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The Honor MagicPad 3 placed on a colorful desk mat.
Product Reviews

Honor MagicPad 3 review: an iPad Air beating tablet with one big problem

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Honor MagicPad 3: One-minute review

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

The Honor MagicPad 3 is almost the perfect large tablet. With a bright and colorful 13.3 inch 3.2K display, complete with IMAX Enhanced certification, kicking back with a movie or TV show is an absolute joy. Even simply scrolling the home menu or your favorite social media website impresses thanks to a smooth 165Hz refresh rate.

The tablet’s eight speakers perform well, though lack bass overall; especially in comparison to the superior sound systems found on the likes of the cheaper Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. I think you should immediately disable the Honor Spatial Audio option in the settings menu for the best performance though. It’s on by default and gives a solid impression of depth, but makes everything sound artificial, tinny, and a little hollow.

Still, these minor audio quibbles are easy to overlook considering the tablet’s impressively slim and lightweight build. At just 5.79mm thick and coming in at 595g, it’s thinner and lighter than even the iPad Air. Honor has managed to cram in a truly massive 12,450mAh silicon-carbon battery too, delivering incredible battery life. Seriously, this tablet can power through a full day of rigorous use and then some without breaking a sweat.

I was shocked when half a day editing Google Docs files in a café followed by two hours of 4K video viewing on the train, all at max brightness, ended with the battery barely below 80%. On top of that, the tablet holds charge between uses effortlessly – I often left it on standby stashed down the side of my bed after a night binge-watching Amazon Prime Video and picked it up a few days later to discover that it lost no charge at all in that time.

(Image credit: Future)

If you’re the kind of person that likes to leave a tablet around the house to use as needed, you never have to worry about finding it out of electrical juice. Some of this is likely due to the rather aggressive AI Power Management System, which might be worth tweaking if you need certain apps to continually refresh in the background, but it’s hard to complain when the resulting battery performance is this strong.

So what stops the Honor MagicPad 3 from being a best-in-class product? Sure, it’s a shame that the gorgeous screen isn’t an OLED panel and that there’s no fingerprint reader, but above all else it’s down to the patchy update support.

When quizzed, Honor told us that it plans “at least one major Android version update” and just “two years of security patches”, which is a depressingly short timeframe. In my eyes, the lack of Android version updates isn’t a dealbreaker, as you’re only really missing out on software features, but the two years of security patches is. You generally should avoid using devices once that timeframe is up, so the tablet effectively has a looming expiration date out of the box.

It’s a shame, especially when you can easily find tablets under $200 / £150 with more years of security update support. The brand did at least note that it will “constantly evaluate” its plans and “deploy software upgrades accordingly” which hopefully means there’s scope for this to change in the future.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

  • £599 retail price
  • Expect frequent discounts
  • It’s available in the UK, but not the US or Australia

The Honor MagicPad 3 comes in at £599 (around $800) for a model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which is a very fair price for what you get, especially in comparison to the $799 / £799 iPad Air 13-inch that starts with a pitiful 128GB of storage. Sadly, there’s no Australian release.

Honor frequently runs promotions that slash that price, however, so expect it to be readily available for at least £100 less. In fact, it has already seen its price fall to £499 in the build up to release. Also be on the lookout for various free gifts, including the excellent Honor MagicPad3 Smart Touch Keyboard, which I tested alongside the tablet for this review, or Honor Magic Pencil 3 stylus. These promotions turn an already good deal into a great one.

The one thing to bear in mind here is that limited update plan. If you’re particularly concerned about getting the latest and greatest version of Android, or worry about using a device that’s no longer receiving security updates, then that otherwise showstopping price tag is a little less tempting.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Starting price

£599

Operating system

Android (MagicOS 9.0.1)

Chipset

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Memory (RAM)

16GB

Storage

512GB

Display

13.3 inch 3200 x 2136 (3K) LCD

Cameras

13MP, 2MP rear / 9MP front

Battery

12,450mAh

Connectivity

USB-C 3.2, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Weight

595g

Dimensions

293.88mm x 201.38mm x 5.79mm

Honor MagicPad 3 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

  • iPad Air-beating slimness
  • Surprisingly lightweight
  • The back cover might be divisive

The Honor MagicPad 3 puts the 13-inch iPad Air to shame with a design that’s both thinner and lighter. It has a 13.3-inch screen with roughly 0.7cm bezels, flanked by a metallic body where you’ll find four large speaker grilles (that’s two along each short edge), a standard volume rocker and power button, a USB Type-C 3.2 port (with support for 66W fast charging) for topping up the battery or connecting an external display, and a small magnetised area where you can affix the compatible Honor Magic Pencil 3 for charging.

The only thing that I would add is a fingerprint reader, which is unfortunately absent. Luckily the face unlocking is quick and responsive and works well even in low light conditions, so it never feels like you’re really missing out on too much.

The back is relatively plain, aside from a camera module with a flash, a 13MP main sensor and a 2MP macro lens, and a row of small electronic contacts for the keyboard case. According to the Honor website, only one colour is available in the UK: a rather basic Grey.

I tested a White model, however, which is available in some other markets, and has an almost bumpy, textured back. It’s certainly a unique feeling, like having a third-party skin applied out of the box, which makes me think that it’s some kind of vinyl sticker.

(Image credit: Future)

I’m in two minds about this. On one hand, I really appreciate the added grip that this material brings, making it far easier to hold the tablet one handed. It’s impressively resistant to fingerprints and, if it came down to it, would probably offer a fair amount of protection from scratches.

It also looks great from a distance, helping the Honor MagicPad 3 stand out in a sea of plain slabs. On the other hand, the strange feel initially made me think that the back of the tablet was constructed entirely from plastic; this somewhat dampened my excitement out of the box.

I tested the Honor MagicPad 3 with the Honor MagicPad3 Smart Touch Keyboard and was very impressed with its performance. The case attaches to the back of the tablet magnetically, with the top half folding down to create a very distinct looking stand that shows off that snazzy back design. The keys are stable with plenty of travel and are very satisfying to press. It also has a large and responsive touchpad, with pronounced mechanical clicks and minimal flex.

It’s a really excellent keyboard and a massive upgrade compared to the Bluetooth model for the Honor MagicPad 2. My only possible complaint is that it seems to only be offered in the US English layout, which took a little getting used to and seems odd given the lack of availability in that region.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: Display

(Image credit: Future)

  • Not an OLED, unlike the MagicPad 2
  • Still bright and vibrant however
  • Impressive 165Hz refresh rate

The Honor MagicPad 3 has an impressive 3.2K (3200 x 2136) IPS LCD screen. With up to 1,000 nits of brightness it’s perfect for indoor use and can hold its own outside on a sunny day.

A variety of media looks absolutely gorgeous on it with cheerful and vibrant colors and plenty of fine detail. At 13.3 inches, the tablet might as well be a portable TV and I love using it to catch up on everything from Amazon Prime Video shows to Netflix movies and YouTube videos.

Honor offers two interesting display features too: Super Dynamic Display and Vivid Display. Super Dynamic Display uses AI to ‘enhance HD video brightness and contrast’ while Vivid Display aims to ‘enhance video clarity and colors’ with the same technology. With both of these features enabled, videos look a tad brighter and slightly clearer but lose a little color accuracy.

The tablet’s display is IMAX Enhanced certified too, which is good news if you want to consume compatible content on services like Disney+ or Rakuten TV. Outside of video watching, the 165Hz refresh rate also makes browsing apps, system menus and websites feel especially smooth.

You should note that this isn’t an OLED panel though. I don’t think that this is unreasonable given the tablet’s cost, but it is significant when its predecessor, the Honor MagicPad 2, did have an OLED display at a similar price point, which had a significantly brighter screen that offered slightly better colors.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: Cameras

(Image credit: Future)

  • Decent front camera
  • Serviceable rear camera
  • Abysmal macro lens

The Honor MagicPad 3 isn’t going to win any prizes for its camera setup, though that’s the case for almost any tablet.

The 13MP front camera is crisp and clear enough for an impromptu video meeting, but not something that you’re going to want to be taking your Instagram selfies with.

As for the rear, you’re getting a 13MP main shooter that suffers from aggressive post processing that smudges over most of the finer details in almost any shot. It’s fine for scanning documents or taking a quick snap of something right in front of you, but gets dicey if you’re photographing from a distance or with the 2x digital zoom.

There’s also a 2MP macro lens that takes images so blurry that it might as well not be there at all.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: software

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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)

  • MagicOS might not be your cup of tea…
  • But it’s easy to use, with lots of features
  • The desktop mode needs work

The Honor MagicPad 3 runs the brand’s MagicOS 9.0.1 operating system; a version of Android 15. It has minimal bloat, at least compared to alternatives like Xiaomi HyperOS, and offers a surprising number of genuinely useful features.

As a former iPhone 15 Plus user that now daily drives the Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RAR, I think its interface is incredibly intuitive. Its overall design is obviously more than a little ‘inspired’ by Apple, which could upset the Android purists out there, but it’s smooth, easy to use, and extremely responsive.

I might be a little biased here, as it’s my current favorite mobile operating system, but I find that it delivers the perfect balance between the slick aesthetics of iOS and the freedom and customization of Android. There are loads of options to tweak, from app icon shapes and sizes to home screen and charging animations.

A handful of quirky extras give the operating system plenty of its own personality. One of my favorites is the ability to create a humanoid ‘3D Avatar’ for your live wallpaper. When you unlock the device, you’re greeted with a short moving scene of the character going for a stroll through a park, chilling in a cafe, petting a fluffy cat, or a plethora of other possible situations.

Videos of new scenarios are automatically generated when the device is charging and, while undeniably a little unsettling at first, I’ve grown to love seeing what my little homunculus is up to every time I turn the tablet on.

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, being 2025 the software of the Honor MagicPad 3 also has a suite of AI features including AI-powered widgets that do a surprisingly good job of recommending installed apps based on your usage habits, real-time AI subtitle generation, AI writing tools that help you polish or rephrase your text, and automatic on-device AI deepfake detection for video calls.

This is on top of the Magic Portal – effectively the brand’s take on Google’s Circle to Search feature. As with most Android devices, Gemini assistant is also built in and can be summoned by holding the power button for a few seconds.

The only part of the software that I think needs work is the tablet’s desktop mode equivalent: Floating Window mode. It causes each to run in a little window on your screen that you can drag around like a PC desktop environment, but it’s unfortunately quite unresponsive at times.

Filling the screen with two side-by-side apps is awkward and as far as I can tell there’s no way to have a taskbar on screen at all times. It’s not completely unusable, as I still manage to get work done with some fiddling, but is nowhere near as slick or easy to use as the offerings from market leaders in this field like Samsung and Lenovo.

Honor MagicPad 3 review: performance

(Image credit: Future)

  • Robust performance thanks to powerful specs
  • Zero noticeable slowdown in general use
  • More than enough for gaming

Powered by the 2023 flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the Honor MagicPad 3 might not have the very latest chip but it’s certainly plenty powerful.

In general use, be that visiting your favorite websites or watching shows, you’re not going to notice any slowdown at all. Even when switching between multiple apps, the 16GB of RAM keeps everything cached and ready to go.

It supports Wi-Fi 7 for speedy downloads if you have a compatible router, plus Bluetooth 5.4. The 512GB of storage space is generous, especially at this price, so you’ll likely have room for all your favorite apps and plenty of spare space for downloaded videos. I keep multiple full series downloaded on the tablet at a time and haven’t come close to filling it up.

With specs like these, the Honor MagicPad 3 is also a surprisingly capable gaming device. Call of Duty Mobile runs flawlessly on the highest settings. More demanding games like Zenless Zone Zero impress too, with a rock solid 60 frames per second on high settings. With everything cranked up to the max, I found the very top middle portion of the tablet tends to get a little hot to the touch, but it thankfully never overheated or slowed down to a noticeable degree in my testing.

That said, if you intend to use the Honor MagicPad 3 for gaming I would highly recommend investing in a compatible Bluetooth controller as the large size of the tablet makes it very awkward to hold in your hands when you’re using touch controls.

  • Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Honor MagicPad 3 review: battery

(Image credit: Future)

  • 12,450mAh silicon-carbon battery
  • Incredible battery life, beating all competition
  • Features the Honor E2 power management chip

Truthfully, it’s difficult to fully test the Honor MagicPad 3’s battery life because it almost never runs out of charge. With a gigantic 12,450mAh silicon-carbon battery this thing is practically everlasting, easily powering through a whole week of on and off use without dipping below the 60% mark. We’re talking well above 20 hours of screen on time, absolutely decimating the battery performance of any other tablet that I have ever used.

It offers comfortably double the battery life of the latest iPad Air and is a dream for taking on long trips or flights. You can even use the tablet as an impromptu power bank in a pinch and still have more than enough left over for the rest of your day’s use. It’s incredible frankly, so serious props to Honor here.

In addition to its large size, the battery features Honor’s proprietary E2 power management chip. There’s also an AI power management system built into the OS. How much of a difference does all this tech actually make? It’s hard to say, but the results are impossible to argue with.

Should you buy the Honor MagicPad 3?

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHonor MagicPad 3 report card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Honor MagicPad 3 is incredible value – if you can overlook the patchy update plan.

4/5

Design

Thin, lightweight, and visually attractive. The unusual rear design might prove divisive though, and it lacks a fingerprint reader.

4.5/5

Display

A bright and colorful display that’s perfect for watching movies or TV. It’s 165Hz, though the fact it’s not OLED is a downgrade compared to the previous MagicPad.

4/5

Cameras

Your average tablet camera setup. It gets the job done, but you should just use your phone instead.

2.5/5

Software

MagicOS isn’t for everyone, but it’s easy to use and brimming with quirky charm.

4/5

Performance

Great performance across the board. This tablet is more than powerful enough for general use, and excels at gaming too.

4.5

Battery

Some of the best battery performance of any tablet, period.

5/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

Not keen on what the Honor MagicPad 3 brings to the table? Here are two compelling alternatives to consider:

Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0

Honor Magic Pad 3

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro

iPad Air 13-inch

Price

£599

$349.99 / £379.99

$799 / £799 / AU$1,299

Weight

595g

1.36lbs / 620g

617g

Size

293.88mm x 201.38mm x 5.79mm

189.1mm x 291.8mm x 6.9mm / 7.44″ x 11.49″ x 0.27”

280.6mm x 214.9mm x 6.1mm

Screen size

13.3 inches

12 inches

13 inches

Processor

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Mediatek Dimensity 8300

M2

Speakers

8 stereo speakers

Quad JBL-tuned speakers

Stereo speakers

Connectivity

USB-C 3.2, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

USB-C, MicroSD card, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS

USB-C

Battery

12,450mAh

10,200mAh

9,705 mAh

How I tested the Honor MagicPad 3

I tested the Honor MagicPad 3 over the course of multiple weeks in the build up to its announcement and release. It’s become my go-to tablet and has accompanied me on a number of trips.

It’s also seen plenty of use at home, where I’ve been using it for a mix of media consumption and gaming. I tested the tablet in its standard 16GB + 512GB configuration, though in a White colorway that is not currently available.

I used it alongside the compatible Honor MagicPad3 Smart Touch Keyboard which was supplied alongside the tablet. The tablet even replaced my usual work laptop on a handful of occasions, where I evaluated the keyboard’s performance and its overall potential as a productivity device.

First reviewed September 2025



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HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025
Product Reviews

Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025 ultrabook review

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: 30-second review

The Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025 is a direct update to last year’s impressive MagicBook Art 14 2024, and as you would expect, it boosts almost every aspect of the specifications and performance.

The new model is just as slim and light; however, the performance takes a huge leap forward. When it comes to the performance, it’s worth noting that the “Art” is more in the name rather than indicating a creative focus for its use.

The ultrabook’s slimline profile and weight are key features, which meant that throughout the review period I was able to take it comfortably with me without it adding too much weight or bulk; an additional kilo really doesn’t feel like a great deal in a backpack.

There’s also the build quality to consider, which once again feels good and robust. The main chassis is made from aerospace-engineered magnesium alloy, while the keyboard utilises titanium. The ceramic-style surface also gives the machine one of the best aesthetic finishes I have seen, especially with the way it reflects the light.

Away from the build and style of the machine, the performance is equally impressive. Although the “Art” label is once again a little confusing, this really refers to the art of the machine rather than it being aimed at the creative market, such as the ASUS ProArt series.

This laptop is aimed at those looking for a high-end office, lifestyle or general machine that looks great and has a decent amount of power to match.

Through the benchmark and real-world tests, the high-level performance became apparent, and there was no doubt about just how good the new Intel Core Ultra CPUs are. Microsoft Office apps ran quickly, with the high-resolution display affording greater screen real estate for spreadsheets and Word documents. Likewise, utilising cloud-based office applications proved strong with a stable internet connection.

Used for general office work, the machine is exemplary, keeping up with demands placed on it as well as enabling superb audio for media playback. The integrated Arc graphics handled all day-to-day tasks with ease, although it did start to struggle under more intensive tasks such as video production and gaming.

However, as an office-focused machine that’s slimline, lightweight and looks great, there is little to fault in one of the best ultrabooks (and best-looking) on the market.

HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025: Price & availability

  • How much does it cost? $950 / £950
  • When is it out? Available soon
  • Where can you get it? Widely available

The Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025 will be available soon with several different iterations. No US pricing is available yet, but in the UK, it’s retailing for £1499.99.

You can check it out on Honor’s official site by clicking here.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 225H / Ultra 7 255H
Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics 140T (integrated)
RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5x
Storage: 1 TB or 2 TB SSD
Left Ports: Webcam dock, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 4
Right Ports: USB‑A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm audio
Connectivity: Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Audio: 6-speaker setup, DTS spatial audio
Camera: 1080p removable magnetic webcam
Size: 316.8 × 223.6 × 11.3 mm
Weight: 1.03 kg
OS installed: Windows 11 Home
Accessories: USB-C charger, cable, webcam, documentation

The quality of the build, style, design and materials really do stand out. Like the previous version that offered an attractive matte green surface, my review sample of the Art 2025 features a white ceramic finish that accents colours in different environments. It’s instantly striking, sometimes looking like a flat colour and other times as though there’s a gradient.

The size and weight of ultrabooks are always important factors, and here the machine measures 316.77 x 223.63mm x 11.5mm and weighs approximately 1.03kg, much the same as the previous version. Once again, the chassis is made from aerospace-grade magnesium alloy with a triangular topology that helps provide the strength of the design. Titanium alloy is used for the keyboard, and there’s an aluminium alloy fan inside, helping to keep the components cool while also keeping the weight down.

Around the edges of the machine, there’s a small but good selection of ports including USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB4/Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3.0, HDMI 2.1 and 3.5mm audio jack.

The screen is one of the big features of this machine. At 14.6 inches with a resolution of 3120×2080, it’s also a touchscreen and offers a massive 1600 nits of brightness, making it a great solution for use at a café or other outdoor venue.

While the laptop isn’t designed for creative use, it still offers decent colour accuracy with 100% DCI-P3, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 60/120Hz refresh rate.

Another feature I liked in the previous model that once again appears here is the removable webcam. This inserts into the side of the laptop and can be removed and popped on top as required. This means there’s no break in the screen or thick bezel to house the camera, it’s a great solution and one that obviously increases security as well.

On biometrics, the laptop features a dedicated fingerprint recognition key in the top right of the keyboard, enabling fast access when needed.

Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Delving into the features of this ultrabook, there’s a little bit more to this machine than most. Firstly, there’s the ultra-slim design that houses the Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 255H and integrated Intel Arc 140T GPU. The machine is available in a series of configurations depending on your needs, with the review sample featuring a 1TB SSD and 32GB of LPDDR5x 8400MT/s.

One of the fetaures that I liked when I reviewed the precious version was the small detachable magnetic webcam. While the quality is relatively low at 2.1MP and a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080, this is more than enough for most conference calls. What I do like is that it can also be placed to face forward or backwards.

The screen is superb and fully touchscreen, and the hinge has been designed to enable easy one-hand opening and offers a good range of movement, although it won’t lie fully flat.

In use, complementing the screen are the six small DTS audio speakers that give good depth of sound in line with other premium laptops.

Despite the sleek design, the keyboard and touchpad are full-sized, with only the up and down cursor key half sized. The touchpad is also large and responsive, with several preset gestures for volume, brightness, screenshots and more.

Alongside the impressive array of features, there’s enough processing potential to take the workflow beyond spreadsheets. As this machine offers the latest AI-enabled CPU, it can handle more than most machines of this size. HONOR has ensured the internal cooling can cope and it stays impressively quite at just 3dB.

Overall, when it comes to features, from aesthetics, build materials to ports and connectivity, this is a machine clearly focused on those looking for a premium work laptop with plenty of power.

Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

CrystalDiskMark Read: 7114.89MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 6352.79MB/s
Geekbench CPU Multi: 2659
Geekbench CPU Single: 13615
Geekbench GPU: 32073
PCMark Overall: 5752
Cinebench CPU Multi: 14375
Cinebench CPU Single: 1970
Fire Strike Overall: 8436
Fire Strike Graphics: 9128
Fire Strike Physics: 27605
Fire Strike Combined: 3233
Time Spy Overall: 4323
Time Spy Graphics: 3933
Time Spy CPU: 9884
Wild Life Overall: 25169
Steel Nomad Overall: 839
Windows Experience Overall: 8.4

From the outset, the MagicBook Art 14 2025 impressed, especially with Windows 11 Home edition installed as standard. Opening apps and general use felt fast and responsive, and the quality of the screen and touchscreen responsiveness stood out.

One aspect that impressed me was the power of the small speakers, that despite the slim chassis, they delivered a decent depth of sound.

Opening large spreadsheets, I found that the increased resolution enabled easier viewing of more content than expected from a laptop this size. The screen throughout is a strong feature, with the 1600 nits maximum brightness allowing it to be seen in most situations, even outside a café. However, as is common with office-focused machines, the reflective surface did reduce visibility in bright environments.

For office and Windows-based tasks, including web browsing and multimedia playback, this machine performs as well as any I’ve used. This was reflected in a Windows Experience score of 8.4, one of the highest I’ve recorded.

RAM and storage are well balanced, and during testing, the machine easily handled switching between multiple apps. When using CapCut to edit a quick video, the speed of the SSD really stood out. While it doesn’t quite reach PCIe 5.0 speeds, with read speeds of 7114MB/s and write speeds of 6352.79MB/s, it is still one of the fastest laptop SSDs I’ve used, this also means it boots up exceptionally fast.

As I started to push the system further, the CPU performance boost became clear. The Cinebench Multi result of 14375 showed that CapCut, Lightroom and Photoshop were all handled easily. Even with multiple layers and high-resolution images from the Canon EOS R5 C, performance remained good. However, storage became an issue, and I needed an external SSD. Fortunately, the Thunderbolt 4 port enables ultrafast SSDs, such as the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5, to be connected.

Impressed by the image enhancement, I moved on to video editing. iPhone 15 Pro 4K footage was handled well in CapCut, allowing fast social media edits with some complexity. However, switching to Log3 footage from a Sony A7 IV pushed the machine to its limits, and performance began to falter.

Having reached the limits for work, I tested a few games. I was initially surprised that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle loaded, but while initially playable, there were plenty of dropped frames and frequent crashes. Other newer titles also struggled, though I did manage a round of DiRT Rally.

When pushed, the fans do kick in, but they remain well-balanced and quiet.

The final note is on the 60W battery, which provided around 4 to 6 hours during multimedia, office and light creative work. For pure office use, I’d expect closer to the quoted 10 hours. Gaming would naturally yield much less.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025 is an impressive ultrabook that will suit anyone looking for a powerful, premium machine for office and general use.

The aesthetics are stunning, and I think that this is one of the best-looking ultrabooks available, with a slimline design and lightweight build that means it will easily slip into a backpack or laptop bag without adding much bulk.

In the office or on the move, there are plenty of connectivity options, and while there’s no network port, Wi-Fi speed and signal strength proved impressive during testing.

In use, the screen really impressed with its large, bright, crisp display and touchscreen functionality. I just wish it would fold flat or, better yet, fold over to be used as a straight tablet.

The power for most tasks is impressive. As long as you don’t plan on playing the latest games or editing high-bitrate, high-resolution video, it can handle most creative applications. When it comes to Windows and Microsoft Office, this laptop handles everything with ease with the best Windows Experience score I’ve seen which was ultimately reflected in the real world use.

If you’re after a premium ultrabook, the MagicBook Art 14 2025 is a great option.

Should I buy a HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Value

A premium laptop with a price and build quality to match

4

Design

The materials ensure that the laptop remains lightweight and strong, with one of the nicest finishes I’ve seen

5

Features

A strong set of features for a powerful laptop for general use, while remaining compact

5

Performance

Keeping in mind this is a high-performance office machine, it supplies power where needed

4.5

Overalls

Outstanding machine for office and general use with a great look and premium feel

4.5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

For more professional picks, we’ve reviewed the best business computers and best business laptops around.

Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: Price Comparison



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Honor Magic V5 review: thinner, faster, stronger - but expensive
Game Reviews

Honor Magic V5 review: thinner, faster, stronger – but expensive

by admin


Last year Honor’s Magic V3 foldable phone impressed, offering mature software, a thin and robust design and more powerful hardware. This year, thanks to the unlucky reputation of the number four in China, we’ve gone up two to the Magic V5.

The new phone follows industry trends in offering a slimmer design, a bigger battery, improved cameras, a larger internal screen and more powerful internals – including Snapdragon’s 8 Elite processor, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

But do these upgrades offer a meaningful upgrade over the 2024 model, given that the price has climbed to a massive £1699, a big ask even for this ultra-premium category? Or are you better off sticking with something a few generations older at something like half the price?

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Design

The Magic V5 is a tad more reserved in its colour selection than its reddish brown or green predecessors. Instead, it’s black, ivory white and the stylish dawn gold – the pick I’d personally go with. Our sample came in black.

Putting it against my Magic V3, the new model’s camera bump protrudes a bit more due to some internal upgrades I’ll discuss later. However, the overall profile of the phone, both unfolded and folded, is even slimmer than its predecessor.

Interestingly, it’s the ivory white version that’s technically the slimmest, at just 4.1mm unfolded and 8.8mm when folded; the black and dawn gold models sit at 4.2mm and 9mm respectively. Nonetheless, that’s still 0.2-0.3mm less than the Magic V3, and virtually identical to the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7’s 8.9mm total thickness. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, at 10.8mm, is a positive porker by comparison.

As much as the thickness and weight (of 217g) aren’t massive departures from the V3, it feels good to know that we’ve gotten to the stage where foldable phones aren’t cumbersome to use. The Magic V5 fits into a regular-sized pocket and into adult hands without issues, whether folded or unfolded. As with its predecessor, you’ll have to keep a good grip on it when using it in tablet mode one-handed. Weirdly, this new model doesn’t have the same textured finish on the rear as the Magic V3 did, making it a bit more slippery.

The Magic V5 also runs with the typical modern design that Honor has typified these Magic foldables with, with a slender feel and super-thin bezels around the cover screen and main display to maximise screen real estate. I still think there’s some potential for dust and dirt ingress around the main screen, though I didn’t spot anything too egregious on my review unit.

There is a similar Honor “super steel” hinge involved with this phone, which has seen some upgrades to withstand even more pressure. Honor advertising includes some big claims, including the ability to suspend 30kg of stuff from the hinge – though they obviously don’t recommend it for normal use – and the durability rating sits at 500,000 cycles.

One of the biggest upgrades with the Magic V5 is to its water and dust resistance rating, as the phone now has full-fat IP58/IP59 dust and water resistance. Its predecessor was only IPX8. By comparison, the ZFold 7 has an IP48 water resistance rating, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first IP68-rated foldable.

Display

Honor has maximised screen real estate and brightness with the Magic V5 in a move that sees the main display get a slight boost to 7.95 inches in size, while the cover display remains at 6.43 inches. Both panels can get up to 5000 nits of peak brightness with HDR in supported content for an eyeball-searing experience; these screens aren’t half short of punch, and are both OLEDs for immense depth and lovely colours.

Owing to it being slightly larger, the main display has also seen a push up to 2352×2172 resolution – about the same number of pixels as a 2560×1440 (“1440p”) display – which makes it a fantastic choice for everything from general productivity to gaming and binging content on Plex, YouTube or Prime Video. The pixel density is virtually unchanged at 403ppi, while a 120Hz refresh rate keeps things responsive.

The smaller cover display impresses too, with the same 2376×1060 resolution as its predecessor, plus a 120Hz refresh rate for added zippiness. When opening the main display feels a little cumbersome, or you just want to quickly check notifications, this is a more than suitable deputy. Both screens support stylus input, though you will need to buy Honor’s stylus separately and there’s no place to store the stylus in the phone.

Certain apps and content will have a letterbox effect, not filling the screen entirely, but you can force apps and games on an individual basis to fill the screen so you can take advantage of the full 7.95 inches of real estate.

Camera

Perhaps the biggest upgrade with the Magic V5 is with what Honor has termed its new ‘AI Falcon’ camera setup, which they say gives a conventional flagship experience in a foldable form factor. It’s typically with their camera setup that foldables have made some compromises, but Honor has attempted to change that.

We’ve got a 50MP main camera, plus a boosted 64MP periscope-lens telephoto with 3x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide sensor.

General detail and colours are pleasant across the board in my testing on a few walkabouts in London, although I still think the Magic foldable cameras tend to favour over-saturated colours for as much pop as possible; the shot of the back of the Routemaster bus proves this.

Here is a selection of photos from my time with the Honor Magic V5.

Cropping into shots reveals a strong maintenance of detail from the main and ultrawide sensors, while the 3x optical zoom provides some good quality when punching in on a subject a tad. Going into the digital zoom range requires some AI help to maintain a semblance of proper quality, especially at the full 100x you’re likely to only use for a laugh.

As for low-light performance, images are smoothed out a little so they lack some detail, but there isn’t much in the way of noise to make for a generally clean image. As with its predecessor, the fuzziness is virtually gone, and there’s enough light compensation without things getting overblown.

The front cameras remain unchanged to my knowledge, with the same 20-megapixel selfie options that provide neutral colours and decent detail retained. Of course, as this is a foldable phone, it’s worth noting that you can prop the phone up and use the much more competent rear lenses for taking vain photos of yourself.

Performance

Internally, the Magic V5 gets the proper flagship treatment for 2025, as you’d expect for a phone at its high price tag, benefitting from the new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor plus 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage for good measure.

In the GFXBench gaming tests, we’re seeing a bigger boost in the Aztec Ruins High Tier test at 60fps against its predecessor’s 46fps, while Car Chase also sits at 60fps against 57fps from the Magic V3. It’s worth bearing in mind that the higher-res internal screen makes this a slightly sterner test for the V5 than last year’s V3.

The scores in Geekbench 6 aren’t demonstrably stronger than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip inside the Magic V3, although we are seeing healthy boosts in both the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme and PCMark Work 3.0 tests, proving the Magic V5 is better at both intensive gaming loads and general productivity loads.

Benchmark
Honor Magic V5
Honor Magic V3
Honor Magic V2 RSR

Geekbench 6 Single Core
2256
2214
2030

Geekbench 6 Multi Core
5237
5699
4928

3DMark Wild Life Extreme
4929
4471
3748

GFX Aztec Ruins High Tier
60fps
46fps
46fps

GFX Car Chase
60fps
57fps
56fps

PCMark Work 3.0
21201
17419
14089

In use, I found it to be a zippy customer, with no real noticeable slowdowns during daily use, whether I was streaming video content, working in Google Docs or just using the Magic V5 as I normally would.

With the benefit of the huge main display, it helps immersion in games such as COD Mobile and EA FC Mobile, the latter I hadn’t touched in some time. Under load, the phone also doesn’t get too warm, and is comfortable to hold for extended periods.

In addition, Honor seems to have managed the Magic V5’s performance drop-off in extended stress testing better than the previous two generations. Over the 20 runs during the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test, the phone recorded a 33 percent performance drop-off, where its predecessors had seen drops of over 50 percent.

Honor is promising four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, which is perfectly acceptable if not remarkable for a phone of this class. Out of the box, it’s running MagicOS 9, Honor’s skinned version of Android 15.

I’ve had a bit of a love-hate relationship with MagicOS on Honor handsets, as I’ve never found it to be as slick or as polished as Samsung’s OneUI, for instance. The optimisations with this new variant aren’t necessarily as far-reaching as its predecessor, but there is some genuinely useful stuff pertaining to file transfer over the air and device cloning for those switching from iOS devices, as Honor says has been a common trend for their buyers.

Where this phone certainly excels is with multitasking, not least with how easy it is to create dual or triple-pane windows for when you want to write while refering to reference material or carrying on a chat, for instance. The new Multi-Flex mode allows for that triple pane, which is very handy for immense power use.

There is the usual AI gubbins baked in here too, with Google’s Gemini service acting as the backbone for systems such as Honor Notes that use the note app for summarising, formatting and grammar checking, or the Recorder app for real-time note taking. You also get some interesting AI upscaling and cutout methods in the photo app, which work with varying degrees of success in my testing.

The Game Manager app makes a return, coming with convenient access at the left hand of the screen for basic features such as a rotation lock and screen recorder, as well as more advanced ones for adding filters to change the look of a game, or a touch enhancer for more responsive inputs. There are also options for changing brightness and ‘memory cleanup’ on the fly. A lot of these options are either on or off, as opposed to having any granular control.

Despite the further optimisation that Honor has attempted with MagicOS 9, I still have the same reservations as before regarding its software. For instance, it comes with Honor’s own ‘Essentials’ folder right on the front screen, but you have to be precise on where you put your finger to open the specific app. Tapping the folder doesn’t open it into a larger one where you can see the apps inside. In addition, there is unwanted crud installed by default that you may not want, such as Facebook and Instagram. It’s easily removable, but that isn’t really the point.

Battery Life

For whatever reason, my sample of the Magic V5 didn’t ship with a power brick inside, although there is a high-wattage USB-C cable and leather case so you are at least ready to go out of the box. The phone supports up to 66W charging, the same as the Magic V3, and you can purchase the Honor-specific brick from their website, or use a third-party one.

While the maximum supported wattage might not have changed, Honor has beefed up the battery capacity to 5820mAh, from the Magic V3’s 5150mAh, to make it larger than some typical flagship phone batteries.

The cells inside the Magic V5 are also silicon-carbon, as in the Magic V3 and Magic 6 Pro handsets I’ve looked at. This has a couple of important benefits, such as being able to work in much colder environments and reportedly being better for the planet than standard lithium-ion batteries.

In my testing, I managed to comfortably get a couple of days regular use out of the Magic V5, which is excellent. The PCMark V3.0 benchmark served up a result of 11 hours and 25 minutes at 50 percent brightness, which is reasonable screen-on time for a foldable, and around two hours more than the Magic V3.

Conclusion

In-keeping with the typically incremental upgrade path I’ve come to expect from modern flagship phones, the Honor Magic V5 might not be much of an upgrade in elements against its predecessor, but it is a genuinely excellent foldable handset.

We’ve got potent performance, plus a set of two dazzling OLED screens and stronger performance in terms of camera quality and battery life, meaning Honor has hit the right notes when it comes to its targeted areas for upgrade over the Magic V3. By also being even thinner it makes it even more pocketable overall and retains serious points for a modern and stylish foldable phone. It’s just the MagicOS Android distro that holds it back a tad.

For the £1699.99 asking price, the Honor Magic V5 is an undeniably premium handset that offers some serious competition to both Samsung and Google and continues Honor’s upwards trajectory in providing genuinely compelling phones from a brand you may not have considered before.



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