Honor Magic V vs Huawei Mate X3: The Ultimate Foldable Face-Off

Foldable phones are rapidly evolving, offering a unique blend of portability and expansive screen real estate. Today, we pit two contenders against each other: the Honor Magic V and the Huawei Mate X3. Both promise premium experiences, but which one delivers the best value and performance?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Huawei Mate X3 edges out the Honor Magic V thanks to its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, superior wireless charging, and impressive display brightness. While the Magic V offers a competitive package, the Mate X3’s overall refinement and performance give it a slight advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic V Huawei Mate X3
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2022, January 102023, March 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, January 18Available. Released 2023, April 08
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 160.4 x 141.1 x 6.7 mmFolded: 160.4 x 72.7 x 14.3 mmUnfolded: 156.9 x 141.5 x 5.3 mmFolded: 156.9 x 72.4 x 11.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight288 g / 293 g (10.16 oz)239 g or 241 g (8.43 oz)
 -IPX8 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Kunlun Glass (cover display only)
Resolution1984 x 2272 pixels (~381 ppi density)2224 x 2496 pixels (~426 ppi density)
Size7.9 inches, 200.5 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)7.85 inches, 197.5 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+Foldable OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
 Cover display: OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 6.45 inches, 1080 x 2560 pixels, 431 ppiCover display: OLED, 120Hz, 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2504 pixels
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12, Magic UI 6HarmonyOS 3.1 (China), EMUI 13.1 (Europe), no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 -UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single42 MP, f/2.4, (wide)-
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), PDAF 50 MP, f/2.0, 20mm (wide), PDAF 50 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 122˚, (ultrawide)50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single42 MP, f/2.4, (wide)8 MP, f/2.4, (wide) Cover camera: 8 MP, f/2.4, (wide)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (B1I+B1c+B2a), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, altimeter
 -BDS Satellite Message
Battery
Charging66W wired, 50% in 15 min 5W reverse wired66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4750 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 4800 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5060 mAh (China only)
Misc
ColorsTitanium Silver, Black, Burnt OrangeBlack, White, Violet, Dark Green, Gold
ModelsMGI-AN00ALT-AL00, ALT-L29
PriceAbout 1400 EURAbout 1500 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 81h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 993592 (v9) GeekBench: 4283 (v5.5), 4512 (v6) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic V

  • Slightly more compact folded form factor
  • Competitive pricing
  • Fast 66W wired charging

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (slightly older chipset)
  • No wireless charging
  • Lower peak display brightness

Huawei Mate X3

  • Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (superior performance)
  • Brighter display (926 nits)
  • Wireless charging (50W) & Reverse Wireless (7.5W)
  • Excellent contrast ratio

  • Higher price point
  • Potentially limited software support (due to Huawei's situation)

Display Comparison

Both devices feature stunning foldable displays, but the Huawei Mate X3 boasts a measured peak brightness of 926 nits, significantly outshining the Magic V. The Mate X3's 'infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests excellent black levels and vibrant colors. While the Magic V's display is excellent, the Mate X3 takes the lead in visual fidelity.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a key area. While both phones offer capable camera systems, detailed comparisons require in-depth testing. Generally, Huawei phones are known for their image processing and color science, potentially giving the Mate X3 an edge. Both offer photo and video capabilities, but specific features and image quality will vary.

Performance

The Huawei Mate X3’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 provides a noticeable performance boost over the Magic V’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved gaming performance. Both phones handle everyday tasks with ease, but the Mate X3 offers a more premium experience.

Battery Life

Both devices offer a respectable endurance rating of 81 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The Mate X3’s 50W wireless charging and 7.5W reverse wireless charging provide added convenience, while the Magic V only offers 5W reverse wired charging.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic V is ideal for users prioritizing a slightly more compact folded form factor and a competitive price point. The Huawei Mate X3 is best suited for those seeking top-tier performance, a brighter display, and the convenience of wireless charging, even at a premium price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which foldable phone is more durable?
Both phones utilize robust hinge mechanisms, but long-term durability remains to be seen. Reviews suggest both are well-built, but hinge longevity is a common concern with foldable devices.
❓ Does the Huawei Mate X3 have Google Play Services?
No, the Huawei Mate X3 does not have Google Play Services. It utilizes Huawei's AppGallery and HMS ecosystem, which offers alternative apps, but compatibility may be limited.