Honor Magic V vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5: A Deep Dive into Foldable Flagships

The foldable phone market is maturing, and the Honor Magic V and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 represent two distinct approaches to this innovative form factor. The Magic V, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, aims to deliver flagship performance at a potentially more competitive price, while the Z Fold5, with the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, focuses on refinement and maximizing the foldable experience. This comparison will dissect their key differences to help you choose the right foldable for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is the superior choice. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a noticeable performance uplift and improved thermal efficiency, coupled with a longer-lasting battery. However, the Honor Magic V presents a compelling value proposition for those seeking flagship features without the premium price tag.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic V Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2022, January 102023, July 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, January 18Available. Released 2023, August 11
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 160.4 x 141.1 x 6.7 mmFolded: 160.4 x 72.7 x 14.3 mmUnfolded: 154.9 x 129.9 x 6.1 mmFolded: 154.9 x 67.1 x 13.4 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight288 g / 293 g (10.16 oz)253 g (8.92 oz)
Display
Resolution1984 x 2272 pixels (~381 ppi density)1812 x 2176 pixels (~373 ppi density)
Size7.9 inches, 200.5 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)7.6 inches, 183.2 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
 Cover display: OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 6.45 inches, 1080 x 2560 pixels, 431 ppi-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 740
OSAndroid 12, Magic UI 6Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
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), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 66mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single42 MP, f/2.4, (wide)4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack No-
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-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 wired25W wired, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4750 mAhLi-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsTitanium Silver, Black, Burnt OrangeIcy Blue, Phantom Black, Cream, Gray, Blue
ModelsMGI-AN00SM-F946B, SM-F946B/DS, SM-F946U, SM-F946U1, SM-F946N, SM-F946W, SM-F9460
PriceAbout 1400 EUR€ 660.00 / $ 607.00 / £ 520.69 / ₹ 86,000
SAR-1.16 W/kg (head)
SAR EU-1.24 W/kg (head)     1.19 W/kg (body)

Honor Magic V

  • Faster 66W wired charging
  • Potentially lower price point
  • Flagship-level performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)

  • Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
  • Likely shorter battery life
  • Less refined foldable experience

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

  • Superior performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
  • Longer battery life (12:01h active use)
  • More refined foldable design and software

  • Slower 25W wired charging
  • Higher price point
  • May still experience some app compatibility issues with foldable form factor

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 boasts a measured peak brightness of 1257 nits, significantly enhancing outdoor visibility compared to the Honor Magic V (brightness data unavailable, but typically lower in older models). Both utilize foldable displays, but the Z Fold5’s refinements in hinge design and display protection likely contribute to a more durable experience. While both likely employ LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, the Z Fold5’s panel benefits from Samsung’s extensive display expertise, potentially offering superior color accuracy and viewing angles. The Z Fold5’s narrower bezels also contribute to a more immersive experience.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs for the Honor Magic V are unavailable, making a direct comparison challenging. However, the Galaxy Z Fold5’s camera system benefits from Samsung’s advanced image processing algorithms and likely features a larger main sensor. While megapixel count isn’t everything, a larger sensor generally captures more light, resulting in better low-light performance. The Z Fold5’s OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) system further enhances image clarity and reduces blur, particularly in video recording. We can assume the Z Fold5 offers a more versatile and consistently high-quality camera experience.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Galaxy Z Fold5’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) represents a substantial leap over the Honor Magic V’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm). The Gen 2 features a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.36 GHz versus the Gen 1’s 3.00 GHz Cortex-X2, resulting in faster single-core performance. Furthermore, the Gen 2’s improved Cortex-A715 and A710 cores, alongside a more efficient 4nm process, translate to better multi-core performance and reduced thermal throttling during sustained workloads. The Z Fold5’s LPDDR5x RAM further enhances memory bandwidth, contributing to smoother multitasking and faster app loading times.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving an active use score of 12:01h and an endurance rating of 95h. While the Honor Magic V offers faster wired charging at 66W (50% in 15 minutes), the Z Fold5’s more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and optimized software contribute to significantly longer battery life. The Z Fold5 also supports 15W wireless charging and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, offering greater convenience. The Magic V’s 66W charging is faster, but the Z Fold5’s overall battery performance is more impactful for daily use.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic V if you prioritize fast charging (66W) and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset to save money. It's ideal for users who frequently top up their phones and want a powerful device without breaking the bank. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 if you demand the best possible performance, longest battery life (12:01h active use), and a more polished software experience. This is the phone for power users, content creators, and those who want the most refined foldable on the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Honor Magic V throttle under heavy gaming loads?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is known to generate more heat than the Gen 2. While the Honor Magic V likely incorporates cooling solutions, prolonged gaming sessions may result in noticeable thermal throttling, leading to reduced performance. The Z Fold5’s Gen 2 is significantly more efficient and less prone to throttling.
❓ How does the hinge durability compare between the Honor Magic V and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5?
Samsung has iterated on its foldable hinge design for several generations, resulting in a more robust and reliable mechanism in the Z Fold5. While the Honor Magic V’s hinge is likely well-engineered, Samsung’s experience and testing procedures give the Z Fold5 an edge in long-term durability.
❓ Is the 66W charging on the Honor Magic V significantly faster in real-world use than the 25W on the Z Fold5?
While 66W is faster on paper, the difference in 0-50% charging time (15 minutes vs 30 minutes) isn't massive. The Z Fold5’s superior battery capacity and efficiency mean you’ll likely spend less time overall plugged into the wall, despite the slower charging speed.