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  • PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR Review

    PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR Review

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    We reviewed the HONOR Magic V2 last month, and we were thrilled to play with its luxury sibling, the HONOR Magic V2 RSR PORSCHE Edition. Both devices are large foldable phones comparable to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the OnePlus Open in size and performance. However, they offer a significantly thinner chassis than their competitors.

    Designed in collaboration with PORSCHE, the HONOR Magic V2 RSR features a fiberglass body with an anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield and a titanium hinge. Announced on January 11 in China, it comes with a premium PORSCHE DESIGN case and includes the HONOR Magic Pen.

    Besides the NanoCrystal Shield on the external screen and the unique sports car design, the other differences with the Magic V2 are the 1 TB of storage, the stylus, and the two chargers included in the box.

    Competition, Price & Availability

    From a display quality and computing power point of view, the PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR is on par with the Galaxy Z Fold 5, except for its lack of a waterproofing IP rating (the Fold 5 is IP X8), its thinner chassis, and its significantly faster charging speed.

    The Magic V2 RSR ’s display and SoC (processor) are also similar to the thicker Oneplus Open, except for the camera performance.

    Being a luxury device, the PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR is the most expensive foldable to date. Launched at 15,999 yuan for the Chinese market (~$2,200), we are still waiting for the international market price. By comparison, the Magic V2 costs £1,699.99 in the UK, €1,999 in select E.U. countries (approximately $2,150).

    Design

    The PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR stands out as one of the thinnest foldable phones available today, measuring just 4.7 mm thick when unfolded and weighing a mere 234g, lighter than the Galaxy S24 Ultra by 5 grams. It features an inward-folding design, making it the thinnest inward-foldable smartphone on the market. Available in Agate Grey, a color paying homage to Porsche luxury cars, its flyline design on the back draws inspiration from the sleek lines of a Porsche 911’s hood.

    Enhanced with anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield, it offers exceptional durability, boasting ten times (10X) the protection against falls and scratches compared to regular glass, according to HONOR. The super-light Titanium Hinge ensures both lightness and durability.

    Its Flyline Camera Module, inspired by Porsche cars, integrates a 3-lens camera framed by lightweight yet robust titanium, a material featured in many motorsport vehicles.

    The package includes a beautiful case, the Magic Pen stylus with its magnetic case, and two 66W fast chargers. Both the internal and external displays of the device fully support stylus input.

    Displays

    Like the Magic V2, the Magic V2 RSR features an external 6.43-inch OLED display with 1060 x 2376 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 2,500 nits. Internally, it boasts a nearly square 7.92-inch display with 2156 x 2344 resolution, also with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a theoretical peak brightness of 1,600 nits. Both screens feature stylus support, so users can take notes or draw using the Magic Pen provided in the box.

    HONOR emphasizes its 3840Hz PWM dimming tech, alleviating eye strain during prolonged phone use. In contrast to the Magic V2, the PORSCHE Edition features an anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield display, tested by the HONOR lab to be ten times more scratch-resistant than regular glass.

    For the Magic V2 RSR, HONOR partnered with Gameloft to introduce a modified version of the popular game “Asphalt 9: Legends”, specifically tailored for large foldable screens. The collaboration brings 120 FPS gameplay at a higher resolution for the foldable form factor, promising a top-notch gaming experience.

    Camera

    The PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR offers the same typical triple rear camera as the Magic V2. The camera system a 50-megapixel main, a20-megapixel telephoto with a 2.5x optical zoom, and a50-megapixel ultrawide.There is a 16 MP punch-hole selfie camera on each screen, capable of shooting 4K video at 30 fps.The rear camera can shoot 4K video at 60 fps.

    Watermark function

    The PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR offers a Watermark function with two customizable options for users to show that their images originate from a limited-edition smartphone camera. Accessible in the settings, users can choose between two watermark styles. The default option displays “PORSCHE DESIGN I HONOR Magic V2 RSR” in the lower-left corner of the photos. The HONOR frame option adds additional data to the lower right corner, including focal length, aperture, shutter speed, ISO level, and date and time.

    Motion Sensing Capture Technology

    The Motion Sensing Capture Technology leverages AI trained on a dataset of over 270,000 images. It accurately identifies scenarios and key moments, aiding automatic shot capture. Ideal for live events, the feature detects facial expressions such as smiles and body postures such as jumping, improving startup, focus, shutter, and imaging speed for swift scene capture within milliseconds.

    Hover Photography

    Using the self-timer found in the camera settings, users can exploit the folding capabilities to capture photos akin to using a tripod. Simply fold the phone at a 90-degree angle and position it on a table or any suitable surface for stable shooting.

    Camera Performance

    Ultrawide camera

    The Honor Magic V2 and Magic V2 RSR PORSCHE Edition have an identical camera setup, and it shows. The PORSCHE Edition performs similarly to its twin, as highlighted in our Magic V2 Review. It is generally a good camera, but its performance is exceptional in relation to how thin the chassis is.

    The thinner the chassis is, the harder it is to fit quality electro-optics components. That’s why the hardware quality of the Honor Magic V2 family is so impressive from a technology standpoint. The ultra-thin chassis is a huge design and overall usability advantage, but it’s also an obstacle to having powerful lenses.

    Wide camera

    This choice is more a matter of taste rather than quality, and most people have strong opinions one way or the other, so you’ll have to choose which you like better. That aside, the Magic V2 series photos are agreeable to share.

    The 2.5X Zoom is appropriate for portrait photography, but not optimized for very long zoom “sniper” shots similar to what 10X optical zoom cameras can capture. And that makes sense since it is extremely difficult to include a periscope lens in this edgy design.

    Telephoto camera with 2.5X optical zoom
    Telephoto camera with ~10X digital zoom

    At night, the rear camera does a good job of preserving the general mood of the scene, but other cameras can capture more details, such as material Textures (bricks, wood, asphalt, etc..).

    Still, the Honor Magic V2 series (including this Porsche Edition) performs closest to the Google Pixel Fold. In most situations, the biggest difference people will see when compared to other high-end foldables is the photo aesthetic of the Honor camera, which is very bright (some would say over-exposed) and more saturated than what your eyes see.

    Performance

    The PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR houses last year’s Qualcomm flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage. In daily usage, including 3D gaming, performance remains fluid.

    Measured performance

    Since the hardware is the same, the Magic V2 RSR PORSCHE Edition delivers the same performance as the Magic V2.

    As you can see from the charts, despite its remarkable thinness, the PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR demonstrates excellent performance within the realm of foldable phones. This achievement is attributed mainly to HONOR’’s implementation of an advanced cooling system known as the Ultra-thin Bionic Cooling System. According to the company, this new cooling technology integrates an ultra-thin vapor chamber, ultra-high thermal conductivity graphite, thermal conductivity gel, and copper foil.

    The device ranks among the top performers in terms of CPU performance, enabling swift app loading and faster completion of tasks. Additionally, its graphics performance scores notably high, rendering it proficient not only in general graphics processing (GPU performance) but also in gaming.

    However, it’s important to note that extended gaming sessions may lead to heat accumulation. Consequently, dedicated gaming systems typically feature thicker designs with enhanced cooling mechanisms.

    Battery

    Despite its ultrathin chassis measuring 4.7 mm, the Magic V2 RSR impressively integrates a 5000 mAh dual Silicon carbon battery (the highest capacity for a foldable).

    The battery lasted for three days during my review conducted solely on Wi-Fi, excluding 5G usage and involving intermittent activity. However, it’s important to note that battery performance can significantly fluctuate based on usage patterns. Under typical usage scenarios, utilizing both 5G and Wi-Fi connections, the Magic V2 RSR should last a full day or a little more on a single charge.

    Tasks like browsing and email typically impose minimal strain compared to more demanding activities such as intense photo shooting, video streaming, or 3D gaming. As always, the battery capacity, measured in mAh (milliampere-hours), serves as the most reliable indicator of potential battery longevity.

    Charging speed

    The Magic V2 RSR PORSCHE Edition charges 75% of its 5000 mAh battery in 30 minutes with the provided 66W charger. This is similar to the OnePlus Open charging time of 79% in 30 minutes for its 4805 mAh battery (with the included OnePlus 67W fast-charger). By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 charges 49% in 30 minutes with its optional 50W Samsung charger.

    Conclusion

    Besides its unique luxurious design, the PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR offers impressive build and display quality and is the thinnest and lightest large foldable phone on the market.

    This important trait should convince people who are reluctant to carry thicker and heavier smartphones for their daily usage. It feels like a normal phone when folded.

    Built on the same hardware as the Magic V2, the PORSCHE Edition boasts a refined design reminiscent of the sleek lines found in the PORSCHE 911, a unique touch that HONOR and PORSCHE fans might not be able to resist.

    People who want to travel in style should consider switching to the Magic V2 RSR PORSCHE Edition, as it can also be used as a tablet for productivity and entertainment during flights. In my opinion, foldables are awesome for frequent travelers.

    Although the camera performance is slightly below those in competitive devices, it is excellent for such a thin chassis.

    Highs

    • Super thin and light for a foldable phone
    • Luxurious and unique Porsche-inspired design
    • Large and bright displays for the lightweight
    • Stylus in the box
    • Good camera system
    • Two 66W fast chargers included (75% in 30 min)
    • 5000 mAh is the highest battery capacity for a large foldable phone

    Lows

    • No waterproof IP rating
    • No wireless charging
    • Last year Android 13
    • Not available in the U.S.

    Rating + Price

    • Rating: 9.6/10
    • Price: ~ $2200

    Filed in . Read more about Android, Editor’s Choice, Editorpick, Foldable Smartphones, Honor, Mobile Camera Reviews, Smartphone Reviews and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

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    Eliane Fiolet

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  • HONOR Magic V2  Review: An Impressively Thin And Light Foldable Phone

    HONOR Magic V2 Review: An Impressively Thin And Light Foldable Phone

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    At IFA last September, I encountered the Honor Magic V2 for the first time, which debuted in China in July 2023. The recipient of one of our Best of IFA 2023 Awards, the Magic V2 went global on Jan 26, 2024. Comparable to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open in size and performance, this foldable phone features a thinner and lighter chassis. Honor also unveiled the Porsche Design version at the Leipzig, Germany, launch event, and we will publish the review soon.

    Some people expressed reservations about last year’s Qualcomm flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. However, the Magic V2 remains potent, with 16GB RAM and 256/512GB storage options. Its standout feature is being the thinnest and lightest large foldable on the market, coupled with good camera performance for such a slim body.

    Competition, Price, and Availability

    From a display quality and computing power point of view, the Honor Magic V2 is on par with the Galaxy Z Fold 5, except for its lack of a waterproofing IP rating (the Fold 5 is IP X8), its thinner chassis, and its significantly faster charging speed.

    The Magic V2’s display and SoC are also similar to the thicker Oneplus Open, except for the camera performance.

    Thinner and lighter than all its foldable counterparts, the Magic V2 looks like a standard 8-inch high-end smartphone, making it an appealing option for travel, doubling as a tablet for content consumption or work. At Ubergizmo, we are seriously considering ditching our phone and tablet combo for the Magic V2, due to our intense traveling schedule.

    However, its multitasking feature lags behind the heavier Z Fold 5, which also offers additional functionalities with the optional new Z Fold 5 S Pen and the S Pen Pro (including air actions and remote control only for the latter).

    Launching without Android 14, its update program remains similar to the competition. The HONOR Magic V2 is priced at £1,699.99 in the UK, and €1,999 in select E.U. countries (approximately $2,150). We recommend buying the Honor 66W fast charger with your order,in some countries like the UK, it is offered as a bundled gift (as of today).It costs only €1 in Germany (as of today), instead of the €29.90 price offered on the Honor France website (instead of the regular €49.90 price, as of today).

    Design

    The Honor Magic V2 stands out for its key design elements, notably its thin chassis at 10.1 mm / 237 g (or 9.9 mm / 231g for the vegan leather version), surpassing the Galaxy Z Fold 5 (13.4mm, 253g), the Pixel Fold (12.1mm, 283g), and the OnePlus Open (11.7-11.9mm, 239-245g).

    Unfolded, it measures only 4.7 mm or 4.8 mm (glass-finish version), which is only 1 mm thicker than regular smartphones such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is 8.25mm and 221 grams.

    The build quality is excellent, and we consider the Honor Magic V2 one of the best-designed foldable phones, featuring an elegant purple shade for the glass finish version (our review unit).

    “THE BUILD QUALITY IS EXCELLENT, AND WE CONSIDER THE HONOR MAGIC V2 ONE OF THE BEST-DESIGNED FOLDABLE PHONES”

    The folding experience is smoother than the Z Fold 5. However, unlike the Samsung’s large foldable, it lacks a 45-degree folding position, which is a minimal trade-off. The redesigned hinge eliminates gaps, making the phone ultra-thin while reducing crease depth.

    The package includes a case with a built-in kickstand, usable in various orientations, maintaining the Magic V2’s thinner profile compared to the Z Fold 5, even with the case attached.

    Displays

    The Honor Magic V2 features a 6.43-inch OLED display on the front with a resolution of 1060 x 2376,a 120Hz refresh rate, and a theoretical peak brightness of 2,500 nits.

    Internally, it houses a nearly square gorgeous 7.92-inch display with a resolution of 2156 x 2344, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a claimed peak brightness of 1,600 nits. HONOR highlights its 3840Hz PWM dimming tech, potentially aiding users prone to eye strain during prolonged phone use.

    The external screen mirrors the size of a regular smartphone with a curved right edge, while the internal crease is barely noticeable during media consumption or gaming. Tested for 400,000 folding cycles, equivalent to 10 years of folding 100 times daily.

    Camera

    The Magic V2 has a typical triple rear camera, including a 50-megapixel main, a 20-megapixel telephoto with a 2.5x optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide. There is a 16 MP punch-hole selfie camera on each screen, capable of shooting 4K video at 30 fps. The rear camera can shoot 4K video at 60 fps.

    Primary camera night:

    Primary (wide) camera – 25 mm equivalent – night shot

    The Magic V2 has a slightly less performing primary camera at night compared to the other large foldable phones. However, it does a good job overall, and the results are satisfactory for such a thin chassis.

    The Magic V2 night picture quality is closest to the Pixel Fold, but the details are slightly more blurry, partially because of the strong filtering and sharpening algorithms, especially if you zoom in close or crop the photos. Besides that, the camera does a great job of capturing natural colors and preserving the mood of the night scene as you see it. The lighting remains natural and on-point and captures in a predictable way.

    Overall, the camera has good performance both in low light and in bright daylight. We could not calculate Ubergizmo’s HW camera score due to a lack of specific metadata in the photos we shot, so we cannot compare the hardware camera system against the other foldable phones we tested. We will try to get the info and update the review accordingly.

    Primary (wide) camera – 25 mm equivalent

    Ultrawide camera:

    Day: The sunset shot is really interesting because it challenges the camera to simultaneously capture details and high-dynamic range. The Magic V2 did well with the HDR and details capture (including texture) in our tests. However, it has a tendency to overshoot the exposure settings and other filters, making the final photo look a little unnatural (too bright/vivid) compared to what your eyes see.

    Night: At night, the Magic V2 Ultrawide camera does a good job of preserving the lighting, color, and mood of the scene. However, the ultrawide camera module is not as powerful as the primary (wide) camera, and the texture of certain materials can be difficult to preserve. In this scene, the Ultrawide shot is comparable to what we obtained with the OnePlus Open.

    Zoom camera:

    The 2.5X zoom of the Magic V2 is more suited to capture portrait photos than competing with telephoto cameras that feature 6X or 10X optical zooms. At long-range (10X), the camera will rely on digital zooming, making small details relatively blurry compared to the extreme zoom cameras. That aside, the general 2.5X zoom image quality is quite good, but like it is generally the case with this camera, the photos can sometimes look less natural due to how the exposure is set and how filters are being applied.

    Telephoto camera 2.5X optical zoom shot at sunset

    Camera conclusion:

    The Magic V2 rear camera system’s photo quality is impressive if you consider how thin the chassis is. Indeed, mobile cameras need as much depth (thickness) as possible to host the camera lenses, and HONOR seems to have successfully balanced phone design and camera quality.

    SoC, memory, storage, performance& software updates

    Software updates

    Honor commits to providing five years of security patches and four years of Android updates for the Magic V2, aligning with Samsung and OnePlus’ assurances for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open, respectively. Google’s Pixel Fold guarantees three years of Android version updates and five years of security patches. While the Magic V2 ships with Android 13, one update is required to bring it up to date with Android 14. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Magic V2 is yet to receive an Android 14 update.

    It houses last year’s Qualcomm flagship SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with configurations of up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage (expandable to 1TB in the Porsche Design variant).

    Perceived Performance

    Performance remains fluid in daily usage, including 3D gaming (I tried a few games).

    Measured Performance

    CPU performance

    As you can see from the charts, the Honor Magic V2 has excellent performance in the context of foldable phones despite its amazing thinness. This is probably due to Honor’s efforts to produce an advanced cooling system called Ultra-thin Bionic Cooling System.
    According to the company, the new cooling technology combines an ultra-thin vapor chamber, ultra-high thermal conductivity graphite, thermal conductivity gel, and copper foil.

    It ranks among the highest CPU performance, which typically ensures that apps load fast and most tasks are completed faster.

    GPU performance

    From a graphics standpoint, the scores are also very high, making it a high performer for general graphics (GPU performance) but also games. Keep in mind that with lengthy gaming sessions, the heat will eventually build up. That’s why all dedicated gaming systems are inherently thicker with extra cooling.

    Battery

    Battery capacity

    Despite its ultrathin chassis measuring 4.7 or 4.8 mm, the Magic V2 impressively integrates a 5000 mAh battery (the biggest for a foldable phone), thanks to its two-part silicon carbon battery technology.

    Debuting as the thinnest dual Silicon-carbon Batteries, averaging only 2.72mm in thickness, the innovative battery system extends its cycle life by 40%, according to HONOR.

    It incorporates an electrochemical system that enhances longevity and features HONOR’s low-voltage charge energy-gathering technology for enhanced power output at the same voltage as graphite-based batteries.

    With regular use, connected to both 5G and Wi-Fi, the Magic V2 should last at least a full day on one charge. During my review, which was conducted solely on Wi-Fi (without 5G) with intermittent use, the battery lasted for three days. I cannot vouch for battery life as battery drainage highly varies depending on usage, with browsing and email having minimal impact compared to extreme workloads such as intense photo shoots, video streaming, or 3D gaming sessions. As usual, the battery’s capacity (in mAh) is your best indicator for potential battery life.

    Charging speed

    The Honor Magic V2 charges 71% of its 5000 mAh battery in 30 minutes with the optional €30 66W charger (free or 1 bundle in some markets). This is similar to the OnePlus Open charging time of 79% in 30 minutes for its 4805 mAh battery (with the included OnePlus 67W fast-charger). By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 charges 49% in 30 minutes with its optional 50W Samsung charger.

    Conclusion

    The Honor V2 delivers impressive build quality and display quality in the thinnest and lightest foldable form factor on the market.

    This unique feature should convince people reluctant to carry thicker and heavier smartphones to try the folding smartphone experience. Travelers should consider switching to the Magic V2 as it can also be used as a tablet for productivity and entertainment during flights.

    Although the camera performance is slightly below the one found in competitive devices, it is excellent for such a thin chassis.

    Some text

    Highs

    • Super thin and light designed for a foldable
    • Large and bright displays for the lightweight
    • Good camera system for such a thin body
    • Support 66W SuperCharge fast charging (71% in 30 min with optional 66W charger)
    • 5000 mAh highest battery capacity for a large foldable phone

    Lows

    • No waterproof IP rating
    • No wireless charging
    • Last year Android 13
    • Expensive (charger not included in all countries)
    • Not available in the U.S., you have to buy it overseas (UK, Germany, France…)

    Rating + Price

    • Rating: 9.6/10
    • Price: ~ $2150

    Filed in Cellphones. Read more about Foldable Smartphones, Honor, Mobile Camera Reviews, Smartphone Reviews, Smartphones and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

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    Eliane Fiolet

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