Tech Blog #198 | Honor Magic V3 : Slim, Sleek, But Far from Perfect..

One of the biggest issues in foldable smartphones is the thickness. A smartphone should be thick enough to house a substantially bigger battery and a camera module. It requires space and thickness. Seems like Honor was able to tackle that issue from the beginning and now it is time for their new foldable smartphone.

The Honor Magic V3 makes an immediate impression with its compact, foldable design. At just 4.4mm thick in tablet mode and 9.2mm when folded, this device is incredibly slim, even lighter than its predecessor at 226g. The body feels premium with the Special Fiber back panel, said to be highly impact-resistant. However, the side-mounted fingerprint sensor feels outdated, especially when competitors are offering under-display solutions. The device's overall aesthetic is elegant, but it lacks the design flair to truly stand out in a sea of high-end foldables.

The 7.92" foldable LTPO AMOLED main display is impressive, offering 120Hz refresh rate, 1800 nits peak brightness, and Dolby Vision support, perfect for immersive viewing. However, while Honor boasts about brightness levels, we found the actual performance slightly underwhelming, with peak brightness falling short in real-world testing. The cover display, though bright at 5000 nits, feels somewhat redundant in terms of its size and resolution. Both displays deliver solid HDR content, but nothing groundbreaking compared to other premium foldables.

Under the hood, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with options of up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, ensures snappy performance. Whether you're multitasking or gaming, this device handles it smoothly. That said, the storage options are competitive but don't surpass industry standards. With no microSD support, the lack of expandable storage could be a dealbreaker for power users who prefer more flexibility.

The cameras are a mixed bag. The 50MP main sensor produces crisp images in good lighting, but struggles in low-light conditions. The 50MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom offers decent zoom capabilities but lags behind the zoom prowess of some other flagships. The 40MP ultra-wide lens captures detailed, expansive shots, but distortion at the edges is noticeable. The 20MP front cameras, both cover and internal, are adequate for selfies but far from impressive in this price range.

Battery life is solid, with the 5150mAh unit providing a full day of moderate use. However, it doesn't last as long as some competitors in intensive tasks like gaming. The 66W wired and 50W wireless charging speeds are commendable, but again, not industry-leading. It reaches 100% in just under 50 minutes, which is good, but several flagships offer faster charging options.

Running Android 14 with Honor’s MagicOS 8.0.1, the software experience is fluid and easy to navigate. The device also brings some AI tricks, like the Defocus Eyecare mode, designed to reduce eye strain. However, there’s no standout software feature that justifies choosing this device over others. Updates could also be a concern, as Honor doesn’t have the strongest track record for timely software rollouts.

At its premium price point, the Honor Magic V3 offers a lot but fails to justify the cost fully. While it nails portability and has a decent spec sheet, the competition simply offers better value in terms of camera performance, software experience, and even durability. If you need a slim foldable, this is a good option, but it’s not without its compromises.