The Honor Magic V5 foldable smartphone. Picture: Supplied
What was once seen in Inspector Gadget has become reality.
The Inspector Gadget cartoon was, naturally, full of fun gadgets. Even the eponymous inspector’s niece, Penny, got some nifty gizmos. One notable example was her computer book, which was exactly what it sounds like.
Foldable smartphones
That has become a reality with foldable smartphones and laptops.
Foldable phones are no longer a novelty, globally including South Africa. They’ve matured beyond their early teething problems, shifting from futuristic flex to functional form.
Many global players are entering the market with sleeker designs, improved hinges and bigger promises but beneath the hype, consumers are increasingly asking smarter questions.
Reality check
There’s no shortage of headlines promising “the most powerful” or “the thinnest” foldable phone.
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The real test is clearer for South Africans
- Will it last a full day without a charge?
- Can it handle two SIMs?
- Does it work outside under our sun, not just inside a launch demo?
Foldable smartphones are no longer just a flex. They’re talked about as everyday technology, still cutting edge, but with more expectations built in – tech that has to prove themselves practically.
This means addressing real-life pain points such as battery life, durability, multitasking, and day-to-day usability across different networks and apps.
Limitations
The reality is though, many of the most talked-about devices still appear to compromise with trade-offs.
What most users want to avoid is:
- Short battery endurance
- Bulky designs that don’t fold flat
- Fragile hinge mechanics over time
- Limited SIM flexibility
- Software ecosystems that limit choice
For South African users, who often rely on dual-SIM setups, experience power cuts, and move across multiple apps and languages in a day, these trade-offs aren’t just inconvenient. They’re deal-breakers.
Honor Magic V5
While there a number of foldables currently on the marker from the likes of Samsung, Huawei and Oppo among others, the Honor Magic V5 arrives with a quieter, but more meaningful kind of innovation, addressing the challenges directly.
The company has focused on folding function back into form, with a foldable that’s thin, yes, but also powerful, durable and considerate of how people actually live.
Fred Zhou, CEO of Honor South Africa they didn’t build the Magic V5 to win a spec sheet.
“We built it to win long-term trust.”
Features
The Magic V5 comes in at just 6.43mm thin when unfolded, with a reinforced titanium hinge, up to 5,820mAh battery as well as a dual nano-SIM support. Its AMOLED display is glare-resistant, designed for use under bright skies, not just in glossy press events.
Zhou said a phone should adapt to your life, not the other way around.
“That’s the philosophy behind every part of the Magic V5. It’s premium but also practical. Smart but real.” Honoe’s Magic V5 introduces smarter software, power-saving modes built for unpredictable load shedding, and a screen that survives in real bags, not just velvet-lined demo boxes.”
In 2025 and beyond, South Africans don’t want louder launches. They want phones that last longer, work harder – devices don’t get in the way but walk the journey with you.
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