peers; outdoors the Samsung looked brighter in my side-by-side. With brightness maxed, Pixel’s wallpaper choice can make it seem dimmer still.

When opened, layouts are flexible on both, but what you’re allowed to do with those big canvases differs a lot (next section).

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Software & customization: tight vs. tuned

Home screen freedom. Google keeps things opinionated:

• The At-a-Glance widget and Google search bar are stuck in place.
• Folders have one layout size.
• No stacked widgets on the main page.

Samsung lets you hide the search bar, resize folders, and stack widgets. It’s simply more customizable.

Side panel & multitasking. This is the biggest split.

• Z Fold 7: Swipe in from the edge for the taskbar/panel, drag apps to split, save app pairs, and even float multiple windows that you can place and resize anywhere. It’s laptop-like.
• Pixel Fold: No native side panel. To split, open one app, then drag a second from the dock or app drawer. You can save pairs, but there’s no floating window option and fewer drag-drop gestures. Third-party edge panels help, but they can’t replace Samsung’s deep integration.

If you bought a foldable for multitasking, Samsung’s ahead by a mile.

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AI & keyboards

Both lean on Google’s Gemini for text help (rewrite, summarize, tone changes, proofreading). On Samsung you’ll find extra Galaxy AI niceties sprinkled around, but the core “write better, faster” tools are similar.

Dictation has improved on Samsung’s own keyboard, but I still like Gboard for accuracy. If you do stick with Samsung Keyboard, its AI buttons are right where you want them—one tap away.

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Photo apps & editing tricks

• Samsung: Long-press a subject in the Gallery to create an instant cutout, move it, drop it onto another photo, or save it as a transparent PNG. Generative fills are quick; Samsung watermarks AI-generated edits.
• Pixel: You’ll dive into Edit → Actions for tools like Move and Magic Editor–style generative fills. Different path, similar result; Pixel did a nice job of shifting and filling background when I re-centered a portrait.

Verdict: both are capable; Samsung’s “long-press to cut out” is delightfully fast, Pixel’s “Move” feels precise.

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Cameras: night wins, day detail, and zoom reality

Night video (selfie & rear). Both were usable, but Samsung looked cleaner and brighter, with more detail; Pixel’s audio emphasized my voice and downplayed ambient noise, which is great if you just want to shoot-and-share.

Night stills. Repeatedly, the 200 MP main on Samsung held highlight signs better and kept more texture in trees and brickwork. Pixel sometimes blew bright signage and leaned warmer/saturated.

2×–5× zoom. At 5×, both switch to their 10 MP telephotos. Pixel’s dedicated 5× optic can look a touch crisper at that mark; Samsung’s overall processing is more natural.

10× and beyond. With both leaning on crop + processing from lower-res telephotos, don’t expect “flagship periscope” quality. Still, Samsung kept edges straighter and text cleaner in my street sign tests; Pixel occasionally looked punchier but less true.

Day portrait. Samsung pulled slightly ahead on micro-detail (hair, fabric). Pixel nailed color on my brown shirt better than Samsung’s near-black interpretation.

Macro & close-ups. A split decision: Pixel sometimes looked brighter and tack-sharp on tiny subjects; Samsung’s bokeh separation felt more natural.

Check out the Photos Here:

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Speakers & audio placement

The Z Fold 7 is louder with more low-end. However, Samsung puts both drivers on the same side when opened. Pixel cleverly flips speakers with orientation, so you always get true left/right stereo no matter how you’re holding it. Design win to Pixel; loudness win to Samsung.

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What about Pixel 10 Pro Fold?

Expect the same body and cameras as 9 Pro Fold, plus:

• Tensor G5 (snappier and more efficient)
• Slightly larger battery
• IP68 dust/water resistance (first for a major foldable)

Those are welcome—but they won’t change the multitasking gap or the camera behavior you saw above in a dramatic way unless Google ships major image-processing updates (which they could also backport).

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Final take

If your foldable is mostly a phone that sometimes opens, the Pixel’s wider cover screen, softer edges, and smart stereo layout make it a pleasure to hold and use. If your foldable is a tablet you work on, the Z Fold 7 simply does more: brighter inner screen outdoors, best-in-class multitasking with floating windows, deeper home-screen control, louder speakers, and a night-and-detail camera edge thanks to that 200 MP sensor.

Price matters, and Samsung usually runs about $200 more. For me, the productivity and camera gains are worth it. If you prize comfort, wide cover typing, and Google’s cleaner vibe, the Pixel Fold is still a lovely choice—made even better if you wait for the 10 Pro Fold’s IP68 and newer silicon.

Which way are you leaning—wide and comfy, or bright and beastly? Drop your must-have features below, and tell me what matchup you want next.

If you’ve been eyeing Honor’s latest foldable and asking “should I jump from the V3 to the V5?”, you’re not alone. I’ve lived with both, ran them through my everyday routines, poked at the software, and snapped more photos than my camera roll cares to admit. Here’s the good, the bad, and the “maybe wait” — in plain English.

Design & In-Hand Feel

Side by side, V5 and V3 are near twins. The V5 adds a snazzier hinge pattern and feels a touch more squared on the rails, but both keep those comfy rounded edges that spare your palms (unlike some sharper competitors). Specs say the V5 (gold model) is 9.2 mm closed and the V3 is 9.0 mm; the white V5 slims to 8.8 mm. In practice? You’d be hard-pressed to tell without calipers.

Where you will notice a change is the camera island: the V5’s bump is a bit chunkier — on purpose. We’ll talk cameras in a minute.

A small but smart speaker change

Honor moved the V5’s speakers to opposite ends. On the V3, they’re on the same side, so it’s easy to muffle both when gaming. The V5’s split layout means even if one is covered, the other stays loud and clear. Tiny tweak, real-world win.

Screens & Outdoor Visibility

Both claim 5,000-nit peak brightness outdoors, and both ship with anti-reflective front protectors. In direct sun, they’re surprisingly readable and, to my eyes, basically a draw. If anything, the V5 may look a hair brighter at peak — but again, it’s subtle. Crease visibility is low on both.

Open them up and the diagonals are nearly identical (7.95″ on V5 vs 7.92″ on V3). The cover screens are rated the same, too (6.43″). Translation: no practical size advantage either way.

Specs at a glance (V3 vs V5)

Category	Magic V3	Magic V5
Launch (global)	Shown at IFA 2024; global units followed	Global launch Aug 28, 2025
Dimensions (folded)	156.6 × 74.0 × 9.2 mm	156.8 × 74.3 × 8.8 mm
Thickness (unfolded)	4.35 mm	4.1 mm
Weight	226 g	217 g
IP rating	IPX8 (water)	IP58 (dust) + IP59 (high-pressure water)
Chipset / GPU	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 / Adreno 750	Snapdragon 8 Elite / Adreno 830
Software at launch	Android 14, MagicOS 8.0	Android 15, MagicOS 9.0/9.0.1
Update policy	4 OS upgrades + 5 yrs security (reported)	7 yrs OS & security (EU/UK; may vary)
RAM / Storage (global)	Typically 12 GB / 512 GB	Typically 16 GB / 512 GB
RAM / Storage (China)	Up to 16 GB / 1 TB	12/256, 16/512, 16/1 TB (1 TB gets larger battery)
Inner display	7.92″ LTPO OLED, 2344×2156, 1–120 Hz, stylus support	7.95″ LTPO OLED, 2352×2172, 1–120 Hz, stylus support
Outer display	6.43″ LTPO OLED, 2376×1060, 1–120 Hz	6.43″ LTPO OLED, 2346×1060, 1–120 Hz
Peak brightness	Cover up to 5000 nits	Dual 5000 nits (inner & outer)
PWM dimming	Inner up to 3840 Hz, outer 4320 Hz	High-freq PWM on both (up to 4320 Hz)
Stylus	Magic Pen on both screens	Magic Pen on both screens
Rear cameras	50 MP main (IMX906, f/1.6, OIS) + 50 MP periscope 3.5× (OIS) + 40 MP ultrawide	50 MP main (f/1.6, OIS) + 64 MP periscope 3× (OIS) + 50 MP ultrawide
Front cameras	20 MP (inner) + 20 MP (cover)	20 MP (inner) + 20 MP (cover)
Video	Up to 4K/60 (rear; region/updates may affect modes)	Up to 4K/60
Battery (global)	5150 mAh (Si-carbon)	5820 mAh (Si-carbon)
Battery (China, 1 TB)	—	6100 mAh (typ., rated 5950)
Wired / wireless charging	66 W / 50 W	66 W / 50 W
Connectivity	5G Sub-6, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, IR	5G Sub-6 (wider bands), Wi-Fi 7 with 6 GHz, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, IR
Biometrics	Side fingerprint + face unlock	Side fingerprint + face unlock

Under the Hood

In swiping, launching, and day-to-day stuff, both feel equally fluid. The V5’s Elite chip does pull ahead in heavier workloads and longer exports (think 4K video rendering), and the bigger battery helps. But the V3’s no slouch — it’s already outpaced several “newer” rivals and doesn’t throttle like some flagships.

Stylus Support (Yes, on Both)

The Honor stylus works on the outer and inner screens of both V5 and V3. Writing feels quick and responsive, the eraser button is handy, and the tip glides without chewing up the protector. If you sketch thumbnails, markup PDFs, or annotate screenshots, this is a big quality-of-life feature — and crucially, it’s not a V5 exclusive.

Software & AI: Same Brain, New Tricks (Mostly)

MagicOS on the V5 and V3 feels virtually identical: same layouts, same stacked widgets, same gestures. Even the camera app UI mirrors across devices. The V3 has gained many of the AI edits the V5 touts:

• Cutout: Long-press to auto-select a subject and save it as a sticker/cutout on both phones.
• Outpainting: Extend canvas to “recenter” yourself — neat for portraits. The V5 goes a step further by letting you move your cutout across a newly extended background inside the editor. It’s convenient, not essential.
• AI Eraser: Removing logos/plates/stray objects works on both and looks clean.
• AI writing/grammar assist: Functional but slow. It fetches from the web, and even on the V5 it isn’t instant. Nice to have, not a reason to upgrade.

Cameras: Numbers vs. Results

On paper, the V5’s telephoto is 64 MP vs. 50 MP on the V3. In practice, image quality is more “family resemblance” than “generation leap.”

• Portraits: Both can deliver pleasing bokeh if you set them up right. Sometimes the V3 traces fine edges (like hair and ears) a tad more naturally; the V5 can “beautify” a touch by default.
• Standard & mid-zoom (3–10×): Nearly a wash. Exposure and white balance differ slightly scene-to-scene, but neither runs away with it.
• Long zoom (50–100×): Not much in it. Some sets even favored the V3 for retained detail.
• Night video: In mixed testing the V3 often held its own and, in some clips, edged the V5 on clarity. Lens-flare control varies by scene.

Bottom line: the V5 isn’t a dramatic camera upgrade over the V3. It’s a nudge, not a leap. Check out the Photo Gallery for Images.

Multitasking: One Meaningful Difference

Both do split screen beautifully. The big distinction:

• V5 can run three side-by-side apps at once, each resizable (including those slick 90/10 focus swaps).
• V3 tops out at two apps + a floating window. You still multitask fine, but the V5’s true triple split is objectively more powerful if you live in spreadsheets, docs, and chat at the same time.

Connectivity & Speeds

On my Wi-Fi, speeds varied with network mood (and will for you too), but both kept up within shouting distance. Radio band support is comparable; in real use, coverage felt the same. I wouldn’t pick either based on bars.

So… Should You Upgrade?

If you already own the V3 and you love it, here’s the honest read:

Reasons to stay put

• Everyday speed and smoothness feel the same.
• Cameras are very close in most scenarios.
• Stylus works on both inner and outer screens either way.
• The V3 still competes toe-to-toe with 2024/25 foldables.

Reasons to consider the V5

• You want triple-app split multitasking regularly.
• You do heavy video exports or long processing tasks and want the Elite chip’s headroom.
• The bigger battery matters to you.
• You prefer the new hinge design and split speakers (gamers, hi).

Value check: if you can snag a V3 near ~$1,000 and the V5 sits closer to ~$2,000, the math is brutal. The V3 remains a phenomenal buy and, for many people, the smarter one. If you’re new to foldables, the V3 is a fantastic entry that doesn’t feel “last-gen.”

Final Word

The V5 is the sleeker, slightly faster refinement; the V3 is the value wrecking ball that still punches above its weight. For most users, the upgrade isn’t necessary. For power multitaskers, creators exporting 4K often, or anyone craving maximum battery and that speaker layout, the V5 earns its keep.

Now I want to hear from you: did you jump from V3 to V5? Seeing real-world differences? Anything I missed that changed your mind either way? Drop your experiences in the comments — and if you’re cross-shopping other foldables, I’ve got battles you’ll want to see next.

Update & Corrections:
In this video I missed a couple things about the Vivo X Fold 5 and Honor Magic V5.

• For night shots, the Vivo does have a Landscape & Night mode that I overlooked. I’ve retaken comparison photos and posted them below.
• For portraits, I said the Honor Magic V5 didn’t handle bokeh well—but I’ve been respectfully informed that I can adjust the bokeh to my liking before shooting. I used the default setting in the video which is set with no bokeh. I found that adjusting the f-stop setting at f/2.8, it actually matches the Vivo beautifully.

Thanks to the viewers who pointed this out—your feedback makes these reviews better and helps me to learn with you!

Two ultra-thin, book-style foldables. Two very different personalities. I’ve been living with the Honor Magic V5 and the Vivo X Fold 5 long enough to run them through my everyday routines—emails, editing, photos, maps, church notes, and a few too many speed tests. Here’s the head-to-head you’ve been asking for.

Design & in-hand feel

At a glance, the Vivo is taller and narrower; the Honor is shorter and wider. Spec sheets say 6.5″ vs 6.4″ outer screens, but the Honor’s extra width makes typing easier and icons larger—great for not-so-dainty thumbs. Both chassis are razor thin (Honor listed at 9.0 mm, Vivo 9.2 mm folded). A quick “bubble level” test on a flat desk put their bodies essentially even; the difference shows up at the camera bump, where the Honor’s module is noticeably taller.

Button placement is similar (volume + side fingerprint), but Vivo adds a programmable extra key. I set it to mute, though you can map it to other shortcuts. Unlocking feels instant on both.

One preference note: the Honor lets you separate your lock-screen wallpaper from your home screen. On my China ROM Vivo, the lock screen mirrors the home screen and I couldn’t change that. (If you’ve got a trick on the global ROM, drop it in the comments.)

Specs snapshot

• Honor Magic V5: Snapdragon Elite chip, 16GB RAM, up to 5820 mAh battery, MagicOS on Android 15, stylus support on outer and inner displays.
• Vivo X Fold 5: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 16GB RAM, 6000 mAh battery, OriginOS on Android 15.

Yes, the Vivo battery is larger on paper; more on real-world behavior below.

Displays, brightness & reflections

Outdoors, both panels get very bright and remain readable. The Honor’s anti-reflective inner screen helps a lot under harsh light; the Vivo fights reflections more but counters with luminance. Either way, you can use both outside without squinting yourself into a headache.

Stylus: one clear winner

Only the Honor supports a pen—and it works on both screens. I’ve been sketching thumbnails, annotating screenshots, and tapping tiny UI elements without mis-presses. If you need a pen on a book-style foldable, this is the one.

Connectivity: Wi-Fi vs. Cellular

On my home Wi-Fi (rated ~400 Mbps down / 10 Mbps up), the Honor consistently hit ~440 Mbps down, while the Vivo trailed in the ~340 Mbps range. Upload was a wash (Honor ~8–9 Mbps; Vivo slightly higher). On cellular, the Vivo routinely delivered much faster download and upload speeds than the Honor in the same spot. Antenna tuning clearly differs.

Carrier note for U.S. readers: Verizon/AT&T IMEI checks said “not compatible,” yet many of you report daily use on those networks. Your mileage may vary; when in doubt, test with a spare SIM or an eSIM trial.

Software & widgets

Both ship with modern Android and their skins, and both feel smooth. Two behavioral differences stood out:

• Multitasking, Honor style: drag from the edge to split screen, stack up to three apps side-by-side, and flip any pane to 90/10 focus with a tap. You can also do top/bottom splits and make all three panes full with quick toggles. It’s powerful and predictable.
• Multitasking, Vivo style: traditional dual-pane split plus floating windows, and a very cool Workbench that lays out four apps at once for rapid switching. It’s excellent for study or research (I used it during sermon prep to bounce between two Bibles, a notes app, and a browser).

Widgets are better on Samsung than either of these, but Vivo’s stackable native widgets (battery, recorder, device controls) are fun—just note you’re limited mostly to Vivo’s own cards on the China ROM. Honor has “cards” too, but options are thinner than I’d like.

Performance & heat

Synthetic tests were neck-and-neck overall, with the Honor often a hair ahead. The real test is video work:

• Import/conform for editing in PowerDirector: Honor finished roughly twice as fast prepping files for the timeline.
• 4K export of a ~2.5-minute project: it was a race. The Vivo actually led early, then throttled, and the Honor pulled ahead to finish first by a modest margin.

In daily use, both feel flagship-snappy. Under sustained load, Honor tends to keep its foot down longer; Vivo stays a bit cooler at the touch.

Cameras: day, night, zoom & portraits

I shot everything point-and-shoot, default settings unless noted.

• Selfie video: close call. Honor renders brighter and crisper; Vivo looks a touch softer and arguably more flattering.
• Daylight wide/standard: Honor leans brighter, punchier, and often more “true blue” skies. Vivo is slightly more restrained and sometimes shows a faint purple cast in sky gradients.
• 10x–20x zoom: both are good at 10x. At 20x and beyond, Vivo often edges ahead in fine texture (tree needles, brick lines), while Honor sometimes uses AI correction to keep roof lines and edges straighter.
• 50x zoom: Vivo usually looks cleaner on micro-detail; Honor can show a bit more processing.
• Night shots: Here the tables turn. Honor’s dedicated night mode brings brighter, cleaner results and handles backlit signs and high-contrast scenes better. Vivo’s Zeiss tuning is natural and bright, but strong light sources can starburst and clip. * Update, Vivo has a Landscape & Night setting that I didn’t notice until after shooting. Updated photos will be placed on the Photo Gallery for your viewing comparison.
• Portraits: Vivo wins. The Honor frequently forgets the bokeh (or applies too little), while Vivo separates subject/background more convincingly—even if it sometimes nibbles ears on tricky edges. *Update, Honor has a bokeh adjustment I missed during testing. You can adjust the depth of field, and it works perfectly. Again, look for updated photos in the Photo Gallery.
• Macro: both impress; Vivo takes a slight clarity lead on tiny textures and dewdrops, while Honor’s background blur looks lovely.

Net: If your life is night scenes and mixed lighting, Honor is more consistent; if you’re a daylight long-zoom chaser, Vivo has the edge. For portraits, Vivo again.

Battery life

Paper says 6000 mAh (Vivo) vs 5820 mAh (Honor). In practice, both comfortably last a full day of mixed use. The Honor’s combo of battery, chip, and tuning gave me the more predictable, “don’t-think-about-it” endurance; the Vivo’s larger pack helps, and it tends to run cooler in sustained tasks.

The verdict: which folds into your life?

Both are excellent, but they aim at slightly different users:

Choose the Honor Magic V5 if you:

• Want a wider outer screen for easier typing and bigger UI.
• Care about stylus input on both displays.
• Shoot lots of night photos and backlit scenes.
• Prefer robust, simple three-pane multitasking.

Choose the Vivo X Fold 5 if you:

• Like a taller device that feels extra sleek in the hand.
• Live in apps where long-zoom detail matters.
• Want vivo’s Workbench for multi-app study/research flows.
• Prioritize cooler touch temps and snappy cellular speeds.

My daily pick

I do find myself reaching for one of these more often—mostly because its wider outer screen, bigger touch targets, pen-on-both-screens support, and reliable night camera make everyday stuff feel easier. But the other brings killer long-zoom detail, a slick Workbench, and cooler temps that are hard to ignore. Which one actually wins my pocket? Watch the full video to see.

Short version: both are premium, both are fast, but they don’t win in the same ways. After a deeper dive into design, software, multitasking, performance, cameras, and battery, I’ve got a clear favorite—and a few surprises along the way.

Design, Feel, and Everyday Ergonomics

On the desk, both look flagship. In the hand, the differences show up fast:

• Edges & comfort: Magic V5’s softly chamfered sides feel gentler than the Fold 7’s sharper, boxier rails. If you text or note for hours, you’ll notice.
• Speakers: Samsung places both speakers on the same long edge; it’s easy to block them in landscape gaming. Honor splits speakers on opposite sides, so you’re less likely to muffle both at once.
• Hinge: Samsung’s hinge is sturdier in “hover” positions; it’ll hold angles the Honor sometimes won’t.
• Thickness: Folded, the gap is tiny (Fold 7 ~8.9 mm; V5 ~9.0 mm), but the V5’s camera bump is noticeably thicker.
• Fingerprint reader: Honor’s slightly raised side button unlocks on touch; Samsung’s needs a firm press. Small thing, big quality-of-life gain.

Software & Customization (Out of the Box)

• Builds: Fold 7 ships with One UI 8 on Android 16. Magic V5 runs MagicOS 9 on Android 15 (update expected).
• Home customization: Both do large folders and widgets (Honor calls them Cards). MagicOS lets you freely resize large folders; Samsung’s are fixed sizes unless you dive into Good Lock modules.
• Fun touches: MagicOS offers baked-in page transition effects (I’m partial to the 3D “Box” flip). Samsung can match or beat this with Good Lock—but that means extra installs and tinkering.
• Consistency: Front/inner layouts can be separate on Samsung. Honor mirrors them by default (I actually prefer that).

Multitasking: Where the V5 Pulls Ahead

All three-pane multitasking isn’t created equal.

• Two-app split: Easy on both.
• Three apps at once:
  • Honor Magic V5: Drag a third app to the side and you get a clean three-column layout. Tap to “promote” any column to full width, then bounce between them—fast and predictable.
• Galaxy Z Fold 7: It can do tri-pane, but the method is fussy (a 90/10 split plus a side drag, sometimes buried behind a tiny “Edit” step). It works, but feels inconsistent and far less discoverable.

If your day is browser + docs + chat, the V5’s tri-pane workflow is simply better.

Displays & Brightness

Honor touts “5000-nit peak”—that’s for HDR highlights. In real outdoor use, both are very viewable; sometimes the Fold 7 even looks brighter. What clearly helps the Honor: an anti-reflective inner screen that cuts glare and makes content pop in bright environments.

Performance & Thermal Behavior

Both use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite (on these units).

• Synthetic tests: Near a tie. Honor typically edges the Fold by a hair in single/multi-core and sustained runs; Samsung often runs a bit cooler.
• Creator test (PowerDirector):
  • Clip reformat: V5 finished first (by a few seconds).
  • Auto-subtitles: Fold 7 won by ~4 seconds.
  • 4K export: Honor Magic V5 pulled over a minute ahead, suggesting the Fold 7 throttles harder under long, heavy load.

Bottom line: both are snappy, but if you do long exports (or other sustained heavy work), the V5 feels more relentless.

Cameras: Spec Sheets vs. Shots

• Main take: If you don’t manually switch the Fold 7 to 50MP/200MP modes, its 12MP ultrawide and 10.8MP 3x can’t consistently hang with Honor’s 50MP main/ultrawide and 64MP zoom in point-and-shoot comparisons.
• Daylight: Honor tends to deliver punchier color and better fine detail at medium zoom.
• Telephoto: At 10x and beyond, the V5 generally keeps things cleaner and less blotchy.
• Night: Mixed. Fold often looks truer to the scene; Honor can push color brighter. Portrait mode at night favored Samsung in my samples (cleaner subject separation).
• Video: Samsung looks a touch sharper and more saturated; Honor leans richer for photos.

If you just shoot auto and zoom a lot, the V5 feels more forgiving. Power users can wring more from Samsung by forcing high-res modes—but those files get big.

Stylus, Battery, and Odds & Ends

• Stylus: Honor supports a Bluetooth stylus on both outer and inner screens (great for notes/sketches). No remote shutter function found. Fold 7’s inner screen stylus story remains… complicated.
• Battery: Anecdotally, the V5’s larger pack (shown as ~5820 mAh) is a beast. I’m regularly getting two days with moderate-to-heavy use. Fold 7’s 4400 mAh is fine, but not on this level.
• Connectivity (US): Honor’s carrier support is limited; T-Mobile and MVNOs work. Verizon/AT&T said no to my IMEIs. Samsung, of course, is broadly supported with warranty/service to match.

Verdict: Which One Would I Carry?

If you live where Honor service is thin and carrier support matters, Samsung is the safe bet—and One UI’s ecosystem and AI suite are excellent. But judged purely as a daily driver for comfort, tri-pane multitasking, stylus flexibility, long 4K exports, and battery endurance, the Honor Magic V5 is the better tool for how I actually work.

I still want Samsung to bring higher-res secondary sensors and fix tri-pane multitasking consistency. Until then, the V5 feels like the more modern, creator-friendly foldable—so it’s the one I reach for first.

By Mark Shephard

Okay, it’s confession time — my idea of “traveling light” still involves packing at least two foldable phones, three dongles, and a portable monitor (just in case I randomly get the urge to edit a video in an airport Starbucks). So naturally I had to find out: can either the Samsung Z Fold 6 (using DeX) or the Honor Magic V3 (using Magic Desktop) actually replace a laptop when plugged into a monitor, mouse, and keyboard?

Spoiler: both are impressive… but one surprised me a LOT more than I expected.

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Setup Battle: Samsung Plays It Safe — Honor Plays It Smart

To keep things fair, I hooked both phones up to my portable monitors — a 2K display for the Fold (needed extra power + HDMI hub) and a simpler 1080p screen for the Magic (powered straight from the phone — no fuss).

Both instantly fired up into desktop mode:

• Samsung’s familiar DeX UI kicked in with a Windows-like taskbar
• Honor launched its slick Magic Desktop, complete with floating windows and a bigger mouse cursor that was much easier to see

Touchpad mode (using the phone as your mouse) worked on both phones… though Samsung’s keyboard options looked like someone got confused designing for a kid’s toy. Honor’s on-screen keyboard felt more “serious” and full-sized, but the real magic happens when you connect a Bluetooth mouse & keyboard — game changer.

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Productivity & Multitasking — Which One Feels Like a Real Desktop?

Both phones let you drag YouTube, calendars, browsers, or spreadsheets into side-by-side windows, resize them on the fly, and float apps over the top.

BUT… here’s where things started to separate:

Feature	Z Fold 6 (DeX)	Honor Magic V3 (Magic Desktop)
Window snapping	Smooth	Smooth & more intuitive
Floating apps	Yes (limit of 2)	Yes (I got up to 5+ windows!)
Multitasking speed	Fast	Faster (felt like a mini PC)
Screen recording	Hidden in settings	One-tap button in toolbar

Honor blew me away by letting me screen record in full desktop mode with audio — something DeX can do, but only if you dig into menus on the phone. Magic Desktop puts the button right where you need it. That’s the kind of polish I didn’t expect from anyone but Samsung.

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Media, Sound & Actual “Laptop Replacement”

Watching YouTube full-screen? Both look gorgeous. But surprisingly…

• Honor Magic delivered richer sound from the phone’s speakers (more bass and clarity)
• Samsung sounded tinnier — not bad, just not laptop-level good

When it came time to get work done? I found myself preferring the Magic V3. It’s lighter, powers cheaper monitors without any dongle drama, has a cleaner desktop UI, and actually kept more apps alive in the background.

The Z Fold 6 on the other hand felt… familiar. Safe. A little too much like the DeX I’ve already known for years.

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Final Verdict: Who Wins Portable Desktop of the Year?

If you want something that feels familiar, polished, and corporate-safe — Samsung DeX still gets the job done.

But if you want to ditch your laptop, travel light, and run a surprisingly powerful little desktop off just your phone — the Honor Magic V3 shocked me. It’s fun, fast, and honestly more capable than DeX in 2025.

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Curious to see how smooth these actually run and how crazy my on-the-go setup looks? Watch the full video below — I hook them up live, run editing software, and even screen record them in real time to show you the truth.

by Mark Shephard

Everyone has been hyping the Oppo Find N5 as the foldable of the moment — biggest screen, fastest chip, and all the influencers singing its praises. So why did I skip it and buy the Honor Magic V3 instead? And more importantly… did I make a big mistake?

Short answer after weeks of use: absolutely not — and here’s why.

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Specs Are One Thing… Real Life Is Another

Yes, on paper the Find N5 is an absolute monster — Snapdragon 8 Elite, huge 8.12″ inner screen, blazing 80W wired / 50W wireless charging, and a surprisingly lightweight 229 g body. No question, it’s a spec-sheet king.

But I passed on it because specs aren’t everything. Not when you live in the U.S., have to import it at over $2,000, and then accept downgraded cameras and unproven U.S. network support.

So I bought the Honor Magic V3 instead — pre-owned — for about half the cost. And let me tell you… it instantly became my daily driver.

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Why I Chose the Magic V3 (and Don’t Regret It)

• Lighter in the hand: 226 g vs Oppo’s 229 g.
• Surprisingly thin: 4.35 mm unfolded vs Oppo’s 4.2 mm — a difference you can’t even see.
• Brighter outer display: up to 5,000 nits (insanely good outdoors).
• Better cameras: Especially if you care about sharpness, color, & telephoto (huge for me as a creator).
• Kickstand case included: Simple little perk… but one I use every day.
• Cost was HALF what I would’ve paid for the N5.

Does it have the newer Snapdragon Elite chip? No — it runs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. But in day-to-day use, I literally can’t tell the difference in speed, and I’ve tested all of these for a living.

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Software & Updates: MagicOS vs ColorOS

MagicOS on the Honor Magic V3 has honestly impressed me — it’s snappy, intuitive, and loaded with thoughtful features like floating message windows and some of the best multitasking tools I’ve used on a foldable so far.

As far as long-term update promises go, Oppo’s ColorOS technically advertises better support on paper — but when you’re paying twice as much to import a Find N5 versus grabbing a lightly used Magic V3 for half the cost, I’d rather keep my money and enjoy what MagicOS offers right now.

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Bottom Line – Did I Buy the Wrong Phone?

Nope. Not even close.

Unless you need the absolute biggest screen and fastest charging numbers at all costs, the Honor Magic V3 delivers better cameras, better value, rave-worthy brightness, and enough “thin & light” to hang with anything on today’s foldable market.

Sometimes the hype machine forgets to mention when a phone makes compromises — especially in cameras — and that’s just not something I was willing to pay extra for.

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In my video below, I put these two head-to-head with real-world camera samples, charging speed demos, and hands-on multitasking to help you figure out which one you should buy — especially if you’re afraid of choosing wrong like I might have.