A few months ago, just a few days after IFA, HONOR sent over the HONOR Magic V3 for us to have an early look. Coming from my experience of its predecessor, this new iteration is slimmer, lighter, and more powerful, making it a strong contender in the foldable market.
While it may not be perfect, the Magic V3 offers a compelling package for those looking for a premium foldable experience. And yes – despite its imperfection, it may very well be the best foldable smartphone launched this year.
HONOR Magic V3 Review- Build and Design
Right out of the box, the HONOR Magic V3 impresses with its incredibly slim profile. When folded, it measures just 9.2mm thick, making it one of the thinnest foldables available. Unfolded, it’s only 4.35mm thick, which is remarkable considering the amount of technology packed inside. At 226g, it’s also lighter than many of its competitors, including Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6.
The design is sleek and modern with smooth edges and a premium finish. One of my favorite design elements is the octagonal camera ring, which not only looks great but also serves a functional purpose by preventing the phone from wobbling when placed flat on a table. HONOR has also included a case with a built-in kickstand that integrates seamlessly into the camera ring—a thoughtful touch that adds to the phone’s versatility.
Another significant improvement over its predecessor is the inclusion of an IPX8 water resistance rating. While this doesn’t make it dustproof, it does add an extra layer of security and confidence when using the phone in wet conditions—a welcome upgrade from the Magic V2.
HONOR Magic V3 Review – Display
The display on the Magic V3 is nothing short of spectacular. The cover screen measures 6.43 inches with a 20:9 aspect ratio, making it feel like a regular smartphone when folded. This wider aspect ratio is more practical than some other foldables on the market, allowing you to use it comfortably without needing to unfold it every time.
Unfolding the device reveals a stunning 7.92-inch OLED display with a nearly square 10:9 aspect ratio. Both displays support 120Hz refresh rates and HDR10+, ensuring smooth scrolling and vibrant colors whether you’re using apps or watching videos. The outer display can reach an impressive peak brightness of 5,000 nits, making it easy to use even in direct sunlight.
The crease on the inner display is barely noticeable—both visually and to the touch—which is a major plus for anyone concerned about durability or aesthetics in foldable devices. It is, by far, the foldable with the least visible crease we reviewed so far.
HONOR Magic V3 Review – Hardware
Powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, paired with either 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, the Magic V3 is no slouch when it comes to performance. However, I did notice that in normal battery mode, performance felt somewhat limited compared to other flagship devices. Switching to performance mode made a significant difference—it felt like an entirely different device—delivering snappier responses and smoother multitasking.
Compared to non-foldable flagships like HONOR’s own Magic6 Pro or even Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6, there are some slight compromises in raw performance due to thermal constraints inherent in foldable designs. However, for most users, these differences will be negligible in day-to-day use.
HONOR Magic V3 Review – Benchmark Performance
In terms of benchmarks, here’s how the Magic V3 performed:
- Antutu: 1,409,642 Normal | 1,635,133 Performance
- Geekbench 6 Single Core: 1,134 Normal | 1,864 Performance
- Geekbench 6 Multi Core: 4,097 Normal | 5,504 Performance
- 3D Mark Wild Life Extreme: 4,102 Normal | 3,535 Performance
- PC Mark: 15,760 Normal | 18,418 Performance
These numbers are impressive but not groundbreaking compared to non-foldable flagships. Still, for a foldable device this thin and light, these results are excellent.
HONOR Magic V3 Review – Benchmark Comparison
HONOR Magic V3 Review – Software and AI Features
The Magic V3 runs on HONOR’s Magic OS 8.0.1 based on Android 14. The software experience is smooth and intuitive with plenty of AI-powered features that enhance usability. One standout feature is AI Face-to-Face translation which allows for live translations during conversations—a handy tool for frequent travelers or business users.
Other useful AI features include an AI Erase tool for photos that lets you remove unwanted objects from images effortlessly and Studio Harcourt portrait mode that enhances portrait photography by automatically adjusting lighting and focus.
HONOR has also integrated its Magic Capsule feature which bubbles up notifications and activities like calls or music playback in an interactive manner that feels fresh and useful.
The inclusion of AI features is icing on the cake. It is impressive for HONOR and Google to have these features tucked in on the Magic V3. Good thing that this one has a compatible chipset.
HONOR Magic V3 Review – Camera
The camera system on the Magic V3 is top-notch for both photography and videography. It features a triple-lens setup:
- A 50MP main sensor
- A 40MP ultra-wide lens
- A 50MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom
Portraits are where this camera truly shines thanks to HONOR’s Studio Harcourt mode which adds professional-level lighting effects to your shots. The dynamic range is excellent across all shooting modes with rich colors and sharp details.
Video recording capabilities are equally impressive with support for up to 4K at 60fps along with LUT shooting modes that provide more creative control over your footage. However, I was slightly disappointed by the lack of Blackmagic Camera compatibility—something I hope HONOR and Blackmagic Design address in future updates.
HONOR Magic V3 Review – Audio
While most aspects of this phone are stellar, audio quality leaves something to be desired. Compared to other flagship foldables like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6 or even its predecessor—the Magic V2—the sound quality feels somewhat lacking in depth and clarity. It’s not terrible by any means but doesn’t quite match up to what you’d expect from a device at this price point.
HONOR Magic V3 Review – Battery and Charging
Despite its slim profile, HONOR managed to pack in a sizable 5,150mAh battery which supports both wired (66W) and wireless (50W) fast charging—a first for HONOR’s foldables. In my experience so far, battery life has been excellent with enough juice to easily last through a full day of moderate-to-heavy use.
Charging speeds are also impressive—HONOR claims you can get up to a 40% charge in just 15 minutes using their SuperCharge technology—and my testing confirms these numbers hold true under real-world conditions.
HONOR Magic V3 Review – Verdict
The HONOR Magic V3 is an impressive piece of technology that strikes a balance between form and function better than most other foldables on the market today. Its slim design makes it incredibly portable without sacrificing too much in terms of performance or features.
While there are minor drawbacks—such as slightly underwhelming audio quality and performance throttling in normal mode—the overall experience remains positive thanks largely to its stunning display quality, versatile camera system, and innovative AI features.
At PhP89,999, it may seem expensive but given what you’re getting—a cutting-edge foldable packed with flagship specs—it feels fairly priced within its category. The timing could have been better because we are already at the tailend of 2024, where Snapdragon 8 Elite smartphones are already being launch. Then again, the Magic V3’s brilliance excels in its function and features.
However, I still believe that it is fairly priced for a flagship foldable smartphone despite price higher than its predecessor. There are a few factors involved, and you may very well get a better deal when you buy through a telco deal, especially if you’re in the market for a new foldable smartphone.
If you’re looking for a premium foldable smartphone that excels in both function and design while offering plenty of power under the hood—the HONOR Magic V3 should be at the top of your list!
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
