I pick HONOR Magic V5 just because of its form factor. Let me explain.

July truly turned into the month of foldable smartphones for me. In just three weeks, I’ve had the unique opportunity to try out three different foldables (first time in my life!) which are the HONOR Magic V5, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7, and the VIVO XFold5. While all three are undeniably impressive and excel in their own ways, if I were to choose the one for me, it would, without hesitation, be the former. Just because of one reason.

The Thinness

The unit I have is the Ivory White, which currently is the slimmest foldable you can buy, measuring a remarkable 4.1mm unfolded and 8.8mm folded. The other color is slight thicker at 4.2mm unfolded and 9.0mm folded. For Ivory White, HONOR even claims its thickness is comparable to that of a fifty-cent coin, which is absolutely stunning.

However, there’s been much discussion online questioning if Magic V5 is truly that slim, whether indeed it is slimmer than the Z Fold7 or HONOR just overclaim it. I can personally vouch that yes, it is. The slight discrepancy between HONOR’s claim and our measurements on the consumer unit is because the consumer unit comes with a pre-applied screen protector on the cover display. Call it false marketing, but for me this is actually a good thing, as you won’t need to find one yourself. I really don’t mind the additional 0.1mm thicker.

And if you prefer a naked screen or want to achieve HONOR’s claimed with that exact thinness, simply peel it off. The choice is yours, unlike with the Z Fold7, for which Samsung never provides a free screen protector for the cover display.

Why does it matter?

All the three foldables specifications equals or match what other could do. HONOR win in some categories, Samsung in some, and VIVO in one. Yes VIVO actually only the best in literally one category : the camera. So for me to choose one that I would spend that huge amount of money, is totally up to personal preference, and for me is the form factor.

Size does matter a lot to me because coming from a slab phone, the bulkiness and foldable form factor is the major downside of having one. I don’t like to carry a thick brick in my jeans so to have a foldable that is actually as slim or almost as slim as a slab phone is a must. So that left me with only 2 candidates; the HONOR Magic V5 and Samsung Galaxy Fold7. Both are thin, in fact super thin for a foldable.

But it can only be one winner. I need to look beyond the thinness. How about the feeling in hand? How about pocket friendliness? Both phones have different approach. HONOR Magic V5 has more rounded edges, which might look a bit classic and common, while Samsung looks more modern with sharper and square-ish edges. However, the roundness of HONOR Magic V5 feels more comfortable and less painful in the hands as compared to the boxy edge of Samsung Galaxy Fold7.

So in the end, I pick HONOR Magic V5 as my foldable of choice.