Honor Magic3 Pro+ vs Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate: A Deep Dive Comparison

The Honor Magic3 Pro+ and Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate represent distinct approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The Honor prioritizes a balanced flagship experience with cutting-edge wireless charging, while the Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate is laser-focused on delivering the ultimate mobile gaming experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a well-rounded flagship with incredibly fast wireless charging, the Honor Magic3 Pro+ is the better choice. However, dedicated mobile gamers will find the Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate’s specialized features and cooling system provide a superior gaming experience, despite slightly slower charging.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic3 Pro+ Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 1400/150 Mbps, 5G 4 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2021, August 122021, March 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 19Available. Released 2021, June 07
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (6.41 x 2.95 x 0.39 in)172.8 x 77.3 x 10.3 mm (6.80 x 3.04 x 0.41 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight236 g (8.32 oz)238 g (8.40 oz)
 -Pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers) Touch sensor; ROG Vision monochrome PMOLED display (on the back)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1080 x 2448 pixels (~395 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 109.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 5Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, ROG UI
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM512GB 18GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom 64 MP, f/1.8, (monochrome) 64 MP, f/2.4, 11mm 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF TOF 3D (depth)-
Triple-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)24 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -Yes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers)
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 66W wireless 5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired65W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 70% in 30 min, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsCeramic Black, Ceramic WhiteMatte White
ModelsELZ-AN20ZS673KS, ZS673KS-1B063IN, I005DC
PriceAbout 1070 EURAbout 1300 EUR

Honor Magic3 Pro+

  • Incredibly fast 66W wireless charging
  • Potentially superior camera system
  • Slightly faster CPU clock speed

  • Likely less effective thermal management for sustained gaming
  • Reverse charging options are limited to 5W

Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate

  • Superior cooling system for sustained gaming performance
  • Optimized for mobile gaming with customizable controls
  • Faster wired charging (0-100% in 52 minutes)

  • Significantly slower wireless charging (10W)
  • Camera likely secondary to gaming features

Display Comparison

Both devices utilize 5nm Snapdragon 888-series chipsets, but their display philosophies diverge. While specific display specs (resolution, refresh rate) aren't provided, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate’s gaming focus likely prioritizes a high refresh rate for smoother visuals. The Magic3 Pro+ may lean towards color accuracy and brightness for general use. The absence of LTPO information suggests neither device dynamically adjusts refresh rates for power saving, a feature becoming increasingly common in flagship devices.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, Honor historically emphasizes camera quality, suggesting the Magic3 Pro+ likely boasts a more sophisticated camera system with advanced image processing. The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate’s camera is likely competent but secondary to its gaming features. The absence of information on sensor sizes and apertures makes a definitive judgment impossible, but the Magic3 Pro+ is expected to offer a more versatile and higher-quality photographic experience.

Performance

The Honor Magic3 Pro+ features the Snapdragon 888+ 5G, clocked slightly higher at 2.99 GHz on its Cortex-X1 core compared to the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate’s 2.84 GHz. This clock speed difference, while seemingly small, can translate to a marginal performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks. Both phones utilize the same Cortex-A78 and A55 cores, meaning multi-core performance will be similar. However, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate’s advanced cooling system is crucial; the Snapdragon 888 is known to throttle under sustained load, and Asus’s design mitigates this better than Honor’s likely more conventional thermal solution. Both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the speed isn't specified, impacting overall system responsiveness.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic3 Pro+ boasts a significant charging advantage with 66W wired and 66W wireless charging, alongside 5W reverse wireless and wired charging. The ROG Phone 5 Ultimate offers 65W wired charging (with PD3.0 and QC5 support, achieving 70% in 30 minutes and 100% in 52 minutes) and only 10W reverse wired charging. This means the Magic3 Pro+ can top up much faster, especially wirelessly. While battery capacity isn't specified, the faster wireless charging of the Honor is a major differentiator for users who frequently utilize this feature.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic3 Pro+ if you need a premium all-rounder with exceptional camera capabilities, blazing-fast 66W wireless charging, and a more refined software experience. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 5 Ultimate if you prioritize raw gaming performance, customizable gaming controls, and a robust cooling system designed for extended gaming sessions, even if it means sacrificing wireless charging speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate suffer from significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 888 is prone to throttling, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate’s advanced cooling system – including vapor chamber technology and potentially external fan accessories – is specifically designed to mitigate this issue, allowing for more sustained peak performance during extended gaming sessions. The Honor Magic3 Pro+ likely has a more standard cooling solution and may experience more noticeable throttling.
❓ How does the 66W wireless charging on the Honor Magic3 Pro+ compare to typical wireless charging speeds?
66W wireless charging is exceptionally fast, significantly exceeding the 15W-25W wireless charging speeds commonly found in other flagship smartphones. This allows the Honor Magic3 Pro+ to charge wirelessly at speeds comparable to many phones’ wired charging capabilities, offering a much more convenient and time-saving charging experience.
❓ Is the difference in CPU clock speed (2.99 GHz vs 2.84 GHz) between the Magic3 Pro+ and ROG Phone 5 Ultimate noticeable in everyday use?
The difference in CPU clock speed is relatively small and unlikely to be noticeable in most everyday tasks like browsing, social media, or video playback. The impact will be more apparent in CPU-intensive applications like video editing or demanding games, but even then, the cooling system’s ability to sustain performance will be a more significant factor.