Honor Magic V3
Announced July 12, 2024
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
Honor Magic V3 is a remarkably thin and lightweight foldable that feels like a standard smartphone when closed while providing a spacious internal display. Although the software experience lacks the polish of some competitors, the device excels with its durable build, fast charging, and capable camera system.
Weighted from 33 reviewer scores
Pros
- Exceptionally slim and lightweight physical design
- Reliable battery life paired with fast wired and wireless charging
- Bright, vibrant displays with minimal visible creasing
- High-performing camera system with versatile zoom capabilities
- Improved durability featuring IPX8 water resistance
Cons
- Software environment feels unpolished, cluttered, or inconsistent
- High retail price and limited market availability
- Inconsistent camera processing and mediocre ultrawide performance
- Thermal management and battery efficiency under heavy load
- Pre-installed bloatware and duplicate applications
- Launch price $2,177 (USD)
- Main camera 50MP f/1.9 + 40MP Ultrawide + 50MP 3.5x Telephoto
- Video 4K 60p
- Display 6.43-inch / 7.92-inch LTPO AMOLED 120Hz
- Chipset Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 12GB, 16GB
What the Reviewers Say
All 33 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 8/10
[T]he phone is a strong contender for the best foldable phone on the market.
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[I]t’s hard not to be seduced by the ability to view and edit your shots on a tablet sized screen, to use the cover screen as a preview monitor for your subject, to shoot selfies with the main 50MP camera, and to be able to open it to 90 degrees [...]
- WIRED 8/10
The Honor Magic V3 is the best book-style folding phone I have used. The daring design is impossibly slim and light, there are some interesting AI features, and it ticks all the traditional flagship boxes with a versatile camera, long battery life, and fast charging.
- Android Authority 7/10
The HONOR Magic V3 is a stunning piece of hardware that is so thin it doesn't even feel like you're using a foldable phone.
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Honor has knocked it out of the park with the Magic V3, offering the thinnest and lightest foldable to date, complete with solid battery life, great performance and a handy trio of cameras.
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The Honor Magic V3 is a powerful, good-looking, slender foldable that undercuts the competition while arguably offering more. That doesn't mean it's cheap, but it does mean it's a better value package.
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If you're keen on a big screen foldable, but find their typical size and weight off-putting, this is the device for you. It's a real feat of engineering that feels premium through and through.
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Whether it’s your first time with a foldable phone or not, the Honor Magic V3 is an incredibly compelling option that builds on the solid foundation of the Magic V2 and makes it even better.
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If you're looking to make the switch to a foldable and want a device that feels futuristic, the Magic V3 is the obvious recommendation.
- PhoneArena 7.1/10
The Magic V3 improves on every single area compared to its predecessor and finally achieves the foldable wet dream—it really feels like a normal phone when folded.
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HONOR has knocked it out of the park once again with Magic V3, proving why they are the leader in foldables.
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The Honor Magic V3 is going global, making further strides towards pocketability, while also setting standards for durability, and improving upon the camera system.
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The Honor Magic V3 is thinner, lighter and costs less than the main foldable competition. Its cameras are better, it has more storage, faster charging and a larger battery too.
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The Samsung may be a stronger performer but the Honor is still fast and long-lasting enough that these differences don’t matter.
- SlashGear 8/10
As far as hardware goes, this is one of the best folders on the market at the moment. Honor's very smooth and rapidly growing ecosystem also adds to the appeal, even if signing up is a bit clunky for United States-based customers.
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The Magic V3 has the best hardware of any foldable by far, with an incredible design supported by great displays and two flagship-quality cameras. But the software can still be overwhelming at times, while only enthusiasts won’t be put off by the high price tag.
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The Honor Magic V3 stands out as the finest book-style folding smartphone I have experienced. Its bold design is remarkably thin and lightweight, complemented by intriguing AI functionalities.
- BGR 8/10
If you want a super thin phone (which makes sense — foldables can get thick), then the Magic V3 is the foldable to buy. But if you want the best software experience, then the Pixel 9 Pro or the OnePlus Open are better choices.
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The Honor Magic V3 is nothing short of an incredible entrant to the fierce foldable market, and a definitive statement of the Chinese manufacturer's intention to continue to fly far beyond its 'youth brand' roots.
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The Honor Magic V3 is a groundbreaking device that pushes the boundaries of what foldable smartphones can achieve. It combines cutting-edge technology with a slim and lightweight design, offering a seamless blend of performance, durability, and usability.
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The HONOR Magic V3 is my personal pick as the best foldable smartphone of 2024 so far.
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[I]t is a phone that offers almost the world in terms of functionality and usability.
- Pokde.Net 8.2/10
HONOR has done it yet again as the HONOR Magic V3 isn’t just a great foldable smartphone, it’s the best one in 2024 for sure. Sure, it has its quirks but considering that some of them can be remedied via software updates, the overall package is the most attractive one yet.
- Pocket Tactics 8/10
If you like the idea of a large-format foldable phone but aren't so keen on the size and weight that usually come along with it, the Honor Magic V3 is the solution you've been waiting for.
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The Honor Magic V3 may well be a small upgrade on its predecessor, but it's these little refinements that for the most part help it to become the best foldable I've used.
- Ubergizmo 8.8/10
The Honor Magic V3 positions itself as the top foldable phone for users who aren’t willing to compromise on the phone’s thickness and want to use a foldable phone that feels like a classic phone when closed.
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One reason I’ve hesitated to recommend folding phones to friends in the past is the cameras. The Honor Magic V2 was pretty good, but the V3 blows it out of the park in terms of quality, zoom and software.
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Honor’s Magic V3 may not have the same brand recognition as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, but it has set a new standard for foldable devices. With its exquisite design, stellar displays, powerful performance, and capable cameras, it’s a foldable phone that doesn’t compromise.
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[T]he Honor Magic V3 builds upon its predecessor with a host of improvements, challenging itself to go beyond boundaries where no foldable has boldly gone before.
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The Honor Magic V3 stands out as a valuable purchase for tech enthusiasts because it comes equipped with a premium price alongside its advanced camera system and powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset as well as quick charging features.
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The software could do with a little more polish, but that’s true of all foldables.
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The Honor Magic V3 is by no means a perfect phone, but it’s not one to overlook. It falls behind established Western brands in some places, but excels and exceeds them in others.
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The Honor Magic V3 is a remarkable foldable phone that pushes the boundaries of design and technology. Its slim profile, stunning displays, powerful performance, and long-lasting battery make it a joy to use.
