By Mark Shephard
If you thought the foldable race was slowing down in 2025… Honor just sucker-punched that idea into next week. At their global launch event — complete with AI demos, world-record attempts, and a little Guinness-certified flexing — Honor officially unveiled the Magic V5, and trust me… this thing is not messing around.
Here’s everything you need to know (and why Samsung and Apple should probably be watching this one closely).
So What Is the Magic V5?
The Honor Magic V5 is Honor’s all-new flagship foldable designed around three bold claims:
“Smarter. Slimmer. Stronger.”
And they have the numbers (and world records) to back it up:
- 8.8 mm thin (when folded — making it one of the thinnest foldables globally)
- 5,820 mAh battery — the largest battery ever in a foldable phone
- Snapdragon 8 Elite chip powering next-gen AI across the device
- Durability certified by Guinness World Records — it literally lifted 104 kg (229 lbs) while suspended by its hinge!
Yep… they hung a man’s entire gym set from the hinge on stage just to prove how strong their aerospace-grade fiber and “Super Steel” hinge really are. Guinness handed them a certificate.
That’s what you call a flex.
AI Everywhere (Gemini Built-In)
Honor is doubling-down on on-device AI, partnering heavily with Google Gemini to turn the Magic V5 into a powerful chatbot assistant built directly into the phone — no browser required.
AI features demoed live included:
- AI Summary – highlight text → get instant summaries (great for news/articles)
- AI Subtitle Translation – live translate foreign-language videos on YouTube/TikTok
- Gemini Live – point your camera at products and ask, “Which coffee machine is better?”
- Magic Sidebar AI Suggestions – surfaces smart tools based on your current task
- Tap-to-launch Gemini – double-tap the back of the phone to wake Gemini instantly
- AI Deepfake Detection for safer video calls
Honor wants you to think of it less as a phone… and more as a pocket assistant.
Cameras: No Compromise Foldable
Honor came out swinging on optics too, promising a periscope zoom camera with AI Super Zoom up to 100×, pro-level macro shots, and low-light imaging that doesn’t fall apart. They’ve explicitly stated no compromises: no giving up telephoto, no cutting pen support, no skipping wireless charging — just to shave a millimeter.
Unlike some competitors (cough Samsung Fold 6), both inner and outer displays support the Honor Magic Pen.
Brightest Displays, Toughest Glass, Longest Life
Key global-launch specs:
| Feature | Magic V5 Global Specification |
|---|---|
| Display brightness | 5,000 nits peak (inside & outside) |
| Glass | Nano-crystal outer glass (3× tougher) |
| Battery | 5,820 mAh, 66 W wired, 50 W wireless |
| Hinge life | Rated 500,000+ folds |
| Thickness | 8.8 mm (folded), 4.1 mm (unfolded) |
| Material | Aerospace fiber – 61 % lighter than paper, 2.5× stronger than steel |
Oh — and it multitasks like a PC in your pocket, running three apps at once with Gemini floating on top, thanks to that upgraded Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset delivering 45 % more AI horsepower and 27 % better power efficiency than last year’s model.
Global Pricing & Release
During the event Honor confirmed a starting price of $1799 USD 16GB RAM/512GM storage (Middle East & Africa markets first, EU and Asia to follow) — making it aggressively cheaper than Samsung’s Fold series. Early pre-orders also include VIP perks like screen protection, 65+ local service centers, and accessory bundles.
My Take?
Honor didn’t just update a phone — they unleashed a statement: foldables should be your main phone, not a niche toy. With record-breaking durability, the biggest battery in the industry, and built-in Gemini AI smarts, the Magic V5 global version is on a war-path to steal mainstream foldable users in 2025.
Samsung… it’s your move.