What They Say
Caixin reported that Honor was launching its Magic V foldable smartphone in the Chinese market with hopes that the category might boost the flagging Chinese smartphone market. The smartphone has a 7.9″ main display and is fitted with a ‘magnetron nano optical film’ to minimise reflections. The cover display is a 6.45″ 21.3:9 unit with 120Hz support. The device is ‘seamless’ when folded to 14.3mm thick. There are 213 components in the hinge which is tested to 200K cycles.
The Magic V is the first to have IMax Enhanced certification as well as DTS:X Ultra Technology for sound. There is coverage of DCI-P3 and support for HDR10+
The cameras include a 50MP ‘spectra enhanced’ 20mm unit, a 50MP ultra-wide 13mm with a laser focus system and there are 32MP cameras on the front and the back. The battery is a 4750mAh dual battery and the 66W charger is said to take just 15 minutes to boost to 50% charge.
Pricing in China started at $1577.
Separately, DSCC reported that Samsung’s foldable smartphone production had its second best month ever with 1.47 million produce, with the Z Flip 3 at 67% of the total – nearly 1 million. Korea accounts for 32% of the market, followed by Europe at 31% and 29%. The firm said that its forecast for Samsung’s panel procurement for foldables will rise from 15 million, its previous plan, to 18 million. DSCC expects more aggressive pricing to lead to this growth in new products in Q3 2022.
What We Think
It’s intriguing that China really hasn’t adopted the foldable smartphone concept, when it has adopted many other leading technologies. Then again, the handsets are very expensive at the moment, still. (BR)
