Review · Honor
Honor Magic V4 Review: 2025 Best Foldable Runner-Up Is the Slimmest Book-Fold
Runner-up Best Foldable at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. Honor's Magic V4 is the slimmest book-style foldable on the market — material differentiation from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (winner) — with hardware that genuinely matches Samsung. The big trade-offs: limited US availability, only 4 years of OS updates, and MagicOS less polished than One UI.
By SmartphoneAwards Editorial · Published · Updated
Pros
- Runner-up Best Foldable at MKBHD's 2025 awards
- Slimmest book-style foldable on the market
- Excellent display brightness
- Aggressive pricing in markets where it's sold
Cons
- Very limited US availability
- MagicOS less polished than One UI or stock Android
- Only 4 years of major OS updates (vs 7 on Z Fold 7)
- Camera trails non-folding flagships
Why it placed at MKBHD's awards
Runner-up Best Foldable in 2025 specifically because of hardware execution — the slimmest book-fold, an excellent hinge, and a competitive triple-camera system. Where it loses to the Z Fold 7: software ecosystem, AI features, and update commitment.
Build & hinge
Slimmer than the Z Fold 7 by ~0.5mm. Hinge is excellent — Honor has refined it across four generations. Feels premium in hand. Where Samsung still wins: the Z Fold 7's hinge has 7 generations of refinement vs Honor's 4.
Displays
Inner: 7.92-inch OLED, ~3,000 nits peak — slightly brighter than Z Fold 7. Outer: 6.43-inch AMOLED at 120Hz. Both excellent.
Performance & software
Snapdragon 8 Elite + 16GB RAM. Performance is identical to other 8 Elite flagships. MagicOS has improved meaningfully over the past two generations but still has rough localization for US users — the launcher, notification handling, and several Western-app integrations feel less mature than One UI.
Camera
Triple 50MP system. Quality is good — better than Z Fold 7, behind non-folding flagships like the iPhone 17 Pro. Honor's color science is bolder than Samsung's; some users prefer it.
Battery
5,500 mAh battery (larger than Z Fold 7's 4,650 mAh), 66W wired charging. Real-world: 6+ hours of inner-display use. Better than the Z Fold 7 on raw endurance.
Verdict · 4.0 / 5
Buy the Honor Magic V4 if you live in a market where Honor has strong distribution and you want the slimmest book-fold available. For US buyers, the Z Fold 7 (2025 Best Foldable winner) is the safer choice due to availability, software ecosystem, and 7-year update commitment.
🛒 Buy the Honor Magic V4 on AmazonAlternatives to consider
Frequently Asked Questions
Honor Magic V4 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 — which is better?
Z Fold 7 won Best Foldable at MKBHD's 2025 awards (Magic V4 was runner-up). Z Fold 7 has more mature hinge, broader software ecosystem, and 7-year update commitment. Magic V4 is slimmer hardware at lower price.
Can I buy the Honor Magic V4 in the US?
Very limited US availability. Most buyers will need to import — accepting trade-offs on carrier support and warranty service.
Is the Honor Magic V4 hinge as durable as Samsung's?
Honor is on its fourth-generation hinge. Samsung is on its seventh. Honor's is excellent but Samsung has more proven long-term durability.
How we rate
Our editorial score is anchored to outcomes from MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025), then refined for everyday usability. Phone of the Year winners earn 5/5; category winners 4.5/5; runners-up 4/5; otherwise we score on merit. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.