Honor's Magic V5: World's thinnest foldable, 8 records and AI power

Amid fierce competition in the Chinese smartphone market, Honor, a spin-off from Huawei since 2020, has launched the Magic V5 foldable smartphone. 

Priced from 8,999 yuan ($1,256), the company claims the device holds eight world records. It is billed as the "thinnest and lightest" foldable globally, highlighting advancements in portability, AI and tech innovation.​

The Magic V5's records span multiple aspects. Its 0.18mm ultra-thin high-silicon cell chip strengthens battery performance and supports a thin design, while a 0.014 mm ultra-fine braided aerospace fiber ensures durability without adding much weight. With an assembly accuracy of 0.003 mm, the device guarantees structural stability. Folded at 8.8 mm thick and weighing 217-222 grams based on color models, it features a battery with 25 percent silicon content (the industry's highest) and 6100mAh capacity (largest among foldables), along with a hinge made of 2300MPa high-strength steel.​

Honor CEO James Li Jian noted it's the firm's first flagship phone since it shifted to an AI-centric hardware strategy. The phone's Yoyo AI agent can generate presentations from articles and manage ride-hailing across apps, automatically choosing the fastest option. Honor has also announced a partnership with Alibaba to expand Yoyo's functionality in productivity, transport and shopping.​

The launch comes with China's foldable smartphone market growing steadily this year. IDC data shows 2.84 million units were shipped in Q1, up 53.1 percent year on year. However, competition is intense, with Huawei leading the domestic foldable market at 76.6 percent share and Honor second at 9.1 percent.​

As part of a broader plan, Honor has pledged $10 billion over five years for AI development to become an AI device ecosystem company. A 1-billion-parameter industrial model at its factory simulated 125,000 assembly options to optimize the Magic V5's hinge design.​

While foldables still make up a small segment of the overall global smartphone market, the Magic V5's records, AI features, large battery and thin profile will test its competitiveness against established players like Samsung in the months ahead.

(Cover via VCG)