The Honor Magic V6 marks the launch of the Chinese manufacturer's sixth generation of foldable phones. Its predecessor was already among the most sophisticated foldables on the market, but Honor has significantly improved upon it: a larger battery, a more robust design with IP69 certification, and sharper displays. We put it to the test.
Slim case and excellent feel
Foldable devices have long had to justify why they are so heavy, thick, and cumbersome.proare often misunderstood. With the Honor Magic V6, this question simply doesn't arise in everyday use. When unfolded, the casing measures a slim 4,1 millimeters excluding the camera module; when folded, it ranges between 8,75 and 9,0 millimeters, depending on the color variant. It weighs around 224 grams, placing it perfectly on par with classic flagship smartphones.
The red color option is particularly successful, featuring a velvety-soft faux leather back that effectively prevents fingerprints and feels superb. The frame and hinge are made of brushed aluminum and stainless steel, respectively, and have an extremely high-quality appearance. According to the manufacturer, the stainless steel hinge is designed to withstand over 500.000 folding cycles. proIt survives without any problems. A real milestone is the protection standard: The Magic V6 is certified according to IP68 and IP69, meaning it is not only protected against dust and immersion, but can even withstand high-pressure water jets.
Two top OLEDs and pen input on both sides
The Honor smartphone features a 6,52-inch LTPO OLED panel with a resolution of 2.420 x 1.080 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate for the front display. The bezels are less than two millimeters thick, allowing the smartphone to be used just like a typical high-end device when closed. When unfolded, the nearly 8-inch OLED screen is revealed. 
The 8-inch internal display offers extremely smooth 120 Hz refresh rate and pen input (Image: TechnikNews)
The crease in the middle of the flexible display is barely visible in everyday use and hardly noticeable when running your fingers over it. Furthermore, the display impressed review lab with significantly improved contrast values in strong ambient light, noticeably optimizing readability in direct sunlight. A practical new feature for productivity users: Stylus input with the optional Magic Pen is now fully supported on both the inner and outer displays.
Brutal performance thanks to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Under the hood, Qualcomm's latest top-of-the-line processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, is at work, accompanied by a generous 12 GB to 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage. In synthetic performance tests as well as in everyday use, it's incredibly fast: apps launch without delay, demanding games run buttery smooth at the highest settings, and multitasking poses no problem whatsoever.
Despite its slim chassis, the redesigned cooling system performs admirably. Under sustained full load, the system throttles significantly less than comparable flagship models in the classic bar format, and heat generation remains at a comfortable level.
A superior battery monster in the foldable segment
The real highlight of the Honor Magic V6 is its enormous battery capacity. Thanks to a modern silicon-carbon anode, Honor has managed to fit a massive 6.660 mAh battery into its slim foldable design. This is a dramatic leap compared to the competition. In everyday use, the Magic V6 easily lasts two days without needing to be plugged in. Even intensive use doesn't cause the foldable to break a sweat.
Honor also sets benchmarks in the foldable smartphone category when it comes to charging times: The smartphone charges via cable at up to 80 watts. After just under 19 minutes, the battery is already half full, and a full charge takes about 53 minutes. Wirelessly, the V6 can be fast-charged at an impressive 66 watts.
Strong main camera, but compromises in the ultrawide angle.
The rear camera trio sits in a distinctive, circular cutout that protrudes approximately 5,5 millimeters from the casing. Honor has opted for a consistently high-resolution setup here:
Main camera: 50 megapixels, f/1.6, OIS
Ultra wide angle: 50 megapixels, f/2.2
Periscope telephoto camera: 64 megapixels, f/2.5, OIS, 3x optical zoom
Selfie cameras: Two 20-megapixel cameras (inside and outside)
The main camera delivers razor-sharp images with excellent detail and high dynamic range. Even at night and in challenging lighting conditions, the sensor keeps noise to a very low level and captures plenty of light. The 64-megapixel periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom also impresses across the board during the day with excellent sharpness and balanced colors.
You can find a large selection of photos taken with the Honor Magic V6. here.
However, as the light diminishes, the telephoto lens's level of detail noticeably decreases. The ultrawide camera remains disappointing: despite its nominal 50-megapixel resolution, the images appear blurry at the edges, sometimes slightly overexposed, and lack fine details.
Software: MagicOS 10 with Apple integration and multitasking
The Magic V6 runs MagicOS 10 based on Android 16. Honor promises an exemplary seven years of Android OS updates and seven years of security patches. The software offers powerful multitasking features such as Multi-Flex, which allows applications to be freely resized and moved, and Fast-Flex for quick split-screen views. However, some apps, such as Google Chrome, still refuse to cooperate in automatic split-screen mode.
In addition to the usual AI tools around Google Gemini, call translation and deepfake detection, Honor's bridge to the Apple ecosystem stands out: The Magic V6 supports Mac screen sharing, file transfers with iPhones and MacBooks, and notification synchronization with the Apple Watch.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra in comparison
In the top tier of smartphones, the Magic V6 faces a direct duel with the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. The Samsung model scores points in a direct comparison with its slightly thinner profile and, thanks to its lighter construction, feels exceptionally comfortable in the hand. Furthermore, Samsung's One UI remains more refined and consistent than MagicOS when it comes to complex multitasking and app adjustments in folded mode.
However, those who place the main focus on core hardware competencies will find the Fold8 Ultra Kom lacking.proThe main drawbacks are: Samsung lags significantly behind the Honor model in both battery life and charging speed. The Magic V6's camera system – especially its bright main camera and the detail-rich periscope telephoto lens – also delivers a stronger overall package.
Prices and availability
The Honor Magic V6 launches in black, gold, and red with a suggested retail price of €2.300 for the 16GB RAM/512GB storage version. The foldable smartphone is already listed at various retailers and available for significantly less.
Conclusion
The Honor Magic V6 is currently the most sophisticated and technically impressive power foldable on the market. Anyone who prioritizes maximum battery life, extremely fast charging, fantastic displays, and a top-notch main camera will choose the Honor Magic V6 without hesitation. However, those who primarily focus on a meticulously refined software experience, an even slimmer profile, and a well-established ecosystem would likely be better served by the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.
