Honor has launched the Magic V5, the world’s thinnest foldable phone, at just 8.8mm folded and only 4.1mm when opened.
This bold move will allow Honour to outpace Samsung ahead of its Galaxy Z Fold 7 launch on July 9.
The launch comes as Honor pushes to outpace competitors by offering sleek designs, longer battery life, and advanced AI features. While the Magic V5 will first go on sale in China, international markets are expected to follow soon.
This strategic timing could give Honor a head start in the foldable race as global players like Samsung and Apple gear up for their next-generation releases.
Honor Magic V5 specs: Ultra-thin design without compromise
The Honor Magic V5 stands out not just for its record-breaking thinness but also for packing flagship-grade features into its sleek frame.
The device sports a 6.4-inch outer display and a 7.95-inch internal LTPO OLED panel, both supporting 120Hz refresh rates. It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, with up to 16GB RAM and up to 1TB storage in the China-exclusive model.
A key engineering feat is the use of a high-silicon-content 6,100mAh silicon-carbon battery in the Chinese variant—the first of its kind in a mass-produced foldable.
The international model gets a still-impressive 5,820mAh unit. Both versions support 66W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Despite its slim build, the V5 delivers powerful camera hardware: a 50MP main sensor, 64MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultra-wide lens.
However, the large camera bump slightly undercuts the phone’s slim profile. The device also boasts IP58 and IP59 dust- and water-resistance ratings, making it one of the most durable foldables to date.
AI, durability, and pricing
Honor is betting big on AI as a differentiator. The Magic V5 comes with MagicOS 9.0.1 and the company’s YOYO AI assistant, which can interact with external AI platforms like Alibaba and DeepSeek.
The assistant can create presentations, book rides, and handle multi-app commands, pointing to Honor’s long-term vision of AI-integrated personal devices.
Starting at RMB 8,999 (around $1,240), the Magic V5 is competitively priced, undercutting rivals like Samsung and Google, which often exceed $1,800 for comparable foldables.
The white version gets the 8.8mm thickness rating, while black, gold, and brown models are slightly thicker at 9mm.
As Samsung prepares to unveil its Galaxy Z Fold7 on July 9, Honor’s early move sets the tone for this year’s foldable competition. With its advanced engineering, competitive pricing, and AI-forward strategy, the Magic V5 is more than just a slimmer foldable it could be the moment foldables truly go mainstream.
