When the Pixel 9/10 Pro Fold finally hit the market, I couldn’t wait to see how it stacked up against my daily driver — the Honor Magic V5. I’d been using the V5 for months, loving its mix of power, polish, and almost sci-fi multitasking. The question was simple: could Google’s latest foldable compete?
Well, after spending a lot of time flipping between the two, I’ve got some thoughts — and maybe a few surprises.
Design & Feel: Two Very Different Takes on Premium
Let’s start with what you feel first — the build. Both phones feel solid and high-end, but the Honor Magic V5 just has that extra touch of refinement. It’s got a more elegant color finish and thinner bezels that make it look futuristic next to the Pixel. Even the hinge feels smoother and more balanced.
Now, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold does have one advantage — it’s a bit wider, making it easier to type on when closed. The Honor, on the other hand, is slightly taller. Its 6.4-inch external display feels just right in the hand, while the Pixel’s 6.3-inch outer screen feels comfortable but more conservative.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold (which I skipped this year) trims down the bezels slightly, but honestly — Honor’s been doing that level of design for years. Even compared to the OnePlus Open, the Magic V5’s bezels are thinner, cleaner, and more immersive. And when it comes to that dreaded crease in the middle? The Pixel’s is still clearly visible, while the Honor’s is barely noticeable.
Weight, Hinge, and Handling
The Honor Magic V5 is not only thinner — it’s lighter too. You feel that difference immediately when holding it for long periods. Both phones have side-mounted fingerprint sensors that are lightning fast, and both sound fantastic with true stereo speakers on either side. But the Pixel’s slightly thicker body gives it a deeper, bassier sound.
So, yes — the Pixel’s got the edge in audio, but for pure comfort and portability, the Honor Magic V5 wins hands down.
Software: Freedom vs. Familiarity
Here’s where the real separation begins.
Both phones run Android, but the Honor Magic V5 runs MagicOS 9.0 over Android 15, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold runs Android 16 (with the 10 Pro Fold on Android 16). And that version difference doesn’t matter nearly as much as how each company uses Android.
On the Pixel, the software is clean, simple, and… well, pretty plain. You can’t resize widgets much, rearrange the layout freely, or do the kind of multitasking that the Honor can. MagicOS gives you true desktop-like freedom — you can open up to three apps at once, freely resize or move them, and even have floating mini-apps that pop up when you get a text.
The Pixel? Two apps at a time, max.
You can add a sidebar app on the Pixel using a third-party app, but it’s nowhere near as fluid. With Honor’s built-in multitasking, I can literally pull another app onto the screen mid-conversation, or drag-and-drop photos straight into another window. It feels alive — Pixel feels safe.
Brightness, Displays & Real-World Use
On paper, both have incredible displays — but Honor takes it up a notch.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold offers 2000 nits typical brightness with 3000 nits peak on the cover screen, and 1800 nits on the inside (up to 3000 peak). The Honor Magic V5, however, goes up to a blinding 5000 nits peak brightness on both screens. Outdoors, the difference isn’t massive, but indoors, the Honor’s screen just feels more vibrant and less reflective thanks to its anti-glare coating.
Open both up side-by-side, and you’ll instantly notice the Pixel’s screen catching light while the Honor stays easy on the eyes. That’s a huge deal if you use your foldable for long editing sessions, media, or reading.
Cameras: Pixel’s Reputation vs. Honor’s Reality
Okay, let’s talk cameras — because this is where everyone expects the Pixel to dominate. And honestly, it’s closer than you’d think… but not quite a win for Google.
Both have great image processing, but the Honor simply has better hardware. The main sensor is 50 MP versus the Pixel’s 48 MP, but the real gap appears with zoom and ultra-wide.
- Pixel 9/10 Pro Fold: 48 MP main, 10.8 MP ultra-wide, 10.8 MP 5× telephoto
- Honor Magic V5: 50 MP main, 50 MP ultra-wide, 64 MP 3× telephoto
Even though the Pixel’s telephoto technically zooms farther (5×), its low 10 MP resolution can’t compete with the Honor’s 64 MP lens. The Honor’s shots come out crisper, with better color and contrast — especially when cropping in.
The Honor also gives you 20 MP selfie cameras on both screens, versus the Pixel’s 10 MP. And for videographers? Both are great, but the Honor’s interface saves your last camera mode — something the Pixel still doesn’t do. Small detail, big frustration.
Battery Life, Charging & Power
The Honor Magic V5 houses a massive 5820 mAh silicon-carbon battery — and it shows. It easily lasts longer than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s 4600 mAh pack. Even the newer Pixel 10 Pro Fold only goes up to around 5015 mAh, still not enough to catch up.
And when it comes to charging, it’s not even close:
- Honor Magic V5: 66 W wired / 50 W wireless
- Pixel 9 Pro Fold: 30 W wired / ~15 W wireless
- Pixel 10 Pro Fold: 30 W wired / 15 W wireless
The Honor can fully recharge from 0 to 100% in about 45 minutes, while the Pixel takes nearly double that. The one neat trick Pixel has going is the new Pixel Snap magnetic ring for wireless charging — but you can add a $2 magnetic ring to the Honor and get the same functionality.
Performance: Snapdragon Power vs Tensor Struggle
Inside, the Honor Magic V5 runs the Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold uses the Tensor G4 and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold uses the new Tensor G5. The difference? Noticeable — especially in heavy multitasking, photo processing, and heat management.
The Tensor chip is fine for casual users, but it’s not built for efficiency or sustained performance. The Honor simply flies through demanding apps and keeps cool doing it. Benchmarks back that up, but even day-to-day usage tells the story: the Honor just feels snappier.
Final Thoughts — Who Wins?
If you love a clean, minimal interface and don’t mind slower charging or limited customization, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (and the 10 Pro Fold) are solid options. The cameras are good, the design is refined, and it’s pure Android.
But if you want a truly next-gen foldable experience — powerful charging, huge battery, crazy multitasking, customizable software, and a near-invisible crease — the Honor Magic V5 is the clear winner.
I wanted the Pixel to surprise me. Instead, it reminded me that Google’s foldable story is still catching up. Honor, meanwhile, is writing the next chapter.
Your turn: Would you upgrade to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold for the slimmer bezels and Pixel Snap, or would you stick with a powerhouse like the Honor Magic V5? Let me know in the comments — and check out my video comparison for all the side-by-side footage and camera samples.