A few months ago, Honor revealed the slim and lightweight Magic V2 foldable, impressing with its 9.9mm thickness and 231g weight. This unveiling came after Google introduced the Pixel Fold and just before Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 launch event. The Magic V2 matches the thickness of the iPhone 14 Pro and its successor, the iPhone 15 Pro.
Fast forward to mid-October, Honor introduced the Magic Vs2, a remarkably thin and lightweight foldable, priced at around $1,000, making it more affordable than the Pixel Fold and Fold 5, and even undercuts the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
However, notable concerns emerge. Given its slim design and reduced weight, its durability is a question. Additionally, it’s currently available only in China, limiting its accessibility elsewhere. Moreover, the lower price hints at a compromise: It features an older processor compared to current flagship models.
Despite these considerations, it appears that Honor is pushing the foldable market more vigorously than Samsung and Google. This could potentially compel other manufacturers to develop similar foldable smartphones.
The reason behind Honor’s decision to launch the Magic Vs2 at this time of year remains uncertain. According to the company’s announcement, the Magic V2 was the best-selling Fold-type foldable phone in China in the September quarter, as per Counterpoint Research data. Perhaps Honor aims to capture more sales by introducing a more affordable version of that model.
It’s evident from the outset that the Magic Vs2 is not an upgrade of the Magic V2. For more details on the latter model, you can refer to our Magic V2 review.
Nevertheless, the phone still achieves a new weight milestone, coming in at 229g, which is 2g lighter than the standard Magic V version. In terms of thickness, the handset measures 10.7mm when folded and 5.1mm when unfolded.
Honor claims that the Magic Vs2 is constructed using aerospace-grade rare earth magnesium alloy, a less dense material that covers 72% of the surface area beneath the foldable panel. Additionally, the Super-light Titanium Hinge is manufactured using cutting-edge 3D printing technology.
On the camera front, the Magic Vs2 features a rear triple-lens module: a 50-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 20-megapixel telephoto camera.
Additionally, the Vs2 foldable boasts a 5,000 mAh battery with 66W Honor SuperCharge fast charging technology.
In China, the handset is priced at 6,999 yuan ($958) for the 12GB/256GB variant and 7,699 yuan ($1,054) for the 16GB/512GB model. These features make the Magic Vs2 an enticing device, exerting significant pressure on Samsung and Google. Regrettably, there are no current plans for an international release of the Magic Vs2. The older Magic V2 will eventually reach international markets, although the exact launch date remains uncertain.
In light of this, it will be intriguing to observe Samsung and Google’s future developments in the foldable market, along with other Chinese manufacturers expanding their international foldable offerings. On a related note, the OnePlus Open is the next foldable to watch, as it should become available in stores soon.
