Honor’s Magic V6 doesn’t have a brand new rabbit to tug out of its hat

Honor launched the in August 2025 and but its successor is being introduced simply seven months later. Communicate to Honor’s representatives, and you may indicate that it’s racing to push the envelope towards each its actual competitors (Samsung) and its anticipated one (Apple). With so little time between launches, you’ll be unsurprised to be taught that little has modified. The one different actual cause this system has been pushed out so swiftly is as a result of it’ll assist Honor retain the title of constructing the world’s thinnest foldable. I’ll depart you to resolve if you happen to assume that’s a sound sufficient cause to launch a complete new smartphone so quickly.

Final 12 months, simply one of many 4 Magic V5 colorways measured in at 8.8mm folded and 4.1mm open whereas the remaining clocked in at 9mm and 4.2mm respectively. This 12 months Honor is marking its personal homework with a equally beneficiant spirit, with the white model of the Magic V6 measuring 8.75mm folded and 4.0mm open. The black, gold and purple colorways should accept the indignity of measuring 9mm folded and 4.1mm open. Now, I admire the engineering savvy essential to make a tool this slim, however this push for extra thinness must cease. Final 12 months’s Magic V5 crossed the millimeters-wide rubicon from slender to dainty, to the purpose the place, whereas holding it, I used to be fearful about how sturdy it was. In any case, foldables are usually put by mechanical stresses that common telephones by no means must cope with in regular responsibility.

Honor says the cellphone is effectively constructed to face up to the trials of regular life, together with a scratch-resistant show cowl. The display is impact-resistant, there’s a far stronger hinge and it’s rated for IP68 and IP69 mud and water resistance. Claims that, I’m positive, might be examined to its limits by sceptical reviewers when the system goes on sale. The corporate has additionally been scraping away on the V6’s weight, with the white mannequin weighing in at 219 grams, whereas the opposite three colorways are 224 grams. That’s lighter than an iPhone 17 Professional Max (233 grams), and you may guess Honor talked about that reality in its briefings to the press greater than as soon as.

Honor has additionally seen match to make some huge design modifications to the within of the V6 to assist shrink lots of its parts. This redesigned inside construction features a new antenna, speaker chamber, vibration motor, NFC module, SIM card slot and USB-C housing. All the area vacated by these parts has been stuffed by a brand new 6,660mAh battery with 25 p.c silicon content material. Honor says you must count on to have the ability to play a video on the first show for twenty-four hours with that beefy battery.

It’s value noting solely the worldwide model is provided with this 6,660mAh cell, whereas the China-only variant will get a good higher mannequin. Honor mentioned its home version can have a CATL-manufactured battery with 32 p.c silicon content material and a rated capability of greater than 7,000mAh.

“And when Alexander noticed the breadth of his area he wept, seeing as he had no extra worlds to beat.” The quote comes from Die Arduous — though it’s an that movie coined the phrase solely — however the sentiment applies to a lot of the remainder of this handset. The remainder of the spec sheet is kind of the identical as discovered on the Magic V5, which itself was a modest revision of its predecessor. Basically, there aren’t too many extra worlds to beat even on the highest finish of smartphone parts, so seize your weepin’ tissues.

Dab on the corners of your eyes while you see the cameras are roughly equivalent each in the primary setup and for selfies. There are two 50-megapixel lenses paired with a 64-megapixel telephoto, and up entrance on each the quilt and inside show, there’s a 20-megapixel f/2.2 selfie lens.

You’ll discover similarly-meager fare within the checklist of modifications made to the shows, because the major display stays the identical measurement and determination as earlier than. The bezels on the quilt display have been trimmed, so it now measures in at 6.52-inches, up from the 6.43-inch on the V5. However in many of the different methods by which it issues, you’ll discover that right here it’s enterprise as typical.

The V5 shipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, and that was loads quick sufficient. The V6 can boast that it’s the primary foldable to ship with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (paired with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage). Whereas it’s an improve on the older SoC, it’s not transformative. Let’s be trustworthy, it’s onerous to not see Honor’s want to shuffle a brand new handset out the door with some advertising and marketing claims comes at the price of any significant substance.

On the software program aspect, it’s enterprise as typical, though one factor caught my eye sufficient to be value remark. At a number of factors throughout Honor’s briefing, the corporate went onerous on the concept that its units play splendidly effectively with Apple’s. In the event you set up Honor Join onto your iPhone and Mac, you’ll be capable of share recordsdata, lengthen your desktop and even management your AirPods. This was one thing the corporate has been pushing for some time now, nevertheless it stunned me how a lot it was introduced up right here.

On one hand, it is smart that any would-be Apple challenger would supply a pleasant manner in for iPhone diehards. Inform them that your Android handset will combine along with your current units after which hope to indicate them what you’ve obtained to supply. On the opposite, if you happen to’re so desperate to tag your gear onto one other firm’s ecosystem, it doesn’t recommend quite a lot of confidence in your personal. Particularly while you’re advertising and marketing your expensive, ultra-premium flagship foldable as “a perfect macOS companion” in your personal advertising and marketing supplies. Nonetheless, with the ability to use the V6 as an prolonged show on your Mac is a cool thought, regardless of the broader narrative.

At first blush, Honor’s Magic V6 appears to be like like a cellphone that exists to fulfill a advertising and marketing demand somewhat than out of necessity. (I’m positive somebody will level out that’s the case for lots of recent telephones today, however I’m positive you’re taking my which means.) To remain forward of its rivals, it’s nipped and tucked each nook of this cellphone to inside an inch of its life, and the top consequence is kind of the identical handset we noticed lower than a 12 months in the past. That’s to not say it’s a nasty cellphone, the V5 was a beautiful piece of package, however I can’t assist however marvel if holding this system again till Honor had extra significant enhancements wouldn’t have been higher.

On the time of publication, Honor hasn’t shared pricing and availability data, which we’ll replace right here when it’s introduced.