The Honor Magic V6 is the brand’s followup to the Magic V5, and it brings several changes to the formula. The new model features a big increase in battery capacity to 6660mAh, a slightly larger cover screen, improved speakers, and a larger telephoto sensor.
The headline feature on the new model is the IP68 and IP69 dust and water rating – it’s the first foldable phone on the market to achieve it. That means it can withstand high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and submersion.
Unfortunately, it’s not all good news. Where we hoped in the Magic V5 review that Australian models would get the same 7-year support tail as Europe, it seems that isn’t the case. The Magic V6 receives just 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security updates, which falls short of the mark we’d like to see.
At this price point, that’s a tough policy to accept – but it’s better than the brand’s abysmal 2-year support tail on its slab-style Honor 600 and 600 Pro.
Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5
Pros
- IP68 & IP69 rating is the best in the class right now
- Excellent telephoto sensor produces detailed images
- Impressive battery life and powerful fast charging
Cons
- 4 years OS and 5 years security updates in Australia is disappointing
- Camera is great, but prone to flaws like blur and missed focus
- Asymmetrical bezel looks a bit unpolished
Price: $2999 RRP | For foldable enthusiasts seeking best-in-class durability
Setup & First Impressions
The Honor Magic V6 makes a nice first impression. After a fairly uneventful setup process, its smooth screen and responsive interface feel great.
On first inspection, the central crease is a lot more noticeable than those on premium alternatives like the Oppo Find N6, but thanks to the bright screen, it’s not very noticeable in use.
The included case is noteworthy, as it feels fairly nice for a freebie and has a flip-out kickstand that comes in handy. Overseas versions include an 80W fast charger, but that’s not the case in Australia, adding extra cost to the purchase.
Design & Aesthetics
The Honor Magic V6 features a solid but smooth hinge and strong magnets that hold it closed. Honor uses a new steel alloy, but its total fold cycle rating is the same 500,000 actions as the prior model.
The phone comes in white, red, or the black finish we have here. Our black model looks a bit closer to a dark smokey charcoal, and it’s a matte finish rather than a glossy one. The prettiest finish in the range is the red, which features a textured rear and gold accents.
The bezels are a little weird, as the sides are almost a millimetre wider than the top and bottom. Overall, they’re thicker than models we’ve looked at from other manufacturers.
Life With the Honor Magic V6
I’ve been using the Magic V6 as a daily driver, testing out its hardware, software quirks, and overall performance.
Positives
The displays are a big highlight, as they’re more than bright enough for outdoor usage, and they provide excellent viewing angles and colour reproduction. The inner screen is a touch less bright than the outer one at a claimed 5000 nits versus 6000 nits on the cover.
The speakers are a noticeable upgrade over the Magic V5. They provide good stereo separation and reach a loud volume level without much distortion. The bass response is still a bit lacking, but overall these are fine for casual video and calls.
Battery life is excellent on the Magic V6. Its 6660mAh unit provides outstanding screen-on time, with standby reaching into multiple days.
Negatives
Honor’s preinstalled bloatware is an annoyance, and the default widgets and AI features ask for pretty intrusive permissions. That means extra time spent swapping out apps and widgets for more trustworthy ones, and missing out on some features entirely if you’re concerned about data harvesting.
Since the display is a little taller than the prior model, it’s more difficult to use the Magic V6 one-handed. It’s light enough to handle, but it’s a stretch to reach the top of the screen with your thumb.
Camera
Photography with the Magic V6 is a mixed bag. The 50 + 50 + 64-megapixel camera array is capable of great photos, but I found it prone to missed focus and blur, meaning multiple shots are required to get a reliable result.
Even in daylight conditions I found some photos coming out less than ideal. At nighttime, I noticed similar problems with blur and softness.
The telephoto sensor has been upgraded to a physically larger unit, allowing for better low-light performance and increased image quality.
The front-facing cameras found on the cover and inner screen apply a beauty filter by default that can be switched off. They feature 20-megapixel sensors that lack a bit of detail, but they’re good enough for video calls.
In general, pictures come out looking good enough for posting online, but close inspection reveals many image flaws and heavy-handed AI overprocessing.
Performance & Reliability
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is a very high-end chipset that delivers excellent performance. Games, multitasking, and intensive tasks are no problem for this system.
The device supports Balanced and Performance modes that makes a big difference in benchmark results and thermal characteristics.
The Magic V6’s strong battery unit supports cabled fast charging up to 80W and wireless fast charging up to 66W with a compatible pad.
During heavy performance and fast charging, the device is prone to heating up a fair bit, but I didn’t notice too much thermal throttling.
Practical Considerations
Honor offers the Magic V6 with 4 years of software updates and 5 years of security updates, which falls short of other manufacturers’ update policies in this segment. The European market gets up to 7 years on the same hardware.
IP68 and IP69 rating is a highlight worth calling out. Where IP68-rated phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro Fold can resist submersion, stepping up to IP69 means the Honor Magic V6 resists jets that would otherwise cause liquid intrusion.
Value & Alternatives
At $2999, the Magic V6 is roughly on par with other premium foldables like the Oppo Find N6, Motorola Razr Fold, and Samsung offerings.
The Oppo Find N6 is our current favourite foldable, but it’s a bit more expensive at $3299. For that, you get a much better camera and a smoother crease, as well as longer software support.
Foldables still command an inflated price over comparable slab phones, so if you’re not completely sold on the foldable form factor, you’d get much better hardware for cheaper in a non-folding phone.
Would I Buy It With My Own Money?
No. Given the compromises on software support at this price point, it’s a bit hard to justify. Other options seem to deliver better value. However, if you’re someone who needs the bump in durability and are completely sold on a foldable, this is your only option for now.
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