HONOR Launches Magic V5: Thinnest Foldable Yet with AI at the Core

At an event in London, HONOR introduced the global version of the Magic V5, its latest foldable flagship. The device made its debut in China on July 2, 2025, and is now arriving in international markets as the thinnest book-style foldable to date. With this launch, HONOR aims to build on its growing success in the foldable category by combining slim engineering, enhanced durability, and advanced AI-driven features for users worldwide.

Slimmer Than Ever, Stronger Than Before

At just 8.8mm thick when folded, the Magic V5 is a hair thinner than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, which measures 8.9mm. The Ivory White variant tips the scale at 217 grams, making it slightly heavier than its Samsung rival by just 2 grams—a trade-off that still leaves the Magic V5 among the lightest foldables in its class.  During our briefing, HONOR acknowledged some debate regarding the measurement of thickness in foldables, but stated its benchmark is taken at the central flat portion of the device. The spokesperson confirmed the Ivory White edition is the thinnest model thanks to its aerospace-grade fiber back cover.

Durability has also been a focus. The phone features a Super Steel Hinge and a back cover crafted from aerospace-grade specialty fiber, a material that HONOR claims is lighter than paper yet stronger than steel. The company claims the hinge and fiber design deliver a significant leap in long-term resilience compared to earlier generations and competing models. The V5 is also rated IP58 and IP59 for dust and water protection and uses a second-generation Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield for enhanced resistance against drops and abrasions.

Silicon-Carbon Battery with Faster Charging

The Magic V5 debuts HONOR’s silicon-carbon battery technology, with a capacity of 5,820mAh in the European version. HONOR says the battery not only lasts up to nine hours longer than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 but also features 15% higher silicon content for improved energy density, low-temperature stability, and extended lifespan. Charging is supported at 66W wired HONOR SuperCharge and 50W wireless charging, enabling faster top-ups than many foldable rivals.

Display, Stylus, and Eye Protection

The V5 is equipped with a 7.95-inch foldable OLED inner display and a 6.43-inch outer display, both of which support the HONOR Magic Pen. The company confirmed the stylus is compatible across generations, meaning pens from the Magic V2 and V3 also work with the new model.

HONOR emphasized eye comfort as a differentiator, introducing an ultra-high frequency PWM dimming system that reduces flicker more effectively than competing foldables. The company claims the V5 achieves nine times the flicker reduction of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, making it more comfortable for prolonged use.

Cameras with AI Super Zoom

The Magic V5 features HONOR’s AI Falcon Camera System, which includes a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, a 50-megapixel main camera, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera. HONOR demonstrated its AI Super Zoom, which can sharpen distant details and is now enhanced by cloud-based AI training for better accuracy compared to previous HONOR models, such as the Magic 7 Pro. The telephoto system supports macro-style close-ups as well as long-range shots, with claims of capturing clear images at distances up to 20 kilometers.

AI Integration with Google Gemini

Running on Android 15 with MagicOS 9.0.1, the V5 integrates AI more deeply than any prior HONOR foldable. A new partnership with Google Gemini brings contextual assistance into everyday tasks. For example, users can drag text from meeting notes into Gemini for quick explanations, compare products during shopping, or even share screens during live conversations. A double-tap gesture on the phone’s back panel activates Gemini instantly, simplifying access.

Other AI tools include on-device real-time translation, multi-participant video conference deepfake detection for added security, and multitasking with Multi-Flex mode, which allows up to three apps to run in resizable windows simultaneously. HONOR confirmed Multi-Flex will later roll out to older foldables but debuts first on the V5.

Hardware and Software Support

The Magic V5 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage in the European configuration. HONOR confirmed that other markets, such as China, may receive larger 1TB variants with bigger batteries (6,100 mAh), though the EU version tops out at 5820mAh.

The company has pledged seven years of Android OS upgrades and seven years of security patches for European buyers, aligning with the long-term software support offered by Google and Samsung’s flagship devices.

Availability

Starting at £1,699.99 (€1,999), the HONOR Magic V5 will be available in multiple color options, including Ivory White, Black, Gold, and Reddish Brown, with slight variations in materials depending on the finish. Some regions will receive chargers in the box, though the European packaging will omit them due to local regulations.

Filed in Cellphones. Read more about Android, Foldable Smartphones, Google, Honor and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite.