Honor Magic V6 and the 'wide foldable' trend: 4 things for 2026
Chinese maker Honor unveiled the Magic V6 in March at MWC, beating Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 to market by almost half a year, while the 'wide' format becomes the premium standard.
Is 2026 finally the year the foldable phone stops being exotic and becomes a normal buying option? The numbers say yes, but not in the way the industry expected two years ago. Honor unveiled the Magic V6 in March at MWC in Barcelona, beating Samsung’s next-generation Z Fold launch by close to half a year, with Samsung’s reveal not expected until July.
The figure that keeps repeating in industry reports: the global foldable phone market is up 30 percent in 2026, helped largely by the first Apple foldable iPhone expected before the end of the year. Honor, Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo are all pushing so-called “wide” foldables, models where the main screen is somewhat larger and closer in proportions to a small tablet than a traditional phone.
1. What ‘wide foldable’ is and why makers are moving to it
A classic foldable like the Samsung Z Fold opens into a format that is still more elongated than a regular tablet. A wide foldable is closer to square, which means it displays web pages, maps and documents without big unused margins on the side.
In practice, the main difference you will feel: reading a book or PDF feels more natural, watching films has fewer black bars, multitasking in two apps looks more like a laptop.
2. Honor Magic V6 specifics
The Magic V6 has a bigger battery than any Galaxy Z Fold to date (preliminary numbers point to around 6,000 mAh, while Samsung tops out at 4,400 mAh in the Fold 6). Why this matters: foldables have historically had weak battery life because two screens both draw power.
The main display is 8 inches diagonal, the cover display 6.45 inches, very close to a regular phone when folded. Final weight has not been disclosed, but early prototypes were under 230 grams.
3. Price and availability in Europe
Honor’s global launch is uneven. In China, the Magic V6 starts at 8,999 yuan (around 1,090 euros) for the base model. In Europe, when it lands officially, expect a number between 1,500 and 1,700 euros, somewhat below the Samsung Z Fold 6 which starts at around 1,900.
In Europe, official distribution is currently handled through Honor’s own online store and select retail partners. Carrier availability varies by country.
4. What to wait for if foldables interest you
If you are thinking about your first foldable, the recommendation is to wait three more months. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is coming in July, the Honor Magic V6 globally in late June, the Oppo Find N6 sometime in between, and the first Apple foldable iPhone is on the calendar for the fall. The competition will be the strongest in five years, which usually means better prices and better deals.
Another reason to wait: HarmonyOS Next, Huawei’s own operating system, which begins real expansion outside China in 2026. Huawei foldables on that OS are forecast to nearly double their shipments in 2026, which means the field of choice will be wider than ever.
What the buyer should know
Foldables still have one practical problem that often gets forgotten: service. Replacing the inner screen when it breaks costs between 30 and 50 percent of the price of a new phone, and that is at authorised service centres outside many European markets for most Chinese brands.
Samsung is currently the only foldable maker with a stable service network across Europe through official partners. If service security matters to you, it is a factor worth weighting into the decision, even when Honor or Xiaomi offer a technically better device for less money.
The next key date is July 1, when Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event is expected to unveil the Z Fold 8.
