Porsche Design | Honor Magic V2 RSR review - Stylish foldable with a sporty touch ↺
With the Porsche Design | Honor Magic V2 RSR, Honor becomes the second Chinese company, following Huawei, to collaborate with the traditional German company to market smartphones. Prior to this, there was also a partnership with BlackBerry.
While the technical foundation remains the same, Honor has enhanced certain features and, notably, enriched the package contents. Naturally, the luxury foldable device also carries the distinctive mark of Porsche Design, which has reimagined the back panel and the camera setup. This redesign is reflected in the overall price.
Please be aware that this is a shortened review because the Magic V2's extensive test covers most of the same technical elements that this one does.
Possible competitors compared
Bewertung | Datum | Modell | Gewicht | Laufwerk | Groesse | Aufloesung | Preis ab |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89.1 % v7 (old) | 02 / 2024 | Honor Magic V2 RSR SD 8 Gen 2, Adreno 740 | 234 g | 1 TB UFS 4.0 Flash | 7.92" | 2344x2156 | |
| 89.1 % v7 (old) | 08 / 2023 | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 SD 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, Adreno 740 | 253 g | 256 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 7.60" | 2176x1812 | |
| 87.3 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2023 | Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 SD 8 Gen 2, Adreno 740 | 259 g | 512 GB UFS 4.0 Flash | 8.03" | 2160x1916 | |
| 84.7 % v7 (old) | 08 / 2023 | Google Pixel Fold Tensor G2, Mali-G710 MP7 | 283 g | 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 7.60" | 2208x1840 |
Case and connectivity - More titanium and fibreglass in the Magic V2 RSR
The Porsche Design | Honor Magic V2 RSR distinguishes itself visually from the standard V2 primarily through its design. The fibreglass back, with a slightly metallic appearance in Agate Grey, replaces the glass or artificial leather found in the conventional V2. Inspired by the sloping roofline of the Porsche 911, the design is sleek and stylish.
The camera element has undergone a redesign, featuring a 3D glass design that complements the overall aesthetics. The frame, with milled camera details, is crafted from a titanium alloy, enhancing the device's premium look. Notably, the twisting test revealed minimal audible creaking, showcasing improved build quality.
In terms of technical specifications, the Magic V2 RSR remains largely unchanged compared to its counterpart, with the exception of doubling the internal memory to 1,024 GB or 1 TB. However, the scope of delivery is much larger (see video).
The notable expansion lies in the comprehensive accessories included in the package, featuring a faux leather case, a SIM pin in Porsche Design style, the Honor Magic Pen with a storage case, two USB cables (Type-A to Type-C in black), and two modular power adapters (black). The power adapters are equipped with a type C plug and a Commonwealth plug (type G), catering to the charging needs of frequent travelers with a 66-watt capacity.
Communication, software and operation
Broad frequency coverage and support for current 5G Sub6 offer wide-ranging mobile connectivity with the Porsche Design | Honor Magic V2 RSR. While the device supports the latest Wi-Fi standard, it lacks the 6 GHz band. Additionally, there is no UWB chip included in the specifications.
The Magic V2 RSR boasts two touchscreens with responsive and precise input processing. The inclusion of the active stylus in the Porsche edition enhances user interaction, offering versatility across both displays. The fingerprint scanner, integrated into the power button, demonstrates reliable recognition rates. Facial recognition via the front cameras is also available, although it is considered less secure.
Operating on Google Android 13 with MagicOS 7.2, the device benefits from Honor's commitment to providing four major updates and five years of security patches.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Google Pixel Fold | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Google Pixel Fold | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Google Pixel Fold | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz | |
| Google Pixel Fold | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
Cameras - A total of five lenses for the Porsche mobile phone
Despite the slightly different appearance of the rear camera setup, the Porsche Design | Honor Magic V2 RSR shares the exact same camera configuration as the Magic V2. The front cameras, which capture impressive selfies, are situated on both the external and foldable displays.
The main camera performs exceptionally well and offers the added convenience of capturing selfies when utilizing the cover display. While the main camera generally produces high-quality images, there is a tendency to overexpose white areas, particularly evident in shots featuring our rabbit motif.
Video recording capabilities on the rear camera extend to Ultra HD at 30 or 60 FPS. Full HD recording allows for the utilization of a 21:9 aspect ratio. Additionally, the Pro mode enables the creation of 10-bit LOG videos.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
HauptkameraHauptkameraUltraweitwinkel5-fach ZoomLow-Light
Display - Bright OLEDs with high PWM dimming
Both displays on the Honor Magic V2 RSR utilize LTPO technology, allowing for variable refresh rates ranging from 1 to 120 Hz. In our observations, we did not discern any significant disparities between the panels, which are consistent with the V2 in terms of quality.
The external display exhibits slightly higher brightness with a pure white display and an active ambient light sensor. Honor indicates peak brightness values of 2,500 cd/m² for the external display and 1,600 cd/m² for the internal display. In our testing, the foldable panel achieved a peak brightness of 926 cd/m² with even distribution (APL18) and 1,589 cd/m² during HDR playback. The cover display reached 1,053 and 1,399 cd/m² respectively. When adjusting brightness manually, 576 cd/m² (front: 600 cd/m²) is available.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 97 %
Center on Battery: 961 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 0.8 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.89
ΔE Greyscale 1.2 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
99.4% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.23
| Honor Magic V2 RSR OLED, 2344x2156, 7.9" | Honor Magic V2 RSR OLED, 2376x1060, 6.4" | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Dynamic AMOLED, 2176x1812, 7.6" | Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 AMOLED, 2160x1916, 8" | Google Pixel Fold OLED, 2208x1840, 7.6" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | -15% | -164% | -80% | -148% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 1.18 ? | 2.21 ? -87% | 6.16 ? -422% | 3.32 ? -181% | 5.59 ? -374% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 2.09 ? | 1.19 ? 43% | 1.55 ? 26% | 1.55 ? 26% | 1.59 ? 24% |
| PWM Frequency | 2272 | 2272 0% | 120 -95% | 367 -84% | 120.2 -95% |
| Screen | -58% | -98% | 2% | -43% | |
| Brightness middle | 961 | 1093 14% | 1104 15% | 1307 36% | 993 3% |
| Brightness | 950 | 1087 14% | 1107 17% | 1308 38% | 997 5% |
| Brightness Distribution | 97 | 96 -1% | 97 0% | 96 -1% | 94 -3% |
| Black Level * | |||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 0.8 | 1.4 -75% | 3.1 -288% | 1 -25% | 1.4 -75% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 1.5 | 4.1 -173% | 4.2 -180% | 1.7 -13% | 3.2 -113% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.2 | 2.7 -125% | 3 -150% | 1.5 -25% | 2.1 -75% |
| Gamma | 2.23 99% | 2.21 100% | 2.01 109% | 2.24 98% | 2.24 98% |
| CCT | 6396 102% | 6412 101% | 6594 99% | 6313 103% | 6796 96% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -37% /
-43% | -131% /
-120% | -39% /
-25% | -96% /
-78% |
* ... smaller is better
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2.09 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 1.106 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.9795 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 9 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.8 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 1.18 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.51 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.6075 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 3 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.6 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 2272 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 2272 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 2272 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8564 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Performance, emissions and battery life
The Porsche Design | Honor Magic V2 RSR is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a generous 16 GB of RAM. Despite not featuring the latest generation of Qualcomm's top-of-the-range SoC, it provides ample power for all tasks, applications, and games. The collaboration with Gameloft for Asphalt 9: Legends, as seen in the Magic V2, is also present in the RSR, making for a fitting inclusion.
Surface temperatures on the Magic V2 RSR remain within acceptable limits, with noticeable warming mainly concentrated around the area housing the SoC. During 3DMark stress tests, the foldable does not excel, experiencing a significant drop in performance over time. However, thanks to its substantial performance reserves, this should only be noticeable in rare cases, such as demanding gaming scenarios.
Battery runtimes are impressive, exceeding 12 hours, but the RSR could potentially achieve even longer durations with lower power consumption.
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | Google Pixel Fold | Average 1 TB UFS 4.0 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | -15% | -7% | -56% | 2% | -43% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 3359.31 | 4384.43 31% | 3572.73 6% | 1606.37 -52% | 3637 ? 8% | 1971 ? -41% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 3399.45 | 2449.23 -28% | 2897.27 -15% | 1169.32 -66% | 3427 ? 1% | 1586 ? -53% |
| Random Read 4KB | 416.98 | 459.94 10% | 389.81 -7% | 219.11 -47% | 403 ? -3% | 280 ? -33% |
| Random Write 4KB | 568.29 | 161.39 -72% | 506.41 -11% | 238.72 -58% | 577 ? 2% | 321 ? -44% |
Temperature
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 44.8 °C / 113 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 45.3 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.6 °C / 78 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
Speakers
Honor Magic V2 RSR audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 9.4% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 27% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 47% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 46% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.2% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.5% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 16% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 76% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 37% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 56% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery life
| Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing | |
| Average of class Smartphone (476 - 3244, n=204, last 2 years) | |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 | |
| Honor Magic V2 RSR | |
| Google Pixel Fold | |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Magic V2 RSR as a sleek alternative for Porsche fans
While it doesn't bring any new technological advancements, the Porsche Design | Honor Magic V2 RSR has a sleek, sports car-inspired appearance. Its broad accessory list and excellent craftsmanship really won us over during the test. Much like the Magic V2, it is an exceptionally good and notably thin foldable phone, with the Porsche version weighing three grams more.
The compact silicon-carbon batteries are powerful, the camera setup is impressive, and the display is bright, eye-friendly, and supports all modern HDR standards.
The Porsche Design | Honor Magic V2 RSR embodies pure luxury, accentuated by its premium pricing.
As expected, the price of the Porsche Design foldable is even higher, making it more of a luxury indulgence than a rational decision. The extensive package, which includes the Honor Magic Pen, fails to fully compensate for the elevated price.
Despite drawbacks such as Wi-Fi limitations and the absence of wireless charging and IP certification, the Porsche Design | Honor Magic V2 RSR remains an excellent foldable, characterized by its extravagant luxury.
Incidentally, in the Porsche universe, RSR stands for RennSport racing cars and is designated for vehicles in pure competition versions without road approval. The Porsche 911 RSR, in particular, is considered the ideal representation of an endurance racing car.
Price and availability
The Magic V2 RSR can be ordered directly from Porsche Design or Honor for ~$3,000.
Honor Magic V2 RSR
- 02/21/2024 v7 (old)
Daniel Schmidt
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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