Honor unveils AI-powered devices at IFA 2024, including the world’s thinnest foldable
The Honor Magic V3 is the world's thinnest foldable at just 4.35mm when open. Picture: Noel Campion.
At the IFA 2024 in Berlin, Honor showcased its innovative prowess again, revealing a series of AI-powered devices that Honor says are set to reshape the tech landscape. I got hands-on with three of Honor's latest offerings: the Honor Magic V3 foldable smartphone, the Honor MagicBook Art 14 laptop, and the Honor MagicPad 2 tablet. Honor said the devices are not just about hardware; they integrate cutting-edge AI capabilities that enhance productivity, creativity, and user experience.
The Honor Magic V2 changed my mind about foldable phones because of their unique thinness, wide cover display, and lightweight. The Honor Magic V3 is an evolution of the V2 and is now the world’s thinnest inward-folding smartphone, measuring just 9.2mm thick when folded.
It challenges preconceived notions about what a foldable can be. With its sleek design and lightweight frame, weighing only 226 grams, the Magic V3 feels as portable as a conventional flagship smartphone. Honor compared the weight of the Magic V3 to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is only 5g lighter. For those familiar with foldables, the bulkiness and heft have often compromised functionality. However, the Magic V3 changes the game by offering both portability and advanced foldable technology.
Honor has introduced a Special Fibre material that they claim enhances the phone’s impact resistance by 40 times compared to typical flagship bar phones. They also claim the Super Steel Hinge allows the device to endure up to 500,000 folding cycles. The hinge is SGS-certified, which should give owners peace of mind, especially for a device folded and unfolded multiple times daily. It’s good to see the Magic V3 doesn’t just focus on slimness — but on durability, too. This includes a water resistance rating of IPX8 (the V2 had no official waterproof rating), which means it can be submerged in water up to 2.5m.
Design-wise, the dome-shaped octagonal camera module is a unique look that could be divisive. It’s a subtle yet powerful combination of architectural inspiration and cutting-edge technology, adding elegance to the device without sacrificing functionality.
When it comes to displays, the Magic V3 offers a dual-screen experience that’s hard to beat. The external 6.43-inch display is perfect for everything you’d use a regular phone for. With my short hands-on time, the wider aspect ratio is a massive plus over competing foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold6.
The internal 7.92-inch foldable screen provides a more immersive experience for media consumption, multitasking, and productivity. The screens boast some of the best eye-comfort technologies, including the AI Defocus Display and 4320Hz PWM Dimming, both designed to reduce eye strain and provide a more comfortable viewing experience for extended use.
Under the hood, the Magic V3 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with 12GB of RAM (down from the 16GB on the Magic V2) and 512GB of storage. It has a larger 5,150mAh battery, ensuring the device can handle even the most demanding days without running out of juice. Based on my experience using the Magic V2, which has a 5,000mAh battery, this should ensure all-day battery life extending well into the next day. The battery is supported by 66W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging, allowing you to spend less time connected to a charger and more time enjoying the device—something the Magic V2 lacked with its absence of wireless charging.
The Magic V3 features a 50MP sensor, replacing the 20MP unit in the V2, resulting in higher-resolution 12.5MP shots.
The V3’s telephoto camera has a periscope lens with a 90mm equivalent focal length, offering 3.5x zoom capabilities, whereas the V2 has 2.5x zoom.
Although the ultrawide camera’s sensor resolution decreases from 50MP to 40MP, the lens has a narrower angle (16mm vs. 13mm) and a smaller aperture (f/2.2 vs. f/2.0).
AI-powered photography tools, including the Honor AI Motion Sensing and AI Portrait Engine, also have the potential to eliminate the guesswork of capturing the perfect shot, offering features like portrait enhancement and lightning-fast photo capture.
In terms of AI integration, the Magic V3 shines with features like Magic Portal on Foldable, which leverages on-device AI to enhance productivity through tools like Honor AI Eraser and Face-to-Face Translation. These features bring the V3 up to date with other foldable smartphones, making it a versatile tool for business professionals and creatives alike. By integrating Google Cloud’s AI models, Honor offers users advanced features that streamline tasks, making the Magic V3 a phone and a powerful productivity tool.
The Honor Magic V3 is a unique offering in the foldable space, offering a blend of sleek design, robust performance, and AI-driven features. It’s great to see Honor focus on durability, user experience, and productivity in a device as compact and light as a traditional candy bar-style smartphone while offering all the advantages of the large inner display.
Available later this month – €1,999, Harvey Norman
Also announced was the Honor MagicBook Art 14, which Honor says blends artistry with performance. Weighing just 1kg and measuring a mere 10mm thick, this laptop is designed for portability without compromising power. The magnesium alloy body and titanium keyboard reduce weight and enhance the device’s durability, making it a good choice for on-the-go professionals.
The 14.6-inch FullView Touch display has a stunning 3.1K resolution and a 97% screen-to-body ratio, making it one of the most immersive displays in the 14-inch laptop category. Honor has also incorporated advanced eye protection technologies like Dynamic Dimming and E-book Mode, a boon for those who spend long hours in front of the screen.
Performance-wise, the MagicBook Art 14 is no slouch. It is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor, which, combined with AI-driven OS Turbo 3.0, ensures that the laptop can handle demanding tasks efficiently.
The inclusion of AI features like Intelligent Email Management and Real-time Transcription look like excellent productivity tools, making this laptop a powerful tool for creatives and business professionals.
The audio experience is top-notch, thanks to Honor’s spatial audio technology and bidirectional-enhanced microphone design. The sound quality is clear and immersive, whether for virtual meetings or media consumption.
Availability and pricing will be announced in the future.
Lastly, the Honor MagicPad 2 is a tablet that doesn’t compromise on productivity or entertainment. It’s incredibly slim, at just 5.8mm thick, and light, weighing only 555g, making it perfect for use on the go. One of the more exciting features of this tablet is the 12.3-inch OLED display, which has an impressive 144Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals.
Honor emphasised MagicPad 2's AI-driven features. Running on MagicOS 8.0, the tablet is equipped with tools like Magic Portal, which predicts user needs and helps streamline tasks. The voice-to-text feature and handwriting beautification are particularly useful for those who need to take notes or draft documents quickly and efficiently.
The tablet should also excel in the entertainment department. It is IMAX-Enhanced certified, and features Honor spatial audio technology. This should make it an excellent device for streaming movies or playing games, providing a cinematic experience with high-quality visuals and sound.
The latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 platform should deliver excellent performance and efficiency. The new tablet has a 10,050mAh battery and is coupled with 66W fast charging, which should ensure that you can use the tablet for extended periods without worrying about running out of power.
Honor MagicPad 2 €599. Availability to be confirmed.
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