A Foldable That Almost Feels Ready for Everyone

It’s hard not to notice how absurdly thin the device is when unfolded. At 4.1mm, it almost feels fragile at first touch, like it could snap if I sneezed too hard. Of course, it doesn’t. The build is solid, sturdy even, but the illusion of fragility lingers. That said, the thinness makes it feel futuristic in a way most foldables still don’t.

Fold it up, though, and reality sets in. On paper, 8.8mm doesn’t sound bad—similar to many bar phones—but the weight and the camera bump make it feel bulkier. More like slipping a compact wallet into your pocket than a phone. Not unbearable, but not sleek either.

Design and Build

Honor deserves credit here. The Magic V5 is one of the best-built foldables I’ve handled. My unit came in Dawn Gold, which has this subtle gradient from bronze to champagne. The finish is striking but not flashy, and the hinge has a geometric shimmer that catches light in interesting ways. Small touches, but they add to the sense that this is a luxury device.

Durability is clearly a focus. The phone is rated IP58 and IP59, a first for Honor foldables. That means real protection against dust and water, something earlier models couldn’t quite promise. The hinge feels robust too, with a reassuring snap when you close it and a firm hold at any angle above 45 degrees. Honor says it’s tested for 500,000 folds. I obviously didn’t get close to that, but after two weeks, it feels as tight as day one.

The one gripe—and I can’t ignore it—is the camera bump. It’s massive. The circular housing looks stylish, but it’s impractical. Lay the phone on a table and it wobbles constantly. Hold it folded and it digs into your grip. You get used to it, perhaps, but you’ll never love it.

Displays

This is where the Magic V5 really shines. The external screen is a 6.43-inch OLED, sharp, bright, and fluid at 120Hz. It peaks at 5000 nits, which is frankly overkill indoors but a blessing under Dubai’s unforgiving sun.

Unfold the device, and you’re greeted by a nearly 8-inch display. It’s vibrant, crisp, and large enough to make you forget you’re holding a phone at all. Watching videos, reading articles, even scrolling through emails—it’s like using a small tablet, except one that folds neatly into your pocket afterward.

The crease is there, but handled better than on most competitors. Head-on, you barely see it. You only notice when tilting the screen at sharp angles or deliberately running your finger across. Importantly, it doesn’t interrupt everyday interactions. Typing, swiping, sketching with the stylus (sold separately, of course)—the crease fades into the background.

Software and Everyday Use