As HONOR’s latest flagship smartphone and its first foldable to be launched in international markets, the HONOR Magic Vs epitomizes state-of-the-art foldable technology with a strong focus on hinge design and engineering, solving multiple pain points associated with foldable smartphones.
20 years ago, Hinge technology was seen in feature flip phones with the original clamshell design. With the emergence of smartphones, Hinge technology had long disappeared until a few recent years ago when foldable smartphones made a comeback to global markets. Among other parts of a foldable device, the hinge plays the most important role as it determines how well the screen fold and unfold, the gap between the screens when the device is folded, the durability of the device as well as the user experiences it offers.
Also, today, the new foldable smartphone HONOR Magic Vs, which is about to debut on global markets via MWC 2023, is put through a tear down by Zack from the JerryRigEverything – the tech expert.
Committed to delivering consumer-driven product innovation, HONOR has invested heavily in R&D, transforming the waterdrop hinge technology, a common technology used by foldable smartphones in the market to set new benchmarks for the foldable smartphone market with its Super-Light Gearless Hinge with single-piece casting processing technology that debuts in the HONOR Magic Vs.
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Revolutionizing Foldable Hinge Technology
HONOR has revolutionized foldable hinge technology with enhanced and improved form factor through its devotion in research and development. Traditionally, gears are used to enable the rotation of the screen but they make the device heavier and thicker. Crafted with the industry’s first single-piece casting processing technology, the super-light gearless hinge of the HONOR Magic Vs drastically reduces the number of components of supporting structure used in the hinge from 92 to 4[1], delivering a lightweight hinge while ensuring adequate rotation.
The hinge of the HONOR Magic Vs folds gracefully to boast a gap-free design, solving yet another pain point that other competing foldables smartphones on the market have not yet solved. Showing no openings when the device is folded, the gap-free design not only gives the device a premium look but also makes the device thinner.
HONOR has taken full advantage of the extra space afforded by the smaller hinge and fitted the HONOR Magic Vs with batteries totaling at 5,000mAh[2], the highest capacity ever seen on a foldable smartphone
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Light Weight
Developing a lightweight and slim hinge is one of the biggest challenges faced by foldable smartphone manufacturers, but at the same time it is also a critical area that manufacturers focus on.
Another pain point associated with foldable phones is the weight it carries. With continuous dedication towards innovating the Hinge and a vision to provide the best user experience, the HONOR R&D team leaned on upgraded and state-of-the-art engineering to ensure the hinge of the HONOR Magic Vs is lightweight.
One of the reasons that the HONOR Magic Vs is so light is because of the expertly engineered hinge, which is made of a special aerospace-grade polymeric material that is 62%[3] lighter than commonly used metals. The use of this ultra-light material, one that is commonly used for submarine pipelines and spacecrafts, is a testament to HONOR’s commitment to quality.
Reducing the weight of the device further, the hinge uses far fewer components compared to its predecessor, featuring only 4 compared to 92 its HONOR Magic V counterpart. With this significant breakthrough, HONOR takes away 88 components from the traditional complex hinge design used by other foldable smartphones, making the HONOR Magic Vs exceptionally slim and lightweight.
Adding another layer of design innovation to bring down the weight of the device, HONOR uses rare earth magnesium alloy which is 34% lighter than aluminum alloy used by most foldables on the market today, on the frame of the external screen to achieve its ideal weight of the HONOR Magic Vs. The HONOR Magic Vs measures just 12.9mm[4] thin when folded and weighs only 267g[5].
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Enhanced Durability
Durability has long been a major issue for folding screens as they are difficult to maintain. Smartphone manufacturers have been increasingly investing in R&D d to improve the durability of their foldable devices, but durability issues like a vulnerable hinge, bubbles, scratches on the screen, longevity, etc. continued to persist.
Despite being extremely lightweight, HONOR Magic Vs excels at durability.
The revolutionary Super-Light Gearless Hinge Technology of the HONOR Magic Vs had been in development for months by the HONOR R&D team. After testing the hinge with materials from metals such as aluminum, steel and titanium to non-metals including carbon fibers and plastics, HONOR decided to use aerospace-grade polymeric material to ensure the functionality and strength of the hinge.
With a high melting point, however, the aerospace-grade polymeric material has high processing requirements. To address this issue, HONOR redesigned the mold and used upgraded equipment such as the hot runner system and the cooling system. HONOR also doubled the post-treatment processes to ensure the smoothness of the material.
To give the hinge a firm and secure structure, its components were assembled with micrometer precision. Thanks to the gear-free design, every part of the hinge shoulders the load equally and evenly as the device is folded and unfolded, minimizing the potential of components loosening when in use.
The HONOR Magic Vs has passed the test by TÜV Rheinland that can withstand over 400,000 folds, which is equivalent to more than ten years of use with 100 folds per day. With its exceptional durability, the HONOR Magic Vs is a compelling option for users around the world who are looking out for a reliable, powerful foldable device.
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