HONOR Magic V2 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5: Who leads the foldable era?
Having long been labeled as a gimmick, the era of foldable phones now looks to dawn over the world of mainstream devices as brands begin to partake in its innovation.
Samsung were among the first pioneers brave enough to venture into unchartered territory. Now already in its fifth instalment, the Galaxy Z Fold5 is the leading name when it comes to foldable phones, built indisputably on merit and reputation.
Prowling across the pond, however, are rivals seeking to wrestle that crown away and claim it as their own; one of those being HONOR. Unleashing its own foldable offering, the Magic V2 looks to stake its claim as the next best thing in the industry. Already stamping its mark as the thinnest and lightest foldable phone in the world, the Magic V2 is touted as being the strongest contender to the Z Fold5.
Ultimately, it’s decided with the hands of the consumers. So, if you’re deciding which side of the line to step into – here’s how the HONOR Magic V2 and the Galaxy Z Fold5 stacks up against each other.
| HONOR Magic V2 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Price | RM6,999 – 16GB+512GB | RM6,299 – 12GB+256GB RM6,799 – 12GB+512GB |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 For Galaxy |
| External Display | 6.43″ LTPO OLED (2376x1060p), 120Hz, 2,500nits peak brightness, Nanocrystal Glass | 6.2″ AMOLED 2X (2316x904p), 120Hz, 1,600nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Internal Display | 7.92″ LTPO OLED (2344x2156p), 120Hz, 1,600nits peak brightness | 7.6″ AMOLED 2X (1812x2176p), 120Hz, 1,750nits peak brightness |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (f/1.9) wide w/ OIS + 20MP (f/2.4) telephoto w/ OIS + 50MP (f/2.0) ultrawide w/ OIS | 50MP (f/1.8) wide w/ OIS + 10MP (f/2.4) telephoto 3x optical zoom w/ OIS + 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide |
| Front Camera | 16MP (interior screen) + 16MP (exterior screen) | 4MP (internal screen) + 10MP (external screen) |
| Battery & Charging | 5,000mAh, 66W wired | 4,400mAh, 25 wired, 15W wireless |
| Protection | N/A | IPX8 water resistant |
| Wi-Fi & Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Thickness | 9.9mm (folded), 4.7mm (unfolded) | 13.4mm (folded), 6.1mm (unfolded) |
| Weight | 231g – 237g | 253g |
| 3.5mm Jack | No | No |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Side-mounted |
Pricing
When you’re purchasing a device with dual screens, you have to be prepared to fork out a hefty sum somewhere upwards of RM6000+. While the Magic V2 is the most expensive option touching the rims of RM7,000, it comes with a larger 16GB RAM compared to the 12GB variants of the Z Fold5.
Dimensions and Processors
One of the main selling points of the HONOR Magic V2 is its incredibly slim and lightweight form factor. It is the first foldable phone to boast a <10mm thickness even when folded, and drops further down to 4.7mm when unfolded. In terms of handling and pocketability, this is a far better option than the 13.4mm thickness of the Galaxy Z Fold5.
Pocketability will add up to none if performance is thrown out the window though. Fortunately, both competitors utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which has earned its reputation as one of the leading flagship processors of 2023.
External and Internal Displays
Despite being the thinner and lighter device, the Magic V2 is also the larger option when it comes to displays. Its external screen is 6.43″ LTPO OLED, with 1060p resolution and 120Hz refresh rates. Peak brightness is exceptionally high at 2,500nits. The Magic V2 opens up to reveal a 7.92″ LTPO OLED display, this time with a larger 2344x2156p resolution. Refresh rates are maintained at 120Hz, but peak brightness is a good degree lower at only 1,600nits.
On the other side of the aisle, the Galaxy Z Fold5 boasts a 6.2″ AMOLED 2X display with 2316x904p resolution as its external screen, again with 120Hz refresh rates. Peak brightness goes up to 1,600nits, and all is protected under a layer of reliable Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The internal screen is a 7.6″ AMOLED 2X display with 1812x2176p resolution and 120Hz refresh rates. Peak brightness is slightly higher at 1,750nits.
Rear and Front Cameras
When it comes to rear cameras, the Magic V2 and Z Fold5 sport a tri-camera setup. The Magic V2 has the larger megapixel count with a 50MP main, a 20MP telephoto, and a 50MP ultrawide. The plus point here being that all three cameras have OIS.
The Z Fold5 on the other hand has a 50MP main camera, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide. Of the three, only the former two is fitted with OIS.
Dual front cameras are present on both, with one each on the external as well as the internal display. Again, the Magic V2 has the higher 16MP + 16MP front cameras, while the Z Fold5 falls short with 4MP (internal screen) + 10MP (external screen) selfie shooters.
Battery & Charging
An area that is seemingly one-sided is the difference in battery capacity and charging capabilities. On paper at least, the 5,000mAh battery on the Magic V2 trumps the 4,400mAh battery on the Z Fold5. Not only that, the Magic V2 is undeniably the speed winner when it comes to fast charging, boasting 66W wired charging as compared to the 25W on the Z Fold5.
Nevertheless, the Z Fold5 does have wireless charging capabilities, while the Magic V2 misses out on such feature.
Other features to consider…
Aside from the features mentioned, there are a few other aspects to consider before splurging your dough. Firstly, the Galaxy Z Fold5 comes with a solid IPX8 rating for water resistance, while the Magic V2 misses out on such ratings.
When it comes to connectivity, the Magic V2 supports up to Wi-Fi 7 while the Z Fold5 supports only up to Wi-Fi 6e.
And lastly, the Galaxy Z Fold5 will last you longer in terms of software support with four OS updates five years of security patches. HONOR has not confirmed how many updates the Magic V2 will receive, but if its anything like the Magic Vs that offered only 3 OS upgrades, then you might be left short-handed.
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