In the realm of flagship foldable phones, the HONOR Magic V3 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 emerge as prominent contenders. Both devices boast unique features and designs, making it challenging to choose between them. This comparison delves into their build quality, screen performance, camera capabilities, and additional features to help you determine which one best suits your needs.
Build Quality and Design
When considering build quality, the HONOR Magic V3 offers a more premium feel with its lightweight design, weighing in at 226 grams. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is slightly heavier at 239 grams. Although this weight difference may seem minor, it can influence how the phone feels during prolonged use.
Both devices adopt unique approaches to their outer designs. The HONOR Magic V3 comes with a robust case that includes a kickstand feature, providing additional protection and utility. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is limited to a Type-C to Type-C cable, lacking a charger, which may disappoint users seeking a complete package right out of the box.
Additionally, the HONOR device excels in protecting its spine, while the Galaxy’s spine is more exposed, making it vulnerable to damage from accidental drops. This protection is crucial for users who frequently use their devices on the go.
Display Comparison
One of the most significant aspects of foldable phones is their display. The HONOR Magic V3 features a 6.4-inch outer display with a 21:9 aspect ratio, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 has a slightly smaller 6.3-inch outer display. The wider aspect ratio of the HONOR allows for a more comfortable typing experience, especially when placed on a table.
Upon unfolding, the inner displays of both devices show notable differences. The HONOR’s inner display reaches a peak brightness of 1800 nits, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 offers an impressive 2600 nits. In bright sunlight, this makes the Galaxy Z Fold 6 more usable, maintaining better visibility than the HONOR, which tends to throttle brightness under intense light.
Both displays support a refresh rate of 120Hz, ensuring smooth scrolling and responsiveness. However, the HONOR’s display offers advanced features like HDR 10+ support and a pulse width modulation rate of 3840Hz, enhancing the viewing experience for multimedia consumption.
Camera Performance
Camera capabilities are another crucial aspect of smartphone performance. While both devices feature advanced camera systems, the HONOR Magic V3’s camera design stands out, affecting its overall profile. However, both deliver excellent photo quality, with vibrant colors and sharp details.
The differences in camera performance become apparent in low-light situations. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 tends to capture clearer images in dim conditions, while the HONOR excels in well-lit environments. Users who prioritize photography may find themselves leaning towards one device based on their shooting preferences.
Charging and Battery Life
Battery life is critical for any smartphone user. The HONOR Magic V3 includes a 66W charger for rapid charging, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 does not come with a charger, which may inconvenience users without compatible chargers.
Both devices offer robust battery performance, but the faster charging speed of the HONOR Magic V3 gives it an edge for those needing a quick power-up during busy days.
Additional Features
Both devices support video output and desktop modes, enhancing usability for professional tasks. The HONOR Magic V3 utilizes HONOR’s desktop mode, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 employs Samsung DeX, offering similar functionalities.
The audio experience is also noteworthy, with both devices providing excellent loudspeakers. Users can expect clear and immersive sound quality for media consumption.
Software Comparison
In terms of software, the HONOR Magic V3 runs on Magic OS, while the Samsung uses One UI. After extensive use of both phones, One UI appears more polished. Both devices boast 12 GB of RAM, with the option of 16 GB on the HONOR, which Samsung does not offer.
Multitasking on both is smooth, with fluid scrolling, possibly a bit smoother on Samsung. Both feature an app drawer, and gestures work well, with animations looking smooth and fluid at 120Hz. While both have good features and similar loading times, One UI seems slightly more refined, likely due to Samsung’s longer experience with foldables.
Bloatware
Regarding bloatware, both devices come pre-installed with apps like Spotify, TikTok, Facebook, AliExpress, and Amazon. However, Samsung tends to have more bloatware due to its own applications alongside Google Chrome and various Microsoft apps.
Battery Life and Charging
Despite the HONOR Magic V3 having a 5,180 mAh battery compared to the Samsung’s 4,400 mAh, the Samsung performs better in real-world use. Even with both devices set to the same brightness and refresh rates, the Magic V3 lasts about 45 minutes less than the Samsung, contradicting initial expectations.
In terms of charging times, the Samsung took 1 hour and 16 minutes to fully charge at 25 watts, while the HONOR Magic V3 charged in just 49 minutes at 66 watts, showcasing the advantages of faster charging technology. However, the Samsung’s wireless charging speed of 15 watts pales compared to the HONOR’s 50 watts.
Storage Speed and Performance
Storage speeds reveal further differentiation. While both perform well in synthetic benchmarks, the HONOR shows significantly better random read speeds, essential for app installations and gaming. However, its sequential write speeds are lower.
Benchmark scores indicate a notable difference in CPU performance. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 scores around 1.38 million, while the HONOR Magic V3 scores slightly higher at 1.5 million. Both devices exhibit throttling under prolonged use, but the Samsung maintains better overall performance.
Speaker Quality and Gaming Experience
The haptics on the Samsung are stronger, providing a more tactile experience. In terms of speaker quality, while both sound decent, the Samsung is slightly louder with richer bass.
During gaming tests, both devices handled Genshin Impact well, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 exhibited fewer frame dips at the highest settings, making it the better choice for serious gamers.
Camera Comparison
Both devices shoot in 4K at 30 frames per second. The Samsung consistently delivers better video quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.
Examining the rear cameras, the Samsung provides a wider field of view and better overall video quality. While both cameras have 50 megapixels and optical image stabilization, the Samsung also supports 8K video, which the HONOR does not.
In low-light conditions, the Samsung struggles with noise, while the HONOR sometimes clips colors. However, the HONOR excels in zoom capabilities, capturing sharper images and more detail at 10x zoom compared to the Samsung.
Conclusion
Ultimately, while both devices offer strong features and performance, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 edges out in software polish, speaker quality, and gaming performance. In contrast, the HONOR Magic V3 excels in stylus support and faster charging, making it a competitive option in this segment.
