Reviews

OPPO A3 review: Is durability enough?

Military-Grade Shock Resistance, Splash Touch technology, and what else?

Published

September 24, 2024

Durability seems to be the trending key selling point for budget smartphone offerings as of late. The OPPO A3 isn’t spared from this. Flaunting U.S. Military-Grade Shock Resistance, OPPO’s latest budget device positions itself as a reliable driver for the “daily rigors” of life — specifically blue-collar life. But is that enough?

OPPO A3 specs

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 1
Memory: Up to 8GB
Internal storage: Up to 256GB
Display: 6.67-inch HD+, 90Hz refresh rate
Cameras: 50MP AI rear, 5MP front
Battery: 5,100mAh
Fast charging: 45W SUPERVOOC

In a nutshell, the OPPO A3 has the usual specs and features expected for a handset of its asking price. The 6GB+128GB version is priced at PhP 8,999, while the variant with higher RAM and internal storage is yet to be released.

It also supports Dual SIM, 300% volume, a 3.5mm jack, and more practical features to support an average frugal person’s daily tasks.

Shock, Splash resistance

The OPPO A3’s main selling points are its shock resistance, as well as its ability to fend off splashes from multiple liquids. These were chronicled well on OPPO’s socials throughout the buildup campaign. On paper, the device also has an IP54 rating, which is good for occasional splashes.

While I have always been taught to take good care of what I have, I did try dropping the device a couple of times from a considerable height to see if it would still work the same afterwards. It did.

I wouldn’t say I’m impressed necessarily, but how the display optimizes touches while it’s wet is something that can be very useful. I also noticed that water just dries up on its screen when you leave it as is.

Once, I laid the phone flat inside a coffee shop and made it a coaster for my iced-cold drink. It will allow you to keep swiping and tapping on the screen.

Simplistic look

Aiding the shock and splash resistance features are the phone’s simplistic look. The review unit we received came in Starlight White. It looks elegant instead of cheap.

The camera island protrudes a bit, with the flash on the side. OPPO’s branding is located at the bottom third of the phone.

You get a good grip with the OPPO A3’s design. There’s enough friction compared to other devices with slippery backs.

The unit came with a translucent case with a wave pattern, which reminded me of a popular luggage brand. But I didn’t feel compelled to use this case because on its own, the phone felt comfortable to hold.

The speaker produces loud sound even when not in 300% mode. That’s a plus for outdoor scenarios, especially for delivery riders and blue-collar workers needing to communicate on the fly.

Moreover, you can dial up the display’s brightness up to 1,000 nits, which can again be helpful when outdoors or under the sun.

Unsmooth

Unfortunately, the OPPO A3 doesn’t pass the smoothness test. Granted, it’s a budget device, so it will generally perform slower than a mid-ranger, but still, there were just too many occasions where the phone was unresponsive or had a long delay on swipes and touches.

Furthermore, it cannot process large amounts of information fast enough. I’m talking about just text. For instance, messages on Facebook Messenger that have already appeared on my laptop screen took a while to load on the chat head on the A3. Swiping from the bottom of the screen to go back to the home page also takes a few attempts sometimes.

Switching to high-performance mode and setting the display refresh rate to high gave a bit of leverage. It became a bit more responsive. But overall, I’ve seen budget devices with similar price points perform better. Some even offer a 120Hz refresh rate or a better camera system.

This caveat becomes a concern for certain occupations. For instance, motorcycle delivery or TNVS riders will need several apps on, including real-time navigation for directions.

Oftentimes, riders also have Facebook Messenger on. Some even go on video calls while riding, which I don’t condone but at the same time contributes heavily to what is demanded from the processor.

If you’ll need to make quick decisions and the phone doesn’t even display your location accurately, then it would become a problem while in the middle of the road. I tried this several times while in transit and it caused some hiccups.

Patience for gaming

If you’re going to use the OPPO A3 for gaming sessions, bring a lot of patience with you. The phone comes with Game Focus mode, which I reckon is a must to not only block out notifications and other processes but to also ensure the phone does not slow down in the long run.

There’s a bit of lagging especially during battle scenes on Honkai: Star Rail, although it did not prevent me from playing for an hour or so.

Of course, I kept the graphics settings to the lowest option. Besides, there’s no point setting it to high when your display can only showcase 720p quality. Just settle for medium or low and get decent performance.

It’s less immersive with the pixelated edges and all that, but so long as it works so you can pass time off, then it wouldn’t be a problem.

Works fine for casual browsing

Naturally, the OPPO A3 works just fine for light to moderate usage. That includes browsing endlessly on social media or streaming videos at a lower quality setting.

I didn’t experience substantial lagging when this was the case. And with a long-lasting battery, the device is something you can carry with you and spend time with for an entire day.

Its average life will still depend on how busy you are on a daily basis. If you’re preoccupied with work, then I don’t see a reason why this won’t last for an entire day.

Camera: Work with what you have

Even if the OPPO A3 is a cheaper device, its camera package offers a good balance between the “for documentation and recording” side and the “for the ‘gram” side.

It serves both purposes with a capable 50MP shooter. You’ll just have to be little creative and patient and you can get decent captures with what you have.

With appropriate lighting, you’ll get photos that still have a bit of sharpness or detail to them. But of course, don’t expect the camera to work like the ones on, say, the OPPO Reno12 Series 5G.

It may struggle when it comes to challenging conditions or when indoors. You’ll have to be incredibly still or you’ll get blurry or grainy captures. Don’t move the phone immediately after hitting the shutter button too, as it takes a second to process. But it doesn’t mean you can’t pull off good low-light photos either.

Color reproduction is typical of an OPPO smartphone. It’s actually more than decent. If you feel the vividness isn’t enough, you can make up for by adjusting, of course.

On the positive end, the main camera can identify depth well. Subjects taken from close range stand out. You can also tap on the viewfinder if you want the background or foreground emphasized. You will just have to be creative.

I spent most of the time with the OPPO A3 taking photos of food and products up close. Food captures still look appealing, which is a plus. Some shots can look lively as well.

Just a side note: the phone does not have a portrait mode for the rear camera, but the focus you’re getting seems to be enough with the default shooter.

From time to time, I took “wider” landscape captures at 1x zoom (this phone doesn’t have a 0.5x zoom). It can retain detail at up to 1.5x to 2x, which is helpful for taking snapshots of nature, buildings, and everything in between. It struggles when you go farther away. When you zoom in your photo, you may also notice that some parts are already noisy or grainy.

At times, it can hold up well against backlight, neon lights, and similar subjects while retaining details.

Is this your BudgetMatch?

The phrase “daily rigors of life” is such a subjective one. And deciding whether to get the OPPO A3 or not depends how you’d define that yourself.

You will get the promise of durability with this device for daily wear and tear. I can see many individuals benefitting from what the OPPO A3 offers, including students and various entry-level workers. Elsewhere, you have a decently-performing device for light to moderate overall usage.

And I agree that the OPPO A3’s shock resistance and Splash Touch technologies can be game-changing capabilities for those who really need them and could only afford a sub-PhP 10,000 (~ US$ 200) device.

I’m talking about elderly people who might accidentally drop it because their gripping power isn’t as strong anymore, or those who are frequently outdoors and a downpour suddenly occurs, or many more in between.

But if by “daily rigors”, you mean multitasking on a device like this because it’s the only one you can afford, I’m afraid the OPPO A3 cannot give you that. There are smoother devices out there so be mindful before choosing.

For example, online sellers can also benefit from the capable camera system if they’re posting just stills on various platforms. But those who stream products live for hours should get a better handset.

Getting the OPPO A3 ultimately depends on whether you’re frequently on the move or the type who just chills inside the office or at home. Factor in how patient you are too.

In the end, budget devices tend to offer just one or two main features from durability, overall smoothness, and high-performing capabilities for a prolonged period. You’re lucky if you can hit all three.

The OPPO A3 is now available in Sparkle Black and Starry Purple for PhP 8,999 (6GB+128GB) on OPPO’s official Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok channels.

Related Topics:OPPO OPPO A3 Oppo Philippines

Reviews

The realme P4 Power: realme’s midrange power play?

A power bank and a phone — and more

Published

June 19, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

Whenever a brand slaps a “long battery life” label on a box, we take it with a grain of salt.

Even as smartphone battery capacities have become larger as of late, endurance is still subjective. It’s heavily dependent on your daily screen time, signal strength, and other habits.

But when a smartphone lands on your desk with a gargantuan 10,001mAh battery, then that subjectivity basically goes right out the window.

That’s what the realme P4 Power chiefly brings to the Philippine market for the first time, in the brand’s P series relatively quiet debut in the country.

It’s here to eliminate low-battery anxiety and render your bulky external power banks completely obsolete.

Tether-less freedom

We wielded this device for weeks as a primary daily driver, and the endurance is nothing short of black magic.

The daily rotation included endless social media scrolling, video streaming, continuous navigation, and a relentless stress test: serving as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot for up to three separate devices simultaneously.

Through all that usage, the phone flat-out refused to die. I didn’t consciously “try” to drain it. I just know it would last an entire day for up to the wee hours.

When acting as a multi-device router, the chassis does heat up slightly, but it never crosses into alarming or uncomfortable territory.

It simply sips power, providing a level of tether-less freedom that no standard 5,000mAh or 6,000mAh smartphone can replicate.

When it is finally time to recharge the device, it supports 80W SUPERVOOC charging so you won’t have to spend hours waiting.

Even if you don’t replenish it back up to 100%, an hour’s worth of charging should keep you going the extra distance.

Immersive visuals, casual performance

The massive battery pairs beautifully with a expansive 6.8-inch 144Hz AMOLED display. With a high, 453ppi pixel density and 1280 x 2800 resolution, media consumption and gaming become highly engaging — at least from a visuals standpoint.

There is a wider aspect ratio so you don’t get a comically long phone, and a curved screen. We aren’t typical fond of this but the curvature seems subtle, meaning no accidental edge touches.

When it comes to performance, the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra chipset handles everyday tasks and casual, less-demanding titles with absolute ease.

However, when jumping into competitive matches of Call of Duty: Mobile or exploring the heavy landscapes of Honkai: Star Rail, you will encounter frame drops and stuttering from time to time.

It’s never jarring enough to ruin your match or hinder what you’re trying to do, but it does occasionally disrupt an otherwise smooth gaming experience.

If anything, there’s Championship Mode and GT Mode to optimize the device for such tasks. Bypass Charging is a bonus so you can keep playing without the risk of device overheating.

Audio is loud but somewhat flat, but I didn’t expect much.

Heavy, mecha-inspired tank

That display curvature is part of the phone’s overall aesthetic. Around the back, the realme P4 Power embraces its “all about power” persona with a distinct, machine-inspired design language.

The upper half where the camera island is located, in particular, look aggressive and sharp, as if a nod to mobile gaming. The colorway for this unit is silver metallic.

However, housing a 10,000mAh cell requires a serious physical compromise: weight. This phone is significantly, undeniably heavy.

The sheer heft is a constant reminder of the juice it carries, to the point where switching back to a “normal” smartphone yields a stark, instantly noticeable contrast in your hand and pockets.

Reliable main camera, lagging selfies

For its camera package, the realme P4 Power comes with a dependable 50MP main camera with a Sony IMX882 sensor.

I didn’t exactly “test” the camera but just naturally used it whenever I was out and about. Hence, I ended up with plenty of food, product reviews, and random finds.

Performance is decent, with the 1x to 1.5x range being the sweet spot. Compared to budget devices, there is definitely more detail and texture.

Color reproduction is likewise amenable, with some depth and acceptable clarity. But camera-centric mid-rangers can obviously offer punchier, more “popped-up” contrast.

With OIS, video recording is likewise smooth. It’s usable for casual vlogging, although lighting is still the catch. You’ll need an extra tofu light for instance, which sacrifices the portability of the phone itself.

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The selfie camera, meanwhile, also lags compared to older realme number series devices I’ve used. Sharpness, vividness, and color accuracy are lacking.

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Built to survive the elements

As an added bonus, realme didn’t sacrifice ruggedness for the sake of capacity. The handset comes armed with a familiar IP69 rating for dust and water resistance, including high-pressure water jets and submersion.

We took it out on outdoor jogs, and heavy sweat didn’t cause a single issue. Even when dealing with moisture, the display’s touch optimization remained responsive.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The realme P4 Power sits right in the competitive PhP 25,999 price bracket. In an era where smartphone prices are continuously climbing, it still offers a value proposition as an all-around mid-range device.

Think of it as buying a standard mid-ranger plus a power bank, minus the double pocket clutter. Long-term battery degradation remains to be seen but it seems the device is a fair purchase for power users.

It’s a close call, but the P4 Power is still a Swipe Right especially if your lifestyle demands endless battery life above all else.

Reviews

HONOR Watch 6 Review: Less guessing, more knowing

Beyond educated guesses

Published

June 18, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

After a week with the HONOR Watch 6, I realized I liked having data on things I normally would just leave to uneducated guesses.

I love seeing my sleep metrics, knowing if my heart is actually racing, and seeing notifications on the fly. These are things I find truly helpful in how I go about life currently. That’s why I can already see myself using the watch beyond the review period.

The thing is, I wasn’t expecting any of this.

The first thing that jumped out at me when I first wore the HONOR Watch 6 was that it barely felt like it was there. I was half expecting it to be this chunky-feeling thing. But it wasn’t. I was pleasantly surprised.

I have the silver model with the brown leather strap, and it feels light to wear. That was key for me because what I really wanted to track more than anything was my sleep.

The only time I really started to notice that I was wearing it practically all the time was around the fifth or sixth day. And honestly, that says a lot because I tend to want to take off most of the smartwatches I’ve used in the past.

A smartwatch that fits daily life

The brown leather strap is inoffensive in the best possible way. It blends well with both casual wear and smart casual outfits, which made it easy to keep on throughout the week.

In fact, I think it looks more at home during everyday life than during intense workouts.

That’s why I found myself looking at the HONOR Watch 6 less as a fitness watch and more as a health tracker that looks nice and tells me if there’s a proverbial fire I need to put out — or if she remembered me that day.

The display also quietly did its job.

Of course it’s a TWICE notification

You know, I didn’t even think about it. Whenever I needed to check the time or glance at a notification, I simply gestured as anyone would to look at their watch. No matter where I was, what I needed to see was readily visible.

That’s probably the highest compliment I can give a smartwatch display. It never gave me a reason to think about it.

Managing attention without reaching for my phone

Oof. I cannot overstate how many notifications I get on any given day.

As a Managing Editor with occasional side hustles, notifications come from multiple messaging apps. One moment I’m tracking production progress on WhatsApp, the next I’m checking what the team is discussing on Telegram. Then there are the emails, Messenger messages from friends, and the “… sent you a reel” notifications that have recently dropped in frequency to my dismay.

I don’t always want to pull out my phone to check these.

What I appreciated most about the HONOR Watch 6 is that notifications are grouped by app, and each one provides a clean preview. It gives me enough information to quickly assess what needs attention and what can wait.

For someone who is constantly juggling attention, that proved surprisingly useful.

Replacing guesses with data

The feature I was most interested in wasn’t fitness tracking.

It was sleep tracking.

Some time ago, a friend of mine started tracking her sleep and it helped her better regulate her energy throughout the day. I am nowhere near that level of discipline, but I was curious.

Between traveling across time zones, late-night coverage, doomscrolling, revenge bedtime procrastination, and everything else life throws at us, I honestly wasn’t sure if I was getting enough sleep.

What I learned is that I tend to wake up at least once in the middle of the night. Not for anything, really. I just do.

The mornings that felt best were often the nights where my sleep wasn’t interrupted. I know that sounds obvious, but if you’re not actively paying attention, these are the kinds of patterns you can easily miss.

The same goes for heart rate tracking.

During a particularly stressful stretch, I noticed my heart rate was consistently elevated. It wasn’t exactly surprising, but seeing the data attached to the feeling made it feel more real.

That’s what I found myself appreciating most about the HONOR Watch 6. It didn’t magically solve anything. It simply helped me replace assumptions with information.

Battery life that quietly impressed

As of taking the photos, the battery life is at 39% – still coming off the first initial charge.

I charged the watch the moment I unboxed it. Seven days later, it was sitting at 59%.

During that time, I wore it constantly. Notifications were enabled. Health tracking was enabled. I tracked a handful of kettlebell workouts and wore it while sleeping.

I wasn’t exactly pushing the watch to its limits, but I also wasn’t babying it.

The result was a battery experience that quickly faded into the background. That’s exactly what I want from a smartwatch.

Everything else

To be completely honest, I didn’t have the time or bandwidth to thoroughly test every feature.

My workout sessions were limited to a few kettlebell workouts and my usual walking. That said, the breadth of sports tracking available here is impressive. If you can think of an activity, there’s a good chance the HONOR Watch 6 can track it.

Pairing was also straightforward. The initial setup process and software updates went smoothly, even if updates immediately after unboxing remain one of my least favorite parts of testing any device.

My one annoyance came from using the watch with multiple HONOR phones. At times, notifications would arrive twice or arrive at slightly different times depending on which device was relaying them. There’s probably a setting that solves this. I just didn’t have the opportunity to dig deeper.

Same notification, two different phones

As for features like AI Recorder and NFC payments, I simply didn’t encounter situations where they became essential to my routine. That’s not necessarily a criticism. It may simply reflect how different people use smartwatches.

Is the HONOR Watch 6 your GadgetMatch?

Something I don’t think we’ve talked about enough is that the HONOR Watch 6 also works well with an iPhone.

If you don’t particularly like the look of the Apple Watch but still want a smartwatch on your wrist, this is a viable alternative.

The HONOR Watch 6 is for people who want useful technology that blends into everyday life. It looks good enough for casual outings and nicer occasions alike, while still offering the usual smartwatch essentials like health tracking, workout monitoring, notifications, and long battery life.

After about a week with the HONOR Watch 6, I realized I liked having data on things I normally would just leave to uneducated guesses.

Smartwatches aren’t for everyone. But if you fancy having one, the HONOR Watch 6 is an easy swipe right.

It has the right features, excellent battery life, and a design that fits comfortably into many parts of daily life.

That’s really all most people need.

Reviews

HONOR Magic V6 review: The best version of a book-style foldable?

Little left to sacrifice

Published

June 11, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Before I learned when the HONOR Magic V6 review embargo would lift, I had already become aware of the possibility of upcoming wide foldables.

The idea immediately caught my attention because it seemed to address one of the few remaining questions I have about today’s book-style foldables.

They’re excellent productivity devices. The larger, almost square-like display is perfect for multitasking, reading, editing documents, and working with multiple apps at once.

But much of the content we consume today isn’t square.

It’s vertical: Reels. Shorts. TikToks. Fancams.

Or it’s widescreen: YouTube videos. Movies. TV shows.

Book-style foldables can absolutely play these types of content. But when unfolded, they don’t always make the best use of the additional screen space because of their aspect ratio.

That thought lingered in the back of my mind while testing the HONOR Magic V6.

What surprised me was that despite that lingering question, the Magic V6 still made a compelling case for the current form factor. In fact, if the goal is to create a foldable that feels as close as possible to a regular flagship smartphone while still unfolding into a tablet, HONOR may have come closer than anyone else.

The HONOR Magic V6 is priced at RM 7,699 in Malaysia, with pre-orders running from June 4 to 11, 2026 and bundled gifts worth up to RM 3,797.

That’s flagship foldable money. Fortunately, the Magic V6 spends very little time reminding you that it’s a foldable and most of its time convincing you it’s simply a very good smartphone.

It feels like a regular smartphone

The HONOR Magic V6 looks and feels almost too much like a standard slab smartphone that you almost forget it can unfold into a larger screen.

That’s perhaps the most impressive thing about the device.

Most certainly, I felt the Galaxy S26 Ultra more when carrying it compared to the Magic V6. Despite being a foldable, it never feels cumbersome in daily use.

One of the subtle improvements I appreciated most was the button placement.

This is one of those low-key things you don’t really think about at first but becomes important over time. There’s little to no adjustment required when moving from a regular smartphone to the Magic V6 because the buttons sit exactly where you expect them to.

I use it alongside both the HONOR Magic8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the transition feels seamless. That’s something I can’t quite say about the OPPO Find N6, whose power button still sits at a height that feels a little awkward.

Folded, the Magic V6 doesn’t feel like a compromise compared to a traditional flagship.

It simply feels like a regular flagship smartphone.

Unfolded, it feels natural too. The display even feels larger than the Galaxy Z Fold7 and HONOR Magic V5 that I used previously.

And that’s where the appeal of a book-style foldable continues to shine.

Productivity remains the killer feature

The larger display became particularly useful during several production shoots.

I found myself timekeeping to make sure we stayed on schedule while simultaneously checking scripts and production notes. It’s one of those situations where the larger screen immediately proves its value.

On another occasion, I handed the unfolded device to a project lead so she could review a script while planning shots for the day.

It immediately made her stop and consider whether she should get a foldable herself.

Moments like these highlight the unique advantage of book-style foldables.

The larger screen doesn’t just exist for the sake of being larger. It enables workflows that simply aren’t as comfortable on a conventional smartphone.

That’s why, despite my growing curiosity about where foldables go next, the Magic V6 reminded me why this category became appealing in the first place.

Battery confidence is underrated

An overwhelming yes.

That’s my answer when asked whether the battery capacity translates into confidence.

The Magic V6 is an endurance beast.

I never worried about using it folded or unfolded throughout the day. I never worried about taking photos, multitasking, or spending extended periods on the larger display.

For the most part, I simply knew that no matter what I did during a normal day, I’d still have enough battery to get home or reach somewhere I could recharge.

As someone who tends to become conscious about battery life once it drops below 50 percent, that’s saying something.

I also noticed myself worrying about the battery less the more time I spent with the device. I got used to how much power it consumed depending on what I was doing throughout the day.

Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold7 and HONOR Magic V5, the Magic V6 feels like it has more endurance.

It also charges faster.

The media consumption question

Did the Magic V6 make me watch more videos than I normally would on a phone?

Not really.

Most of my phone-based video consumption consists of Reels, Shorts, and the occasional K-pop fancam. Longer content usually happens elsewhere. If I’m watching a movie, a series, or even a lengthy YouTube video, I’d much rather do it on a TV or tablet.

For the purposes of this review, I spent some time watching aespa Karina’s “Lemonade” facecam. I figured if there was any content I’d naturally watch on a phone, it would be that.

Folded and held in hand, it’s your typical smartphone viewing affair. In fact, the cover display is still a little narrower than I personally prefer.

You can also prop it up in Flex Mode and watch hands-free, which works surprisingly well when you’re sitting at a desk or table.

When unfolded, things become a little more complicated.

You can watch content in its original aspect ratio and live with the black bars. At night, they practically disappear. In brighter environments, they’re much more noticeable.

You can also pinch to zoom and fill more of the display. This works particularly well for content where the subject stays near the center of the frame. Facecams like Karina’s are a perfect example.

Why is Karina giving so much Shego vibes here?

The challenge is that much of today’s content exists in either 9:16 or 16:9 formats, while book-style foldables unfold into something much closer to a square.

The result is that the additional screen space isn’t always utilized as efficiently as you might expect.

That’s not really a criticism of the Magic V6 itself.

Rather, it’s one of the reasons I’ve become interested in the idea of wide foldables. The Magic V6 excels at productivity because of its aspect ratio. Whether that same aspect ratio remains ideal for modern media consumption is a question I continue to think about.

Cameras that don’t feel like a compromise

The camera system is one of the standout features of the device.

For a foldable, it takes really good photos. Photos I wouldn’t hesitate to post immediately on social media.

I’ve become particularly fond of HONOR’s Authentic Filter and used it extensively throughout my testing. The images look excellent and carry a look that I genuinely enjoy.

I still notice some limitations once I move beyond 6x zoom, but realistically, most users won’t spend much time there.

For everyday photography, the Magic V6 delivers more than enough.

That’s important because it removes one of the traditional compromises associated with foldables. Check out the samples below.

Witcher in Concert night

Food with friends

Taipei streets part 1

Middle Name Coffee and Space

Taipei streets part 2

Instil Coffee

Taipei streets part 3

Taipei at night + Bar Shock

Taipei at night + Backstreet Bar

Side gig

Sushi Party

Apple-friendly and easy to live with

One of the more pleasant surprises was how useful the Apple ecosystem features turned out to be.

Funny story.

I attended a sushi party where one of the guests happened to be an engineer who liked tinkering with hardware. He brought a small development board loaded with chips and components. When powered on, it mimicked the pairing process of AirPods and attempted to communicate with nearby Apple devices.

As he was scanning the room for iPhones, he was surprised to see his setup interacting with the HONOR Magic V6 I was carrying.

It’s a small anecdote, but it serves as a real-world reminder of how much effort HONOR has put into making the device work alongside Apple’s ecosystem.

More practically, I’ve regularly used the Magic V6 to move files between the phone and my MacBook Pro M4. The process is straightforward and useful enough that it naturally became part of my workflow.

The same can be said about durability.

The funny thing is people often comment about how not-so-careful I am with my devices. It’s not that I don’t take care of them. I simply carry a lot of gear at once and sometimes toss things into my bag without thinking too much about it.

Despite that less-than-careful handling, the Magic V6 hasn’t sustained any significant or noticeable damage.

Is the HONOR Magic V6 your GadgetMatch?

The HONOR Magic V6 is the fulfillment of the book-style foldable promise.

It’s a standard-sized smartphone that unfolds into something larger. It unlocks productivity and multitasking capabilities exactly the way you imagine it would.

The weight, thickness, and handling are about as close as you’re going to get to a regular smartphone. What’s remarkable is that HONOR achieved this while also delivering excellent battery life, fast charging, and a camera system that rarely feels like a compromise.

It won’t stop me from being curious about where foldables go next.

But it did remind me how good today’s foldables have already become.

If we’re judging the HONOR Magic V6 based on what a book-style foldable is supposed to be, there is very little left to sacrifice. That’s why I’m giving the Magic V6 the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.