{"id":13009,"date":"2025-07-21T13:14:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T13:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/13009\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T13:14:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T13:14:10","slug":"foldables-are-thin-and-light-in-2025-so-why-are-brands-bending-the-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/13009\/","title":{"rendered":"Foldables are thin and light in 2025, so why are brands bending the truth?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Honor<\/p>\n

Paul Jones \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

TL;DR<\/p>\n

A Twitter user has shown that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is thinner than the HONOR Magic V5.
\nIt turns out both HONOR and OPPO measure their foldables without the protective inner screen film.
\nA closer look at product pages also reveals that some brands don\u2019t include these layers when weighing their foldables.<\/p>\n

HONOR launched the Magic V5<\/a> in China earlier this month, and the company claimed that the white version was the world\u2019s thinnest foldable phone<\/a> at 8.8mm. However, recent events have brought this claim into question.<\/p>\n

Veteran leaker Ice<\/a> Universe<\/a> made a series of Twitter posts comparing the HONOR Magic V5 to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7<\/a>. The posts strongly suggest that the Samsung foldable is marginally thinner than the supposed world\u2019s thinnest foldable. Ice Universe used a paper card, a ball, and a measuring tool to reveal that the Galaxy phone is apparently slimmer.<\/p>\n

There is no accurate measuring tool, but we can still draw a rigorous conclusion: Galaxy Z Fold7 is the thinnest folding mobile phone in the world.
\nI switched the positions of two mobile phones during the test, and the results remained the same, which showed that the factors of\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/irlNgKOtH0<\/a><\/p>\n

It turns out HONOR\u2019s website lists a curious measurement method, as it measures its foldable phones without the inner and outer protective screen films. That\u2019s a questionable measurement method, as users aren\u2019t meant to remove the inner film on foldable phones. This layer is effectively a permanent part of the phone, which should only be removed by repair agents. We also checked HONOR\u2019s previous foldable listings, and the company used this measuring method as far back as the Magic V2. The company claimed at the time that the Magic V2 was the thinnest book-style foldable phone, coming in at under a centimeter thick (9.9mm).<\/p>\n

We asked HONOR for comment on the Twitter user\u2019s claims:<\/p>\n

The overall thickness does not include the inner and outer screen protective films and the raised part of the camera. This measuring method is not unique to HONOR.<\/p>\n

HONOR also sent us images (seen below) which it briefly posted<\/a> online. These pictures show that the folded device measures 8.8mm. However, the company confirmed to Android Authority that it removed the outer protective film for these images and measurements. That\u2019s an understandable caveat as, unlike the inner film, customers can remove the outer film in the first place. The company added that there was \u201cno need\u201d to remove the inner film for these folded measurements.<\/p>\n

\"The\"The<\/p>\n

This does make us wonder why HONOR\u2019s website claims that the 8.8mm measurement excludes protective films on both screens. After all, if HONOR achieved an 8.8mm thickness while including these layers, it would be an achievement worth shouting about. It\u2019s also worth noting that we don\u2019t get a look at the inner screen in these pictures to confirm that the protective film was intact, so we have to take HONOR\u2019s word for that.<\/p>\n

What about other manufacturers?<\/p>\n

\"Oppo<\/p>\n

Paul Jones \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Our ears pricked up when HONOR told us it wasn\u2019t the only one using this measurement method. After scouring product listings, we discovered that OPPO excludes the screen protector for its OPPO Find N5<\/a> (seen above). This foldable is supposed to be 8.93mm thick.<\/p>\n

We asked Samsung how it measures foldable phones, and we\u2019re still waiting for an answer. However, the company\u2019s Newsroom website notes the following:<\/p>\n

Thickness of Galaxy Z Fold 7 when folded measured from top to bottom of the glasses of Galaxy Z Fold 7.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m guessing the company is measuring the folded Galaxy Z Fold 7 from the cover screen to the rear glass cover. We\u2019ve asked Samsung to clarify this statement.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Google\u2019s Pixel 9 Pro Fold<\/a> product listing simply states that the phone\u2019s measurement \u201cdoes not include camera bump.\u201d This suggests that Google includes the screen protectors in its measurements.<\/p>\n

How does Xiaomi measure its foldable phones? Here\u2019s what the company told us:<\/p>\n

Xiaomi follows (the) industry standard on how thickness of foldable devices are measured.<\/p>\n

The big problem with this response is that there doesn\u2019t seem to be a single industry standard for measuring foldable phones. We asked the company to clarify its response, but it didn\u2019t come back to us.<\/p>\n

We also asked HUAWEI about its method of measuring foldable phones, but it didn\u2019t get back to us. However, the HUAWEI Mate X6 product page notes that the \u201cfolded thickness does not include the appearance of the camera module.\u201d Finally, we asked vivo about their method of measuring foldable phone thickness, but we\u2019re still waiting for an answer.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t end with foldable phone thickness<\/p>\n

\"Vivo<\/p>\n

Hadlee Simons \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Questionable measurement methods aren\u2019t restricted to thickness, either. A closer look at various product pages reveals that a few manufacturers are also bending the truth regarding the weight of their foldables.<\/p>\n

The HONOR Magic V5 product listing confirms that the white model\u2019s 217-gram weight was achieved without including the inner protective film. The OPPO Find N5 fine print also shows that its 229-gram weight didn\u2019t include the inner screen protector.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the vivo X Fold 5 (217 grams) and HUAWEI Mate X6 (239 grams) product pages reveal that these foldables were weighed without the inner or outer protective films. Again, we can understand excluding the outer film, but the inner film isn\u2019t user-removable. Samsung and Google\u2019s product listings don\u2019t specify these details.<\/p>\n

Why is all of this a big deal, though?<\/p>\n

\"Samsung<\/p>\n

C. Scott Brown \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

You might wonder why we care about 0.1mm or a similarly minuscule disparity. However, this can be the difference between a smartphone maker claiming it has the world\u2019s thinnest foldable phone and\u2026 not. After all, HONOR\u2019s claim that the V5 is the world\u2019s thinnest foldable phone hinges on a ~0.1mm difference.<\/p>\n

Using a measurement method that potentially flatters your own device is a questionable marketing tactic. It could allow brands to make a claim they otherwise might not be able to make with a more conventional measurement method. In HONOR\u2019s case, the company told us its measurement holds up even when the inner screen film is included. However, that only raises more questions about why it doesn\u2019t stick with the more conventional measurement method in the first place.<\/p>\n

In any event, it\u2019s clear that some foldable phone makers are playing fast and loose when measuring their devices. HONOR and OPPO\u2019s measurement methods, in particular, warrant a small pinch of salt. Meanwhile, Xiaomi\u2019s response also makes me skeptical about their measurement methods. This issue will likely only return to the spotlight when Apple eventually releases its rumored foldable iPhone.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time we\u2019ve seen questionable tactics from smartphone brands in the name of marketing. Some tactics over the years include benchmark cheating, promoting pointless metrics (e.g. 100x zoom), and \u201csmartphone camera samples\u201d taken by DSLR cameras. However, this latest tactic risks further eroding user trust in smartphone manufacturer claims.<\/p>\n

Got a tip? Talk to us!\u00a0Email our staff at\u00a0news@androidauthority.com<\/a>. You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it’s your choice.