As the foldable smartphone market continues to expand, Honor joins the race with its Magic VS device, offering a foldable experience at a competitive price point. With its unique design and promising features, the Honor Magic VS aims to provide users with the advantages of a foldable device while introducing some innovative twists.

Design and Display:

The Honor Magic VS sports a sleek foldable design that seamlessly transitions from a smartphone to a tablet-like experience. The device boasts a 6.45-inch OLED cover display with a 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. This display delivers vibrant colors and smooth interactions, providing an enjoyable smartphone experience when folded. Unfolding the device reveals a larger 7.9-inch inner display with a resolution of 2272 × 1984. Although slightly less responsive with its 90Hz refresh rate, the inner display offers an immersive viewing experience with crisp visuals. However, the crease in the middle of the display is noticeable at certain angles, although it becomes less obtrusive during regular use.

Performance and Software:

Equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, the Honor Magic VS delivers a powerful performance for everyday tasks and multitasking. The device handles apps and processes smoothly, ensuring a responsive user experience. Honor’s MagicOS software provides a range of customization options, allowing users to tailor the device to their preferences. However, some users may find certain quirks and limitations in the software, such as the absence of an app drawer and the presence of preinstalled apps that cannot be removed. Nevertheless, the overall software experience is intuitive and user-friendly.

Camera Capabilities:

The Honor Magic VS boasts a versatile camera setup, featuring a 54-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. These cameras capture impressive photos in daylight, showcasing vibrant colors and good detail. However, the camera performance in low-light conditions is average, with a noticeable loss of detail and increased noise. The device also offers a 16-megapixel selfie camera on both the cover and inner displays, ensuring sharp and clear self-portraits. While the camera capabilities are commendable, they fall slightly behind the top-tier offerings of other flagship smartphones.

User Experience and Durability:

One of the key advantages of the Honor Magic VS is its versatility in both folded and unfolded states. The device functions well as a regular smartphone when folded, allowing users to access essential apps and perform everyday tasks comfortably. When unfolded, the larger screen provides ample space for multitasking and media consumption. However, the compatibility of Android apps with the larger screen varies, and some apps may not fully utilize the available screen real estate. Regarding durability, the Magic VS offers an impressive rating of 400,000 folding cycles, surpassing some competitors. Nevertheless, the device lacks an IP rating for water and dust resistance, requiring users to handle it with care in challenging environments.

Battery Life and Connectivity:

The Honor Magic VS delivers reliable battery life, offering approximately six and a half hours of screen-on time on average. The device supports fast charging with the included 66W charger, ensuring quick recharging times. However, wireless charging is not available on the Magic VS. In terms of connectivity, the device features a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, but lacks a headphone jack and expandable storage support.

The Honor Magic VS enters the foldable smartphone market with a competitive price and commendable specifications. While its foldable design and usability in both folded and unfolded states are commendable, the device falls short in certain areas. The camera performance, though acceptable, fails to deliver exceptional quality, and app optimization for the larger screen remains inconsistent. Honor’s MagicOS software exhibits quirks and limitations, and concerns about long-term durability persist. Considering the competitive landscape and the historical limitations of foldable devices, it is challenging to wholeheartedly recommend the Honor Magic VS, even for those seeking a more affordable foldable option.