The Honor Magic V5 has yet to be released, and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold was just announced, with orders shipping later this month. So, here are both of those phones in a head-to-head comparison.
Two brand-new foldables, two very different builds
The Honor Magic V5 is already known as one of the thinnest foldables on the market, depending on who you ask. Honor will tell you that it is the thinnest, but that’s only the case if you’re looking at the “Ivory White” variant. That colorway is slightly thinner at 8.8mm compared to the 9.0mm thickness of the other color options, like the “Dawn Gold” variant we have on hand.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold isn’t thinner. In fact, it’s slightly thicker than the previous model, but there’s a very good reason for that. That added thickness isn’t noticeable, as the phone has shrunk in width. That change makes the Pixel 10 Pro Fold feel like a different phone altogether.
The size difference is clear between the two devices. The Magic V5 takes up very little vertical space, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s profile is more significant. The Pixel’s camera bump does take on a slimmer profile compared to the Magic V5’s rather massive camera array.
In a technicality, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is actually thinner if you measure the back of the camera bump to the front display. The Magic V5’s camera comes out to around 60% or so of the 9.0mm thickness, adding that material onto the back of the phone.
In reality, it doesn’t matter all that much, though I can’t imagine what the phone would look like with some third-party cases.
I appreciate Honor’s internal display approach a little more, with a snappier open and matte bezels. The bezels are somewhat rounded to keep the display from coming in contact with itself while folded, though I think it looks a little better than the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s glossy, flat bezels.
Both hinges are reportedly redesigned, though the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has made a bigger jump from geared to gearless. The change allows for that width relief with less hinge material needed. The Magic V5 has no issue in that department, and its hinge is as low-profile as it can be.
The two phones are also strikingly different in looks, as the Pixel 10 Pro Fold looks more professional, while Honor’s foldable has a little more “bling.” The camera bump’s bezel is textured, and the hinge is etched with what I’m sure is Hyrule Kingdom symbolism.
Not really, it’s just triangles.
Two top-tier loadouts
Honor isn’t pulling any punches this year, and neither is Google. The Magic V5 equips a Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC with 16GB of RAM, while the Pixel 10 Pro Fold offers up Google’s brand-new Tensor G5 chipset.
The Tensor G5 isn’t going to win any medals for gaming, but it’ll likely be highly efficient and smooth to work with. Google developed this chip with the Pixel 10 in mind, and the Snapdragon 8 Elite can be equipped to most Android devices with the right specs. That being said, both phones should offer a snappy experience, but it’s far too early to tell.
What the Magic V5 lacks is Qi2. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold uses the new standard in full, with magnets in the back of the phone similar to Apple’s MagSafe tech. That opens the door for thousands of accessories without a case, and it’s a long-awaited change.
Technically, the Magic V5 brings better wireless charging at 50W max, though Chinese brands like Honor are ahead of a lot of OEMs in the charging and battery game. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold can’t compete with Honor’s 15% silicon-carbon 5,820mAh battery. Even at 5,015mAh – a step up from the Pixel 9 Pro Fold – the Magic V5 has much more power and prospective longevity.
It will be some time before this tech gets to manufacturers like Google due to R&D and regulation restrictions.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold does run on Android 16, built with it in mind. MagicOS 9.0.1 runs on Android 15, so it’s technically a step behind. Further, base Android often feels better to use than MagicOS’ UI. That’s a major thing to take into consideration between the two phones.
On top of that, Google’s Gemini features will roll out to the Pixel series first, though the Magic V5 is likely to get its own AI integrations like AI call translation and Gemini.
Is there a winner?
In reality, both of these devices have yet to be released to the public, with the Magic V5 only available in China right now. That’ll change soon as Europe gets access. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is available for pre-order, but it won’t ship until October 4 or slightly before.
That being the case, there’s very little going on between devices except for hardware impressions. In that case, the Magic V5 is incredibly comfortable to use and pocket. The camera bar’s size and profile steal the joy away a little, though.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is thicker, but it looks a little less playful. Both offer large displays both inside and out, and both bring good hardware, with Google’s probably being a little more sturdy. Maybe that’s just due to size, since the Magic V5 is ridiculously thin – thinner than the Magic V3. Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold is still plenty pocketable, and with Qi2, that means a case isn’t necessary for magnetic wallets and chargers.
A “winner” will likely come down to software, and the Magic V5 is still technically an unreleased device in Europe and other regions. The same goes for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but at least it will also come to the US. If history has any say, the Pixel’s OS will offer a better experience, though the hardware isn’t exactly groundbreaking.
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