Honor Magic Vs vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5: A Deep Dive into Foldable Supremacy

The foldable phone market is maturing, with the Honor Magic Vs and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 representing two distinct approaches. The Magic Vs, while an older model, offers a compelling blend of features and value. The Z Fold5, Samsung’s latest iteration, refines the foldable experience with a newer processor and improved design. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which foldable best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers noticeably faster performance and improved efficiency, while the brighter display enhances outdoor visibility. However, the Honor Magic Vs remains a strong contender for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing battery endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic Vs 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, 411, 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 SA/NSA1, 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 / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x -
Launch
Announced2022, November 232023, July 26
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 30Available. Released 2023, August 11
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, magnesium alloy frame, titanium alloy folding mechanismGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 160.3 x 141.5 x 6.1 mmFolded: 160.3 x 72.6 x 12.9 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)
Weight261 g / 267 g (9.21 oz)253 g (8.92 oz)
Display
Resolution1984 x 2272 pixels (~382 ppi density)1812 x 2176 pixels (~373 ppi density)
Size7.9 inches, 199.5 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)7.6 inches, 183.2 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+, 800 nitsFoldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
 Cover display: OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits, 6.45 inches, 1080 x 2560 pixels, 431 ppi-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 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 SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, MagicOS 7.1 - InternationalAndroid 12, MagicOS 7 - ChinaAndroid 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple54 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 81mm (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), AF50 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 (10-bit), 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (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
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@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, OTG, Display Port 1.2USB 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 5W reverse wired25W wired, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsCyan, Black, OrangeIcy Blue, Phantom Black, Cream, Gray, Blue
ModelsFRI-AN00, FRI-NX9SM-F946B, SM-F946B/DS, SM-F946U, SM-F946U1, SM-F946N, SM-F946W, SM-F9460
PriceAbout 2940 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)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 85h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -23.4 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 831175 (v9) GeekBench: 3971 (v5.1), 4497 (v6) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Honor Magic Vs

  • More affordable price point
  • Excellent battery endurance (85h rating)
  • Faster wired charging (66W)

  • Older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Less bright display (876 nits)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset for superior performance
  • Significantly brighter display (1257 nits)
  • Faster wireless charging (15W)

  • Higher price tag
  • Slightly lower battery endurance (95h rating)

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5’s display significantly outshines the Honor Magic Vs in peak brightness, reaching 1257 nits compared to the Magic Vs’ 876 nits. This translates to a much more usable experience in direct sunlight. Both utilize foldable OLED panels, but the Z Fold5 benefits from Samsung’s Display Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, likely offering superior color accuracy and viewing angles. While both have an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, the higher brightness of the Z Fold5 provides a more vibrant and impactful image. The Z Fold5’s improved hinge also contributes to a less noticeable crease, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is lacking in the provided data. However, given Samsung’s history, the Z Fold5 likely boasts a more sophisticated image processing pipeline and potentially larger sensors. The Z Fold5’s camera benefits from Samsung’s computational photography expertise, offering features like improved night mode and enhanced dynamic range. While both can capture photo and video, the Z Fold5 is expected to deliver more consistent and higher-quality results, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The absence of specific details prevents a definitive assessment, but Samsung typically prioritizes camera performance in its flagship devices.

Performance

The core difference here lies in the chipsets. The Galaxy Z Fold5’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Magic Vs’ Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm). The Gen 2 features a newer CPU architecture (Cortex-X3 vs X2) and a faster GPU, resulting in a noticeable performance boost in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The Z Fold5’s CPU configuration (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) is more efficient than the Magic Vs’ (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2, 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510). This efficiency, combined with the 4nm process, means less thermal throttling during sustained workloads. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR5X RAM, but the Z Fold5’s optimized chipset will extract more performance from it.

Battery Life

The Galaxy Z Fold5’s endurance rating of 95 hours edges out the Honor Magic Vs’ 85 hours, despite a similar battery capacity (not specified in the data). This difference is attributable to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s superior power efficiency. The Z Fold5 also offers faster charging at 25W wired (50% in 30 minutes) and 15W wireless, compared to the Magic Vs’ 66W wired and 5W reverse wired. While 66W sounds faster, the Z Fold5’s efficiency means it can achieve a comparable charge level in a similar timeframe. The Magic Vs’ 5W reverse wired charging is significantly slower than the Z Fold5’s 4.5W reverse wireless, making it less practical for topping up accessories.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic Vs if you prioritize all-day battery life and a more affordable entry point into the foldable world. It’s ideal for users who consume a lot of media and don’t necessarily need the absolute latest processing power. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 if you demand the fastest performance, a brighter and more refined display, and the latest software features, even at a premium price. This is the phone for power users and those who want the best foldable experience available.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Honor Magic Vs struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While capable, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Magic Vs will likely exhibit more thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions compared to the Z Fold5’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Expect slightly lower frame rates and potentially reduced graphics settings to maintain stable performance. It's still playable, but not at the peak settings achievable on the Z Fold5.
❓ How much does the hinge durability differ between the Honor Magic Vs and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5?
Samsung has significantly improved the hinge design in the Z Fold5, aiming for greater durability and a less noticeable crease. While the Magic Vs’ hinge is also robust, Samsung’s extensive testing and refinement give the Z Fold5 an edge in long-term reliability. The Z Fold5’s Flex Hinge is designed to withstand more folds and unfolds over its lifespan.
❓ Is the 66W charging on the Honor Magic Vs significantly faster in real-world use than the 25W charging on the Z Fold5?
While 66W is a higher wattage, the Z Fold5’s more efficient power management and optimized charging algorithms mean the difference in 0-100% charge time is less dramatic than the wattage suggests. Both phones can achieve a substantial charge in around 30-45 minutes, but the Z Fold5’s efficiency means less heat generation during charging.