Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special vs Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design: A Foldable Face-Off

The foldable market is heating up, with Samsung continuing to refine its established formula and Honor aggressively entering the space with premium offerings like the Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design. This comparison pits Samsung’s latest iteration, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, against Honor’s flagship, featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, to determine which foldable reigns supreme for power users and luxury enthusiasts.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and future-proofing, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special takes the lead thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. However, the Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design offers a compelling alternative with significantly faster 66W charging, making it ideal for those who value convenience and rapid power-ups.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub61, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, October 212024, January 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, October 24Available. Released 2024, January 12
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, magnesium alloy frame, titanium alloy folding mechanism
DimensionsUnfolded: 157.9 x 142.6 x 4.9 mmFolded: 157.9 x 72.8 x 10.6 mmUnfolded: 156.7 x 145.4 x 4.7 mm or 4.8 mmFolded: 156.7 x 74 x 9.9 mm or 10.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight236 g (8.32 oz)234 g (8.25 oz)
Display
Resolution1968 x 2184 pixels (~367 ppi density)2156 x 2344 pixels (~402 ppi density)
Size8.0 inches, 205.3 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)7.92 inches, 201.6 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)Foldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPU8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750 (1 GHz)Adreno 740
OSAndroid 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaMulti-zone Laser AF (8x8 dToF), color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple200 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 66mm (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm, AF50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF, OIS 20 MP, f/2.4, 62mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2.5x optical zoom, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm (ultrawide), AF
Video8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/120/240fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+4K@30/60fps (10-bit), 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 2.0µm Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging25W wired, QC2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless66W wired 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhSi/C Li-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlackAgate Gray
ModelsSM-F958NVER-AN10
PriceAbout 1870 EURAbout 2700 EUR
SAR0.66 W/kg (head)     1.13 W/kg (body)-

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special

  • Superior processing power with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
  • Likely brighter and more color-accurate display
  • Samsung ecosystem integration
  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging

  • Slower 25W wired charging
  • Potentially higher price

Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design

  • Significantly faster 66W wired charging
  • Porsche Design aesthetic and branding
  • Potentially more refined design with minimized bezels
  • Competitive performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

  • Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • No wireless charging

Display Comparison

While both devices feature foldable displays, specifics beyond resolution are missing. However, given Samsung’s history, the Z Fold Special likely employs a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, maximizing battery efficiency. The Honor Magic V2 RSR likely utilizes a similar LTPO OLED panel, but may not reach the same peak brightness levels as Samsung’s displays. The Porsche Design model’s focus on aesthetics suggests a potentially more color-accurate display tuned for visual fidelity, but this requires further testing. Bezels are a key area; Honor has made significant strides in minimizing these, potentially offering a more immersive viewing experience.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is difficult. However, both manufacturers are known for producing high-quality camera systems. The Z Fold Special, being a Samsung flagship, likely features a versatile multi-camera setup with a large primary sensor and advanced image processing algorithms. The Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design, benefiting from Porsche Design’s influence, may prioritize image quality and color science. The absence of information on sensor sizes and apertures makes it impossible to definitively declare a winner, but Samsung’s experience in computational photography gives it a slight edge.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) represents a significant leap over the Honor Magic V2 RSR’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The Gen 3 features a new CPU architecture with a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.39GHz, compared to the Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 at 3.36GHz. This translates to approximately 10-15% faster CPU performance in benchmarks. The Gen 3 also boasts a more powerful GPU, offering improved graphics rendering for gaming. Both devices utilize LPDDR5X RAM, but the Z Fold Special’s superior chipset will likely result in better sustained performance under heavy load, minimizing thermal throttling. The Honor’s Gen 2 is still a powerhouse, but the Z Fold Special has a clear advantage.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design’s 66W wired charging is a significant advantage over the Z Fold Special’s 25W charging. This means the Honor can replenish its battery much faster, potentially going from 0-100% in under 40 minutes, while the Z Fold Special will take closer to 90 minutes. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging speed mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage. The Z Fold Special does offer 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, features absent in the Honor, but the wired charging speed difference is far more impactful for daily use.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special if you demand the absolute best processing power for demanding tasks like video editing, gaming, and multitasking, and if you’re invested in the Samsung ecosystem. Buy the Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design if you prioritize faster charging speeds, a potentially more refined design aesthetic (Porsche Design branding), and are less concerned with having the very latest chipset generation.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design struggle with demanding games compared to the Z Fold Special?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a powerful chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Z Fold Special offers a noticeable performance uplift, particularly in graphically intensive games. You may experience slightly lower frame rates or need to reduce graphics settings on the Honor to maintain smooth gameplay in the most demanding titles.
❓ How much faster is the 66W charging on the Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design in real-world use?
The 66W charging on the Honor can add a significant amount of battery life in a short period. Expect to gain around 50% charge in approximately 20-25 minutes, compared to 30 minutes for 50% on the Samsung with its 25W charging. This difference is particularly noticeable when you need a quick top-up before heading out.
❓ Is the Porsche Design branding on the Honor Magic V2 RSR worth the extra cost?
The Porsche Design branding primarily adds an aesthetic element with unique design cues and materials. Whether it's 'worth it' is subjective and depends on your personal preference for luxury branding and design. Functionally, the Porsche Design model is identical to the standard Magic V2 in terms of performance and features.
❓ Will the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold Special receive longer software support than the Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design?
Samsung is generally known for providing longer software support for its flagship devices. You can expect at least 4-5 years of major Android updates and security patches for the Z Fold Special, while Honor’s support timeline is typically shorter, around 3-4 years. This is a key consideration for long-term ownership.