Presented by HONOR

HONOR Magic V2 review – The best foldable smartphone I’ve ever used

Partner

 ·3 Apr 2024

The HONOR Magic V2 is the best foldable smartphone I have ever used.

It is clear that HONOR cut no corners when creating this device, from its thin and light form factor to its durable hinge and powerful camera.

Most notably, HONOR has produced a foldable phone with an unnoticeable crease when in use – something that other smartphone brands have found challenging in our experience.

The Magic V2 was officially launched on 20 March 2024 at the HONOR Magic Series launch event and hit South African shelves on 2 April 2024.

We unpack our experience with this impressive foldable smartphone, below.

A foldable wonder

Foldables have improved significantly in recent years, and the Magic V2 is the culmination of multiple rounds of innovation and development by HONOR.

It is the thinnest and lightest foldable smartphone on the market today and when folded, it feels just like any other “normal” flagship smartphone in your palm.

This is thanks to its new and improved HONOR Super-light Titanium Hinge, which is SGS-certified for reliability. For added protection, the hinge’s shaft cover strength has also been increased by 150% compared to the previous-generation model.

The inside of the hinge has a gearless design, too, and we found that this provided a smooth, gapless folding/unfolding experience – and a completely flat surface when unfolded.

The features do not stop there, and HONOR also equipped the Magic V2 with second-gen nanocrystal glass that makes it 10 times more drop-resistant.

Dashing display

Nestled behind this protective glass is an impressive 7.92-inch OLED display that looks incredible when the Magic V2 is unfolded.

It features the best execution of a creaseless fold we have seen, delivering a seamless viewing experience across all our favourite content.

This exceptional viewing experience is also thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate, which ensures smooth scrolling, and its industry-leading 2,500nit peak brightness, which kept our movies and series looking awesome.

Folding the HONOR Magic V2 closed then reveals a stunning 6.43-inch display on the front of the phone.

Unlike other foldable smartphones we have tested, which have oddly-shaped external displays, the HONOR Magic V2 uses a familiar and enjoyable standard aspect ratio of 20:9.

Camera and performance

You will find an impressive 16MP front-facing camera nestled in the external display, along with a second front-facing camera in the inner display, too.

Both cameras were great for taking selfies, regardless of whether the Magic V2 is folded or unfolded.

When unfolded, we were able to capture stunning photos using the main, rear-facing camera array – while seeing ourselves on the external display.

The primary camera system features three sensors – a 50MP wide-angle, a 50MP ultra-wide-angle, and a 20MP telephoto – with 40x digital zoom to ensure your shots look great at any distance.

Another highlight of the Magic V2’s camera system is its HONOR AI Motion Sensing Capture technology that takes full advantage of the Magic V2’s foldable design.

To use it, you fold the smartphone to a 90-degree angle and place it on a flat surface.

The AI-powered camera will then capture a photo whenever it detects motion.

Impressive performance

All of your photos and videos can be saved on the Magic V2’s massive 512GB of storage.

This generous storage is complemented by an impressive processor – an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 – and 16GB RAM.

With this impressive hardware, you are guaranteed smooth work and play across all your daily tasks and games.

HONOR has then equipped the Magic V2 with a large 5,000mAh battery and 66W SuperCharge to keep these apps running for longer.

• Click here to get the HONOR Magic V2 foldable smartphone now.

The specifications of the HONOR Magic V2 are listed below.