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Just putting this thread up to discuss that HONOR Magic V2 foldable phone.

I got mine from their Hi HONOR web site around the time they launched it in Germany, end of January 2024.
It was about €1600 with charger, HONOR Watch 4 and extra bumper case.
So far I'm really happy with it, though much like the Pro¹ it looks like I'll have to build my own bookcase for it.

Sold the watch on eBay for €70, a lot of people doing the same apparently, never opened the box, it's not running Wear OS Android and saw no reason to keep it since I already use Garmin watches.

While I went for the HONOR variant it's worth noting that the current generation of Chinese designed foldables have a lot in common with one another. So much so that I believe they all share the same basic mechanical design, hinge and screen sizes and differ by the main camera modules, internal screen camera placement, shape and design of the frame, round or sharp edges. That includes:

  • HONOR Magic V2
  • HUAWEI Mate X3 - Probably no Google apps
  • OnePlus Open
  • Oppo Find N3

I believe they all have some of the core features I was looking for too:

  • Dual physical SIM
  • Fingerprint reader
  • IR blaster
  • Smart case support
  • Normal front display aspect ratio
  • Thin and lightweight

While the HONOR does not have an IP dust and water resistance rating I think some of those do have one. Though I doubt one would be much more resistent than the others certainly more an issue of going through the rating validation and attached costs. Still I would not bring my foldable to the beach.

HONOR and HUAWEI probably have the quirkiest OS without support for Monet theme and super aggressive power management. I'm guessing I would actually like the OS from OnePlus and Oppo better. Never tried them though.

@Rob. S. Did you get yours already?

 

Edited by Slion
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1 hour ago, Slion said:

@CornholioGSMWhat's the problem with it? Works really well here.

foldable displays have cracking problems...lines on display etc ;( 

 

These phones are too pricey for its quality...and displazy change is really expensive. For example display for fold 5 cost me around $550.

Edited by CornholioGSM
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8 minutes ago, CornholioGSM said:

foldable displays have cracking problems...lines on display etc ;( 

A friend of mine has been using one of the first Samsung Fold and it is still going strong after 3 or 4 years.

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10 minutes ago, CornholioGSM said:

These phones are too pricey for its quality...and displazy change is really expensive. For example display for fold 5 cost me around $550.

I see, so you had a bad experience yourself, sorry to hear that. Surely your Fold 5 should still be under warranty. But yes, if you break an expensive phone it is hard to digest. I'm hopeful it won't happen to me. The last phone I broke was a Nokia 9210 Communicator. That was about 20 years ago. Split in two after I slammed a car door on it.

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1 hour ago, Slion said:

I see, so you had a bad experience yourself, sorry to hear that. Surely your Fold 5 should still be under warranty. But yes, if you break an expensive phone it is hard to digest. I'm hopeful it won't happen to me. The last phone I broke was a Nokia 9210 Communicator. That was about 20 years ago. Split in two after I slammed a car door on it.

nono...it is not my fold. I am service.

$550 was my purchase price for me 🙂  Then is needed to add some $ for work for customer.

Ok your 9210 was mechanically damaged...but foldable phones can be damaged with classic using. Thats difference.

I hope, that your magic2 is madded better than others

 

 

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For what it's worth, the manufacturer says the display is good for 400,000 folding actions... 

First impressions of the Magic V2 are good. It even replaces the Android tablet I used for some time before it broke. 

The one feature that makes it an alternative for a slider keyboard phone is that the on-screen keyboard still leaves more than enough screen real estate for whatever app I'm using.

I'm trying "Hacker's Keyboard" again right now which used to be what I used when I didn't have a physical keyboard, and while it is quite old-fashioned and restricted in its features compared to, say, SwiftKey, is has all the ctrl and alt keys I like to have when I'm typing in a terminal. I'm not sure though whether I'll stay with it...

Edited by Rob. S.
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Posted (edited)

I thought Hacker's keyboard was not being maintained. I found Unexpected keyboard interesting too.

Which variant did you get? Purple glass or black PU? I would have liked better black glass but it was not an option sadly. The PU is already rather dirty and not looking so good even though I used a case.

I'm busy glueing together my custom smart leather bookcase. Should be ready in the morning.

Edited by Slion
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Yeah, I fear Hacker's keyboard is more or less abandoned, but it still works... I'll have a look at Unexpected keyboard, looks interesting.

I thought by choosing "purple" I had bought the purple glass version of the phone, which I wanted because I didn't like the faux leather looks of the black one. Turned out I didn't get purple glass but purple PU – which is even better, as it doesn't add thickness or weight like the glass one does. It's a silky smooth surface not at all prone to attract dirt. That said, knowing my luck in handling expensive handsets, I'm using the phone with the included case (purple with some kind of faux leather texture), anyway, until I find something better...

Edited by Rob. S.
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Posted (edited)

Been using that case. It's ok if you like PU but I find transparent shells ugly. I also got a couple of plain dark shells for just a few euros each but they are not selling them anymore. Planing to use them for my custom case.

Edited by Slion
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Posted (edited)

Smart custom case is now complete after drying overnight. Here are some screenshots next to F(x)tec Pro¹. It's using the same design as this other case with the folding front edge so that it can be used as support when unfolded. Seems to be working just fine so far. However I may make one based on the original Honor case with kick stand and hinge protection. I'll need to up my leather cutting game though. Screenshots are showing an unreleased version of Fulguris with improved foldable support. It is notably enabling rendering around cut-outs and support for specific configurations, inner screen ones for instance.

1682963685_IMG_20240310_082235(Small).jpg.3adeed6e2f534fbe11b9661dedd06f0e.jpg1848401765_IMG_20240310_082331(Small).jpg.5e410f1f38824f35680d829afb24f865.jpg199937996_IMG_20240310_082250(Small).jpg.69e17ea4dc031a14dd2b17cd98f933c7.jpg27678336_IMG_20240310_082126(Small).jpg.f30583d60ead186ca93ffa76fc086946.jpg1259399696_IMG_20240310_082017(Small).jpg.d43c617e1c289b49b1914567c6f4f865.jpg995373310_IMG_20240310_081318(Small).jpg.1785db615a082dfe09f4c7902984b242.jpg1860585140_IMG_20240310_081218(Small).jpg.3cf66efc7931f19ab210aa1f4330cdec.jpg660111011_IMG_20240310_082703(Small).jpg.63daee88937f5af269f58f4287a6a050.jpg1012551209_IMG_20240310_082749(Small).jpg.1d698a00ccc8c128a06b4541f74e7b81.jpg1464377463_IMG_20240310_083750(Small).jpg.58af90174aa5bb0afb0564e7355f736b.jpg706074056_IMG_20240310_081237(Small).jpg.169ea3552ea7e086560c67b7a5ed393a.jpg

Edited by Slion
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  • 4 months later...

I have no luck with smartphones... My Magic V2 has developed black spots in two of the the large screen's corners, I am in contact with support and now in the process of backing up before resetting the phone. Reverted to the Titan Slim that I already had had plans to put on ebay, given that it's still in good cosmetic shape – good that I didn't. Slightly surprised to find that the Titan's limited physical keyboard (which I had a lot of complaints about while I was using it) immediately feels a lot better than the Honor's on-screen keyboard...

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

6 months in my V2 is working great so far 🤞🏼

Do you have pictures of your defect?

Edited by Slion
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P1019120.jpg.4a0ddf7204a30ce35511a3e3d01c9aba.jpg

They promise defect analysis (including the decision whether it's covered by warranty) within ten days after receiving the device, so I hope to get more information by the end of the week... 

Edited by Rob. S.
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  • 3 weeks later...

I was wrong about the ten days – it's "usually ten days for repair", after checking the device and deciding whether it's on warranty or not. Haven't heard back from them yet, after close to a month now (they received it on July 25), and I just sent the the repair service an e-mail...

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  • 1 month later...

That turned out well – they decided it was a warranty case and I got it back on Monday, repaired, like new, after about a month.

I'm already missing the physical keys again, though.

Still, compared to the Titan Slim, the big screen makes a huge difference. Because of that, it's much more than just a phone...

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