Honor Magic V vs. Huawei Mate Xs 2: The Ultimate Foldable Face-Off

Foldable phones are rapidly evolving, offering unique form factors and impressive features. Today, we pit two contenders against each other: the Honor Magic V and the Huawei Mate Xs 2. Both promise premium experiences, but which one delivers the best value and performance?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic V generally edges out the Mate Xs 2 thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset offering superior performance. While the Mate Xs 2 boasts impressive battery life and a unique outward-folding design, the Magic V's processing power and potentially better software experience make it the slightly stronger choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic V Huawei Mate Xs 2
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 102022, April 28
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, January 18Available. Released 2022, May 07
Body
BuildGlass 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: 156.5 x 139.3 x 5.4 mmFolded: 156.5 x 75.5 x 11.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight288 g / 293 g (10.16 oz)255 g / 257 g (8.99 oz)
Display
Resolution1984 x 2272 pixels (~381 ppi density)2200 x 2480 pixels (~424 ppi density)
Size7.9 inches, 200.5 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)7.8 inches, 195.8 cm2 (~89.8% 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 ppiFolded cover display: OLED, 6.5 inches, 1176 x 2480 pixels
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 660
OSAndroid 12, Magic UI 6EMUI 12, no Google Play Services (International); HarmonyOS 2.0 (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Single42 MP, f/2.4, (wide)10.7 MP, f/2.2
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, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 81mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/240fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single42 MP, f/2.4, (wide)10.7 MP, f/2.2
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps
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 (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, 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
Battery
Charging66W wired, 50% in 15 min 5W reverse wired66W wired 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4750 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 4600 mAh (w/ 8GB RAM)· Li-Po 4880 mAh (w/ 12GB RAM)
Misc
ColorsTitanium Silver, Black, Burnt OrangeBlack, White, Purple
ModelsMGI-AN00PAL-AL00, PAL-LX9
PriceAbout 1400 EURAbout 2000 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 49h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 641608 (v9) GeekBench: 3131 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic V

  • Superior Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
  • Potentially Better Software Experience
  • More Refined Folding Mechanism
  • Faster Charging (66W)

  • Potentially Less Battery Life
  • Crease Visibility May Be Higher

Huawei Mate Xs 2

  • Exceptional Battery Life (49h Endurance Rating)
  • Unique Outward-Folding Design
  • High Brightness Display (725 nits)

  • Older Chipset (Snapdragon 888 4G)
  • Potential Software Limitations (Huawei Ecosystem)
  • Less Secure Folding Design

Display Comparison

Both phones feature impressive displays, but differ in approach. The Magic V has a more traditional inner/outer folding design, likely offering better crease visibility. The Mate Xs 2's outward-folding design minimizes the crease on the main display but can feel less secure when folded. The Mate Xs 2's 725 nits brightness is a notable advantage, while the Magic V's display likely has better color accuracy.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable, with both phones offering capable photo and video capabilities. However, the Magic V likely has a more versatile camera system with potentially better image processing. Detailed camera comparisons would require extensive testing, but initial impressions suggest the Magic V holds a slight edge.

Performance

The Honor Magic V's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 provides a significant performance advantage over the Mate Xs 2's Snapdragon 888 4G. Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Magic V. The Mate Xs 2 is still capable, but the difference is noticeable.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate Xs 2 shines in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 49 hours. The Honor Magic V, while offering 66W fast charging, likely has shorter battery life due to its more powerful chipset and larger display.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic V is ideal for users prioritizing performance, a more refined folding mechanism, and a generally smoother software experience. The Huawei Mate Xs 2 is a great pick for those who value a unique outward-folding design, exceptional battery endurance, and are comfortable with Huawei's ecosystem and potential software limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has a better design?
The Mate Xs 2 has a unique outward-folding design, while the Magic V uses a more traditional inward-folding design. Preference is subjective.
❓ Is the Honor Magic V worth the extra cost?
If performance is a priority, the Magic V's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 makes it worth the investment. However, if battery life and a unique design are more important, the Mate Xs 2 remains a compelling option.