Apple and Samsung needed these Honor Magic V5 ultra-slim phone secrets

Tech giant Honor launched the world’s second slimmest phone – the Magic V5 – back in July.

Its 4.1mm chassis (when unfolded) is second only to the tri-fold Huawei Mate XT, and makes regular phones look huge by comparison. Even Apple’s 5.6mm iPhone Air and the 5.8mm Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge are significantly chunkier.

These super-slim phones have been around for some time now, and the hype about them has cooled down a little. While some users like the feel of thin phones in their hands, others have been underwhelmed by their compromises.

While the iPhone Air seems safe for now, it was the only current-gen iPhone to be discounted over Black Friday, suggesting sluggish sales. Meanwhile, Samsung has reportedly already acted following poor figures for the S25 Edge, supposedly axing it from the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.

However, while it adopts a very different form factor, the Magic V5 offers some key learnings for Apple and Samsung if they ever return to the ultra-slim phone arena.

No-compromise battery life

Thin phones generally have drawbacks because of their compact size. They regularly sacrifice battery capacity, cameras and even speaker quality to keep up with the slim design. But in the case of the Magic V5, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Despite being incredibly thin, Honor’s foldable offers an incredible 5820mAh battery, putting it in another dimension to the 3900mAh Galaxy S25 Edge and 3149mAh iPhone Air. What is Honor doing differently to fit such a large battery in such a slim device?

The answer is very simple: it uses a silicon-carbon battery instead of the traditional lithium-ion versions.

Lithium-ion batteries are quite common in smartphones. They offer reliable performance but degrade over time due to natural ageing. With their limited lifespan, there may be issues like overheating and swelling. Their energy density and charging speed depend on the amount and flow of lithium within them. Graphite, which is used for the negative electrode, doesn’t hold much energy per gram.

Instead of graphite as the negative electrode, the Magic V5 silicon allows it to supposedly deliver up to 10 times the power density of graphite. To compensate for the short lifespan and volume expansion of silicon, a silicon-carbon anode is used. Silicon-carbon batteries combine high energy density with a lightweight design, allowing you to stream videos or play games all day without needing a charge. Despite having a 7.95-inch internal display, the Magic V5 weighs just 217g.

Aside from longer battery life, the battery technology also supports charging in extreme temperatures, as low as -20°C. Cold environments slow down lithium ions, but efficient silicon-carbon batteries can handle charging, even in sub-zero conditions.

Proper fast charging

The Magic V5 offers fast charging of 66W wired and 50W wireless options. The company claims the former will get you a full charge in just 43 minutes, which wasn’t far off the findings in our full review.

Meanwhile, Galaxy S25 Edge supports 25W wired and 15W wireless charging, achieving a full charge in a much more leisurely 70 minutes. The iPhone Air is even slower, reaching only 20W for both wired and Qi2 wireless charging. As a result, 90 minutes for a full charge isn’t out of the question.

So, how does Honor manage to include proper fast charging within such a thin device? The key can be found under the hood.

Alongside the regular chipset, the Magic V5 also features a dedicated ‘E2 Power Enhanced Chip. This works alongside system-wide AI with the sole purpose of optimising power usage and extending battery life as a result.

By regulating voltage and optimising performance, the system helps to manage the heat generated during operation. It also manages charging patterns to promote battery health.

With faster-moving lithium ions, the Magic V5 can charge faster than its rivals. The battery design, an E2 power-enhanced chip, and AI power management promote long battery life and fast charge of the Magic V5, leaving plenty for Apple and Samsung to envy.

Whether it’s the foldable iPhone, Galaxy Z Fold 8 or new ultra-slim phones, the Honor Magic V5 offers plenty of learnings, especially in the much-talked-about battery and charging arenas.