“Honor’s Magic V3: Slimmest Foldable in Europe – Is It Worth the Hype?”

Honor has returned to Europe with yet another foldable device, and this time it’s the Magic V3, claiming to be the slimmest foldable in this part of the world. But does it truly deserve all the hype? Let’s explore further.

When was the Honor Magic V3 released?

The Honor Magic V3 made its debut in China on **12 July 2024**.

It confidently entered the international arena on **5 September 2024** during the IFA 2024 trade exhibition held in Berlin. If you’re eager to get your hands on one, it’s currently up for grabs on the [Honor UK website](https://www.honor.com/uk/), [Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/), [Argos](https://www.argos.co.uk/), and [Very](https://www.very.co.uk/).

Want it with a contract? Not a hassle. You can pick it up through [O2](https://www.o2.co.uk/) and [Three](https://www.three.co.uk/) as of now, with [EE](https://ee.co.uk/) and [Vodafone](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/) joining in shortly.

Sorry to my American pals, but the Magic V3 won’t be available in the US. Honor decided not to launch it there for reasons unknown.

Honor

Honor

Honor

As a quick overview, below are the release dates of recent models:

• Honor Magic V2 – July 2022 (China), January 2023 (Europe)
• Honor Magic Vs – November 2022 (China), February 2024 (Europe)

How much does the Honor Magic V3 cost?

Alright, if you happen to have £1,699 just waiting to be spent, you can grab the Honor Magic V3. For that price, you’ll receive 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Not exactly a small amount, is it?

Here’s a quick look to see if your wallet can handle it:

• Honor Magic V2 – £1,699.99/€1,999
• Honor Magic Vs – £1,399/€1,599

In fairness, it’s a smidge cheaper than options such as the [Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6](https://gadgetlad.co.uk/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6-review) (starting at £1,799/$1,899) and the [Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold](https://gadgetlad.co.uk/google-pixel-fold-review) (starting at £1,749/$1,799).

What specs and features does the Honor Magic V3 have?

Design

The Honor Magic V3 aims to seize the title of “World’s Thinnest Foldable,” and it might just achieve that – measuring 9.2mm when closed and 4.35mm when opened, this device is sleeker than a fitness enthusiast on a diet. It weighs just 226g, making it easy to handle. When unfolded, it expands to 156.6×145.3mm, and when compacted, it offers a convenient 156.6×74mm profile.

YouTuber SuperSaf also took it for a spin; be sure to check out his video with Honor right before the launch:

Its biggest competitor is the [Galaxy Z Fold 6](https://gadgetlad.co.uk/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6-review), which is 12.1mm thick when folded and 5.6mm when unfolded. Honor must have had a chuckle besting Samsung in the size contest, even issuing a playful apology to all the unfortunate Samsung foldable users.

Here’s the kicker: on a handful of these Magic V3 models, there’s a full 166-word apology etched onto the 2.84mm hinge. Yes, seriously. This micro-artist named Graham Short devoted an impressive 90 hours hand-engraving it using diamond-tipped tools. Now that’s dedication!

However, you won’t spot that engraving without a microscope, so here’s the text:

Dear Samsung Galaxy Z Fold owners, we’re sorry. We know you were excited to buy a phone that folds in half and fits in your pocket, awkwardly. You were promised the future, a technical marvel, a world of boundless multitasking and performance.

And now, you’re probably looking at the new HONOR Magic V3 and feeling a little… betrayed. Size matters, and we feel your pain. Like being tipped for a gold medal and then coming last in the race, the knowledge that a thinner, lighter, and more durable foldable exists is enough to make anyone question their choices.

We get it. You were an early adopter, a pioneer bravely venturing into the uncharted territory of foldable screens with questionable durability. You deserve better. In fact, you deserve a gold medal.

In all seriousness, we at HONOR are committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and bringing you the best possible foldable experience. We’re just saying… it’s okay to feel let down. We’d feel the same way.
Honor

The Chinese version of the Magic V3 comes in four shades: Green, White, Black, and Red. The Red variant even features a luxurious faux leather panel and a golden border, giving it a sophisticated handbag-like appearance. However, for the rest of us globally, only Black, Green, and a Reddish Brown are available.

The device is equipped with dual stereo speakers, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and an anti-sound-leak technology for calls. Moreover, it has an IPX8 water resistance rating, meaning you can submerge it in water, but don’t even consider taking it out in a sandstorm – there’s no official dust protection.

Display

The Honor Magic V3 features a 7.92-inch OLED primary display. It boasts a resolution of 2156×2344 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 3840Hz PWM dimming mechanism to prevent your eyes from burning out during long sessions. It also includes Honor’s Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield and is stylus-friendly, for those who might appreciate that.

Honor

Honor

The secondary display is a 6.43-inch OLED featuring a resolution of 1060×2376 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. Did I mention it can reach brightness levels of 5000 nits? That’s akin to gazing into the sun, but potentially more useful… I think.

Performance

The Honor Magic V3 is equipped with the [Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3](https://gadgetlad.co.uk/snapdragon-8-gen-3) processor. If you have any understanding of processors, you’d know that this one allows you to zip through apps and games like a pro at a speedway.

While the Chinese variant offers up to 16GB of RAM and additional storage, the international version sticks with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. It’s still a beast, don’t worry.

Cameras

Now, let’s discuss cameras because, let’s face it, that’s what counts for phones today, right? The Honor Magic V3 is equipped with a triple-lens system that appears rather premium on paper.

The primary camera features a 50Mp sensor with an f/1.6 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS). Additionally, there’s a 50Mp telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom and an f/3.0 aperture. For capturing wide shots, there’s a 40Mp ultrawide lens with a 112° field of view and an f/2.2 aperture – because why not?

Honor

Honor

For selfies, there are 20Mp cameras located both on the outside and inside – one on the cover and another on the main display – both equipped with a 90° field of view and an f/2.2 aperture.

Whether you’re shooting selfies or landscapes, this phone can capture video at up to 4K resolution. Because, honestly, who records in 1080p these days?

Battery & Charging

This slender marvel houses a 5150mAh battery. It supports 66W wired fast charging along with 50W wireless charging. That’s slightly more capacity than the [Magic V2](https://gadgetlad.co.uk/honor-magic-v2-review), which already offered decent battery performance. As for charging speeds, they remain consistent, so no surprises there.

Software

The Honor Magic V3 operates on [Android 14](https://gadgetlad.co.uk/android-14-2) layered with Honor’s MagicOS 8.0.1. You get Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and even two-way satellite connectivity in case you find yourself lost in the wilderness. The USB 3.1 Type-C port enables DisplayPort 1.2, which is fantastic if you’re looking to connect it to a monitor.

Naturally, Honor has included a host of AI features, such as AI Eraser and Face-to-face Translation. Additionally, there’s a privacy-centric Parallel Space, Magic Capsule, alongside a variety of other helpful tools.

That wraps up all the juicy specifics we have regarding the Magic V3 so far. Be sure to check out the complete list of the [best foldable phones](https://gadgetlad.co.uk/best-foldable-phone-2) to see how it compares to the competition.