The Honor Magic V2 made its international debut last week at IFA 2023. Initially launched in China back in July this year, the foldable smartphone’s lightweight nature and slim chassis are some of its most highlighted features.

After spending a brief time with the Magic V2, I’m very impressed with the foldable phone. Honor certainly has a promising product on its hands, and if the Chinese company ever brings in the phone to the Malaysian market, I reckon it can give other foldable phones a run for their money.

First, let’s talk about the specifications of the Magic V2. Tipping the scales at only 231g with a 9.9mm chassis when folded, it is certainly a lightweight, thin foldable phone. Despite its slim profile, the phone still comes with a rather generous 5,000mAh battery that supports 66W fast charging.

Aside from that, the Magic V2 also features a triple camera system made up of a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 20MP telephoto shooter. It also has a total of two 16MP selfie cameras; one for the inner screen, and another for the cover display.

Other specifications of the Magic V2 include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset paired with 16GB of RAM, three storage options (256GB, 512GB, 1TB), a 7.92-inch 2344 x 2156 OLED primary display with a 120Hz refresh rate, as well as a 6.43-inch 2376 x 1060 OLED cover screen – also clocked at 120Hz.

When I first picked up the Magic V2, it feels quite surreal to hold in my hands. While I wouldn’t say it feels like a conventional bar phone – contrary to Honor’s claim – it’s certainly one of the slimmest foldable phones I’ve ever held.

That being said, when unfolded, the Magic V2 does feel a tad too thin to hold comfortably. After all, it measures merely 4.7mm when it’s opened up, so it’s not exactly the most ergonomically-friendly device to hold.

On the plus side, the Magic V2 does have a solid, robust hinge. Folding and unfolding the phone feel nice and smooth, and the tension remains consistent. Definitely a hinge that inspires confidence.

As for the display crease of the Magic V2, it is…okay? While it is visible from certain angles or when the display is dim, it’s not particularly noticeable when in normal use. Sure, I can feel the crease if I run my finger over it, but again, I don’t think it is something that will stick out in daily use.

In terms of panel quality, the Magic V2’s 7.92-inch 2344 x 2156 OLED primary display looks nice and vibrant with punchy colours. The 120Hz refresh rate also lends to fluid animations and a zippy user experience; exactly what is expected out of a flagship smartphone.

The cover screen of the Magic V2 is quite good too. It is a 6.43-inch 2376 x 1060 OLED panel that also sports a 120Hz refresh rate, so you get a consistent user experience regardless of which display you’re using. From my brief time with the phone, I’d say the cover screen is big enough for everyday use.

Under the hood of the Magic V2 is none other than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. It’s the SoC that powers the majority of flagship Android smartphones in the market now, so needless to say, it can provide a high level of performance. Switching between multiple apps feels very, very seamless and responsive.

While I can’t quite gauge the battery life of the Magic V2 – this is just a hands-on – I reckon it can last quite long on a single charge out of the 5,000mAh battery. It’s certainly above average for a foldable phone this thin.

Last but not least is the camera performance of the Magic V2, which feels reasonably capable. As mentioned, it has a triple camera system made up of a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 20MP telephoto shooter; a versatile camera setup with three different focal lengths.

I didn’t quite manage to extensively test out the camera performance of the Magic V2, but I can say that it can take some great-looking shots with a rather responsive camera interface. But the real test for a smartphone’s camera lies in low light photography, which I’ll definitely put to the test once (or if, rather) the Magic V2 is available more widely.

Speaking of which, the Honor Magic V2 has no release date yet for the international market. At the moment, it is only available in China starting at 8,999 Chinese yuan – that comes up to about RM5,760. Not too far from the Magic Vs‘ asking price here in Malaysia (RM5,999).

Even though there’s no confirmation from Honor Malaysia yet on the local availability of the Magic V2, we reckon it will arrive here eventually, given the company’s prominent presence here. Rest assured, we will keep a close eye on the Malaysian availability of the Magic V2.