Honor Magic V2 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: The battle of the foldables

The Honor Magic V2 has been unveiled in China and we’re hopeful of a wider launch within the coming months – the query is, how does it examine to the king of foldables, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4?

Given the truth that there’s nearly a complete yr between the discharge of the 2 foldables, Honor’s foldable exhibits nice promise within the {hardware} division – particularly with regards to its thickness and weight. Samsung’s not one to relaxation on its laurels although, with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 rumoured for launch very quickly.

For now although, listed below are among the key variations between the Honor Magic V2 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.

The Honor Magic V2 is thinner and lighter

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 could be very a lot a premium gadget, however in comparison with more moderen foldables just like the Honor Magic Vs and Google Pixel Fold, it seems a bit of dated. It’s not solely chunkier than a lot of the competitors however there’s a clumsy hole between the shows when folded – one thing most different producers have solved at this level.

This awkward hole implies that the Z Fold 4 measures in at a reasonably thick 14.2mm when folded, and at 263g, it’s comfortably heavier than even the weightiest candybar telephones just like the 234g Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely.

That’s a stark comparability to what Honor is providing with the Magic V2. The Magic V2 seems worlds away from the Z Fold 4 with a gapless hinge mechanism and a design that’s solely 9.9mm thick when folded or 4.95mm when unfolded. If that’s not spectacular sufficient, at 231g, it’s lighter than each the Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy S23 Extremely! 

The Magic V2 manages this whereas additionally providing barely bigger inner and exterior shows than Samsung’s possibility. It’s a transparent win for Honor within the design division, then. 

The Honor Magic V2 has extra succesful cameras

Foldables have historically lagged behind customary smartphones within the digital camera division, however that tide is starting to vary in 2023 with foldables just like the Pixel Fold, Huawei Mate X3 and now, the Honor Magic V2. 

The foldable boasts a 50MP foremost sensor with OIS together with a 50MP ultrawide and a 20MP telephoto with OIS, flanked by a dToF Laser Focusing System for instant focus no matter out there mild, together with a devoted flicker sensor and color sensor. You’ll additionally discover a pair of 16MP selfie cameras – one on every show.

That appears like a succesful digital camera setup, particularly in comparison with Samsung’s providing of a 50MP foremost, 12MP ultrawide and 10MP 3x telephoto on the rear, flanked by a single LED flash. 

Issues aren’t rather more promising on the selfie digital camera entrance both, with a 10MP digital camera on the exterior digital camera and a 4MP under-display digital camera on the interior show. The latter is a specific concern as shifting the digital camera beneath the show introduces noticeable high quality points. 

Our reviewer described the Z Fold 4 as not “the most effective digital camera cellphone going, then, however the cameras not really feel like a cause to keep away from a Z Fold gadget”. 

Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

On the subject of efficiency, the Honor Magic V2 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 each go all-in with flagship-level chipsets. That features the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 throughout the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the marginally newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 throughout the Honor Magic V2, coupled with 12GB and 16GB RAM respectively.

The Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 was the top-end processor when the Z Fold 4 was launched in August 2022, bringing with it not solely flagship energy however spectacular battery effectivity in comparison with earlier Snapdragon chipsets. Our reviewer discovered it to be a succesful gadget that wouldn’t stutter or lag it doesn’t matter what he threw at it, be it gaming or split-screen multitasking on that giant inner show.

We’ve not had the prospect to make use of the Honor Magic V2 simply but, however we’ve examined loads of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 gadgets so we’ve a superb understanding of the probably energy on provide. It’s protected to say that the Honor Magic V2 will beat the Z Fold 4 in benchmarks, although you’re not possible to note a distinction in real-world use with each providing blisteringly quick on a regular basis efficiency.

The Honor Magic V2 will probably have higher battery life

This one’s a bit of troublesome to say with certainty having not spent any time with the foldable simply but, however based mostly on specs, it seems just like the Honor Magic V2 may greatest the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 within the battery life division. 

That’s largely all the way down to the truth that the Honor Magic V2 sports activities a bigger 5,000mAh cell in comparison with 4,400mAh on provide from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. Granted it’s not that rather more than what Samsung has to supply, however our reviewer famous that he’d get to the tip of the day with round 15% left within the tank – nearly sufficient, however not precisely comfy.

The additional energy, mixed with the higher energy effectivity from the newer chipset, ought to enable the Honor Magic V2 to final a bit of longer in on a regular basis life – however we’ll verify this as soon as we go hands-on.

Both approach, the Honor Magic V2 will recharge sooner with 66W wired charging speeds in comparison with simply 25W from Samsung’s foldable. 

You possibly can really purchase the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

As spectacular because the Honor Magic V2’s {hardware} is, there’s a giant drawback: you may’t purchase it in many of the world. Simply but, anyway. 

The Honor Magic V2 is presently solely out there in China following a reveal in Bejing in early July, although like with the Honor Magic Vs, we count on the Magic V2 to make its worldwide debut someday quickly.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, alternatively, is that can be purchased from Samsung and most electronics retailers within the UK, US and Europe, although at £1,649/$1,649/€1,799, it’s not precisely the most cost effective cellphone round.