Honor’s Magic V6 doesn’t have a brand new rabbit to drag out of its hat

Honor launched the in August 2025 and but its successor is being introduced simply seven months later. Converse to Honor’s representatives, and you’ll indicate that it’s racing to push the envelope in opposition to each its actual competitors (Samsung) and its anticipated one (Apple). With so little time between launches, you’ll be unsurprised to be taught that little has modified. The one different actual motive this gadget has been pushed out so swiftly is as a result of it’ll assist Honor retain the title of constructing the world’s thinnest foldable. I’ll go away you to determine in case you assume that’s a legitimate sufficient motive to launch an entire new smartphone so quickly.

Final yr, simply one of many 4 Magic V5 colorways measured in at 8.8mm folded and 4.1mm open whereas the remaining clocked in at 9mm and 4.2mm respectively. This yr Honor is marking its personal homework with a equally beneficiant spirit, with the white model of the Magic V6 measuring 8.75mm folded and 4.0mm open. The black, gold and crimson colorways must accept the indignity of measuring 9mm folded and 4.1mm open. Now, I respect the engineering savvy essential to make a tool this slim, however this push for extra thinness must cease. Final yr’s Magic V5 crossed the millimeters-wide rubicon from slender to dainty, to the purpose the place, whereas holding it, I used to be apprehensive about how sturdy it was. In any case, foldables are usually put via mechanical stresses that common telephones by no means must take care of in regular responsibility.

Honor says the cellphone is nicely constructed to resist the trials of regular life, together with a scratch-resistant show cowl. The display is impact-resistant, there’s a far stronger hinge and it’s rated for IP68 and IP69 mud and water resistance. Claims that, I’m certain, shall be examined to its limits by sceptical reviewers when the gadget goes on sale. The corporate has additionally been scraping away on the V6’s weight, with the white mannequin weighing in at 219 grams, whereas the opposite three colorways are 224 grams. That’s lighter than an iPhone 17 Professional Max (233 grams), and you’ll guess Honor talked about that truth in its briefings to the press greater than as soon as.

Honor has additionally seen match to make some large design adjustments to the within of the V6 to assist shrink lots of its parts. This redesigned inside construction features a new antenna, speaker chamber, vibration motor, NFC module, SIM card slot and USB-C housing. All the area vacated by these parts has been crammed by a brand new 6,660mAh battery with 25 p.c silicon content material. Honor says it is best to anticipate to have the ability to play a video on the first show for twenty-four hours with that beefy battery.

It’s price noting solely the worldwide model is provided with this 6,660mAh cell, whereas the China-only variant will get a fair higher mannequin. Honor stated its home version could have a CATL-manufactured battery with 32 p.c silicon content material and a rated capability of greater than 7,000mAh.

“And when Alexander noticed the breadth of his area he wept, seeing as he had no extra worlds to overcome.” The quote comes from Die Exhausting — though it’s an that movie coined the phrase completely — however the sentiment applies to a lot of the remainder of this handset. The remainder of the spec sheet is kind of the identical as discovered on the Magic V5, which itself was a modest revision of its predecessor. Primarily, there aren’t too many extra worlds to overcome even on the highest finish of smartphone parts, so seize your weepin’ tissues.

Dab on the corners of your eyes whenever you see the cameras are kind of an identical each in the primary setup and for selfies. There are two 50-megapixel lenses paired with a 64-megapixel telephoto, and up entrance on each the quilt and inside show, there’s a 20-megapixel f/2.2 selfie lens.

You’ll discover similarly-meager fare within the checklist of adjustments made to the shows, because the main display stays the identical measurement and determination as earlier than. The bezels on the quilt display have been trimmed, so it now measures in at 6.52-inches, up from the 6.43-inch on the V5. However in many of the different methods through which it issues, you’ll discover that right here it’s enterprise as normal.

The V5 shipped with a Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, and that was loads quick sufficient. The V6 can boast that it’s the primary foldable to ship with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (paired with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage). Whereas it’s an improve on the older SoC, it’s not transformative. Let’s be trustworthy, it’s arduous to not see Honor’s need to shuffle a brand new handset out the door with some advertising claims comes at the price of any significant substance.

On the software program facet, it’s enterprise as normal, though one factor caught my eye sufficient to be price remark. At a number of factors throughout Honor’s briefing, the corporate went arduous on the concept its units play splendidly nicely with Apple’s. If you happen to set up Honor Join onto your iPhone and Mac, you’ll be capable of share information, lengthen your desktop and even management your AirPods. This was one thing the corporate has been pushing for some time now, however it stunned me how a lot it was introduced up right here.

On one hand, it is sensible that any would-be Apple challenger would supply a pleasant manner in for iPhone diehards. Inform them that your Android handset will combine together with your present units after which hope to point out them what you’ve acquired to supply. On the opposite, in case you’re so desperate to tag your gear onto one other firm’s ecosystem, it doesn’t recommend lots of confidence in your individual. Particularly whenever you’re advertising your expensive, ultra-premium flagship foldable as “an excellent macOS companion” in your individual advertising supplies. Nonetheless, with the ability to use the V6 as an prolonged show to your Mac is a cool thought, irrespective of the broader narrative.

At first blush, Honor’s Magic V6 seems to be like a cellphone that exists to fulfill a advertising demand quite than out of necessity. (I’m certain somebody will level out that’s the case for lots of latest telephones today, however I’m certain you’re taking my which means.) To remain forward of its rivals, it’s nipped and tucked each nook of this cellphone to inside an inch of its life, and the top outcome is kind of the identical handset we noticed lower than a yr in the past. That’s to not say it’s a nasty cellphone, the V5 was a stunning piece of equipment, however I can’t assist however marvel if holding this gadget again till Honor had extra significant enhancements wouldn’t have been higher.

On the time of publication, Honor hasn’t shared pricing and availability info, which we’ll replace right here when it’s introduced.