Honor Magic V4 vs Galaxy S25 Ultra: Foldable Slim or Slab Flagship?
Honor Magic V4 was runner-up Best Foldable at MKBHD's 2025 awards. Galaxy S25 Ultra was runner-up Phone of the Year. Both Snapdragon 8 Elite flagships at premium prices, but completely different form factors.
Updated · Verdict based on MKBHD Smartphone Awards results and spec analysis.
Honor Magic V4
Honor · 2025 · From $1699
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
Round wins
Honor Magic V4: 2 · Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 4 ·Ties: 2
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Honor Magic V4 | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 7.92-inch inner OLED, 6.43-inch outer OLED, 120Hz | 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz LTPO |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | 16GB | 12GB |
| Camera | 50MP main + 40MP ultrawide + 50MP 3x telephoto | 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 10MP 3x + 50MP 5x telephoto |
| Battery | 5,150 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| OS | Android 15 (MagicOS 9) | Android 15 (One UI 7) |
| Starting price | $1699 | $1299 |
| Released | 2025 | 2025 |
Round-by-round breakdown
Form factor
Winner: Honor Magic V4Honor Magic V4 is the slimmest book-style foldable on the market. S25 Ultra is a slab. Pick on form factor preference.
Inner display
Winner: Honor Magic V4Honor Magic V4: 7.92-inch inner display. S25 Ultra: 6.9-inch. Honor is a tablet-class device when unfolded.
Camera
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra: 200MP main + 5x periscope. Honor Magic V4: triple 50MP. Samsung wins on resolution and zoom.
Performance
TieBoth Snapdragon 8 Elite. Functionally identical.
S Pen / extras
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraS25 Ultra has integrated S Pen. Honor Magic V4 has stylus support but sold separately and less mature ecosystem.
Software updates
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraSamsung: 7 years. Honor: 4 years. Big gap.
US availability
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 UltraGalaxy S25 Ultra is sold and supported everywhere. Honor Magic V4 has very limited US availability.
Price
TieRoughly comparable in markets where both are sold. Honor typically a bit cheaper.
Final verdict
Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra unless you specifically want a book-style foldable AND live in a market where Honor has strong distribution. Galaxy S25 Ultra wins on cameras, S Pen integration, software polish, and 7-year update commitment vs Honor's 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Honor Magic V4 or Galaxy S25 Ultra: which to buy?
Galaxy S25 Ultra — unless you specifically want a book-style foldable AND live in a market where Honor has strong distribution. Samsung wins on capability, support, and longevity.
Is the Honor Magic V4 available in the US?
Very limited — most US buyers need to import. We don't recommend the V4 for US buyers unless you specifically want its hardware.
Which has the better camera?
Galaxy S25 Ultra — 200MP main and 5x periscope outclass the Honor's triple 50MP system on resolution and zoom flexibility.