GOT Blog

Hello and welcome back to GOT! Today we’re diving into the long-awaited battery drain test — a real-world showdown between some of the top smartphones out right now. This lineup is stacked: the Honor Magic V3, Honor Magic V5, Vivo X Fold 5, Samsung Z Fold 7, Samsung S25 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and Pixel 10 Pro.

Now before we jump in, let’s get something out of the way — this kind of testing is not an exact science. Everyone’s results may vary, depending on your settings, apps, and how you use your phone day-to-day. My goal here isn’t to crown a “perfect” winner but to see which phone drops out first when they all face the same set of draining obstacles.

Is this testing “fair”? Not by a long shot. There’s really no such thing as a perfectly fair comparison unless you’re testing multiple copies of the exact same phone. Every phone here has unique hardware, software, and optimizations, which means they’ll perform differently under identical conditions. That’s what makes this so interesting — seeing how each brand’s design decisions translate into real-world endurance.

---

The Setup

To keep things as level as possible, I removed the SIM cards from all devices so they’d run on Wi-Fi only — that way, they’d still receive notifications like a typical user setup without cellular variation. Brightness levels were manually adjusted to match as closely as possible (no fancy light meters here — just the old-fashioned eyeball test).

We started the day fully charged — well, almost. The Z Fold 7 wasn’t plugged in overnight and started at 23%, so I gave it a full top-up before kicking things off. Once everything hit 100%, the test began.

---

The Plan

This wasn’t just a simple “play a video until they die” test. We ran a mix of daily use and stress scenarios to reflect real-world battery drain:

• Video streaming: Hours of YouTube playback (looping my channel, of course)
• Benchmarking: 3DMark Extreme tests to simulate heavy gaming
• 4K video recording: 30-minute clips to generate heat and workload
• Rendering: Exporting 4K footage on each device
• Standby time: A few hours idle to track passive drain

Every step was timed, logged, and checked for heat using an infrared thermometer.

---

Early Results: Holding Strong

After the first few hours of video playback, most phones were still in the mid-to-high 90% range. As usual, iPhones stayed at 100% longer than most before dropping quickly later — typical Apple behavior.

When we hit the standby phase, two phones surprised me: the iPhone 17 Pro dropped 4%, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold dropped 7% — quite a bit for doing absolutely nothing.

---

Mid-Test Performance & Heat

Next came 4K video rendering — something I do often when editing content. This phase really separates the cool-running phones from the hotheads. The S25 Ultra hit 99°F, while both iPhones ran hot, peaking over 106°F, and slowing down their render speeds significantly.

By the halfway mark:

• Vivo X Fold 5 led with 65% remaining
• Honor Magic V5 followed at 63%
• Z Fold 7 impressed at 61%
• iPhones trailed around 49–58%

The real shocker? The Pixel 10 Pro fell behind its older sibling, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

---

The Final Stretch

As hours ticked by, the weaker batteries began to fade:

• iPhone 16 Pro tapped out first at 8 hours, 5 minutes
• Pixel 10 Pro followed at 8 hours, 22 minutes
• Honor Magic V3 held strong at 8 hours, 44 minutes
• S25 Ultra exited at 8 hours, 46 minutes
• Z Fold 7 stunned everyone, surviving 9 hours, 44 minutes

That’s right — the Z Fold 7, often criticized for average endurance, outlasted its Ultra sibling by nearly an hour!

Then came the top contenders. The iPhone 17 Pro lasted 9 hours, 26 minutes, while the Vivo X Fold 5 made it to 11 hours, 11 minutes. But the Honor Magic V5 pushed just a bit further, taking the win at 11 hours and 22 minutes — an incredible performance considering its slightly smaller 5820 mAh battery versus Vivo’s 6000 mAh.

---

Final Rankings

Rank	Device	Battery Size (mAh)	Total Runtime
🥇 1st	Honor Magic V5	5820 mAh	11 hrs 22 min
🥈 2nd	Vivo X Fold 5	6000 mAh	11 hrs 11 min
🥉 3rd	Samsung Z Fold 7	4400 mAh	9 hrs 44 min
4th	iPhone 17 Pro	~3998 mAh (est.)	9 hrs 26 min
5th	Samsung S25 Ultra	5000 mAh	8 hrs 46 min
6th	Honor Magic V3	5150 mAh	8 hrs 44 min
7th	Pixel 9 Pro Fold	4650 mAh	8 hrs 22 min
8th	Pixel 10 Pro	4870 mAh	8 hrs 22 min
9th	iPhone 16 Pro	~3582 mAh (est.)	8 hrs 05 min

---

Takeaways

This test reinforced one big truth: real-world battery life isn’t just about capacity. Optimization, cooling, and software efficiency make a massive difference. The Honor Magic V5 and Vivo X Fold 5 showed that foldables can go the distance, and the Z Fold 7 shocked me with how far it’s come in endurance.

Meanwhile, Apple’s iPhones, while efficient, seem to struggle under extended heavy use, especially when heat builds up. And Google’s latest Pixel still has some catching up to do.

But again — your mileage may vary. Different settings, apps, or usage patterns will lead to different results. This was one creator’s attempt to simulate a demanding day across multiple flagship devices — not a lab test, just a real-world stress test to see who survives the grind.

---

So what do you think — were you surprised by the outcome? Which one do you think deserves the battery crown? Drop your thoughts below, and stay tuned for my next video: the charging speed test to see which of these phones powers back up the fastest.

If you bounce between Apple and Samsung (like half the U.S. tech world), this one’s for you. I put the iPhone 17 Pro up against Samsung’s Z Fold 7 and S25 Ultra, covering design, day-and-night cameras, real-world performance, battery, and everyday usability. Spoiler: each phone lands solid punches—but not always where you’d expect.

Design & in-hand feel

Side by side, all three look premium, full stop. Apple stretches a camera bar across the back of the 17 Pro; Samsung keeps the familiar trio of circles on the Ultra and a stacked column on Fold. The Fold’s hinge makes it look chunkier, but a quick “level test” (resting a level across both phones) showed an interesting twist: with the camera humps out of the equation, Z Fold 7 came off slightly thinner than iPhone 17 Pro; add camera stacks back in and the Fold becomes the thiccc boi. Weight-wise, 17 Pro feels the most svelte in the pocket; S25 Ultra, being a big slab, feels every millimeter.

Button layouts matter more than we admit. Apple splits controls—Action + volume on one side, power + camera key on the other—while Samsung clusters power/volume together. If you swap platforms often, your thumbs will need a week to re-learn muscle memory. Also, corners: Apple is rounder this year; Samsung keeps its squared shoulders. My palms prefer Apple’s softened edges; your mileage may vary.

Displays, layouts & quality-of-life

On a lock screen, Apple’s 3D “over/under” clock effect is still the cleanest trick in town. Once unlocked, both platforms now do widgets, stacks, and customizable controls. Samsung still gives you more freedom to size and place folders, sprinkle empty grid space, and tune quick settings; iOS counters with gorgeous “liquid glass” animations and tighter coherence.

Brightness outdoors? All three punch hard in sunlight. Foldables used to be glare magnets; with a proper screen protector, Z Fold 7 stays highly usable. And yes, you can just tap the Fold’s side fingerprint/power key and you’re straight in—no swipe. Small win, big daily feel.

The camera face-off (day, night, and zoom)

Daylight, standard lens. Z Fold 7 carries a 200 MP main; iPhone 17 Pro runs 48 MP across its trio; S25 Ultra brings the usual “everything and the kitchen sink.” In wide shots with complex detail (grass, bark, bricks), the iPhone often looks cleaner at a glance—crisp micro-contrast and balanced HDR. Crop deep and the Fold can sometimes claw back detail thanks to that huge sensor, but it doesn’t consistently look sharper in whole-image viewing.

Mid zoom (4–10x). Apple’s 4x tele this year is the surprise hero. At 4x and 10x, signage edges, roof tiles, and window lines stayed better defined on the 17 Pro than on the Fold’s 10 MP tele. The S25 Ultra’s 10x dedicated optic does well but still doesn’t look as clean as Apple’s 48 MP tele pipeline in several shots. Color science? Samsung leans warmer or more saturated depending on scene; Apple’s a touch bright but keeps edges tidy.

Long zoom (20–40x). Nobody buys a phone for 40x, but we tested anyway. iPhone remains the most pleasant at 40x—with fewer AI squiggles—while the Fold softens. The Ultra can reach farther, of course, but “reach” isn’t the same as “usable.” Count this category closer than spec sheets suggest.

Night shots. On a backyard portrait under warm lights, Pixel-peepers will see 17 Pro stay bright and clean; Z Fold 7 darkens more, with less micro-detail; S25 Ultra usually splits the difference. Street scenes showed Apple keeping blinds, bricks, and tree needles a bit tidier at identical focal lengths, while Samsung sometimes added flare or mush in deep shadows. Bottom line: 17 Pro is the safer pick after dark; Ultra improves on Fold but doesn’t outshine Apple consistently.

Video & microphones

Walking shots at 4K look steady across all three; transitions from shade to sun are smooth. Mic behavior differs: sometimes Samsung grabs more ambience, Apple tends to prioritize voice clarity. You can tune this in post either way; out-of-camera I’d pick 17 Pro for a “shoot and send” clip and Samsung if you plan to sweeten in editing.

Real-world performance (rendering test, not synthetic scores)

Benchmarks are fun; exports pay the bills. I used the same 4K clip and exported from InShot on all devices, matching settings (the iPhone compresses more by design, so the MB target was smaller there). Results were…spicy:

• Z Fold 7 finished first.
• S25 Ultra was a close second.
• Honor Magic V5 (my wild card) followed shortly.
• iPhone 17 Pro came in last—over twice the Z Fold’s time on this run.

Before the pitchforks: background apps were closed; this was the same footage, same timeline. Apple used to dominate creator exports; modern Android silicon with aggressive thermal envelopes and AI assist is flying right now. If rendering time matters to you, Samsung has an edge.

Battery life

• iPhone 17 Pro: the efficiency king. Smaller pack, bigger endurance. I routinely finished with ~70% in my use.
• S25 Ultra: big battery, strong finisher (~60% left for me).
• Z Fold 7: the price of two displays—expect to plug in nightly (~30% by bedtime). If you live in split-screen, carry a charger.

Entertainment & speakers

YouTube on the Fold’s outer screen already feels roomier; open it up and it’s a mini-tablet. Landscape or portrait, the Fold’s speaker separation is excellent because they’re on opposite sides of that big canvas. Volume? S25 Ultra is the loudest; iPhone 17 Pro is close, with the most balanced tonality; the Fold does well considering its skinny chassis.

Multitasking and “living with it”

This is where the Fold flexes—literally. Split screen on the cover display, floating windows inside, app pairs on a sidebar, and quick drag-overs make messaging while browsing dead simple. Apple’s single-app focus is elegant, but when you actually work on your phone, Samsung’s multitasking is a quality-of-life upgrade.

So…which should you buy?

Pick iPhone 17 Pro if you want:

• Consistently clean photos (especially at night and mid-zoom)
• The best battery efficiency here
• Refined haptics, UI polish, and that new telephoto that punches above its spec

Pick S25 Ultra if you want:

• A big canvas without folding, the loudest speakers, and “everything” cameras
• Excellent all-day battery with Samsung’s customization power

Pick Z Fold 7 if you want:

• Real multitasking, a pocketable tablet for video and productivity, and shockingly fast 4K exports
• A unique experience you simply can’t get from a slab—period

If you’re a creator or power user, Samsung’s speed and split-screen superpowers may sway you. If you value camera reliability in tough light and unbeatable battery, the iPhone 17 Pro is still a rock. And if you’ve ever wanted to replace “phone + iPad” with one device, the Fold makes a compelling case. Your move.

Some of you are already shaking your heads—“A foldable competing with an iPhone? Please.” I get it. Foldables earned an early reputation for being chunky, delicate, and a step behind on cameras. But the landscape has changed fast. To prove it, I put Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro (sleek unibody aluminum) up against the Honor Magic V5 (titanium frame)—a current-gen book-style foldable that doesn’t flinch at flagship comparisons. In a bunch of real-world tests—from photo zoom and night shots to app exports and everyday usability—the iPhone wins some, but it absolutely doesn’t run the table.

Design & everyday feel

Both phones feel premium, just in different ways. The 17 Pro keeps things classic with a cool-to-the-touch aluminum body and Apple’s clean lines. The Honor leans “statement piece”: bigger camera island, titanium frame, and that party trick hinge. Thickness? With the Honor folded it looks beefier, but on paper the gap is tiny—8.9 mm (Honor) vs 8.8 mm (iPhone). The iPhone packs more external buttons—including the new camera button and the programmable Action button—which I like in theory but occasionally press by accident. The Honor’s power-button unlock on the outer display is instant in-pocket convenience; tap, boom, you’re in.

Displays & outdoor visibility

“Foldable cover screens are cramped.” That used to be true. Not here. The Honor’s outer panel (≈6.4″) is a normal phone experience; open it up and you’re in tablet territory. The iPhone’s 6.3″ OLED is a beauty with Apple’s famous color tuning. Outside, both get very bright. Apple quotes 3,000 nits peak; Honor advertises 5,000 nits. In actual sun, the difference isn’t dramatic—both were readable pointed straight at the sky. If glare bugs you, a matte protector helps either phone.

Camera myths, meet reality

This is the part people don’t expect. I shot side-by-side daytime scenes, mid-range zoom, long-range zoom, and night mode.

• Daylight (main cameras): The iPhone’s 48 MP binned to 24 MP delivers the familiar crisp “Apple look.” The Honor’s 50 MP (and smart processing) kept up, often showing a touch more texture in bark, grass, and fine edges. Call it a draw for most shots.
• Mid-zoom (4–6×): The iPhone’s new 4× periscope is a welcome leap from last gen. The Honor’s 6× equivalent periscope, however, pulled slightly cleaner detail and richer micro-contrast on small objects—think siding, shingles, and tree needles.
• Long zoom (40×): This one shocked me. At 40×—the iPhone’s max—the Honor produced a more usable photo with straighter lines and less mush. The iPhone’s 40× looked more watercolor. If you love punching in on faraway subjects, the foldable has range.
• Night shots: Portraits and neighborhood scenes show Apple’s warmer bias and strong stabilization. The Honor often rendered finer texture (tree bark, gravel, window blinds) with more neutral color. Lens flare is still an iPhone quirk under streetlights; the Honor kept artifacts better controlled.

Bottom line: no, a bar phone does not automatically beat a modern foldable. In several camera scenarios—especially zoom—the foldable edged ahead.

Video & audio

All the standard stuff—4K/30, smooth stabilization, quick focus—looked great on both. Audio is where the form factors diverge. The iPhone’s slab gives you a slightly fuller, bassier sound. The Honor’s larger spread means wider stereo separation when it’s open, which is awesome for movies at arm’s length. I still use earbuds either way.

Real-world performance (not benchmarks)

Rather than synthetic scores, I ran my usual creator test in InShot:

1. Auto-cut the pauses in a ~4-minute clip.
2. Export in 4K.

The iPhone’s A19 Pro blitzed the pause-cut pass. But on the full 4K export, the Honor’s Elite-class chipset finished in a little over half the iPhone’s time—with both phones running only that app. File sizes and settings were matched as closely as the apps allow. Surprised? Me too. Moral: depending on the workload, the foldable can flat-out fly.

Big screen life (the secret sauce)

“Crease!” is the first word skeptics throw out. On good foldables, viewed straight-on, it fades into the content. The payoff dwarfs the nitpick:

• Video: A YouTube clip on the Honor’s inner screen is tablet-big without grabbing a tablet. The iPhone’s panel is lovely, just… smaller.
• Multitasking: This is the game changer. On the Honor I can snap two apps side-by-side in seconds, float a third as a resizable bubble, and keep a chat hovering while I browse. On iPhone, true split-screen between two different apps still isn’t a thing. If you live in calendars, docs, maps, and messages at once, the foldable’s workflow is addictive.

Durability & the “fragile” label

Modern foldables are nothing like Gen-1. Hinge gaps are gone, dust resistance is up, and the inner layer feels sturdier. You still shouldn’t treat it like a beach shovel, but normal phone life? It holds up. Plenty of owners are two or three foldables deep with zero failures.

“But Apple’s making one…”

Exactly. If foldables were a fad, Apple wouldn’t bother. Rumors peg a first-gen iPhone fold with a smaller inner display than today’s Android leaders and a compact outer screen. Specs are still murky—and first-gen Apple hardware is usually conservative—but the signal is clear: foldables are here to stay.

So… which should you buy?

• Choose iPhone 17 Pro if you want Apple’s ecosystem polish, slightly fuller speakers, class-leading one-hand slab ergonomics, and a big leap in iPhone zoom versus last year. It’s the safest all-around choice.
• Choose a flagship foldable like the Honor Magic V5 if you crave screen real estate, true multitasking, and long-range zoom that’s actually usable. The fact that it can out-export an iPhone in a creator workflow is the cherry on top.

The surprise isn’t that the iPhone 17 Pro is great—it is. The surprise is how often a modern foldable matches or beats it. If you wrote off foldables years ago, it might be time to take another look… or at least brace for Apple’s own hinge to swing open next year.

If you’ve been around smartphones long enough to remember the Steve-Jobs-era court battles, you know Apple and Google have been shadowboxing for more than a decade. Fast-forward to today and the rivalry is still spicy—just tidier. I spent time with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro side-by-side, shot a bunch of photos and video, ran a real-world performance test, and even checked Wi-Fi speeds. Here’s the fun, no-fluff breakdown to help you decide which one belongs in your pocket.

---

Design, size, and in-hand feel

On paper both phones are 6.3 inches. In hand, the Pixel looks a hair taller while the iPhone feels a touch wider thanks to slimmer bezels around its Dynamic Island cutout versus the Pixel’s punch-hole. Thickness is basically a rounding error—my level test (yes, literally a hardware level) shows the iPhone sitting a smidge higher. Weight is a wash; both feel light for their class.

Buttons are where personalities diverge. The iPhone scatters controls across both sides—volume, an Action button, a camera control, and power on the opposite edge. It’s powerful but easy to mis-press. Pixel keeps it minimalist: everything on one side; the other edge is clean. If you value simplicity, Pixel’s layout wins. If you like programmable tricks, iPhone’s Action button is your playground.

Both have gently rounded frames that ditch the slabby, square-edge era. Your palms will thank you.

---

Software & customization

• iPhone 17 Pro (iOS 26): Still iOS, just smoother. Widgets are finally first-class citizens and Apple’s “liquid glass” animations make the OS feel fluid. The App Library is handy, though Apple insists on auto-sorting it their way.
• Pixel 10 Pro (Android 16 on Pixel): Clean, fast, and (still) more flexible than iOS for layout and defaults. The Google feed to the left of home is a great one-stop info board. That said, the persistent Google search bar and date block eat space you might want for widgets.

Bottom line: both are pleasant and polished; Pixel gives you a bit more room to be you, iPhone gives you a bit more polish and consistency.

---

Specs snapshot

• RAM: iPhone 17 Pro ships with 12 GB; Pixel 10 Pro brings 16 GB (helpful for heavy AI and multitasking).
• Battery: Pixel’s cell is notably larger on paper. Real-world endurance will depend on your apps and camera use.
• Selfie cams: Pixel packs a 42 MP sensor; iPhone uses an 18 MP unit—but iPhone adds Center Stage on the front cam (auto-framing and auto-widening when someone joins the shot).

---

Cameras: daylight, zoom, macro, and night

Daylight detail

Both phones deliver excellent dynamic range and color. Pixel skews slightly cooler and punchy; iPhone leans warmer and a bit richer. Edges are crisp on either—choose your color vibe.

Mid-zoom (3–5×)

At 3× and 5× the two trade blows. Pixel often looks a touch clearer on distant signage; iPhone sometimes produces nicer contrast. Preferences will vary by scene.

Long zoom (10×–40×)

At 10× both are usable. Push farther and the Pixel shines: at 40× it produced surprisingly clean, straight-lined shots that are genuinely usable. The iPhone holds its own but the Pixel’s long-zoom processing is special.

Macro & close-ups

Both macro modes are fun and effective. The iPhone locked focus beautifully on a super-close praying mantis; the Pixel grabbed lovely detail on bees and wet leaves. Either phone can capture share-worthy close-ups with minimal fuss.

Night shots & portraits

At night, both stabilize well but their looks diverge:

• Pixel often keeps skies darker and reveals more star detail, with fewer odd artifacts.
• iPhone sometimes introduces warmer tones and lens flare around lights; in a few scenes it showed minor artifacting that likely needs a software tune-up.

Night portraits favored the Pixel for clarity; iPhone leaned warm and creamy.

Video

Daylight video at 4K looked great from both—smooth transitions when panning from shade to sun, and steady stabilization without a gimbal. Night video zoom is tougher for both; keep expectations realistic if you’re pushing past mid-zoom after dark.

---

Real-world performance test (video export)

To keep things honest, I ran the same 8:53 video through InShot on both phones, used the same AI “remove pauses” pass, then exported at 4K.

• iPhone 17 Pro finished first at ~4:03.
• Pixel 10 Pro trailed by roughly a minute.

The iPhone’s A19 Pro chip flexes in heavy sustained tasks like export. (In my broader tests this year, Honor’s Magic V5 is a rocket ship, but that’s a story for another post.)

---

Connectivity: Wi-Fi check

With a strong fiber connection about 15 feet from the router, the iPhone consistently posted higher down/up results in my tests. Both were fast enough for anything, but the iPhone’s radio stack felt a bit steadier. I’ll share cellular findings after more eSIM time, but historically both perform well on major US carriers.

---

Pricing & storage

• Pixel 10 Pro: starts at $999
• iPhone 17 Pro: starts at $1,099

Both start at 256 GB (finally). Expect typical trade-in promos to narrow the gap either way.

---

So…which should you buy?

Pick the iPhone 17 Pro if you want:

• The fastest creator-class performance today (video exports fly).
• Apple’s tight ecosystem and polished iOS 26 animations.
• A warm, punchy photo look, excellent macro, and reliable stabilization.
• Center Stage on the selfie cam for auto-framing family clips.

Pick the Pixel 10 Pro if you want:

• A cleaner, simpler hardware layout and a more flexible UI.
• Outstanding long-zoom results (seriously good at 40×).
• Cooler, natural-leaning photos that often preserve distant detail.
• Big battery + 16 GB RAM for AI multitasking.

My take: These two are closer than ever. If you live in Apple’s world and do lots of 4K exporting, the iPhone 17 Pro earns its keep. If you’re a detail chaser who loves zooming, or you prefer Google’s simpler, “let me customize” approach, the Pixel 10 Pro is a joy—and a little easier on the wallet.

What do you think? Team iPhone or Team Pixel this round? Drop your vote and your own sample shots in the comments. And if you want the deep-dive camera crops and export timings, I’ve got those queued up for the next post—hit subscribe so you don’t miss it.

Apple has rolled out its latest lineup — the iPhone 17 Pro and the brand-new iPhone Air — alongside last year’s iPhone 16 Pro. At first glance, all three look similar in software and design language, but when you dig deeper, key differences start to emerge. Let’s break down what sets these models apart, what’s improved, and whether it’s worth making the jump.

Display and Sizes

The iPhone Air introduces a 6.5-inch display, compared to the 6.3-inch iPhone 17 Pro. For those who prefer even larger screens, the Pro Max offers 6.9 inches. Apple no longer makes a “Plus” model, which used to slot between the standard and the Max sizes at 6.7 inches. That gap has now been filled by the Air, which feels bigger in the hand than its 6.5 inches suggest, thanks to its thinner profile.

All three models feature Apple’s Dynamic Island — the notch replacement that’s become standard — along with familiar button placements, including the customizable Action Button and the dedicated camera/zoom control.

Build and Weight

Here’s where things diverge:

• iPhone Air – Built with glass and titanium, it’s slim, modern, and surprisingly light, despite its larger size.
• iPhone 17 Pro – Constructed from unibody aluminum, giving it a solid, durable feel but with more weight compared to the Air.

That difference in materials also changes how the phones handle heat and battery placement. The Pro uses its aluminum body to house a redesigned internal chamber, allowing for a bigger battery and improved cooling.

Cameras

At the heart of these phones is the camera system — and here the choice might steer your decision.

• iPhone 17 Pro: Upgraded zoom lens with a 48MP sensor, offering up to 40x video zoom. That’s a huge jump over the iPhone 16 Pro’s 25x zoom cap, making the 17 Pro a powerhouse for long-distance photography.
• iPhone 16 Pro: Still solid with its 12MP zoom, but maxes out at 25x zoom in video.
• iPhone Air: Takes a step back by dropping the Ultra-Wide camera and moving to a single-lens system with 48MP. It still supports a 2x digital/optical blend zoom, but it can’t match the versatility of the Pro models.

In daylight and casual shots, the Air keeps up surprisingly well, but serious photographers will likely notice the missing Ultra-Wide option.

New Selfie Tricks: Center Stage on iPhone Air (and 17 Pro)

The Center Stage selfie experience is genuinely useful:

• It widens the frame when another person enters, then re-centers you when they leave.
• It works in photo and video, but note: if you force rotation manually, you’ll temporarily disable Center Stage—toggle it back on in the UI. Once set, it tracks reliably (with a tiny delay if it’s “deciding” whether someone’s staying in frame).

If you shoot family clips or FaceTime a lot, you’ll love it.

Performance

The iPhone 17 Pro introduces the A19 Pro chip, a step above the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16. The gains in speed and efficiency are there, but in day-to-day use — browsing, messaging, and app performance — the difference is almost imperceptible. Power users, especially gamers and editors, will get more mileage from the 17 Pro’s enhancements.

Photography Tests

In side-by-side comparisons:

• Daylight shots: All three produce sharp, clear photos, with slightly different color balances (the newer models leaning warmer/yellower, while the 16 Pro feels brighter).
• Zoom tests: The 17 Pro’s 48mp 4x zoom larger sensor should be unmatched, with detail that edges out even the 16 Pro, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. In many cases the 16 Pro outperformed the 17. The Air performs decently at 2x but falls behind at long distances since it lacks telephoto hardware.
• Macro: The Pro models excel with crisp close-ups, while the Air struggles to get as close, though its single camera still delivers respectable clarity.
• Night mode: All three do well in standard night shots, but the 16 Pro sometimes appears slightly brighter than the 17 Pro. Zooming at night, however, highlights the Air’s limitations — it quickly gets noisy and pixelated.

Video Performance

Video remains Apple’s strong point. Shooting in 4K at 30fps, all three models deliver smooth results with good stabilization. The Air allows up to 6x video zoom, while the 16 Pro caps at 25x and the 17 Pro stretches all the way to 40x. At night, though, zoom quality diminishes across all models, and lens flaring is more noticeable on the newer phones.

So…Should You Upgrade?

iPhone 16 Pro → iPhone 17 Pro

• Upgrade for: the new 48MP 4× tele, slightly brighter display, revised thermal design, and the updated camera island aesthetic.
• Skip if: your 16 Pro still slaps (it does). Day-to-day speed and main-camera photos aren’t radically different.

From anything older → iPhone Air

• The Air is the sleeper hit. It’s bigger (6.5″), way thinner, and much lighter, yet takes excellent photos thanks to that 48MP main and clever 2× crop. You lose the dedicated tele and some macro versatility, but for most people’s albums, the Air’s results look fantastic—and it’s a joy to hold.

From anything older → iPhone 17 Pro

• You’ll get the best all-around camera system (especially mid-zoom and macro), premium build, and long runway of performance. If you shoot a lot beyond 2×, the Pro is still the move.

Bottom Line

• Photographers / zoom and macro fans: iPhone 17 Pro (or keep your 16 Pro if you’re happy).
• Most people who value comfort, size, and price: iPhone Air. It’s the most fun to carry and shockingly capable.
• Already on a 16 Pro and not desperate for new toys? You can safely wait.

Apple has streamlined its lineup by dropping the Plus and slotting in the Air, and it feels like a smart move. But whether it’s worth upgrading depends on how much you value camera versatility and materials versus slimness and weight.

Apple has dropped not one, but two major updates this year—the iPhone 17 Pro and the all-new iPhone Air—and I got my hands on both. But instead of just giving you the usual tech-heavy rundown, I decided to bring in a special guest: my wife Beth. She’s been a loyal iPhone user for years, not a hardcore techie, but what I’d call the perfect “average iPhone user.” And her reactions to these new designs may surprise you.

---

Meeting the 17 Pro

We started with the iPhone 17 Pro. Fresh out of the box, the first thing Beth noticed was the camera system. Unlike older iPhones, which had a smaller cutout for the lenses, the 17 Pro’s entire top panel is one solid piece. It looks sleeker and feels sturdier. Apple did this not just for looks—it allows more room inside for a bigger battery and a cooling chamber, which should help the phone run cooler during heavy use.

Beth picked it up and immediately commented that it felt different—slightly thicker and taller than her current model, though still comfortable. For me, the standout design detail was the way the Pro uses a unibody back panel. No more “glued-on” camera square. Everything feels more integrated.

And let’s talk brightness. The iPhone 17 Pro now hits 3,000 nits, compared to the 16 Pro’s 2,000. Translation: it’s going to handle sunlight like a champ. When we powered it on, Beth admitted she was surprised at how light it felt—though in reality, it’s actually a bit heavier than the Air. The trick is the new titanium frame, which adds strength without making the phone feel like a brick.

Her one gripe? Button placement. The new Action Button sits too close to the volume keys, so in a case, it’s easy to hit the wrong one. Small detail, but if you’re an everyday user, those things matter.

---

First Look at the iPhone Air

Then came the real curveball: the iPhone Air. Beth hadn’t even heard Apple was releasing this model, so her reaction was 100% genuine.

The Air lives up to its name—it’s incredibly thin and light. I mean, when you hold it next to the 17 Pro, the difference is dramatic. Despite having a 6.5-inch screen (slightly bigger than the Pro’s 6.3-inch), it feels smaller in the hand because of how slim and lightweight it is.

Beth’s first words: “Wow, that thin and light.”

The Air’s design keeps things minimal. One single 48MP camera on the back (with 2x optical zoom and digital zoom beyond that) instead of the Pro’s full triple-camera system. The panel is also a unibody, just like the 17 Pro, but even more seamless. Yes, you lose the dedicated telephoto and ultrawide shooters—but you also gain a phone that feels more like an everyday carry than a mini-tablet.

For Beth, who doesn’t obsess over multiple camera lenses, the Air instantly felt like “her kind of iPhone.” The lighter weight, thinner profile, and simplicity really won her over. And Apple sweetened the deal by giving every Air model 256GB of storage standard, a huge upgrade over last year’s 128GB base.

---

Camera & Features

Both phones share that 48MP main camera, but only the Pro gives you all the extra versatility with multiple lenses. The Air uses smart software zoom and cropping instead. Beth admitted she doesn’t mind—she just wants to point, shoot, and get a good picture.

Both devices also include Apple’s “Center Stage” for selfies and video calls, which automatically widens or tracks as people enter the frame. Beth actually got excited about this, saying it would make group selfies way easier.

---

Wrapping It Up

So what’s the takeaway? If you’re a power user who lives on your phone for photography, video editing, and pushing performance, the iPhone 17 Pro is the obvious choice. But if you want a phone that feels incredibly light, slim, and easy to use—without giving up Apple’s newest performance chip or screen tech—the iPhone Air may be the sleeper hit of the year.

Beth’s natural first impression said it all: “I would prefer the Air. It’s very nice and light, and slim, and just easier.”

For me, I’ll be diving deeper into performance, cameras, and real-world usability in upcoming videos. But for now, it’s clear Apple’s shaking up the lineup. The Plus is gone, the Air is here, and iPhone users suddenly have more meaningful choices.

Which one do you think fits your lifestyle—the powerhouse Pro or the feather-light Air?

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.

---

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.

---

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).

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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:

---

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.

---

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).

---

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.

Apple just wrapped its latest event, and the iPhone 17 lineup is here. After months of rumors and leaks, we now have the standard iPhone 17, the sleek but controversial iPhone 17 Air, and the powerhouse iPhone 17 Pro. Instead of making AI the star, Apple doubled down on hardware this year—and the result is a set of phones that feel like a big leap forward for everyday users.

The Standard iPhone 17 Gets Serious      

Apple often saves its biggest tricks for the Pro models, but this year the base iPhone 17 got the glow-up. Cameras first: last year’s 48 MP main + 12 MP ultrawide combo has been replaced with dual 48 MP shooters, including an ultrawide that uses a clever 12 MP crop for true optical-quality zoom. Combined with Apple’s 24 MP pixel-binning, images look brighter, sharper, and more natural—especially in low light.

The selfie camera also got smarter with Apple’s new “Center Stage” mode. It automatically widens the frame and tracks subjects, which is perfect for group selfies or FaceTime. I only wish Apple had extended that feature to the rear cameras for more flexible video shooting.

On the display side, Apple finally ditched 60 Hz for 120 Hz ProMotion on the standard iPhone. Scrolling feels buttery smooth, animations are cleaner, and the adaptive refresh rate should help save battery. Speaking of battery: the standard iPhone 17 packs a larger cell thanks to a bigger 6.3-inch screen (up from 6.1″ last year). Pair that with the new A19 chip, which Apple claims is 20% faster and more efficient, and this might be the best battery life ever in a non-Pro iPhone.

The Thinner, Riskier iPhone 17 Air  

Apple’s boldest new product is the iPhone 17 Air—a super-slim phone that feels more like a design experiment than a must-have. Its single “Dual Fusion” camera pulls double duty as both wide and ultrawide, and it runs the same A19 Pro chip found in higher models. But with its thin frame, the Air is heavily throttled to manage heat, just like Samsung’s S25 Edge.

In short, it looks slick and feels futuristic, but the compromises are real: fewer cameras, less power under heavy load, and questionable battery life. I suspect the Air will end up being a niche model—eye candy for the shelf, but not the workhorse most users need.

The iPhone 17 Pro: Apple’s True Flagship  

The Pro is where Apple flexed its engineering. The back panel now extends across the entire camera array in a two-tone design that recalls old-school Pixels, but with a purpose: more room for battery, cooling, and bigger camera hardware. The periscope zoom is gone, replaced with a 48 MP 4x telephoto that delivers higher-quality zoom shots thanks to the extra resolution.

Inside, the A19 Pro chip promises to run cooler and throttle less, thanks to that new thermal design. Apple even tucked the chip partially into the camera module space to maximize efficiency. Add in Ceramic Shield 2 (front and back), 3000-nit anti-reflective displays, and you’ve got a phone built for durability as much as performance.

My First Impressions

So where do I land after Apple’s big event?

The standard iPhone 17 is the sleeper hit: bigger screen, better cameras, ProMotion, and stronger battery life. It’s the first time in years I’d recommend the base model without hesitation.

The iPhone 17 Air is interesting but feels like a gimmick—beautifully thin, but too compromised for real users.

The iPhone 17 Pro is the enthusiast’s choice, with smarter design, better cooling, and pro-level cameras.

I’ll reserve final judgment until I get them in hand and compare them against rivals like the Pixel 10 Pro and Samsung S25 Ultra, but one thing is clear: Apple’s focus on hardware this year has made the iPhone 17 lineup the strongest upgrade path in years.

—

 Which model are you most excited about—the standard, the Air, or the Pro?

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!