Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design review: what a beautiful… beast

The world of smartphones has witnessed a new level of sophistication with the introduction of the Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design. This ultra-thin foldable device combines cutting-edge technology with the timeless elegance of Porsche Design. With its sleek design, powerful performance, and innovative features, the Honor Magic V2 RSR is truly a masterpiece that redefines what a smartphone can be.

PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic V2 RSR – Technical specs

• Design: Super-light Titanium Hinge
• Display (Interior): 7.92″ Foldable LTPO OLED 120Hz display, 2344 × 2156 pixels, 90.4% Screen-to-body ratio, up to 1600 nits, 402 PPI and Stylus support

• Display (Exterior): 6.43″ 120Hz LTPO display, 2376 × 1060 pixels, 91.2% Screen-to-body ratio, up to 2500 nits, 402 PPI, Stylus support and Nanocrystal glass 2.0
• Color: 1.07 billion colors, 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut, HDR10+
• 3840Hz PWM Dimming with TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certification
• Up to 3.36GHz Octa Core Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 4nm Mobile Platform Latest Version with Adreno 740 GPU
• 50MP Camera, f/1.9 aperture, LED flash, 50MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.0 aperture with OIS, macro option, 20MP Telephoto Camera with f/2.4 aperture with OIS, HONOR AI Motion Sensing Capture

• 16MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture
• Memory: 16GB RAM + 1 TB ROM
• Battery: 5000mAh Silicon-carbon Battery; 66W Wired HONOR SuperCharge
• Connectivity: Dual SIM, 5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.3 LE, GPS (L1 + L5 Dual band), NFC, USB 3.1 Type-C (GEN1), DP1.2
• Audio: Symmetrical Stereo Dual Speakers, certified by IMAX Enhanced, 24bit HDR 3-MIC Stereo Voice Reception and DTS X Ultra Algorithm
• Security: HTEE + QTEE Dual-Security System, Discrete Security Chipset
• Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor
• MagicOS 7.2 based on Android 13
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 156.7mm x 145.4mm (74.1mm when folded) x 4.7mm (9.9mm when folded); Weight: 234g

Unmatched Performance and Exquisite Design

The collaboration between Honor and Porsche Design has resulted in a device that seamlessly blends unmatched performance with timeless design. The Honor Magic V2 RSR is a testament to the meeting of minds between two innovative brands, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in smartphone technology.

Weighing only 234g and measuring a mere 9.9mm in thickness when folded, the Honor Magic V2 RSR sets a new standard for portability in foldable devices. It is the thinnest inward foldable smartphone on the market surpassing even flagship slate phones in its compact design. This makes it perfect for the always-on generation that seeks limitless mobility.

The state-of-the-art Super-light Titanium Hinge of the Honor Magic V2 RSR contributes to its ultra-lightweight design while ensuring exceptional durability. Made from aerospace-grade titanium alloy, the hinge cover design showcases significant advancements in materials, structure, and craftsmanship. This revolutionary hinge design adds to the overall sleekness of the device and enhances its longevity. HONOR said the foldable can withstand up to 400,000 folds in its lifetime so I am pretty sure it can easily withstand my professional use no matter what I do.

A Design Inspired by the Racetrack

The design of the Honor Magic V2 RSR draws inspiration from the racetrack – especially the Porsche 911 best selling model. Thus bringing the sports-car experience right into the palm of your hand. The back of the device features a flyline that resembles the hood of a Porsche 911. It adds a touch of sophistication and elegance that’s surely needed. The sleek metallic gray color, referred to as Agate Gray, pays homage to the iconic Porsche luxury cars, creating a device that is both stylish and timeless.

The flyline camera module design of the Honor Magic V2 RSR is another standout feature. It mirrors the rounded windshields of Porsche cars, exuding a sense of luxury and performance. Framed by titanium, one of the toughest yet lightest materials in the world, the camera module captures the essence of the racetrack and delivers exceptional photography capabilities.

Capturing Memories with Exceptional Camera Capabilities

The Honor Magic V2 RSR takes smartphone photography to new heights with its exceptional triple camera system. The 50MP main camera, 50MP ultra-wide camera, and 20MP telephoto camera combine to deliver stunning photos with superior light sensing capabilities. Whether you are capturing landscapes, portraits, or low-light scenes, the Honor Magic V2 RSR ensures exceptional image quality in every shot.

To add a touch of exclusivity to your photos, the Honor Magic V2 RSR offers a unique watermark function. With two customization options, you can choose to add a traditional watermark or an Honor frame watermark to your images. This allows you to showcase that your photos were taken with a limited-edition smartphone camera.

The Honor Magic V2 RSR also incorporates AI motion sensing technology, which intelligently detects various scenarios and assists in capturing the perfect shots. Whether you are capturing a live performance or a sports event, the camera identifies facial expressions and body postures to ensure that you never miss a moment.

A Display That Sets New Standards

The Honor Magic V2 RSR features a stunning display that sets new standards in smartphone technology. With a 6.43-inch outer screen and a huge 7.92-inch inner screen, both with a 120Hz refresh rate, the device offers an immersive viewing experience. The vibrant colors, high brightness, and adaptive refresh rate create an immersive experience for gaming and movie-watching.

The display of the Honor Magic V2 RSR is protected by the industry’s most scratch-resistant screen glass, the Honor Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield. This innovative technology applies a layer of silicon nitride coating onto the nanocrystal glass material, enhancing its hardness and scratch resistance. The Honor Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield ensures that your display stays pristine even in the face of everyday wear and tear.

Unleashing Performance and Power

The Honor Magic V2 RSR delivers exceptional performance and power, thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Although it does not feature the latest Gen 3 chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 still offers impressive speed and responsiveness. With 16GB of RAM and a jaw-dropping  1TB of storage, the device can handle intensive workloads and multitasking with ease. Note that you can further boost the performance just by using 16 GB + 7 GB of HONOR RAM Turbo.

The 5000mAh battery of the Honor Magic V2 RSR may be small in today’s terms yes. However it still ensures all-day usage without the need for frequent charging. Even with heavy use, the battery lasts for an extended period, and when it’s time to recharge, the 66W fast charging technology quickly replenishes the battery to keep you going. During my tests, a full charge lasted for a day and a half, which is actually very impressive.

Asphalt 9: Legends and Porsche Design: a collaboration that demands SPEED!

One of the most important aspects that led to the breeding of this device, was an awesome collaboration between Porsche Design and Asphalt 9: Legends at 120 FPS. With the new and improved large-screen adaptation of the game for an enhanced visual experience, HONOR is aiming to revolutionize the foldable ecosystem by boasting the foldable’s software and hardware capabilities when it comes to mobile gaming on Android. With 120 FPS, you can expect to feed your competitive streak with more efficient stunts. Also have and even quicker reaction times. The foldable claims to use shader replacement technology to offer smoother, high-fidelity visuals and more immersive physical textures thanks to GPU-based edge reconstruction.

After all, once unfolded, the Porsche Design HONOR Magic V2 RSR truly shines. With a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, the foldable is a luxurious gem that wears its premium flagship badge proudly, and it’s not hard to see why HONOR would want to team up with Gameloft to showcase its performance quality.

Software and User Experience

The Honor Magic V2 RSR runs on Android 13, providing a familiar and user-friendly interface. While the software is not as refined as some of its rivals, it offers a decent user experience with smooth navigation and seamless app performance. The device also supports stylus input, with both the external and internal displays fully compatible with a stylus.

Our verdict

The Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design is a remarkable achievement in smartphone technology – no one can deny this. Its ultra-thin design, powerful performance, and exceptional camera capabilities make it a standout device in the market. With its collaboration with Porsche Design, Honor has created a smartphone that not only delivers on performance but also exudes elegance and sophistication.

I adored the durability of its hinge. I could easily fold/unfold it for more than 100 times with no issues at all, will opening multiple apps and even rearranging up to three windows however way I wanted to. Not all Android apps have support for the humongous display. I noticed that some apps even crash completely when switching between folds. Thankfully the device still recovers pretty quickly and adapts to whatever orientation you’re using.

If you’re willing to pay a small fortune and use this foldable beast for gaming purposes, then you will see that it can do whatever you ask. However it’s not a true gaming smartphone. It’s not made for this and I am glad. I enjoyed its top class design, the luxurious feelings it expresses but even with the case off, the protruded design of the camera in the back still makes for a bit of a wobbly-er experience.

Still, all these small gripes mean nothing when you open up its impeccable display and you’re met with the speed and performance of a true beast. I now admit that the Honor Magic V2 RSR is a true testament to the limitless possibilities of foldable devices. It’s no doubt a must-have for tech enthusiasts and luxury connoisseurs alike.