Honor Magic V2 Review: The Foldable That Redefines Slimness

The Honor Magic V2 isn't just another foldable phone; it's a statement. In a market where foldables often carry the baggage of bulk and compromise, Honor has engineered a device that shatters expectations, delivering a form factor so remarkably thin and light, it challenges the very notion of what a folding smartphone can be.

But beyond its svelte silhouette, does the Magic V2 truly deliver an experience worthy of its groundbreaking design?

From the moment you hold the Magic V2, its engineering prowess is undeniable. At a mere 9.9mm when folded and an astonishing 4.7mm unfolded, it’s not just thin for a foldable – it's thinner than many conventional slab phones.

This radical slimness, coupled with a weight of just 231 grams, makes it feel surprisingly normal in hand. Honor has achieved this feat with a blend of advanced materials, including a titanium alloy hinge that feels robust and smooth, eliminating any sense of fragility. The vegan leather finish on our review unit added a touch of premium sophistication, making it a device that genuinely turns heads.

The display experience on the Magic V2 is nothing short of spectacular.

Both the external 6.43-inch and internal 7.92-inch OLED panels boast a vibrant 120Hz refresh rate and impressive brightness, making content pop with rich colors and fluid animations. Whether you’re browsing social media on the cover screen or immersing yourself in a movie on the expansive inner display, the visuals are consistently stunning.

The crease, often a contentious point on foldables, is remarkably subtle on the Magic V2 – visible if you actively look for it, but easily forgotten during everyday use.

Under the hood, the Magic V2 is powered by the capable Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, ensuring a consistently smooth and snappy performance.

From multitasking to graphically intensive gaming, the device handles everything with ease, exhibiting no signs of lag or stutter. This flagship-level performance is paired with a surprisingly robust 5,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery. Despite its slender frame, the Magic V2 consistently delivered excellent battery life, often lasting a full day or more with moderate to heavy usage, a commendable feat for any foldable.

Photography on the Magic V2 is handled by a versatile triple-camera setup, featuring a 50MP main lens, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 20MP telephoto with 2.5x optical zoom.

In good lighting, the cameras produce sharp, detailed images with accurate colors, making it more than adequate for most users' needs. While it may not quite reach the absolute peak performance of dedicated camera-focused flagships, it holds its own very well, offering a solid and reliable camera experience that captures memorable moments effectively.

Software-wise, the Magic V2 runs Honor's MagicOS 7.2, based on Android.

The interface is clean, intuitive, and generally responsive. However, this is one area where Honor still has room for refinement. While the software provides a good core Android experience, it lacks the deep, foldable-specific optimizations seen in some competitors, such as extensive split-screen gestures or unique app layouts tailored for the larger internal display.

This isn't a deal-breaker, but it hints at untapped potential for a more bespoke foldable user experience.

Ultimately, the Honor Magic V2 is a triumphant step forward for foldable smartphones. It brilliantly addresses the long-standing complaints about thickness and weight, presenting a device that feels as good to hold as it is to look at.

With its stunning displays, powerful performance, and impressive battery life, it’s a compelling package. While its software experience could benefit from more foldable-centric refinements, the Magic V2 stands as a testament to Honor's innovation, setting a new benchmark for design and usability in the foldable space and making a strong case for itself as one of the best foldable phones available today.