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The problem with foldable phones is that they are thicker and heavier compared to more traditional smartphones. This is because foldable phones are essentially two phones combined into one. However, companies like Honor have managed to slim down their foldables considerably, like with the Honor Magic V3. But the question is, with the launch of the new Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, how does it stack up versus the Honor Magic V3? This guide will help you make a decision!
Design
Compared to the original Pixel Fold, the new Pixel 9 Pro Fold has much flatter edges. The camera module has also been designed and somehow looks more aggressive. Overall, it feels like a more sophisticated upgrade over its predecessor with smoother and sleeker lines and edges.
The Honor Magic V3, on the other hand, features softer rounder corners and edges. It is sleek in its own right, and at the end of the day, it really boils down to personal preference when it comes to aesthetics.
In terms of its actual size, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold measures 155.2 x 77.1 x 10.5 mm when folded, and 155.2 x 150.2 x 5.1 mm when unfolded. It also weighs in at 257 grams. The Honor Magic V3 comes in at 156.6 x 74.0 x 9.2 mm when folded, and 156.6 x 145.3 x 4.35 mm when unfolded. It also weighs 226-230 grams.
As you can tell, it is a much thinner handset and also considerably lighter. Its weight is also surprisingly close to traditional smartphones like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max at 232 grams and 221 grams respectively.
Display
In terms of its display, the Honor Magic V3 has a 7.93-inch 2156 x 2344 foldable display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It has a peak brightness of 1,800 nits. Its external display measures 6.43-inches with a 1060 x 2376 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and interestingly enough, peak brightness that hits a whopping 5,000 nits.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 6.3-inch external display with a 2424×1080 resolution and a refresh rate of 60-120Hz. It has a peak brightness of up to 2,700 nits. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s external display is smaller versus the Honor Magic V3, but the internal display has it beat. The inner foldable display measures 8-inches with a 2076×2152 resolution, a 1-120Hz refresh rate, and up to 2,700 nits of peak brightness.
Seeing as the point of a foldable phone is its foldable display, the clear winner here would be the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The massive 8-inch display could be a better choice for videos and web content, although you’ll have to make some sacrifices when it comes to thickness and weight.
Performance
The Honor Magic V3 uses the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, versus the Pixel 9 Pro Fold which uses the Google Tensor G4. Both chipsets are from a 2024 lineup, but in terms of actual performance, we’ll have to wait for benchmarks to see how they stack up against each other.
One advantage Google has going for them is that they control both the hardware and software of their phones, similar to Apple’s approach to the iPhone. This allows Google to have a much easier time tuning Android and making sure it runs smoothly and optimally on the Tensor G4.
In terms of RAM that handles multitasking and background apps, the Honor Magic V3 starts with a base of 12GB of RAM. There is an option for 16GB but you’ll have to pay more for it. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, however, comes with a base of 16GB. The Honor Magic V3 does go up to 1TB of storage, which might be ideal for some users, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold stops at 512GB.
Cameras
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a triple camera setup on the back. This includes a 48MP wide camera with a f/1.7 aperture, a 10.5MP ultrawide with a f/2.2 aperture, and a 10.8MP telephoto with a f/3.1 aperture. It is accompanied by a 10MP selfie cam with a f/2.2 aperture.
On the other hand, the Honor Magic V3 has a 50MP f/1.6 main wide camera, a 50MP f/3.0 periscope telephoto, and a 40MP f/2.2 ultrawide. On the megapixel count, Honor is the winner on paper. More megapixels doesn’t necessarily equate to better photos, but the higher resolution does allow for more details to be captured and gives users more flexibility when cropping.
However, Google’s strength lies in its image processing algorithms which has blown us away year after year. So even though the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s camera megapixels aren’t as high, the software could more than make up for it. In this age where we share and view most of our photos on our phones, having super high resolution images doesn’t really amount to much.
Battery
If you’re after a foldable phone with long-lasting battery, the Honor Magic V3 could be a better choice versus the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Magic V3 has a 5,150mAh battery while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a 4,650mAh battery. The difference of about 500mAh should be quite substantial.
Honor’s foldable also has an added advantage of supporting 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. This is versus the Pixel 9 Pro Fold that goes up to 45W of charging, so it will charge slightly slower.
Pricing & availability
Last but not least, we have to talk about pricing. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will launch with a starting price of $1,799. The Honor Magic V3, on the other hand, is priced at CNY8,999. This roughly converts to about $1,253, making it a much cheaper handset. However, keep in mind that the Honor Magic V3 isn’t officially available in the US yet. It is available in the UK and EU so if you’re living in the US, you won’t be able to get your hands on it, at least for now.
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