GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

1.9m
150k
RSS

EV

Merch

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • Deals
  • MerchNew
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENT

Honor says foldables won't replace bar phones as it eyes big growth in Europe

  • Post your comment
  • Comments (43)

Yordan 12 March 2023

Honor Android Interview MWC 2023 Featured

Honor was arguably the star of MWC 2023 in Barcelona, the company unveiling its Magic5 and Magic5 Pro and announcing the global rollout of the Magic Vs. In the aftermath we had a chance to speak to George Zhao, Honor CEO, and discuss the company's plan going forward.

George Zhao (Image source:  Twitter) George Zhao

Discussing the Honor Magic5 Pro and the Honor Magic Vs, Zhao confirmed both will get 3 years of Android upgrades and 5 years of security patches. More excitingly, he said the Magic Vs is coming to global store shelves within the next quarter, finally giving the Galaxy Fold lineup some competition.

The executive said his team feels Europe as a second home and his company treats 2023 as its year 1 here as it only now managed to gather a strong lineup of phones to sell on the Old Continent. The company considers opening physical stores internally, but prefers to stick with carriers and retail partners until it builds an even stronger portfolio.

Honor Magic Vs review

There is now an R&D and product center that operates specifically in Europe, though, which would help the brand to grow.

It's not as great news for the US market though. George Zhao confirmed the step-by-step approach of Honor and since the American market is tough to penetrate the company will need more time still to prepare.

We spent some time with the new Honor Magic5 Pro flagship (seen here in Glacier Blue) We spent some time with the new Honor Magic5 Pro flagship (seen here in Glacier Blue)

The Honor Magic Vs is one of the lightest foldables with a vertical hinge, and this is what Honor was after when development began. Zhao said he believes the future of foldables is to be used as a mixture of tablets and smartphones, and after addressing the issue of weight, it will also work on providing thinner devices with better battery life.

Zhao predicts foldables' sales will really explode when they manage to trim enough weight and shed a few more millimeters, but doesn't believe they will entirely replace bar phones. Instead, he expects them to co-exist in the long term as different users have different priorities. Similarly, he believes there will be enough demand for both clamshells and horizontal foldables and both form factors will be around for a while longer.

Honor Magic5 Pro in for review
Related articles
  • Honor Magic Vs review Honor Magic Vs review
  • Honor Magic5 Pro unveiled with a custom 1/1.12" camera sensor, vanilla Magic5 follows Honor Magic5 Pro unveiled with a custom 1/1.12" camera sensor, vanilla Magic5 follows
  • Honor Magic5 Pro in for review Honor Magic5 Pro in for review
  • Hands-on: Honor Magic5 Hands-on: Honor Magic5

Reader comments

t
  • techois
  • anI
  • 16 Mar 2023

at least "huawei's" innovations will be mainstream again with google services

  • Reply
D
  • AnonD-731363
  • SH3
  • 14 Mar 2023

Because all I see is you yelling how water breach is not covered in a warranty so that obviously gets you angry because you think that's just a costly gimmick. Sure it is. Esoecially when your beloved chinese brand doesn't have it. Lol. M...

  • Reply
?
  • Anonymous
  • KiW
  • 13 Mar 2023

Honor marketshare in South korea, USA, Europe, and other countries is a joke. Which is why honor is worse than samsung.

  • Reply
  • Read all comments
  • Post your comment
Total reader comments: 43

ADVERTISEMENT

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • Nothing
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Umidigi
  • Coolpad
  • Oscal
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • Doogee
  • Blackview
  • Cubot
  • Oukitel
  • Itel
  • TCL

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENT

Top 10 by daily interest

  Device Daily hits  
1.Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge35,023
2.Samsung Galaxy A5631,144
3.Sony Xperia 1 VII 5G31,050
4.Xiaomi Redmi Turbo 4 Pro26,237
5.Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra25,946
6.Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro20,138
7.Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max18,838
8.OnePlus 13T 5G17,905
9.Tecno Camon 40 Pro 5G17,333
10.Samsung Galaxy A3617,063

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Google's Gemini is coming to Android Auto in a few months Google's Gemini is coming to Android Auto in a few months Xiaomi SU7 faces quality concerns, some owners sue the companyNHTSA wants to know more about Tesla's Robotaxis plans
ADVERTISEMENT

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS Youtube Instagram TikTok Facebook Twitter

© 2000-2025 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Tools Contact us Merch store Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data