The frantic race of the big mobile manufacturers in the folding phone market continues. If in 2021 terminals such as the Samsung Galazy Z Flip 3, the Galaxy Z Fold 3, the Huawei Mate X2, the Xiaomi Mi MIX Fold or the OPPO Find N were released, this year has begun with the presentation of the first smartphone (smartphone) Honor folding. The Chinese company has shown this Monday at an event held in China the Honor Magic V, a flagship that incorporates Qualcomm’s most powerful processor for the high range, three 50-megapixel sensors and a fast charge to fill half of the battery in 15 minutes.
In general, the design of the terminal is reminiscent of other folding phones such as the Galaxy Z Fold 3 or the Xiaomi Mi MIX Fold. The mobile has an external screen of 6.45 inches. But it opens like a book thanks to a hinge to make way for a large 7.9-inch panel. The large screens of folding mobiles can be especially useful for viewing multimedia content and using several applications at the same time. For example, they allow you to watch a video while searching for information about it on the Internet or checking how long it takes for a taxi to reach your destination.
George Zhao, CEO of Honor, has explained that many users will use the external screen most of the time to, for example, read messages. “This screen is crucial, so we have opted for a 21:9 format,” he said. The manufacturer claims to have improved the keyboard of this external screen to avoid errors when writing and has made an effort to achieve a resistant mobile. At the presentation, the CEO has twice thrown the Honor Magic V to the ground to applause to show that it does not break. “If we fold and unfold the mobile 50 times a day, we can use it for 10 years,” he added.
While the internal screen of the mobile has a refresh rate of 90 Hz, that of the external panel reaches 120 Hz. This parameter refers to the number of times the screen is updated per second. The higher it is, the smoother the user experience and transitions between screens. Although it also consumes more battery. The two screens of the Galaxy Z Fold 3, for example, reach a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
In the photographic section, the terminal stands out for a rectangular rear module that protrudes slightly. Inside, it has three lenses of 50 megapixels each: a main one, a wide angle and a hyperspectral one. The terminal has a total of five cameras. In addition to these three sensors, it has two front ones – one on each screen – of 42 megapixels.
A strong commitment to performance
The Honor Magic V is compatible with 5G networks and is the first folding to incorporate the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Qualcomm’s most powerful processor. In addition to 12 GB of RAM, it will have 256 GB or 512 GB of storage. In addition, it incorporates a 4,750 mAh battery with a fast charge of 66 watts that allows it to be filled to 50% in 15 minutes. The company includes the charger in the mobile box and promises autonomy of one day. “After a few days using the mobile, it has studied my habits and the battery life has been optimized”, assured the CEO of the company.
In the coming years, sales of folding phones are expected to increase to 13.9 million units by 2025, according to IDC consultancy. For these mobiles to become mass devices there is a great obstacle to overcome: some have prices that for many users may be prohibitive. The phone will be available in three colors—silver, black, and orange—starting at 9,999 yuan. That is, about 1,385 euros. The company has not specified when it will arrive in Europe or how much it will cost in this market.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.