The Honor Magic V5 is a very interesting foldable phone – it is truly thin enough to function in both roles: as a regular phone, but also as a handy tablet. This is a unique combination, which is why I decided to test this model from a photography perspective.

Honor Magic V5 – the great magic of large previews

I have to admit that I have never owned a tablet in the past, so I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy testing this device. But the worries were unnecessary – I got used to it very quickly. And the most addictive thing is using the Honor Magic V5 for viewing photos directly in the field: the size at which you can view them in the unfolded mode is simply great.

And I was also pleasantly surprised that it is a truly very thin phone/tablet – officially, it is only 8.8 mm thick when folded. It is true that Honor doesn’t count the camera module in this – so if we put the Honor Magic V5 next to the iPhone 17 Pro, it is still thicker overall.

But: it simply doesn’t feel like it in the pocket at all – it fits there quite comfortably, just like any other “normal” phone. In other words: it is a truly relatively compact device, and the magic stands out even more when it is unfolded and can function in its tablet mode.

So what crossed my mind when I was testing its photographic functions? Let’s take a closer look. As usual, I tested in Prague, and although December light generally doesn’t favor photography much, I was lucky. And so this phone and tablet in one could show what it can do.

Video: Honor Magic V5 camera test – 13 min in 4K HDR

Honor Magic V5 – camera

First, as usual, let’s look at what system of sensors and lenses we have available.

Honor Magic V5 – Camera: Lenses and Sensors
Main Camera	23mm, 50 MP, f/1.6 OIS, Laser AF, PDAF Sensor size: 1/1.56″
Telephoto Lens	70mm, 64 MP, f/2.5 3× optical zoom Sensor size: 1/2.0″
Ultra-wide Camera	13 mm, 50 MP, f/2
Front Camera (2x)	21 mm, 20 MP, f/2.2

It is obvious that the main lens and sensor will play the key role – it has 50 MP and a reasonable focal length of 23mm. The sensor size ranks it rather among the smaller ones, but even so, it can deliver very good performance.

The second essential part is the telephoto lens – it has a 3x optical zoom and 64 MP. However, it can zoom up to one hundred times. Which sounds a bit suspicious, but as you will see mainly in the accompanying video, it turns out surprisingly well even in such extreme positions.

The third in the collection is the ultra-wide lens; like the main lens, it has 50 MP, and although many users somewhat ignore this focal length, it is a shame: it also offers very good performance.

And then there are two selfie lenses. Yes two, because the owner can take a selfie in both positions: when the phone is folded, i.e., from the front display, and of course from the unfolded position. The parameters of both cameras are the same – they are 21mm and 20 MP.

As always, there are many additional functions here – the key choice will be which of the three styles the user chooses. The default is the “Vibrant” style. This gives very reasonably balanced photos and the vast majority of photos in this review are taken in it. The other two options are “Natural” with slightly more muted colors and “Authentic”, which isn’t actually very authentic: it adds vignetting (dark corners) and highlights colors quite dramatically.

Portrait mode filters offer similarly more or less wild options, so it is good to get familiar with them in detail, because during testing I occasionally managed to turn on a wilder version of portraits than I would have liked.

It is also possible to shoot in the full resolution of the sensors in the High-Res function. It doesn’t make much sense in everyday life, but in some situations, more detail can be useful, so this option is definitely worth trying.

Honor Magic V5 vs Honor Magic7 Pro – what are the differences?

The Honor Magic7 Pro really caught my eye a few months ago and undoubtedly (at least on the Czech market) belongs to the unjustly overlooked flagships. And how does it differ from this foldable? At first glance, the specs are relatively similar: 50 MP on the main sensor, up to 100x zoom on the 3x telephoto lens, and so on.

But: the necessity to shrink everything and stuff it into an ultra-thin foldable is felt in the specs after all: the main sensor has 50 MP, but physically it is slightly smaller here. The 3x zoom also matches, but here too the size is significantly smaller: both physical in terms of sensor dimensions and in pixel count. The Honor Magic7 Pro offers 200 MP on the telephoto lens, which looks a bit like a marketing trick, but it isn’t: it really works.

In a quick overall assessment, therefore, the Honor Magic7 Pro has better equipment and the potential to offer better photos in some parameters. On the other hand, it is undoubtedly true: whoever desires a foldable will definitely not be disappointed by photos from the V5.

Honor Magic V5 – what I liked

It is a truly likeable foldable – I admit, the word “likeable” can seem a bit inappropriate in reviews. But for me, it is important to roughly describe this feeling of mine: I dragged this phone around in my pockets for about two weeks and its dimensions and performance are simply likeable. That thinness isn’t just an advertising slogan: it really is a compact phone. Which doesn’t mean I would become a tablet fan overnight, no, I will remain faithful to the classics. But whoever likes this world will be satisfied with the dimensions and operation.

Overall camera performance is very good and definitely won’t disappoint – as I already mentioned, it would be a bit unfair to compare photographic performance with top-tier flagships, because logically it is significantly easier for them to work with other hardware components. But regardless of that, the Honor Magic V5 offers truly very good performance overall.

Viewing photos on a large display is addictive. Yes, I had no idea how nice it is to have the option to quickly run through photos on a truly large tablet display. Although it sounds banal, there is really much, much more to see for potential quick corrections.

The main sensor does a very good job – the core of photographic performance will logically be in charge of the main sensor, and it does a very solid job. You can see this best from the sample photos, and mainly the video, where you can see photos in full quality and in HDR, in which brightness and colors will shine even more.

Digital zoom is surprisingly good – as I already mentioned, up to one hundred times digital zoom is available, which also uses AI algorithms for the final processing. And it turns out – considering only 3x optical zoom and a smaller sensor – very decently.

The ultra-wide lens supports the overall impression – it would be a shame to forget the ultra-wide lens – it delivers very good performance and you can really feel that it also has 50 MP. Which is not a rule at all – many manufacturers like to “shortchange” precisely this sensor, but here it is a full-fledged part of the photo equipment. And that counts.

Video offers a very good HDR mode – in the video settings, it is possible to set shooting to HDR, which you should definitely try; on quality displays, a whole new world full of glowing clouds and illuminated shadows will open up to you.

Honor Magic V5 – what to watch out for

Technical construction requires compromises in camera equipment – we already mentioned this: the ultra-thin foldable required a special approach in construction, so it is no wonder that it has slightly weaker parameters than the aforementioned Honor Magic7 Pro. This doesn’t change the overall good impression, but it is simply good to know.

The 3x optical zoom occasionally gasps for breath – the only occasionally visible compromise is in the quality of the 3x optical zoom (or when zooming to 6x or in this still “close” zone). The sensor has a relatively small physical size (1/2.0″), image quality is occasionally weaker, especially in weaker light. It must be said that experts are more likely to notice this; for the average user, these will still be very good results.

The price is relatively high – The Honor Magic V5 at the given moment (December 2025) costs roughly 40,000 CZK, which ranks it among already relatively expensive devices. For those who need a phone, a number of other options are available (including the already mentioned Honor Magic7 Pro, which can be purchased for roughly half). The key is therefore to understand it as a remarkable device offering a phone and tablet in one.

Honor Magic V5 – summary

The Honor Magic V5 is undoubtedly a very interesting device that can offer the best of both worlds. It manages to be a handy phone, but at the same time a ready tablet for more advanced work. From a photography perspective, it is great to use it for quick photo viewing and potentially their processing. Conversely, tablet lovers will be glad that thanks to the truly thin construction, it can be hidden in a pocket without problems.

Honor Magic V5 – sample photos

Review Summary