Compared the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 against the Honor Magic V5 to determine which offers the title of the world's thinnest foldable device.
In a surprising turn of events, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has been found to be thinner than the Honor Magic V5 when folded, despite Honor's claims of an 8.8mm thickness for its device.
According to measurements and comparisons by Ice Universe and others, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, when measured with all components including protective films, comes in at around 8.82mm. On the other hand, the Honor Magic V5, when measured with its protective films applied, is slightly thicker at 9.34mm.
This discrepancy arises due to the way the thickness is measured. Honor's stated 8.8mm thickness excludes the inner and outer protective films and the camera bump, while Samsung's measurement includes all components because the Galaxy Z Fold 7 ships without such pre-applied films.
Ice Universe demonstrated this difference by balancing objects on both devices in a video, visually confirming the Galaxy Fold 7's edge in thinness despite the specs on paper.
The author's own measurements support these findings. The thickness of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, when measured without pressure, is 8.88mm, while the Honor Magic V5, when measured without pressure, is 9.3mm. However, when pressure is applied during measurement, the Galaxy Z Fold 7's thickness reduces to 8.6mm, and the Magic V5's thickness reduces to 8.78mm.
Samsung has declined to comment on the situation, while Honor continues to stand by its official measurements for the Honor Magic V5. The author suspects that the discrepancy between the official and measured thicknesses of the Honor Magic V5 could be due to the construction of the device.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 was launched claiming to be one of the best foldable phones, while the Honor Magic V5 was launched earlier in July, claiming to be the world's thinnest foldable phone. Despite the slight difference in thickness, the author's anticipation for the Honor Magic V5 is not diminished.
The calipers used by the author for measurements are from the reputable brand iFixit, but may not be as accurate as more expensive models. The author's calipers are at least 99% accurate and capable of showing a size difference between the two foldables.
For accurate measurements, Honor recommends placing the calipers over the phone from the hinged side to cover the Honor logo, with "appropriate thumb pressure" on the bottom jaw. Honor's official measurements were taken on a Magic V5 device with no screen protector.
In summary, taking the real-world factors and measurements together, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner than the Honor Magic V5 when folded. However, the author encourages readers to wait for official confirmation from both companies before making a definitive conclusion.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, equipped with various gadgets such as its smartphone and foldable screen, is thinner than the Honor Magic V5 when both devices are folded, contrary to Honor's claims. This can be attributed to the method of thickness measurement, as Samsung's measurement includes all components including protective films, while Honor's excludes these elements.
