Collapsible phones are slim and light in 2025, so why are these brand names flexing the fact?

HONOR released the Magic V5 in China previously this month, and the firm declared that the white variation was the globe’s thinnest foldable phone at 8.8 mm. Nonetheless, current occasions have actually brought this insurance claim right into concern.

Professional leaker Ice Universe made a collection of Twitter articles contrasting the HONOR Magic V5 to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 The articles highly recommend that the Samsung collapsible is partially thinner than the expected globe’s thinnest collapsible. Ice Cosmos utilized a paper card, a round, and a gauging device to disclose that the Galaxy phone is evidently slimmer.

It ends up HONOR’s site notes an interested dimension technique, as it gauges its collapsible phones without the internal and external safety display movies. That’s a doubtful dimension technique, as individuals aren’t implied to eliminate the internal movie on collapsible phones. This layer is efficiently a long-term component of the phone, which need to just be gotten rid of by repair service representatives. We additionally inspected HONOR’s previous collapsible listings, and the firm utilized this measuring technique as much back as the Magic V2. The firm declared as the Magic V2 was the thinnest book-style collapsible phone, can be found in at under a centimeter thick (9.9 mm).

We asked HONOR for discuss the Twitter customer’s cases:

The general density does not consist of the internal and external display safety movies and the elevated component of the electronic camera. This measuring technique is not distinct to HONOR.

HONOR additionally sent us photos (seen listed below) which it briefly posted online. These images reveal that the folded up gadget steps 8.8 mm. Nonetheless, the firm validated to Android Authority that it got rid of the external safety movie for these photos and dimensions. That’s a reasonable caution as, unlike the internal movie, clients can eliminate the external movie to begin with. The firm included that there was “no requirement” to eliminate the internal movie for these folded up dimensions.

This does make us ask yourself why HONOR’s site asserts that the 8.8 mm dimension omits safety movies on both displays. Nevertheless, if HONOR accomplished an 8.8 mm density while consisting of these layers, it would certainly be a success worth yelling around. It’s additionally worth keeping in mind that we do not obtain a take a look at the internal display in these images to validate that the safety movie was undamaged, so we need to take HONOR’s word for that.

Our ears punctured up when HONOR informed us it had not been the just one utilizing this dimension technique. After combing item listings, we uncovered that OPPO omits the display guard for its OPPO Find N5 (seen over). This collapsible is intended to be 8.93 mm thick.

We asked Samsung just how it gauges collapsible phones, and we’re still awaiting a response. Nonetheless, the firm’s Newsroom site keeps in mind the following:

Density of Galaxy Z Layer 7 when folded up gauged inside out of the glasses of Galaxy Z Layer 7.

I’m thinking the firm is determining the folded up Galaxy Z Layer 7 from the cover display to the back glass cover. We have actually asked Samsung to clarify this declaration.

On the other hand, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold item listing merely mentions that the phone’s dimension “does not consist of electronic camera bump.” This recommends that Google consists of the display guards in its dimensions.

Just how does Xiaomi determine its collapsible phones? Below’s what the firm informed us:

Xiaomi complies with (the) sector requirement on just how density of collapsible tools are gauged.

The large trouble with this reaction is that there does not appear to be a solitary sector requirement for determining collapsible phones. We asked the firm to clarify its reaction, however it really did not return to us.

We additionally asked HUAWEI regarding its technique of determining collapsible phones, however it really did not return to us. Nonetheless, the HUAWEI Friend X6 item web page keeps in mind that the “folded up density does not consist of the look of the electronic camera component.” Lastly, we asked vivo regarding their technique of determining collapsible phone density, however we’re still awaiting a response.

Doubtful dimension approaches aren’t limited to density, either. A closer take a look at numerous item web pages discloses that a couple of makers are additionally flexing the fact relating to the weight of their foldables.

The HONOR Magic V5 item listing verifies that the white design’s 217-gram weight was accomplished without consisting of the internal safety movie. The OPPO Discover N5 small print additionally reveals that its 229-gram weight really did not consist of the internal display guard.

On the other hand, the vivo X Layer 5 (217 grams) and HUAWEI Friend X6 (239 grams) item web pages disclose that these foldables were evaluated without the internal or external safety movies. Once again, we can comprehend leaving out the external movie, however the internal movie isn’t user-removable. Samsung and Google’s item listings do not define these information.

You may ask yourself why we respect 0.1 mm or a likewise tiny variation. Nonetheless, this can be the distinction in between a smart device manufacturer asserting it has the globe’s thinnest collapsible phone and … not. Nevertheless, HONOR’s insurance claim that the V5 is the globe’s thinnest collapsible phone depend upon a ~ 0.1 mm distinction.

Making use of a dimension technique that possibly flatters your very own gadget is a doubtful advertising strategy. It might enable brand names to make a case they or else may not have the ability to make with a much more traditional dimension technique. In HONOR’s instance, the firm informed us its dimension stands up also when the internal display movie is consisted of. Nonetheless, that just elevates even more concerns regarding why it does not stick to the extra traditional dimension technique to begin with.

Anyway, it’s clear that some collapsible phone manufacturers are playing reckless when determining their tools. HONOR and OPPO’s dimension approaches, particularly, necessitate a tiny pinch of salt. On the other hand, Xiaomi’s reaction additionally makes me unconvinced regarding their dimension approaches. This problem will likely just go back to the limelight when Apple at some point launches its reported collapsible apple iphone.

This isn’t the very first time we have actually seen doubtful methods from smart device brand names for advertising. Some methods for many years consist of benchmark unfaithful, advertising meaningless metrics (e.g. 100x zoom), and “smart device electronic camera examples” taken by DSLR video cameras. Nonetheless, this most current strategy dangers better deteriorating customer rely on smart device producer cases.