Like falling for the stunning and charming city of Barcelona for the first time in my 27 years of existence, the early appearance of TECNO’s CAMON 40 Pro 5G on MWC 2025’s show floor was also a love at first sight.
But before my brain gets fried and dried with all my pending backlogs, I’ll share my insights regarding TECNO’s newest Pro midranger.
Swoon over the swan
As alluded to earlier, I was mesmerized by the design of the CAMON 40 Pro 5G the first time I saw it.
No matter how much I admit that 90% of my wardrobe is black, the opposite can be said in smartphones I have as I see black phones as either plain boring or extremely underwhelming.
However, this Galaxy Black colorway is an exception.
* If the flashier color is your preference, you can choose between Glacier White and Emerald Lake Green
In this year’s CAMON, TECNO still keeps the Side-Axis Design. Albeit, they’ve moved it to the left side and directly incorporated the cameras onto it, giving way for that sexy camera island.
Dubbed as the “Swan-neck curve”, it offers more grip and is actually even more comfortable to hold.
Although it would be a huge denial not to say it’s reminiscent of Samsung’s Contour Cut design found on the Galaxy S21 series (alongside the base and Plus models of the Galaxy S22 line).
Still, huge points to TECNO for designing and implementing a sexier swan-like curve. IMHO, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G is one of the sleekest phones out there — especially with the representation and harmonization of a galactic finish along a swan-neck silhouette.
It doesn’t stop there. At just 7.29mm, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G is shockingly thin — even thinner than most smartphones nowadays.
In fact, it’s the thinnest among the CAMON 40 family.
| Thickness | Weight | |
| CAMON 40 | 7.34mm | 177.2g |
| CAMON 40 Pro | 7.31mm | 178g |
| CAMON 40 Pro 5G | 7.29mm | 179g |
| CAMON 40 Premier | 7.7mm | 193g |
It’s also lightweight at just 179 grams. I was even able to lift it with just one finger without dropping the phone.
I know that not everyone is asking for a thin and lightweight phone. However, I truly appreciate the reduced heft and thickness just so I can hold my phone more comfortable.
Even so, less straining when using it one-handedly.
Oh so view-tiful
Aside from being “just” a pretty black swan at the back, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G did not compromise its front.
Even more beautiful with H2H in the view
It has a 6.78-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a smoother than ever 144Hz refresh rate.
It’s honestly hard to distinguish how it differs from an already buttery-smooth 120Hz screen. Regardless, it’s still a nice addition.
Some of you might remember how I prefer having flat or quad-curved displays. However, the dual-curved display of the CAMON 40 Pro 5G is still a good implementation.
After all, the utmost thinness of the phone is mostly felt when it’s held.
TECNO didn’t state the specific display nits but they claim it as an “Ultra-Bright” display. I can attest as I can still see phone content even under the harsh sun.
Spoiler alert: Get ready to bawl your eyes out in every episode of When Life Gives You Tangerines
Speaking of ultra-bright, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G possesses an optical in-display fingerprint sensor that illuminates bright light to read the grooves of your finger for secure biometrics.
One minor complaint for me is that, it’s placed too low where the thumb usually sits.
Also, you’d have to press hard as it’s not as fast as the ultrasonic ones. Even harder if you have wet hands (or just wipe it off before doing so).
Just like a swan that can dive for a short period, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G can also do the same with its dual IP68 / IP69 rating that’s commonly found on either flagships or underpowered budget phones.
The great thing here is that it’s also the IP-rating found on its Premier and Pro 4G siblings.
Furthermore, it has Corning’s Gorilla Glass 7i protection. Other phones in this segment barely have one.
Proud, but not too loud
The CAMON 40 Pro 5G features stereo speakers powered by Dolby Atmos.
They sound sufficient but somehow, it lacks that richness and loudness that other smartphones possess.
Case in point: I usually bring my phone in the shower for my head-banging sessions. Volume level in my other Android phones is just around 60%. However, I pump up the max volume to 100% whenever I bring the CAMON 40 Pro 5G with me just so I can fully hear the music inside the mighty chamber.
Even playing songs in higher resolution Lossless format wouldn’t be much help.
On the contrary, the Dolby feature means Spatial Audio is also supported — at least in Apple Music.
MIDiaTek strikes again
The CAMON 40 Pro 5G runs MediaTek’s Dimensity 7300 Ultimate 4nm 8-core SoC.
Despite that leveled-up branding, it’s still the same chipset found in this year’s realme 14 Pro and Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G. More so, 2024’s OPPO Reno12 Pro and Nothing’s CMF Phone 1.
At GadgetMatch, we don’t spoon-feed you benchmarks results. Still, it’s hard to turn a blind eye knowing this chipset performs quite behind against its predecessor equipped with a Dimensity 8300 chipset. You can head over here (later) to view all the lengthy info about these two chipsets.
Munching and crunching numbers aside, TECNO’s CAMON 40 Pro 5G can still breeze through apps in normal day-to-day usage.
Multitasking shouldn’t be a problem with its 8GB memory. Combine that with the power of MemFusion, you get 24GB in total. That extra memory relies on its 256GB storage, btw.
As for gaming, don’t expect out of this world performance. For sure, your usual games will run around Medium graphics — like the Ace Racer that I love playing.
However, the intensive ones such as Zenless Zone Zero do run but at the lowest setting set.
Of course, I won’t totally miss the action after activating Performance Mode through Game Boost.
Expected, at the expense of the phone’s battery life.
No Pain, No Gain
Speaking of battery, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G packs a 5200mAh battery. That’s 200mAh more than last year’s CAMON 30 Pro.
In my moderate use case, it’s able to last until night. Days further if you’ll use it very light.
Of course, much like other phones, it heavily drains when you spend hours worth of gaming, using the camera, and even viewing videos.
I applaud manufacturers like TECNO for still supplying a proprietary charger and cable. However, I’m surprised upon knowing that the charging speed has been downgraded this year.
Last year’s CAMON 30 series all supported 70W fast charging speeds. Mind you, even the base 4G version.
This 2025, it’s been downgraded to 45W for all three models except the Premier.
That said, 45W is somehow acceptable for a battery this size. Here are the results of my GadgetMatch Charge Test:
| From 0% | START TIME: 10:01PM |
| 3 minutes | 4% |
| 5 minutes | 8% |
| 10 minutes | 14% |
| 15 minutes | 20% |
| 20 minutes | 27% |
| 30 minutes | 40% |
| 40 minutes | 54% |
| 45 minutes | 59% |
| 50 minutes | 63% |
| 60 minutes | 79% |
| 1 hour, 10 minutes | 88% |
| 1 hour, 15 minutes | 97% |
| 100% | 1 hour, 17 minutes END TIME: 11:18PM |
While we’re here, I like how these three charging modes can easily be toggled and switched directly from the lock screen.
There’s Low-Temp to prioritize slow yet steady charging that doesn’t heat up the phone too much. Smart to simply halt charging when it’s in its peak. Lastly, Hyper to fully utilize its 45W Super Charging speeds.
Also, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G still keeps that nifty red light indicator whenever you charge the phone — just so you can see it if it is actually charging especially in dimly lit spaces and corners.
Tippy One-Tap
While the idea of an additional button aside from the power and volume buttons isn’t a new thing in the Android world, TECNO presented it in their latest phone for the first time through a new “One-Tap Button”.
Additionally, there’s a brand new camera companion called “FlashSnap”.
In a way, TECNO is clever for making it the default action for this button — even if it requires you to double-tap the special button.
When these terms are conjoined, you’ll get TECNO’s One-Tap FlashSnap feature.
Visually, I love that this new button is in orange
But, unlike iPhone and other Android brands, TECNO gives you the ability to re-configure the button function to whatever app you want to open. Be it a calculator, flashlight, YouTube, Notes. Heck, even a game you want to play.
Also, this added button gives you the best of TECNO’s Ella alongside Google’s Gemini.
And by that, it can summon Ella by long-pressing that orange button. Meanwhile, Gemini can still be activated by long-pressing the power button at the right side.
The best thing? This is not a feature limited to the Pro 5G and Premier variants. TECNO made sure this is accessible to every CAMON 40 phone regardless of hardware class and price segment.
The AI Craze and Race
TECNO went all out with their barrage of AI-powered products during this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC 2025).
And at the very core is TECNO AI. This is the company’s continuous effort in pushing AI further even in mid devices like the CAMON 40 series.
With that in mind, Ella in the latest HiOS 15 skin is more powerful than before.
But, instead of ChatGPT integration, TECNO decided to stick with DeepSeek-R1 as the assistant’s AI model for doing simple tasks to answering specific and lengthy queries.
It’s still a debate which is the better AI model, but the fact that Ella can do or supply what’s being asked already guarantees how reliable DeepSeek is to anything and everything AI.
And while we’re at it, Google’s Circle to Search is also baked onto the system. You simply get the best of both worlds.
Just like the first few devices to have it, this special AI tool can easily be accessed just by long pressing the navigation bar at the bottom.
In photos, its AI capabilities go beyond generating an image or erasing a stranger out of the frame.
Just so the parents won’t complain when their frisky kids are in the frame
One of the few and new things I love is the AI Extender. From the term itself, it extends an image beyond its limits through AI generative fill.
I find this new AI feature very beneficial in instances where one would post it as a social media Story that requires 16:9 format instead of the usual 4:3 ratio ideal in posts.
Some brands awfully market their newest AI features solely and strictly on just flagship offerings.
Pre-existing AI features are still bundled in the TECNO AI pack.
Those include AI Notes that converts sketches into renderings. Recording Summary that transcribes voice memos in one-go. There are also Assistants in Call, Document, Writing, and even Translating that are all beneficial for work, school, and even travel.
Dynamic Duo
Tempted by the shot of that delectable slice of cheesecake earlier?
Well, let’s finally go into the filling of the cake: the dual rear camera system of the CAMON 40 Pro 5G.
Wide |
50MP f/1.9
|
Ultra-Wide |
8MP |
Selfie |
50MP f/2.5 |
Obviously, there isn’t a lot, but I still tried maximizing the camera just to know its feats (and defeats).
If you’ve used a TECNO phone before, the camera app has been slightly reconfigured.
Although the color mode button is still at the upper part, the actual modes are now shown below so it’s easier to switch between Standard, Bright, and CAMON.
In easier terms, one is natural-looking, another is vibrant, and the last one leans more into the subdued, neutral look.
Whichever color mode you choose, they all look consistent — which is a great start.
At first, I was skeptical because I also noticed how TECNO downgraded the ultra-wide lens from 50MP last year down to an unknown 8MP shooter this time around.
But looking at these samples gave some measure of relief.
The color consistency is on-point. Other midrangers usually have a problem in this area.
Despite the total absence of a dedicated telephoto zoom lens, 2x zoom is the option I enjoyed using the most.
I’ve taken snaps of places…
Shots of objects whether up-close or from afar…
But mostly, it’s all about glorifying the food me and the people around me consume.
And even if it’s taken through crop zoom, photos still looked appetizing and mouthwatering.
Some phones in this price point even fail to do so with their tomfoolery imaging trickery.
I’ll just justify that there’s a stark difference when taking food photos between 1x versus 2x (and beyond). Always use the latter.
1x wide vs 2x zoom
It even works well at night!
Doubt it all you want but it even took these two mesmerizing 5x shots just by using its main sensor.
The incorporation of Sony’ LYT-700C image sensor and TECNO’s image algorithm is a testament that a phone can still deliver great-looking, social media-ready photographs regardless of its price.
Oh CAM-On!
TECNO highlights its Universal Tone (UT) imaging tech for years now. It would be a huge miss not to test it out.
For what it delivers, I like how natural looking the results are even if you apply a small sampling of beauty effects.
Much praise to TECNO for not copying other Chinese brands who favor whitewashing a lot.
Though it’s not limited to the front camera. Your mirror selfies will still look as authentic as possible — just like how you see it with your naked eyes.
And just like how it does on food, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G doesn’t fake the true White Balance of your surroundings.
And as already mentioned earlier in the previous section, there’s the fresh FlashSnap feature. It’s a separate camera mode, if one may ask.
For the CAMON 40 Pro 5G, 1x is the limit.
Despite the restriction, it still performed well for what it’s actually meant for — taking photos in motion whether it’s sports or even your pets playing.
Out of the box…
…you still get your usual goodies. But, on top of the reduced 45W charger (from last year’s 70W), the free tempered glass inclusion isn’t there anymore.
On the brighter side, I like this premium looking and feeling hard case.
Naked or clothed, the CAMON 40 Pro 5G is as sexy as it can ever be
Other brands should take note and stop messing us with icky silicone and clear cases.
Is the TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G your GadgetMatch?
As of this writing, the actual pricing of CAMON 40 Pro 5G is still unknown.
However, one memory during MWC dawned on me. DXOMARK boldly stated this phone as the No. 1 in camera performance for a device priced below US$ 500.
This made me assume that TECNO is still strategically placing it around the US$ 400 ~ 500 segment.
That means the downgrades I’ve mentioned are quite debatable: from charging speeds to the chipset, even the ultra-wide lens used. The removal of the bundled tempered glass? Not so much.
Personally, those downgrades aren’t shortcomings. 45W still charged the phone not exceeding 75 minutes. Dimensity 7300 Ultimate is still speedy for its price and didn’t overheat that much. UWA lens performed surprisingly well based on the photos above.
There are honestly more things to rejoice such as a sexier design, dual IP rating, grippier bundled case, bigger battery, brighter and even smoother display, One-Tap button, FlashSnap feature, better Sony LYT-700C main sensor, and even a greater OS with AI features that make more sense than before.
The all-new HiOS 15 together with the new TECNO AI made the CAMON 40 Pro 5G felt like it went on a character development. In fact, I enjoyed using the CAMON 40 Pro 5G more over last year’s CAMON 30 just with these polished software goodies alone.
Hardware specs are for one. A fluid OS completes the whole user experience. Consistent software updates can solidify the company and community even further.
With an already teased MSRP, backed by the combination of a reliable hardware and revamped software, together with TECNO’s continuous persistence in delivering smexy phones for the masses makes the CAMON 40 Pro 5G a worthy recipient of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.
And while we’re still holding onto the official pricing, let’s wait a bit more and hear from its upcoming launch in the Philippines.
*Fingers-crossed* it won’t be a monumental increase.
UPDATE: Pricing in the Philippines
The TECNO CAMON 40 Pro 5G in the Philippines retails for PhP 12,999 and PhP 14,999 for 8+256GB and 12+256GB configurations respectively. That’s PhP 1,000 cheaper than the asking price of the CAMON 30 Pro 5G with 12+256GB configuration last year.
Currently, they are accepting pre-orders in Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, and several retail stores with a discounted price of PhP 11,999 and PhP 13,499.
That pre-order also entitles you a CAMON Series Gift Set worth PhP 1,999, up to 2,500 T-Spot points, and 0% in Home Credit.
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.
@manilaconnoisseur Dropped by Daily Beer Korean Chicken and Beer in ArcoVia, Pasig for some food after a team meeting!
The selfie camera, meanwhile, also lags compared to older realme number series devices I’ve used. Sharpness, vividness, and color accuracy are lacking.
@manilaconnoisseur Lipton Soda Iced Tea, now available in Berry Burst flavor! Zero sugar pa rin! Check out now. @Pepsi Philippines #LiptonSodaIcedTea #LiptonSoda #LiptonSodaBerryBurst #LiptonSodaZeroSugar
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.
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.
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.
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