Honor Magic V2 and V2 RSR Porsche Design review

Introduction

It's been a while now since we originally saw the Honor Magic V2 and got our initial hands-on experience at the Chinese announcement event. Since then, the phone finally had its global launch alongside an RSR Porsche Design edition. It's almost May now, and we finally we finally get an opportunity to review both devices. We are only pointing out the timeframe of things since, in today's dynamic market, all that time is more than enough to make a phone not necessarily irrelevant but definitely less exciting.

But not the Honor Magic V2, though. It remains special, like really special, for both foldable fans and the smartphone realm in general. Sure, it might be running a generation-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset at this point, but that's about the only non-current and non-revolutionary thing about the Magic V2.

Let's start with what is probably the most impressive aspect of the Magic V2 - its size and weight. Of course, in absolute terms, it is far from compact, measuring 156.7x74.1x9.9mm folded and tipping the scale at 231g (with a few asterisks). It may not sound that impressive until you realize that Honor has made the first foldable in this form factor with a less than 10mm thickness.

And if that's not impressive enough, consider that the non-folding Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra measures 162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm and weighs in at 232 grams. With the V2, you can now get a whole extra display (and a large 7.92-inch one at that) and no other major compromises, including a hefty 5,000 mAh battery a potent triple camera setup and even an extra selfie camera all in roughly the same form factor as Samsung's or Apple's current flagship models. Foldables really have come a long way, and despite its relative age, the Honor Magic V2 represents the current pinnacle of this form factor.

It almost feels like Honor broke some laws of physics with the Magic V2. A lot of the space and weight savings come from the new silicon-carbon battery used in the Magic V2. It boasts impressive energy density, making it super thin, which explains how you can get that capacity inside a svelte body like the Magic V2's.

There are many more refinements and upgrades in the Magic V2, which is technically the third major iteration in Honor's foldable line. We'll definitely go over everything in detail, but some highlights include the 120Hz refresh rate on the foldable display and LTPO tech on both panels plus a brand new camera setup with OIS and 8x8 dToF Laser AF on the main cam.

Honor Magic V2 specs at a glance:

• Body: 156.7x145.4x4.7mm, 231g; Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, magnesium alloy frame, titanium alloy folding mechanism.
• Display: 7.92" Foldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, IMAX Enhanced, 1600 nits (peak), 2156x2344px resolution, 9.8:9 aspect ratio, 402ppi; Cover display:, LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2500 nits, 6.43 inches, 1060 x 2376 pixels, 402 ppi, nanocrystal glass 2.0.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm): Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 740.
• Memory: 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM.
• OS/Software: Android 13, MagicOS 7.2.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.9, PDAF, 8x8 dToF Laser AF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, AF; Telephoto: 20 MP, f/2.4, 62mm, PDAF, 2.5x optical zoom, OIS.
• Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide).
• Cover camera: 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide).
• Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30/60fps (10-bit), 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+, OIS; Front/cover camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS.
• Battery: 5000mAh; 66W wired, 5W reverse wired.
• Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 7; BT 5.3, aptX HD; NFC; Infrared port.
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); stereo speakers; stylus support.

We'll also mention that while we were trying to fit the V2 in the hectic review schedule, a package arrived at our doorstep with another V2, a v2 of the V2, so to speak. The Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR is a much more exclusive repackaging of otherwise the same hardware, and we'll say a few words on that one as well.

Honor Magic V2 unboxing

Unlike most mainstream flagships, foldables still tend to present themselves as more premium products. Hence, you can usually expect more attention to the retail bundle like back in the day. This is definitely true for the Magic V2. It comes in a large and very posh-feeling box that provides plenty of protection during shipping.

The accessory package is quite lavish, especially in modern terms. You get one of Honor's 66W SuperCharge adapters in the box which pairs perfectly with the charging capabilities of the phone. Interestingly enough, the charger still uses a Type-A connection, which is why you get a Type-A to Type-C USB cable in the box. Also included is a snap-on case with a carbon fiber pattern as well as a kickstand.

Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR unboxing

And if you thought that was premium, wait till you see the Porsche Design version. An even nicer box is just the start, but the contents do go the extra mile.

For one, you get not one, but two chargers, one with a UK style plug (Type G) and another with a Euro plug (Type F) - because if you can afford the RSR version, you clearly are a globetrotter that can't be bothered with socket adapters. You also get two USB cables, because at this point, why not?

The bundle includes an even nicer back cover that's clad in what is either real leather or looks and feels very close to it, plus it has real thread stitching.

Both Magic V2s can be operated with a stylus, but only the Porsche Design version comes with one in the box. And it's a pretty fancy-looking one too, as befitting the brand, plus it comes with a carrying case of its own. Life of the rich and the famous, indeed.

Two chargers • Back cover • Stylus