There’s one thing occurring with foldable telephones that isn’t as obvious in North America, and units just like the Honor Magic V3 make that clear. Thinner, lighter, but additionally packing an even bigger battery and enormous display, Honor places collectively a compelling mixture additional enhanced by the digital camera array. It’s not all roses for the Magic V3 however that doesn’t dampen the enchantment right here. It’s additionally a debut for Honor in that it’s the corporate’s first foldable to totally embrace Google Play providers and current Android the way in which a lot of the world sees the platform. Briefly, the telephone is a powerful contender for the very best foldable telephone in the marketplace. Honor Magic V3: Design and Construct I lined a whole lot of the ins and outs over how Honor designed the Magic V3 when it launched the gadget in September 2024 however extra of the nuance hits after utilizing it for 2 months. Solely 9.2mm skinny, it appears like an ordinary, non-folding telephone when folded, which is large for a pocket-friendly gadget. To place it in perspective, it weighs lower than the non-folding Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely. The digital camera bump within the again didn’t actually change into an issue, both. In reality, Honor is the one model I’ve seen (thus far) that features a backing plate with a built-in kickstand for its foldable.
It serves a helpful objective when angling the V3 to seize one thing on a wider angle from a fowl’s-eye view, permitting the higher half of the digital camera module to relaxation with out shifting weight and making it fall over. The one downside is it’s worthwhile to be artistic in utilizing it or else it’s seen within the body. Like OnePlus and Vivo, there’s additionally safety with a bumper for the opposite half, supplying you with not less than some safety out of the field. The Magic V3 flirts with an 8-inch OLED panel on the within, solely to fall a tad quick at 7.92 inches. The 6.4-inch OLED on the entrance display is a pleasant dimension in itself. Additionally good to have 5,000 nits of peak brightness on that display, together with 120Hz refresh charges on each. The inside show presents a good 1,600 nits peak brightness, although you’re not prone to ever hit that quantity. It is a dimmer inside show than the competitors, whereas the entrance display is the brightest of any foldable. Honor’s personal NanoCrystal Protect glass protects the entrance display, whereas its Tremendous Armored Internal Display screen does the identical for the inside show. I didn’t wish to tempt destiny by being tough with this in any other case costly telephone however can let you know that it’s fairly good at avoiding scratches and blemishes from day by day use. It’s additionally a very satisfying gadget to pry open. The hinge is powerful, but additionally versatile sufficient to not flip the expertise of folding or unfolding it right into a chore. I can attribute a part of that to this being the thinnest hinge on a foldable thus far. Its IPX8 score isn’t the very best in the marketplace nevertheless it’s price noting which you could submerge it to depths of two.5 meters, which is one meter greater than is typical for that degree of Ingress Safety. Honor additionally claims it’s utilizing some kind of silicone gel inside the layers of the folding panel that hardens in case of affect. I can’t be certain how properly this works nevertheless it’s an attention-grabbing manner so as to add some shock absorption with out making it apparent. Honor Magic V3: Digicam Options Honor doesn’t have a pictures accomplice the way in which its different Chinese language rivals do. The likes of Leica, Zeiss, and Hasselblad don’t play a job right here, which places Honor in an attention-grabbing spot having to determine the way to chart its personal cell pictures path.
There may be one collaboration to notice with Studio Harcourt Paris that I’ll contact on later, so it’s not a whole solo effort. Nonetheless, Honor doesn’t give attention to cell pictures as a lot as the opposite Chinese language manufacturers do, although it tends to with its different single-piece telephones. The 50-megapixel extensive lens makes use of a Sony IMX906 1/1.56-inch picture sensor and f/1.6 aperture. The 50-megapixel telephoto will be the larger star right here with its periscope lens and Lidar Matrix autofocusing. It’s additionally bought optical picture stabilization, although the f/3.0 aperture is a bit tight. The 40-megapixel ultra-wide wraps up the rear array with OIS and an f/2.2 aperture. Each entrance cameras use the identical 20-megapixel sensor. Credit score to Honor for making an attempt to supply some variation off the bat by way of the Pure, Vibrant, and Genuine kinds. You’ll have to attend a short time longer to get a fuller gamut of Google-driven AI enhancing options however there’s really a reasonably in depth typical toolkit inside the enhancing suite within the Gallery app. Honor Magic V3: Software program Options There are some neat multitasking instruments out there right here price exploring, albeit with some limitations. Off the bat, you possibly can’t use a second app in split-screen with the digital camera app — an unlucky roadblock in sure circumstances. One workaround is to “float” a second app over it. By default, if you swipe as much as reveal the taskbar on the backside, you possibly can drag and drop an app overtop one other one as a floating window. There are cool methods to broaden or decrease it, together with hiding it in a facet panel if you want the inside display’s full actual property for the underlying app. Throughout the floating window, faucet the highest and you’ll choose split-screen mode to position two apps facet by facet. One other workaround is to make use of a third-party digital camera app in split-screen. I had success doing it with Lightroom Cellular’s digital camera and the Gallery app or an online browser open on the identical time. I used to be much less profitable with Varlens and VSCO, which might go darkish the second I added a second app. Honor might repair this with a software program replace however count on a combined bag till it does.
Honor can also be promising a variety of AI options, together with for photograph enhancing, when it releases them in a pending replace. These options will probably be a part of tighter integration with Google, so past Magic Eraser and Circle to Search, there could also be different helpful bits to make the most of. As for the digital camera app itself, there are many modes to shoot with, all of which basically match these seen within the Honor Magic 6 Professional. Whereas Excessive-Res mode permits you to shoot at full decision, you possibly can’t shoot in RAW at full-res in Professional mode — one other unlucky limitation. Honor Magic V3: Picture High quality Foremost digital camera The Magic V3 received’t match the outcomes you will get with the Magic 6 Professional, so whereas it’s positively not the corporate’s flagship digital camera, it doesn’t really feel like a distant relative, both. The principle digital camera’s dynamic vary is stable more often than not with wealthy colour and visual element. There’s some unpredictable inconsistency with saturation that washes out element however that additionally will depend on ambient lighting. You’ll discover the most important distinction between day and evening photographs. With good lighting, photographs actually pop, no matter whether or not you’re utilizing the Pure, Vibrant, or Genuine kinds. Low-light scenes with a well-lit topic may also exceed expectations, solely it’s possible you’ll discover Honor’s processing renders a good bit of sharpening to reveal the picture additional. A method round that’s to make use of Excessive-Res or Professional mode the place the software program doesn’t apply the identical impact.
For essentially the most half, I feel most customers will probably be happy with how photographs end up. As with every foldable, nevertheless, there’s loads of enjoyable to find artistic methods to deploy the gadget. Tilt it up or down for distinctive views or check out the Studio Harcourt mode to seize something. I’d say the Vivo X Fold 3 Professional and OnePlus Open produce higher total photographs, however the Magic V3 isn’t out of the working. Telephoto This periscope lens stands out in a great way. A 90mm equal (3.5x optical zoom), it presents a broad focal vary in which you could give attention to a topic that’s as shut as a foot away. That provides you pure bokeh with out utilizing Portrait mode or combining components of two lenses collectively to create that impact. It results in nice ends in optimum lighting. Outcomes that, frankly, outperform Google’s Pixel 9 Professional Fold and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6. Much more so when enhancing them later. Whilst you can technically zoom all the way in which to 100x, it’s greatest to not trouble as a result of your photograph will appear like a blotched portray. At 5x zoom, you get a satisfactory hybrid to work with but sticking to the default 3.5x setting will get you one thing good more often than not.
Captured as a part of a burst with the telephoto lens. I like that Honor permits you to shoot with the lens in Excessive-Res mode, so that you get the total 50-megapixel decision to work with, letting you crop in additional whereas using the benefits of the built-in periscope. No matter decision, low-light and evening pictures might not come out as good, although I got here away pleasantly stunned at a few of what I captured. Extremely-Large The ultra-wide is a 16mm equal that doesn’t fairly match the standard of the opposite two cameras, however Honor doesn’t deal with it as a throw-in. It not solely has autofocus but additionally macro functionality, making it extra versatile. It’s actually superb for perspective pictures, particularly when laying the telephone down on the bottom tilted up at one thing, like structure. Right here, too, Honor permits you to seize photographs in Excessive-Res mode with the total decision from the 40-megapixel sensor. That may assist carry in additional element alongside the sides although you’ll possible discover low-light pictures a problem due to the smaller pixels. Portrait and Studio Harcourt Honor first launched this within the 200 Professional, besides I’m nonetheless not fully clear on how shut its collaboration is with Studio Harcourt. Is the mode on the Magic V3 merely a trio of filters or has the storied Parisian studio put its personal mark on what we see right here? Captured with the Harcourt Portrait monochrome fashion.
I don’t know for positive, however I can say that I loved enjoying round with it. You’ll discover it inside Portrait mode the place it presents three kinds to select from. Vibrant is extra saturated with a cooler tone, Colour is extra impartial with a hotter tone, and Basic is the monochrome fashion the studio has lengthy been identified for. All can produce glorious pictures. And since it is a foldable, taking selfies with the rear cameras is a lot simpler. You possibly can’t use Harcourt with the entrance cameras, including further incentive to make your self stand out. Captured with the Harcourt Portrait colour fashion. The great thing about it’s you don’t have to limit photographs to portraits of individuals. Pets and landmarks are additionally attention-grabbing choices, as is making an attempt it out as a avenue pictures mode. There’s one thing about capturing an in any other case uninteresting scene in black and white that evokes a special solution to see it. Captured with Portrait mode. Movement Sensing Freezing motion on any smartphone stays a problem, regardless of who’s making the gadget. Some manufacturers pursue it, solely you don’t see a lot of that with foldables. The Magic V3 is a uncommon exception by way of two specific options embedded in the primary digital camera and Photograph mode. Movement Sensing Seize applies an AI-driven shutter to freeze a transferring topic, searching for individuals or animals that smile, run, or leap. Allow Auto Seize and you’ll have the telephone strive taking a number of the motion photographs for you after specializing in the topic.
It’s cool to have nevertheless it cranks up ISO to boost shutter velocity sufficient to freeze the topic with out overexposing the scene. That not solely makes for a grainy shot but additionally one which lacks element due to all of the noise. Furthermore, Auto Seize’s timing isn’t straightforward to belief a lot of the time, so you possibly can strive holding the shutter button down in burst to get the body you’re searching for. My gripe with that various is the shutter lag that goes with it, taking not less than a second or extra to start out the burst. Video Options I targeted on nonetheless pictures but additionally examined the Magic V3 for video. It may report in 4K at 30 or 60fps with any of the rear cameras, including in 24fps as an possibility in Film mode. Unusually, Honor leaves that out in Professional mode except you report in log. You additionally get a set of LUTs to provide your footage a special look. Footage from the primary digital camera is best than you would possibly count on from a foldable that doesn’t promote video options all that a lot. Low-light footage isn’t pretty much as good, and also you get various outcomes from the telephoto and ultra-wide lenses. Nonetheless, Honor offers you a bunch of modes and instruments to check out for video on this telephone, which is greater than I can say for what a few its rivals handle. The Honor Magic V3 Proves Foldables Can Shed The Magic V3 feels essentially the most like a typical, single-screen smartphone when closed. It’s so skinny and lightweight that folding it out appears like a bonus, solely additional strengthened by the reactions I’ve seen from those that’ve seen me do it. None of that issues if the telephone doesn’t really feel purposeful and purposeful, two elements the V3 checks. Whereas I can’t say battery life is superb in comparison with competing foldables, I by no means felt prefer it was sorely missing when utilizing it as my day by day driver. If something, the V3 illustrates simply how a lot Samsung and Google have coasted on this class. Honor joins OnePlus and Vivo in exhibiting what’s potential with the correct degree of ingenuity and design. Few will acknowledge that in North America due to a ignorance however for sure, Samsung and Google should not the trend-setters they purport to be. The issue is the worth. Honor desires $2,200 for the Magic V3 if you do the conversion, making it significantly costlier than its rivals. I get that it goes with having a pleasant design that received’t really feel off-putting nevertheless it’s a troublesome promote for any telephone at that value. Are There Alternate options? Digicam efficiency might be a cause to think about the Magic V3 over different choices, together with its slick person expertise as a foldable. The earlier Magic V2 is a really totally different product in some ways, so this appears like a change in focus and path for Honor. Making Magic OS higher also needs to be a precedence.
The OnePlus Open might be the very best worth as a result of it presents nice software program that’s had the time to mature and enhance since launching in 2023. The Vivo X Fold 3 Professional could also be the very best foldable so far as digital camera efficiency, battery life, and suppleness, besides it’s onerous to inform how typically it can see updates going ahead. Google took some huge strides in design and performance with the Pixel 9 Professional Fold nevertheless it’s simply not so good as what OnePlus, Vivo, and Honor have. The upside is years of Android and safety updates. For its half, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is forgettable as a severe various for related cash. Ought to You Purchase It? Sure, in the event you can afford it and need a foldable that feels rather a lot like a single-screen telephone when not opened. You’re additionally betting that the upcoming AI options and tighter Google collaboration might make Android work higher on the Magic V3.