Despite Offers, Americans Understand that Honor's Sick Foldables Cannot Be Purchased with Laughter, Directed Towards Samsung
Despite Offers, Americans Understand that Honor's Sick Foldables Cannot Be Purchased with Laughter, Directed Towards Samsung
Competitive marketing strategies aren't a novel concept. Samsung frequently engages in this, typically against its rival, Apple, in the tech industry. Now, Honor is attempting a similar strategy, focusing on Samsung's latest Galaxy Z Fold 6 foldable. Honor claims to have a significantly thinner and more flexible phone in development, likely at a lower price point than Samsung's offering. The Honor Magic V2 is priced at £1,200 in the UK or $1,578. Honor subtly highlighted its point by etching a small message on the hinge of its upcoming Honor Magic V3 phone. However, potential buyers in the U.S. and Canada may still face challenges in obtaining the device, regardless of its dimensions.
In an amusing marketing ploy, the Chinese phone manufacturer, previously associated with the multinational telecommunications company Huawei, inscribed a message directly onto its Magic V3 phone, criticizing Samsung's foldable. In a press release, the company mentioned collaborating with English micro-artist Graham Short to create the message, which can only be read with a high-powered microscope. Here's the entire message below for your convenience:
"Dear Samsung Galaxy Z Fold owners, we understand your frustration. You anticipated buying a phone with a foldable design that conveniently fits in your pocket, albeit awkwardly. You were promised the future, an innovative marvel, a realm of seamless multitasking and exceptional performance.
And now, you're likely gazing at the new HONOR Magic V3 and experiencing a sense of betrayal. Size does matter, and we feel your disappointment. Similar to being promised a gold medal and then finishing last in the race, the knowledge that a slimmer, lighter, and more durable foldable phone exists is enough to shake your confidence.
We empathize. You were an early adopter, a trailblazer boldly venturing into the uncertain territory of foldable screens, marred by questionable durability. You deserve more. In truth, you deserve a gold medal. At HONOR, we are devoted to pushing the boundaries of technology and offering you the optimal foldable experience. We're simply saying... it's acceptable to feel let down. We'd feel the same way."
Indeed, size matters. Foldable phones have come a long way from their bulkiest versions, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 now measures just 12.1 mm in thickness when folded. The impending Honor Magic V3 is expected to be thinner, boasting a mere 9.2 mm. For further comparison, the recently unveiled Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is 10.5 mm thick when closed. I've had the chance to handle both Google and Samsung's foldables, and while the differences are minimal, they are detectable.
Honor continually reiterates its "thinnest foldable in the world" selling point and its AI integration, which it claims can rival Google's. However, it's important to remember that size isn't everything. I would argue that the device's power for its price is a more significant factor when comparing the two. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 begins at $1,900, $100 more than its previous iteration, the Z Fold 5. It incorporates the advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.
The price disparity is substantial. Presently, the Magic V3 utilizes the same chip while offering the same starting memory and RAM options. Honor's foldable also includes a 50 MP wide, 50 MP periscope telephoto, and 40 MP ultrawide lenses. The Fold 6 features a 10 MP telephoto and a 12 MP ultrawide lens. In terms of specifications, the Magic V3 would have an edge over Samsung's latest offering.
Regrettably, we have yet to test the Magic V3, or even the Magic V2 for that matter. If you're based in the U.S., it's likely been years since you've interacted with an Honor phone. We have extensive experience with Samsung's software suite, but not as much with Honor's MagicOS. Honor encountered extensive U.S. sanctions under former President Donald Trump in 2019 and fully separated from Huawei in 2020. Subsequently, some of Huawei's devices, like the Magic 6 Pro, have found their way to the Western market. Honor released the Magic V2 in Europe six months after its Chinese debut. The Magic V3 has been available in China since July.
While you can still procure international phones from resellers or unlocked versions not directly offered by the companies themselves, it's never as simple as purchasing through a U.S. carrier. T-Mobile remains the best carrier for making overseas smartphones compatible in North America, but few outside the enthusiasts would go to such lengths to experiment with an intriguing gadget.
Honor is slated to reveal its ultra-slim foldable phone at IFA 2024 in Berlin, Germany, in the coming week. We eagerly look forward to checking it out in person. We enjoy innovative phones and, on rare occasions, appreciate slim phones. However, there's a caveat. At least in the U.S., we can acquire the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 without going through the process of procuring it from overseas.
This post has been updated on Aug. 30 at 11:50 a.m. to include information about buying from resellers.
In the future, the competition between tech giants like Samsung and Honor in the foldable phone market may lead to even slimmer and more affordable devices. Tech enthusiasts in the United States and Canada may have to wait until 2024 to get their hands on the thinnest foldable phone from Honor, the Magic V3.
As the technology of foldable phones evolves, the focus on making them thinner and more affordable, such as Honors promised Magic V3, could potentially challenge Samsung's market dominance in this niche sector of the tech industry.