.jpg)
Honor Magic V2 has previously created a new phenomenon with the thickness of a foldable screen phone that is less than 10mm. But still have to compromise on some key features such as no waterproofing, no wireless charging and no telephoto lens. However, this shortcoming has been compensated through the new version of Honor Magic V3 for a better offer. Why do we say this? Continue reading the review article below.
Honor Magic V3
External Screen – 6.43″ OLED, 120Hz
Inside – 7.92″ 120Hz OLED
Support stylus
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor (4 nm)
1×3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 chip
3×3.2 GHz Cortex-A720
2×3.0 GHz Cortex-A720
2×2.3 GHz Cortex-A520
Adreno 750 Graphics Chip
RAM 12GB RAM
RAM Turbo (12GB RAM)
512GB Internal Storage
Main Camera 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (main)
40 MP, f/2.0 (Ultra Wide Angle)
50 MP, f/2.4, OIS (Periscope),
3.5X optical zoom
100X digital zoom
4K 60P
Front Camera 20 Megapixel f/2.45 (Front)
4K 60p
5100 mAh battery
Wired 66W
Wireless 55W
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM Nano /5G
NFC Yes
Infrared Yes
IPX8 Waterproof
Side built-in Fingerprint Scan System
Sale Price RM6999 (12/512GB)
Brief Specifications
Honor Magic V3 is a premium flagship phone equipped with 5G support. The experience of holding the Magic V3 is honestly satisfying due to the high-quality body structure. The first thing we thought when we first got our hands on it was how could Honor produce a phone like this? If the Honor Magic V2 is already a thin foldable screen phone either when folded or unfolded.
Well, this version can be said to be thinner with a thickness of only 4.35mm when unfolded and 9.2mm when folded. With a weight of 226 grams, it is also 5 grams lighter than the Magic V2 which weighed 231 grams before. The alumimium frame is used to feel strong in the hand then the hinge has also been redesigned using light steel Honor Super Hinge with a maximum durability of 500,000 folds.
The slim build even when folded also makes it easy to use with one hand. Putting Magic V3 in a pocket can also be said to feel almost nothing due to the light body structure.
But it has to be admitted that even though it looks quite comfortable, there are still a few shortcomings in terms of how to open the main screen of this phone. Its thin body often makes it difficult for us to present the main screen of the phone easily. Coupled with the curved side frame adds to the difficulty that there are times when this phone almost slips out of the hand. This situation is different from what is offered by Samsung's foldable screen phone where the body is boxy and facilitates finger placement to open the main screen more efficiently.
There is also an IPX8 waterproof standard which basically means the phone can survive for 30 minutes for immersion up to 1.5m. However, the Magic V3 does not have official dustproof capabilities, especially on the hinges, meaning that using it in dusty conditions is not recommended.
Not much has changed for the screen aspect of the device which is still quite good for a foldable screen phone. It uses a 7.92-inch main screen with a resolution of 2344 X 2156 pixels while the secondary screen is 6.43" with a resolution of 2376 X 1060 pixels. It is even better when the LTPO OLED screen used on both sides of the screen is able to offer bright, clear and lively color reproduction.
In addition, the included 120Hz refresh rate works well enough to offer smooth scrolling. But of course users have to compromise with battery life. Netflix content can also be viewed in full HD resolution as the screen passes Widevine L1 DRM certification. In addition, Honor also offers eye comfort mode and e-book mode through built-in software.
The power button which also doubles as a fingerprint scanner is placed on the right side of the device. This fingerprint scanner is able to work quickly and smoothly without frequent failures to unlock the phone. Then on the opposite side there is an audio adjustable button space followed by a SIM slot space without microSD card capability and a speaker at the bottom of the device. The speaker is a stereo type with another audio grille on top.
It also results in unachievable balanced stereo audio. Another thing that Honor still sacrifices on this version is the 3.5mm audio jack. This means that all audio accessory output will now have to go through the USB-C port on the bottom of the phone. A USB-C to audio jack adapter is not included. The easiest step you can take is the use of wireless audio accessories that have become a trend in the technology industry today.
Usage Experience
We continue to the more technical part which is the Magic V3 using a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip with a 4nm build. It can compete closely with Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra which are also powered by the same chip to be the brain of the device. Memory options are 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage in addition to supporting 12GB RAM virtual RAM through RAM Turbo function. This memory offering may be smaller than the 16GB of RAM that was offered on the Magic V2 but is still sufficient for most users today.
Through the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, this phone can carry out most of the daily activities smoothly. It doesn't matter if it's used to switch between apps, open web pages with many tabs or run heavy apps like modern browsers. Magic V3 is seen to be able to function smoothly without extreme lag issues. This situation is also helped by the combination of 12GB RAM memory and 512GB internal storage to ensure this phone remains responsive. Below is a summary of the device's scores in several key benchmark tests:
Antutu 3D
Honor Magic V3 – 1,439,936
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 – 1,610,669
Oppo Find N3 – 1,405,149
Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 2,000,434
Geekbench 6
Honor Magic V3 – 1168/3590
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 – 1902/6943
Oppo Find N3 – 1537/4561
Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 2221/6632
3D Mark Wildlife Extreme
Honor Magic V3 – 4023
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 – 4752
Oppo Find N3 – 3654
Xiaomi 14 Ultra – 4717
The latest MagicOS 8.0.1 software built on Android 14 also provides a responsive interface experience. Whether used to scroll through the main menu or open an application, this phone is capable of responding instantly. With a 120Hz screen that is activated all the time can also improve the smoothness. The most obvious similarity is in terms of the interface which is still conceptual like the EMUI software used on Huawei phones.
This year Honor is also seen following in the footsteps of Samsung and Google which include built-in AI models in smartphones. Among the features we use almost every day is the AI Magic Portal – Search To do More which makes searching for objects easier with the help of AI. Then it can also be shared directly to any supporting application for other uses. For example, such as the Notes application which can also produce transcription automatically if necessary.
AI Magic Portal – Search To Do More
AI Face to Face Translation
AI Magic Text
AI Magic Ring
AI Eraser
We also tried the AI Face to Face Translation feature which can translate two different languages in real time. It is very interesting when it supports Bahasa Melayu which is considered an advantage for users in this market. In addition, any foreign object that interferes with the image can be easily deleted using the AI Eraser feature. Other AI features on Magic V3 are AI Honor Notes that can automatically transcribe and Magic Ring for screen sharing purposes to other devices such as laptops or tablets for example.
The built-in AI model also plays an important role in optimizing system performance to ensure the phone remains responsive even after long usage. Magic V3 is not only good for daily performance but can also be used with pleasure during first play. The Snadragon 8 Gen 3 chip's ability to maintain gaming performance without lag is also commendable. For example the game Honor of Kings can be played well on high settings with a consistent frame rate in most of the gaming session.
The phone's screen also provides a high-quality graphic display through OLED panels used on both sides of the device's display. It's just that the phone is getting hotter especially in the camera bump for long gaming sessions. The presence of the built-in Game Mode software is also considered something interesting as it can filter out any unnecessary interruptions during the game session.
However, there is still a shortcoming that requires users to make a payment if they want to activate the Game Booster feature which should improve the playing experience to a more satisfying level. The listed payment amounts start at RM8.69 per month and can be paid online through Honor in-app Payment.
Camera Quality
The main camera uses a 50MP main lens configuration, 40MP ultra-wide/macro and 50MP periscope with OIS. Only the ultra-wide lens is not equipped with OIS. Meanwhile the periscope lens supports 3.5X optical zoom and 100X digital zoom. The main camera can also do 4K recording which supports 21:9 aspect ratio screen mode. Things got even more interesting when Honor also brought the Harcourt photo profile that was previously used on their new number series into the Magic V3.
In addition, there are also three color profiles such as Natural, Vibrant and Authentic included for the purpose of refining the color while producing a more attractive final image. Another advantage can also be found when recording images with a 16:9 ratio can also be done. Most of the modes such as Night, Aperature, Portrait, Photo, Video and Pro are easily accessible through the camera interface. On the front, a 20MP selfie camera is used with the ability to record 4K video.
The interface of the camera app is similar to existing Honor phones further making it easy to use. It is also no less interesting for the camera's capabilities. Whether used when switching between main functions, the autofocus system or pressing the shutter button, the phone's camera system is able to function well without any failure issues experienced throughout the review period.
The quality of the overall picture can be taken well when inside or outside the building. The colors in all the pictures are pleasing to the eye as they look vivid and bright. The built-in AI and HDR features also help to some extent in increasing the contrast in the picture and producing a more saturated color effect. This situation however still depends on the type of color profile selected.
Most of the images attached in this review article use the Authentic color profile with image results along with saturated color effects. Especially in some situations involving bright colors such as red, yellow or blue for example. By choosing to look positively it actually does not cause any problems.
In fact, it makes the process of sharing photos directly to social media easier without the need for additional editing just to look more attractive. Night Mode is still provided but the photos taken by default through the main camera look more satisfactory. The presence of noise is also almost invisible in most images except for ultra-wide results.
Harcout's profile pictures are also of high quality overall. The autofocus system is able to lock onto the subject quickly and then produce a satisfying portrait image. The camera is able to separate the subject and the background very well including for the details of a man's hair as in the attached picture.
It's just that I noticed the pictures taken will go through significant post-processing before the best image is produced. As a woman I admit to loving the built-in beauty feature on this phone's selfie camera. But unfortunately the results are seen to be less consistent with faded and less attractive pictures.
Battery Endurance
Honor uses a larger 5,150mAh battery compared to the 5,000mAh on the Magic V2. It's also a second-generation silicon carbon that should be able to offer much better performance in a variety of conditions. In addition to being integrated with the standalone chip Power Enhanced Chip Honor E1 for a positive effect on more stable use.
In terms of performance, this phone can actually promise all-day use. The processor chip's ability to intelligently manage power distribution is commendable in ensuring that battery drain is slow. This situation seems to be helped by offering some other additional features such as Power Saving Mode and Ultra Power Saving Mode that help the phone last longer.
But if you want to share in detail. The Magic V3 can last between 7 to 10 hours (by manual count) in heavy use. In most situations the battery will remain at 10% and recharging is seen to take less than an hour. We also did not test the wireless charging capabilities since there is no dedicated equipment for the purpose.
What's In The Box
1 X Honor Magic V3.
1 X Honor SuperCharge Charger.
1 X USB-C Cable.
1 X User manual.
1 X Warranty card.
1 X Protective frame.
Conclusion
Honor Magic V3 can be categorized as a good phone in various aspects including daily performance, camera system and battery life. It's not just a phone with a focus on efficient daily performance. It even works well when used for gaming sessions.
Actually there is an interesting thing that we missed to share which is that Magic V3 supports stylus on both sides of the screen. It's just a pity that there is no storage space for it and maybe Honor can include it in a future version. But if thought rationally it could be the main feature that Honor has to compromise in producing a thin and light foldable screen phone.
The selling price in Malaysia is RM6,999, which is actually the same as the Magic V2 but better for the internal hardware aspect. The pre-order session will open from 12 September 2024 with exciting free gifts in the form of Honor Magic Pen, Magic Watch 4, Magic Wireless Charging Stand 100W and a one-year screen protection guarantee.
Pro
120Hz OLED screen outside and inside.
Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.
Thinnest and lightest so far.
IPX8 waterproof
Stereo speakers.
Support stylus.
Cons
Virtual RAM cannot be changed.
No room for a stylus.
Fast charging is the same.