HONOR Magic V5 is built for photography in mind
The HONOR Magic V5 comes with a powerful set of photography features that make it stand out among other foldable smartphones. Its camera system is a complete package that allows for both creativity and ease of use. More than a month ago, I took the HONOR Magic V5 in my previous trip. This gave me the opportunity to test the phone, and see how good its camera features are. Spoiler alert: it’s the best foldable for photography so far!
HONOR Falcon Camera System
At the heart of the HONOR Magic V5’s photographic abilities is the HONOR Falcon Camera System. This setup combines hardware and software to help you get better results with every shot. The main camera is a 50-megapixel Ultra Light-Sensitive sensor, which captures more detail and color than a standard phone camera. It works well in dim settings, making night photos and indoor shots look clearer and brighter. As seen on these photos that I took in Canada, every image comes out sharp and vibrant, reducing the need for added editing or repeated attempts.
Alongside the main sensor, the device features a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera. This allows you to fit more into every frame, which comes in handy for landscapes, group photos, or city views. The ultra-wide sensor manages image distortion well, so edges of photos don’t appear stretched or warped. You can trust it to provide a natural look, no matter how much you step back to capture a wider view.
There’s also a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto camera that’s designed to let you zoom in on distant subjects. It uses what HONOR calls AI Super Zoom. The zoom system uses hardware for optical zoom and backs up results with AI processing. This way, even at high magnification, your photos stay crisp and focused. If you’re at a concert or seeing a city skyline from a distance, this telephoto lens brings everything closer without a loss of quality.
Both the main and telephoto cameras benefit from optical image stabilization. This is important when shooting in low light or trying to get a steady photo while holding the phone in one hand. With stabilization, your shots don’t come out blurry from tiny movements, and video footage stays steady. On the front, there’s a 20-megapixel camera on both the inner and outer display. These sensors take clear, detailed selfies and also work well for video calls. The placement of the front cameras means you can take a selfie with the phone folded or unfolded, and the quality remains the same either way.
HONOR AI brings convenience and WOW factor
Beyond sensors and hardware, the HONOR Magic V5 takes advantage of AI to further boost image quality. The phone’s software works in the background to identify people, backgrounds, and objects, optimizing each element in real time. For example, AI helps to automatically remove reflections, clean up imperfections, and even adjust lighting to make skin tones look more natural.
There’s also AI image-to-video, where photos can be turned into dynamic video clips with a single tap. This is useful for creating social media posts or sharing highlights with friends and family. The AI also recognizes a range of scenes—be it food, pets, sunsets, or busy urban streets. It optimizes settings for each, so you don’t have to fiddle with manual controls.
Editing is made much easier thanks to these AI tools built directly into the camera app. If you notice glare or unwanted shadows, there’s an option to correct those after you’ve captured the shot.
Users can even make Live Photos or short clips out of static images, giving them new ways to be creative without needing third-party software. I tried this on old photos of my dad and grandparents, shared it to my friends, and instantly sent them to either tears or laughter. It’s definitely a conversation starter.
Video Recording is up to 4K/60
When it comes to video recording, the HONOR Magic V5 holds its own as well. The combination of high-quality sensors, powerful processing, and AI allows for smooth video capture in both full HD and 4K resolutions. Features like instant focus, real-time beautification, and background blur are available, so you can make your video clips look more polished in just one tap. The AI also helps keep moving subjects in focus, so you don’t lose clarity even if people or pets are walking around while you film.
All of these features are made for ease of use. The camera software’s interface is clear and simple. Most settings are either automated or easy to find. Even novice users can get professional-grade photos by just pointing and pressing the shutter. There’s no need to dive into multiple layers of menus or make sense of complicated jargon. You press the button, and the Magic V5 does most of the work for you.
But is it durable enough?
Durability and versatility are also part of the package. The main and ultra-wide cameras are placed in a way that they do not get in the way, even when you’re using the phone folded or unfolded. The periscope telephoto lens is protected by tough glass. The whole camera system is rated for dust and water resistance, which means it can handle splashes and dust from daily life.
Storage for photos and videos is generous. With up to 1TB of internal storage available in some models, you won’t have to worry about running out of space. You can store thousands of full-resolution photos and hours of video before needing to move anything to the cloud or your computer.
Available for pre-order!
The HONOR Magic V5 brings together strong hardware and advanced software to provide a camera system that is both reliable and smart. In case you missed it, the HONOR Magic V5 is now up for pre-order via Silicon Valley. If you pre-order until September 5, you’ll get freebies worth PhP18,000.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
