Honor Magic V3 review

Major telephoto upgrade, a bit of a sidestep with the ultrawide

The Magic V3 isn't exactly coasting when it comes to camera hardware and brings a few obvious changes in its bits. The telephoto is the most significant upgrade, the ultrawide is... different, the 'selfie' cameras have gotten a small bump, and well, maybe the main camera is new, but we didn't exactly know all the specifics of the old one to be able to tell for sure.

Starting with the most important development, there's now a proper 50MP sensor in the telephoto camera, in place of the 20MP unit of the old model, so you'll be getting 12.5MP shots instead of the basic 5MP ones of the V2. Not only that, but the V3 gets a periscope lens with a 90mm equivalent focal length for 3.5x zoom - the previous foldable Magic only went to 2.5x. It's also gotten a reasonably good close-focusing capability, with a minimum subject distance at around 27cm.

For the ultrawide camera, the Magic V3 switches to a 40MP sensor - the V2 had a 50MP one. The lens here isn't as wide as on the old model and the aperture isn't as large - the EXIF reads 16mm and f/2.2, vs. the V2's 13mm f/2.0 optics. It still features AF, no change there.

The main camera is now specced to be based on the Sony IMX 906, which is a 1/1.56" sensor - a fairly reasonable size for the space-constrained environment that is the industry's thinnest large-size foldable. This camera uses an SMA (Shape Memory Actuator) to both adjust focus and compensate for shake (that is to say, it also has OIS). The lens is now brighter at f/1.6 compared to the V2's f/1.9 aperture.

The punch hole cameras in each display have been upgraded from the 16MP sensors of the old model to new 20MP imagers, but we wouldn't expect ground-breaking quality advancements, plus it's a foldable, so selfies should best be taken with the rear cameras.

The phone does provide the ability to bring out the camera interface on the cover screen for selfie-shooting purposes or just show a live feed from the sensor for your subjects while leaving the controls on the large display for you. Also available is a split screen view with a filmstrip on the side, which can help in overhead or waist-level shooting scenarios.

The company's collaboration with the Harcourt Paris photo studio that we saw introduced with the Honor 200 Pro continues here. Technically all of the photos taken in Portrait mode are Harcourt-enhanced, but you don't have to use the studio's signature monochrome profile (Harcourt Classic), or the moody Harcourt Colour option - there's a more generic Harcourt Vibrant profile that's set by default.

• Wide (main): 50MP Sony IMX 906 (1/1.56", 1.0µm-2.0µm), f/1.6, 23mm, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS; 4K@60fps
• Ultrawide: 40MP, f/2.2, 16mm, PDAF, OIS; 4K@60fps
• Telephoto 3.5x: 50MP (1/2.51", 0.7µm-1.4µm), f/3.0, 90mm, PDAF, OIS; 4K@60fps
• Cover/Internal camera: 20MP (0.61µm-1.22µm), f/2.2, 21mm, fixed focus; 4K@30fps

Daylight photo quality

Main camera

We got some great photos out of the Magic V3's main camera. Detail is rendered nicely and textures are well defined without falling victim to excessive sharpening. There might be light hints of jaggies along slanted lines, but the Magic does one of the better renditions of the balcony blinds in terms of handling moire. We're not seeing any noise either.

Global properties are easy on the eyes as well. White balance is generally dependable and colors have a likable level of pop to them. Dynamic range is excellent as well.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x)

The two additional shooting profiles alter some image parameters to varying levels. The differences when shooting in 'Natural' mode vs. the default 'Vibrant' above aren't too noticeable, but there's probably just a bit less saturation. 'Authentic', on the other hand, jacks up the contrast and saturation - it does make for a more expressive look so it's good to have an easy option for that if it's your thing.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), Natural

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), Authentic

The full-res mode doesn't bring meaningful benefits, but it's there if you want it for some reason.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), 50MP

People shots are good on the V3's main camera too, though it doesn't necessarily render facial detail with all the definition we'd like. Perhaps it's a deliberate decision on Honor's part to mask some skin imperfections by default, even when we did turn off all the enhancements.

It wasn't too great at reliably dialing in exposures for the subject in difficult backlit scenes and tapping on the face didn't help either. And when we did get it to expose for the face, it didn't have all the HDR prowess to not blow out the bright parts of the frame. That peculiarity was prevalent across all zoom levels, too, and in Portrait mode as well.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), Photo mode

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), Portrait mode

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), Portrait mode, different exposures

The 2x zoom level is good if you want to get that 50-ish mm focal length framing straight out of the phone, and things look good globally. Pixel-level detail isn't great, but it's acceptable for casual use.

Daylight samples, main camera (2x)

We had an even shakier experience at 2x in Photo and Portrait mode in tough light and we'd probably avoid that zoom level for backlit scenes. In better light, the results are alright.

Daylight samples, main camera (2x), Photo mode

Daylight samples, main camera (2x), Portrait mode

Telephoto camera (3.5x)

The zoom camera is a significant step up in resolution compared to the previous model and the Magic V3 does indeed deliver vastly superior images. For the most part, we got relatively sharp results with well rendered detail and minimal (and very fine) grain. There was the occasional lapse in sharpness, like the pretend-castle scene and a couple more shots - not enough to raise an alarm, but also more than once, so worth mentioning.

We have our speculations revolving around OIS action imperfections and relatively slow sensor readout, though some processing bottlenecks aren't out of the question either because the full-res 50MP shots in these same scenes did turn out sharp.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3.5x)

The 50MP shots do appear to offer a bit of extra detail, and we didn't observe any sharpness missteps there. If you take a regular shot and find it lacking, repeat in full-res mode. Or wait for Honor to iron out the processing in the default resolution.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3.5x), 50MP

For people shots, you'll be best off framing your subjects with plenty of light on them and avoiding backlighting.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3.5x), Photo mode

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3.5x), Portrait mode

Ultrawide camera (0.6x)

The ultrawide may be a nominal downgrade from the previous generation, but it still puts out good shots - even if 10MP is less than 12.5MP (well, yes, in a way it's 40MP vs 50MP). The thing is, this new camera has a narrower field of view, so things even out and in effect you get more or less the same pixel-level detail as before. Dynamic range and colors leave no grounds for concern either.

Daylight samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x)

The full-res 40MP shots can have a bit of a washed out quality to them thanks to the lower contrast. We're not necessarily seeing an increase in resolved detail either.

Daylight samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x), 40MP

Close-ups

The Magic V3 also uses its ultrawide camera for close-up shooting, whether it's the auto switching macro mode that goes from the main camera to the ultrawide, or when you go into Super Macro that's a separate mode in the More pane.

The Super Macro mode itself has three zoom levels, all captured on the ultrawide. The auto macro at 1x produces the same results as Super Macro at 1x, and the 0.6x Super Macro photos are just in the regular native field of view of the ultrawide camera, so same as the Photo mode's 0.6x. Then there's the 2x Super Macro, which is a bit much.

Close-up samples, Super Macro (0.6x)

Close-up samples, Super Macro (1x)

Close-up samples, Super Macro (2x)

Selfies

Since the Magic V3 is so much like a conventional phone when folded, you may not think twice before snapping a selfie, and do it on the cover camera. The results aren't bad; it's just that things are a little soft overall, and you don't get 20MP worth of detail, which is normal considering that it's likely a Quad Bayer sensor doing the capturing. Skin tones are nice, but saturation can use a boost overall. Dynamic range is good.

Selfie samples, cover camera

But when you remember you actually have a foldable, you'll be enjoying rear camera selfies with the cover screen for a live viewfinder, even if getting there requires a few extra steps. You'll get superior detail, livelier colors and some natural background separation, plus autofocus for some close-up shots, because why not. Backlit scenes still trouble the Magic though.

Selfie samples, main camera (1x)

You can also go for the ultrawide, whether for the extra coverage, or for the weirder angles. Image quality is somehow not as good in selfies as we saw it in general photography - higher contrast, narrower dynamic range, and different detail rendition.

Selfie samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x)

You can also take selfies at 3.5x, though we imagine the use case for this is less for handheld shots and more for distant shooting from a window sill on a street corner - with the hinge at just the correct angle, pre-framed, for reels and whatnot.

Selfie samples, telephoto camera (3.5x)

Low-light photo quality

Main camera

The Magic V3's main camera delivers a respectable performance in the dark, if not quite up to true industry-leading flagship standards. What's less than ideal, but by no means bad or problematic, is the way it renders detail - there's a bit too much sharpening and watercolor-like effect in darker scenes or in the shadows of better lit scenes.

The rest is hard to fault. Exposures are well balanced, with very good highlight preservation and shadow development. Colors maintain a likable level of saturation and the auto white balance handled mixed outdoor lighting without blunders. Mind you, these are the results from the full-auto Photo mode - Night mode made no difference in our experience.

Low-light samples, main camera (1x)

At 2x zoom, the photos don't hold up too well to pixel-level inspection, but they're looking good enough at fit-to-screen magnification, for what it's worth.

Low-light samples, main camera (2x)

Telephoto camera (3.5x)

The telephoto doesn't disappoint either. It too exposes well, with a slight preference for highlight retention over boosting shadows. Colors remain accurate and maintain a nice level of pop. Detail is good to very good in all but the darkest areas where things do go a little soft.

Low-light samples, telephoto camera (3.5x)

Ultrawide camera

The ultrawide is a bit shakier in its low-light performance with less reliable color rendition, both in terms of white balance and saturation. Dynamic range is quite great, with a healthy shadow boost that may reveal softness in the dark areas, but also makes for a much more likable overall result than what you'd get with gloomy shadows. Now, bright 'neon' signs in relatively dark surroundings aren't its forte, but it's doing reasonably well in its context.

Low-light samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x)

Video recording

The Magic V3 records video up to 4K60 on all three of its rear cameras, while the in-display 'selfie' units max out at 4K30 (or 1080p60, depending on how you look at it).

The default codec is h.264, but you can opt for h.265 by flipping a toggle in settings - it promises 35% of file size savings. Stabilization is available in all modes and is always on. HDR10+ recording is also on the menu.

Video sample playlist

You can check out the playlist below, which includes multiple video samples.

The Magic V3's main camera captures very good 4K30 videos. It exposes well and delivers great contrast and wide dynamic range. White balance is accurate and colors are vivid without pushing it over the limit. Detail is very good too, and the footage has a reasonably organic rendition of random textures. The 60fps mode does make things softer though, even if global properties remain unchanged.

The telephoto and the ultrawide do less of a great job, with the ultrawide delivering the least likable clips. Contrast is higher than ideal on both, particularly so on the ultrawide. Detail is actually alright on the telephoto in 4K30 (less so in 4K60), while the ultrawide is already pretty sketchy in 4K30 and gets even worse in the 60fps mode.

Stabilization is excellent on the main camera and the ultrawide - walking shake is ironed out nicely; they both pan smoothly and stay planted when you're just pointing the phone at a subject. The telephoto is more in the 'good' category - there's still some waviness and tremors left in its footage, but it's stable nonetheless.

In the dark, the main camera's results are alright, with good dynamic range and color rendition, and okay detail. The telephoto is decent too, while the ultrawide is suffering in many ways (dynamic range, softness). That said, it's not like the competition is dramatically better in the dark - on the contrary, the Magic might have a minor edge.