Honor Magic V3 Review: Is This Foldable Worth the Hassle? | GadgetLad

Design & Construction

• Remarkably slim and lightweight
• IPX8 certification

Now, let’s dive into the design. Truthfully, it’s absolutely remarkable. I thought Honor struck gold with the Magic V2 – already so slim it could sneak under a locked door at 9.9mm when folded. But the V3? Just 9.2mm! It’s the slimmest foldable on the market. Unbelievable, it’s thinner than a Galaxy Z Fold 6 (12.1mm)! The Magic V3 represents a feat of engineering, and weighing merely 226g, it’s even lighter than some non-foldable phones. It’s impressively lightweight, yet doesn’t compromise on sturdiness.

Honor has also equipped it with robust features, like a ‘Super Steel’ hinge that withstands wear better than locals after a late night in The Bigg Market. I opened and closed it over 100 times, and it felt sturdy throughout. But just a heads up: this isn’t a one-handed operation unless you’re built like a mechanic. That hinge has some serious tension.

And what’s this ‘Special Fiber’ about? Honor claims it enhances drop protection, but I didn’t test it with a hammer, so I’ll have to take their word for it. Additionally, it’s covered with anti-scratch glass, and pre-installed screen protectors offer additional reassurance – although somehow, I’ve already noticed a few scratches. Could be my keys… or my Jack Russell, Bandit.

With an IPX8 rating, it can handle submersion in 2.5 meters of water without a hitch. But don’t get too confident around sandy areas. No dust resistance here. So probably don’t bring it to Tynemouth Beach on a breezy day unless you’re keen on ending up with a phone resembling a paperweight.

Displays & Audio

• 6.43-inch outer display
• 7.92-inch inner display
• Dual stereo audio

The Magic V3 boasts two fantastic screens. On the exterior, there’s a 6.43-inch cover screen. Flip it open like a sci-fi book and you’re welcomed with a 7.92-inch internal panel. Both are truly impressive.

As OLED displays, they exhibit vibrant colors and deep blacks that make you go “wow”. Both can reach up to 120Hz, ensuring your scrolling is buttery smooth. However, there’s a drawback: the internal screen has a slightly square shape, which results in large black bars when watching videos or gaming. Not ideal.

The infamous fold crease is present too. You can feel it when gliding your finger across the screen, but to be fair, it’s hardly noticeable when the screen is active.

In terms of audio, the speakers are quite decent. It features a dual stereo setup, though when unfolded, sound predominantly comes from one side. Nevertheless, the audio quality is solid – free from distortion, with a hint of bass. It’s not bad at all, but don’t expect to fill a gym with sound.

Specifications & Performance

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 12GB RAM
• Impressive performance, but dips on the internal screen
• 512GB of non-expandable storage

This device houses the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, meaning it’s agile enough for any task you’ve got in mind. Multitasking, gaming, browsing Instagram to check on your ex (don’t go there), everything runs smoothly. The 12GB RAM is definitely a bonus.

Gaming? On the smaller cover screen – excellent. Lightning fast. Yet, on that large internal display, it gets a bit shaky. You might notice frame drops while playing demanding games like **Call of Duty: Mobile** or **Genshin Impact**. Nothing severe, but enough to elicit a few mild exclamations.

Camera System

• 50Mp primary rear lens, suitable for selfies
• 50Mp telephoto lens
• 40Mp ultrawide camera (somewhat disappointing)
• Dual 20Mp front-facing cameras

You’re looking at five cameras here. The 50Mp main lens delivers stunning results. Whether it’s your furry friend, a meal, or that candid selfie while unlocking the phone, the quality is superb. Dynamic range, detail – it scores big.

The telephoto lens performs well too, offering 3.5x optical zoom. A 5x zoom, like seen on other flagship models, would have been preferable, but you can’t have everything. Quality declines beyond 5x, which is expected.

However, the 40Mp ultrawide camera falls short. You lose detail, the colors aren’t vibrant, and it’s just lackluster. For those wide shots at Sycamore Gap? Stick with the main lens if possible.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5150mAh battery capacity
• 66W wired charging (charger included)
• 50W wireless charging capability

With a 5150mAh battery, the Magic V3 offers commendable battery life – for a foldable, that is. It might not outlast your grandmother’s TV remote, but you’ll easily get through a day. I frequently ended the day with about 25% battery left. That’s mainly while using the cover screen. Utilizing the internal screen extensively drains the battery faster than my patience when someone claims “the Wi-Fi’s down.”

And regarding charging, yes, it supports 66W fast charging. Plug it in, and you’ll hit 50% in just 15 minutes, fully charging in under an hour. You’re all set. Wireless charging is available at 50W, but you’ll need to invest in the appropriate charger separately.

Software & Applications

• MagicOS 8 built on Android 14
• Some helpful AI features, but software feels cluttered
• No clear guarantee on update longevity

Now, the software experience feels a bit troublesome. MagicOS 8 (based on Android 14) brings an array of AI features, but the interface? It’s just crowded. There’s too much happening at once. Plus, the software is loaded with bloatware – plenty of pre-installed apps that probably won’t see any use. Time to delete, delete, delete.

However, there are some handy features. Take ‘Magic Portal,’ which allows you to drag and drop images and text between applications. ‘Face to Face Translation’ provides real-time language interpretation effectively. Kudos to Honor for that. Yet, there are some gimmicky AI functions that don’t perform well. The ‘AI Eraser’ feature, intended to remove objects from images, once bizarrely exchanged a cushion for a water bottle. Thanks for that.

Pricing & Availability

So, here’s the catch. The Honor Magic V3 starts at £1,699.99. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s quite the investment, to say the least. You can purchase it directly from Honor’s website, Amazon, or several other retailers. Just be prepared to dig deep into your pockets.

Should you consider purchasing the Honor Magic V3?

If you’re someone eager to flaunt the slimmest foldable phone available and have ample cash to spare, then absolutely, go for it. For the rest? Probably not. The Honor Magic V3 is stunning to see and loaded with great features. However, the software is somewhat chaotic, and the cost is higher than a giraffe’s neck.

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Conclusion

**Foldable Gimmick or Future-Ready Device?**

The Honor Magic V3 is undeniably sleek, yet it may not suit everyone. A design that will catch eyes, yet with the high price and convoluted software, you might want to reconsider before making that purchase.