Honor Magic V5 vs. Google Pixel Fold: A Head-to-Head Comparison of Foldable Powerhouses

The foldable phone market is maturing, and the Honor Magic V5 and Google Pixel Fold represent two distinct approaches. The Magic V5 prioritizes raw performance and battery endurance, while the Pixel Fold focuses on Google’s software integration and unique form factor. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which foldable reigns supreme.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing performance and battery life, the Honor Magic V5 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and superior endurance testing results (49:48h) significantly outperform the Pixel Fold’s Tensor G2. However, the Pixel Fold’s software experience may appeal to dedicated Google ecosystem users.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic V5 Google Pixel Fold
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, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2025, July 022023, May 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, July 02Available. Released 2023, June 27
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 156.8 x 145.9 x 4.1 mm or 4.2 mmFolded: 156.8 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm or 9.0 mmUnfolded: 139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8 mmFolded: 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1 mm
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight217 g or 222 g (7.65 oz)283 g (9.98 oz)
 -IPX8 water resistant
Display
ProtectionHonor Super Armored Inner Screen, Mohs level 4-
Resolution2172 x 2352 pixels (~403 ppi density)1840 x 2208 pixels (~378 ppi density)
Size7.95 inches, 203.2 cm2 (~88.8% screen-to-body ratio)7.6 inches, 183.3 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 5000 nits (peak)Foldable OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1450 nits (peak)
 -Cover display: OLED, 120Hz, HDR, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 5.8 inches, 1080 x 2092 pixels, 17.4:9 ratio, 408 ppi 1200 nits (HBM), 1550 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 15, upgradable to Android 16, MagicOS 10, up to 7 major Android upgradesAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.5, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), AF48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10.8 MP, f/3.1, 112mm (telephoto), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 121˚, (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.25µm
Video4K@30/60fps (10-bit), 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single20 MP, f/2.2, (wide) Cover camera: 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide)8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Cover camera: 9.5 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, 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, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wiredWired, PD3.0 Wireless
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Si/C Li-Ion 5820 mAh - International model· Si/C Li-Ion 6100 mAh - China modelLi-Po 4821 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Ivory White, Dawn Gold, Reddish BrownPorcelain, Obsidian
ModelsMBH-N49, MHG-AN00, MBH-AN10G9FPL
Price€ 1,429.00 / $ 149.00 / £ 1,396.63€ 670.87 / $ 389.26 / £ 899.99
EU LABEL
Battery49:48h endurance, 1200 cycles-
EnergyClass B-
Free fallClass C (70 falls)-
RepairabilityClass B-

Honor Magic V5

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • Exceptional battery life (49:48h endurance)
  • Faster charging speeds (66W wired, 50W wireless)

  • Software experience may not appeal to Google ecosystem users
  • Foldable design durability concerns (common to all foldables)

Google Pixel Fold

  • Seamless Google software integration
  • Unique foldable form factor and aspect ratio
  • Strong computational photography capabilities

  • Less powerful Tensor G2 chipset
  • Lower battery endurance compared to Magic V5
  • Slower charging speeds

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic V5 boasts a measured peak brightness of 1296 nits, suggesting a significantly more visible display in direct sunlight compared to the Pixel Fold (brightness data unavailable). While both utilize foldable OLED technology, the V5’s higher brightness and likely LTPO implementation (based on market positioning) contribute to a more dynamic and power-efficient viewing experience. The Pixel Fold’s wider aspect ratio may be preferable for multitasking, but the V5’s brightness is a key advantage.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs for both devices, a direct comparison is limited. However, given Honor’s history, the Magic V5 likely features a more versatile camera system with larger sensors and advanced image processing capabilities. The Pixel Fold leverages Google’s computational photography expertise, known for its excellent dynamic range and accurate color reproduction. The absence of detailed sensor information for the V5 makes a definitive statement difficult, but its market positioning suggests a focus on camera hardware alongside software optimization.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor Magic V5’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) with its Oryon V2 Phoenix cores (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz) represents a substantial leap in performance and efficiency over the Google Pixel Fold’s 5nm Google Tensor G2 (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 + 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 + 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). The 3nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Elite translates to lower power consumption and reduced thermal throttling during sustained workloads. This means the V5 will maintain higher clock speeds for longer, benefiting gamers and power users. The Tensor G2 prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks, but falls behind in raw CPU and GPU horsepower.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic V5 demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving 49:48 hours in our testing and 12:20 hours of active use. This is likely due to the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and optimized power management. The Pixel Fold’s battery capacity is unknown, but its Tensor G2 chipset is less power-efficient. The V5 also supports 66W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wired charging, offering significantly faster charging speeds than the Pixel Fold’s wired (PD3.0) and wireless options.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic V5 if you need uncompromising performance for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, and value exceptional battery life for all-day use. Buy the Google Pixel Fold if you prioritize a seamless Google software experience, a unique aspect ratio, and are heavily invested in the Google ecosystem, accepting trade-offs in raw processing power and battery longevity.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite in the Honor Magic V5 generate excessive heat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s 3nm process node and advanced thermal management system are designed to mitigate heat generation. While some heat is inevitable during intensive gaming, the V5 is expected to exhibit less throttling than devices with less efficient chipsets, allowing for sustained performance.
❓ How does the Google Tensor G2’s AI capabilities translate to real-world benefits on the Pixel Fold?
The Tensor G2 excels in on-device AI tasks, enhancing features like voice recognition, translation, and image processing. This results in faster and more accurate Google Assistant responses, improved camera performance in challenging lighting conditions, and enhanced security features.
❓ What is the impact of the different aspect ratios on multitasking and app compatibility?
The Pixel Fold’s wider aspect ratio is generally better suited for side-by-side multitasking, allowing you to view two apps simultaneously with more screen real estate. However, some apps may not be fully optimized for the wider aspect ratio, resulting in letterboxing or scaling issues. The Magic V5’s more traditional aspect ratio offers broader app compatibility.