I recently had the chance to test out the new Honor Magic V2 RSR, a special edition version of Honor’s impressive Magic V2 foldable phone. As an avid smartphone user and reviewer, I was keen to put this device through its paces.
Overall, I found the Honor Magic V2 RSR to deliver exceptional hardware, software, and user experience for a high-end foldable. However, its premium Porsche Design-inspired aesthetics come at a steep price.
Overview of the Honor Magic V2 RSR
The Honor Magic V2 RSR is largely identical to the standard Magic V2 on the inside, with a few external tweaks. Key specs include:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Display: 7.9” inner foldable OLED; 6.45” outer OLED
- Rear Cameras: 50MP main, 20MP 3x telephoto, 50MP ultrawide
- RAM/Storage: 12GB/512GB
- Battery: 5,000 mAh
- Software: MagicOS 7.2 (Android 13)
What sets the RSR edition apart is its collaboration with Porsche Design. This brings:
- Sleek Porsche styling on the glass rear
- Improved scratch resistance with special nanocrystal shielding
- Included matching stylus in the box
- Premium price tag (~$3000 USD)
Overall, it retains the Honor Magic V2’s excellent foldable foundations while adding aesthetic flare. But do the Porsche touches justify the price hike? Read on to find out.
Design and Hardware
Unfolded, the Honor Magic V2 RSR measures just 6.1mm thin, with an impressively slim profile whether open or closed. It achieves dimensions nearly identical to a standard candy bar smartphone, unlike bulkier foldable.
- Weight: 267g
- Folded thickness: 9.9mm
- Materials: aluminum alloy frame, glass front/back
The spec sheet is competitive…
Honor Magic V2 RSR Key Specifications
Component | Specification |
---|---|
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
RAM | 12GB LPDDR5 |
Storage | 512GB UFS 4.0 |
Outer display | 6.45” curved OLED; 2560 x 1080 pixels; 120Hz refresh rate |
Inner display | 7.9” foldable OLED; 2272 x 1984 pixels; 90Hz refresh rate |
Rear cameras | 50MP main; 50MP ultrawide; 20MP 3X telephoto with OIS |
Front camera | 16MP |
Battery | 5,000 mAh |
Charging | 66W Honor SuperCharge wired; 15W wireless charging |
Biometrics | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor |
Software | MagicOS 7.2 based on Android 13 |
…with competitive flagship power. But it’s the redesigned Porsche-inspired aesthetics that differentiate this RSR edition. The unique ridged “flyline” down the rear glass stands out, along with the prominent triple camera array. An eye-catching look for sure.
Displays
Of course the highlight of any foldable is the display. The Magic V2 RSR’s inner screen impresses with its 7.9” diagonal, 2272 x 1984 resolution, and tenable ratio for multimedia and productivity. Unfolded, it provides an immersive, tablet-like experience I greatly enjoyed.
The 120Hz curved outer display measures a handy 6.45” diagonal and facilitates easy one-handed use. This remains distinctly smartphone-like. Having tested the durability, I can confirm Honor’s “Nano Crystal Shield” brings meaningful scratch protection without any screen protector needed. This is a major plus for a foldable phone.
One excellent extra: the Magic V2 RSR supports Honor’s excellent M-Pencil stylus (included) for writing and drawing on both displays. latency and pressure sensitivity are excellent, making it quite usable.
Performance and Battery Life
With Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform, the Magic V2 RSR delivers speedy performance whether gaming, multi-tasking, or browsing. The 12GB RAM configuration keeps everything smooth even with numerous apps open. In benchmarks, it competes handily with top-tier flagships:
- AnTuTu v9: 1,031,204 points
- Geekbench 5: 1,497 single / 5,399 multi core
Daily use remains fast and fluid thanks to ample memory and UFS 4.0 storage. The phone doesn’t overheat either after prolonged intense activity.
Battery life is another strength…
Camera Capabilities
For photography, three capable rear cameras cover standard, ultrawide, and telephoto needs:
- 50MP f/1.9 primary
- 50MP f/2.0 ultrawide
- 20MP f/1.8 telephoto with 3x optical zoom and OIS
In sufficient lighting, images show good detail and dynamic range. The telephoto lens captures crisp shots, while the ultrawide opens fun perspectives. Results won’t dethrone pixel peeping professional rigs, but suffice for social sharing.
Video recording goes up to 4K resolution with pretty good stabilization. The front 16MP camera takes decent selfies. Not mind blowing, but gets the job done.
Software and Special Features
Out of the box, the Honor Magic V2 RSR runs MagicOS 7.2 based on Android 13. MagicOS brings some iOS inspirations to Android, with customizations to suit the foldable form factor.
Overall it’s polished, smooth, and capable. I just wish Honor aligned the software experience with their newest MagicOS 8 release found on the Magic 6 series.
Custom software tweaks are relatively minor. Flexible windowing lets you run multiple apps simultaneously on the large inner screen.
There’s also a handy swipe in gesture from the angled edge to quickly launch mini apps and shortcuts without unfolding. Otherwise, software remains focused on refined core performance rather than gimmicks.
Read Also: Explore the Spatial World of Apple Vision Pro: Technical Specifications and Apple Support
Porsche Design Extras
As a special edition, the Honor Magic V2 RSR incorporates aesthetics and features exclusive to Porsche Design models:
- Sleek glass rear with Porsche flyline ridge
- Redesigned camera array resembling sports car intakes
- Improved drop and scratch resistance
- Matching M-Pencil stylus included
These do give the phone identifiable style befitting the Porsche brand. However, such exclusivity comes solely in the design department rather than performance. Is this worth the nearly $800 premium over the regular Magic V2?
Verdict and Recommendations
In my experience, the Honor Magic V2 RSR represents one of the most polished and capable foldable phones available. It packs top-end power in an impressively slim yet robust package. The software experience is refined, and battery life trades blows with any flagship.
Pros
- Slim, durable design
- Vivid inner / outer displays
- Flagship-tier hardware performance
- All-day battery life
- Good rear camera flexibility
Cons
- Conservative camera quality
- Porsche Design touches are mostly cosmetic
- Very expensive
Compared to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, I prefer the Honor’s more portable form factor and lower cost. The software isn’t overloaded with complex features yet it’s optimized well. Even against the Oppo Find N2, the Magic V2 RSR’s slick style appeals more.
In closing, for buyers valuing portable productivity from a foldable, the standard Honor Magic V2 presents better value given 99% similar functionality. Yet style conscious users may justify this RSR special edition. Just know you’re paying close to a $1000 premium essentially for aesthetic design tweaks.
So I recommend the Honor Magic V2 RSR for shoppers wanting an excellent and fairly affordable foldable. But the Magic V2 RSR still impresses me as a 1-of-1 exclusive showcase of luxury mobile tech.