News

HONOR Magic V3 is 2024’s slimmest foldable

Launched alongside the Magic Vs3

Published

July 13, 2024

Vincenz

Just days after Samsung’s grandeur Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event in Paris, France (together with the all-new Galaxy Z Fold6), HONOR abruptly steals the spotlight with the revelation of the newest Magic V3 and Vs3 foldables in China.

Slimmest fold of 2024

HONOR has challenged their own record and managed to beat the Magic V2’s already impressive 9.9mm chassis with an impossibly thinner 9.2mm thin design. Mind you, we’re talking about the foldable in its folded state.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Moreover, it’s expected to become lighter as well. The HONOR Magic V3 now weighs at just 226 grams — 11 grams lighter than its predecessor. Still, vivo holds the record for having the lightest foldable of ’em all with the X Fold3 at 219 grams.

HONOR has achieved this breakthrough thanks to their Luban Hinge Architecture. If you remember, it’s also found on the company’s first flip, the Magic V Flip.

It’s the company’s second-generation self-developed shield steel that’s ultra high in strength yet light as well. It delivers a smooth folding and unfolding experience and can withstand up to 2100MPa of pressure.

And to make the HONOR Magic V3 durable than ever, it employs a new back material called Aerospace Special Fiber. This promises up to 40x stronger protection than conventional glass. A stronger 7 Series Aluminum Alloy frame is present as well.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Finally, the Magic V3 now features an IP certification. IPX8 rating makes the foldable withstand depths of water down to 2.5 meters. Using it with wet hands won’t ruin your device either.

Mighty like a V3 Engine

The madness doesn’t stop there! Under the hood, the HONOR Magic V3 runs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC with Adreno 750 graphics.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

You can either have it in 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage options. Onboard memory starts at 12GB and maxes out at 16GB. However, last year’s Magic V2 was only offered in a loner but bigger 16GB RAM.

Worried about cooling in such a thin chassis? Well, the Chinese company spotlights its Cicada Wing Titanium VC (Vapor Cooling) Chamber and manages to provide enough cooling while being so slim at 0.22mm.

As evident as it looks in the new bigger camera island, the Magic V3 features improved cameras across the board: 50MP f/1.6 main (wide) sensor, another 50MP f/3.0 telephoto shooter with a farther 3.5x optical zoom (from 2.5x). Lastly, a 40MP f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens with 112-degree FoV (Field of View).

For outer and inner selfie cameras, HONOR has also slightly tweaked ’em: 20MP f/2.0 with 90-degree FoV (from Magic V2’s 16MP f/2.2).

Keeping What’s Already Impressive

The HONOR Magic V3 still keeps the already impressive 6.43-inch outer and 7.92-inch inner LTPO OLED displays of its predecessor.

Those also mean great stuff remain like its 1~120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 4320Hz PWM Dimming, DCI-P3 wide color gamut and support for 1.07 Billion Colors plus Dolby Vision.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

The displays are both protected by King Kong Giant Rhino (external) and King Kong Flexible Armor (internal). Albeit, some improvements in brightness like 1800 nits in peak and up to 5000 nits in HBM (High Brightness Mode).

Fast charging speed remains the same (66W SuperCharge) but capacity has slightly been boosted from 5000mAh to 5150mAh — still with Si/C (Silicon/Carbon) battery tech. Additionally, it’s worthy to point out though that it finally supports 50W wireless charging.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Not that we are complaining but vivo also holds the record for having the biggest battery and fastest charging in a book-style foldable so far — 5700mAh paired with 100W wired FlashCharge on the vivo X Fold3 Pro.

The Love Child of Magic V2 and V3?

Already on HONOR’s third “Vs” iteration, the Magic Vs3 is evidently the underpowered Magic V3. But unlike past generations, the Magic Vs3 doesn’t use the same design as its full counterpart with its less attractive looks (subjective).

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Other than its 9.8mm chassis (0.1mm slimmer than the Magic V2), it also shares last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip found on previous foldable flagship.

More key features remain the same: 6.43-inch cover + 7.92-inch foldable LTPO OLED adaptive 120Hz displays, 16MP f/2.2 selfie shooters, and a 50MP f/1.9 main rear camera like the V2.

But some changes include Magic V3’s 40MP 112-degree f/2.2 UWA lens and a smaller 8MP f/3.4 telephoto unit — yet with the farthest 5x optical zoom of the bunch.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Base memory still starts at 12GB but continues to be the selection even when you opt for the 512GB storage option. While it also has the same 5000mAh battery as the V2, the Magic Vs3 sticks with the conventional Li-Po (Lithium-Polymer) battery tech instead of Si/C (Silicon/Carbon).

On a good note, it also supports 50W wireless charging like the Magic V3.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

It’s quite the love child of Magic V2 and V3 — or like a Magic V2 on a new skin with some tweaks. Both of these Magical foldables run on a newer MagicOS 8.0 software based on Android 14.

AI features should already be expected much like every new Android flagship out there. However, satellite connectivity is limited to the Magic V3 only.

Pricing and Availability

The HONOR Magic V3 and Vs3 are available in these nature-inspired colorways: Qilian Snow, Tundra Green, and Velvet Black. Additionally, the Silk Road Dunhuang color choice is exclusive to the Magic V3.

Pricing and configuration of each foldable are as follows:

Magic V3

12+256GB = CNY 8999 (US$ 1237 / EUR 1143 / GBP 966 / SG$ 1669 / PhP 72,115 / INR 103,287)
16+512GB = CNY 9999 (US$ 1374 / EUR 1270 / GBP 1073 / SG$ 1854 / PhP 80,129 / INR 114,765)
16+1TB = CNY 10,999 (US$ 1512 / EUR 1396 / GBP 1180 / SG$ 2040 / PhP 88,142 / INR 126,243)

Magic Vs3

12+256GB = CNY 6999 (US$ 962 / EUR 888 / GBP 751 / SG$ 1298 / PhP 56,088 / INR 80,332)
12+512GB = CNY 7699 (US$ 1058 / EUR 977 / GBP 826 / SG$ 1428 / PhP 61,697 / INR 88,367)
16+1TB = CNY 8699 (US$ 1196 / EUR 1104 / GBP 933 / SG$ 1613 / PhP 69,710 / INR 99,844)

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Global availability was never mentioned but we are expecting HONOR will at least sell the Magic V3 in international shelves soon much like its predecessor.

News

TECNO unveils the world’s first 0mm bezel-less phone

Is this the future of smartphones?

Published

July 31, 2026

Vincenz

It seems like the race towards an all-screen smartphone isn’t over just yet.

While most in the tech industry are currently obsessed over Samsung’s latest wide foldable, TECNO announces a more refreshing sight — at least for the regular “slab-type” phone form factor.

Black borders begone

Modern flagship smartphones already have incredibly slim bezels, but there’s still a thin black border separating the active display from the frame. That’s due to the internal circuitry and safety clearances required by current display technology

TECNO proves it’s possible to dissolve that with their Next-Gen Bezelless Concept Phone. And this is actually the industry’s first smartphone with a true 0mm display bezel.

With this fresh concept, the uprising brand says it has solved that “final millimeter” by redesigning the phone’s internal structure and display packaging. The result is a display with a visible border measuring 0 microns (0mm). This makes the screen appear to stretch all the way to the edges.

Removing the bezel completely isn’t just about aesthetics. The company says such uninterrupted display makes a more immersive experience — whether you’re watching videos, playing games, browsing photos, or simply reading.

Without these visible borders, content appears to flow naturally from edge-to-edge, making the display look as if it’s floating in your hand.

A glimpse at TECNO’s future

As with most concept devices, there’s no word yet on whether this exact design will make it into a commercial smartphone. Still, TECNO says the engineering behind the concept goes beyond the display itself.

The technologies developed for the project (such as improvements related to cameras, touch responsiveness, audio, and AI-driven user interactions) could eventually find their way into the brand’s future flagship devices.

Whether or not a true bezel-free phone becomes reality anytime soon, the concept offers a glimpse at where smartphone design could be heading next. After all, TECNO’s super slim concept last 2025 actually became an actual retail product with the existence of TECNO Slim.

The concept is set to make its public debut on the upcoming ShowStoppers at IFA 2026 this September 3.

Laptops

Apple introduces Apple Upgrade leasing program

Flexible leasing arrives

Published

July 31, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Apple has introduced Apple Upgrade, a new leasing program that makes it easier to get an iPhone, Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch through monthly payments. The program also gives customers more flexibility to upgrade to newer devices over time.

Apple Upgrade replaces new enrollments for the iPhone Upgrade Program with a single offering that covers four product categories. Apple partnered with Klarna to power the service.

Customers can lease an iPhone or Apple Watch for one or two years. Mac and iPad leases are available for two or three years.

At the end of the lease, customers have three options. They can upgrade to a newer device, purchase the leased device by paying the remaining balance, or return it with no further obligation.

Monthly payments start at US$17.99 for iPhone and US$24.99 for Mac, depending on the selected model and configuration. Customers must also qualify through Klarna before enrolling.

More than iPhones

Apple Upgrade expands beyond the company’s previous iPhone-only financing program. It brings iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch under one leasing service, making upgrades more consistent across Apple’s hardware lineup.

Customers can manage their lease through Apple, while Klarna handles financing and lease administration. They can also pay off their device early, although additional terms and fees may apply depending on the agreement.

Apple Upgrade is currently available only in the United States. Apple has not announced plans to expand the program to other regions.

News

Is the Pixel 11 copying a feature from Nothing?

A new ad is hinting at something like the Glyph interface.

Published

July 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

August 12 cannot come soon enough. On that date, Google is set to launch the upcoming Pixel 11 series. There isn’t much to indicate that the brand is changing the formula this year. Now, a rampant rumor, now seemingly confirmed by Google’s own ad, is hinting that a popular feature from Nothing is making its way to the Pixel.

Besides the transparent rear, Nothing prides itself with numerous iterations of the Glyph interface, a lighting system that serves as customized notifications for your phone. It’s mostly a novelty, but the feature is a unique take in a smartphone market plagued with too much sameness. It looks like Google wants to take a page from that same notebook.

For a while now, it’s been rumored that Google is adopting a version of the feature for the Pixel 11 series. The so-called Pixel Glow will reportedly add a light-based notification feature. Now, Google itself has seemingly confirmed the rumors.

In a new ad, titled “The Obvious Next Move,” Google is teasing a new feature coming to the flagship series. Though the ad leaves the feature untitled and without a description, it’s clear that it’s a circular glowing thing similar to Nothing’s take. The glowing thing is right on the Pixel’s iconic camera bar, just like Nothing.

But again, Google didn’t name the feature. However, if it helps, the ad says that we already use the Pixel for Gmail, Maps, Search, Calendar, and Docs, so the next evolution is whatever is depicted in this ad. August 12 really cannot come soon enough.