A review of Honor's Magic V2 foldable, launching in the UK and Europe for £1,700 and €2,000: thin and durable but a dated OS and processor, and software issues
Context & Ripple Effects
Honor had previously said the Magic V2 would reach Europe and the UK after its China debut, at an expected price around €1,500; this review captures the commercial arrival at a higher premium price point. The device also follows Honor's first foldable, the Magic V, making its thinness and durability evidence of rapid hardware iteration.
The review's central tension is that the Magic V2's hardware competes on portability with established foldables, while its dated platform, processor and software problems weaken the overall proposition. That contrast matters as rivals such as the OnePlus Open were also judged on both thin hardware and multitasking experience.
First-order effects
- UK and European buyers gain a notably thin, durable foldable option, but must weigh those physical advantages against reported software issues and an older OS and processor at £1,700/€2,000.
- Honor's regional launch is immediately constrained by the review's framing: hardware differentiation alone does not resolve concerns about the day-to-day software experience.
Second-order effects
- Premium foldable comparisons in these markets shift beyond hinge thickness and durability toward software polish, update currency and multitasking reliability, raising the bar for Honor and competing vendors.
- A £1,700/€2,000 price makes software shortcomings more consequential for purchase decisions, potentially narrowing the audience to buyers who prioritize the device's slim form factor.
Third-order effects
- If this hardware-software gap persists, foldables may increasingly be differentiated by long-term platform support and large-screen software execution rather than by thinness alone.
- The Magic V2 points to a broader maturation test for foldables: manufacturers can compress the hardware, but sustained premium adoption depends on whether software quality keeps pace.
The trend: Foldable makers are converging on slimmer, more durable hardware, shifting the premium-market contest toward software maturity and sustained platform support.