Honor's Magic series offers compelling options for smartphone enthusiasts. The Magic5 Lite aims for affordability and everyday usability, while the Magic5 Pro targets users seeking flagship performance and premium features. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to determine which phone is the right fit for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor Magic5 Pro is the clear winner, offering significantly superior performance, a brighter display, faster charging, and a more advanced camera system. However, the Magic5 Lite provides excellent value for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing battery life and a decent overall experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, February 15 | 2023, February 27 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, February 20 | Available. Released 2023, March 31 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front, glass back or eco leather back |
| Dimensions | 161.6 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm (6.36 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) | 162.9 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 219 g (7.72 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch/drop-resistant glass | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MagicOS 7.1 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 4.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm
TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.12" 1.4µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
50 MP, f/3.0, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom
50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", AF
TOF 3D (depth) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm
TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit audio stereo recording |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 40W wired | 66W wired
50W wireless
Reverse wireless
5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5100 mAh | Market-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5100 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh (China only) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Emerald Green, Titanium Silver | Black, Meadow Green, Blue, Purple, Orange |
| Models | RMO-NX1, RMO-NX3 | PGT-AN10, PGT-N19 |
| Price | About 190 EUR | £ 799.99 / € 407.79 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 111h
|
Endurance rating 109h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-31.4 LUFS (Below average)
|
-24.6 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 387250 (v9)
GeekBench: 1912 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
GeekBench: 4378 (v5.1), 5096 (v6) |
Honor Magic5 Lite
- Excellent battery life
- Affordable price
- Decent display
- 5G connectivity
- Lower performance
- Less advanced camera
- Lower brightness display
- Slower charging
Honor Magic5 Pro
- Flagship performance
- Brighter and higher resolution display
- Advanced camera system
- Fast charging (wired & wireless)
- Premium design
- Higher price
- Potentially shorter battery life under heavy use (compared to Lite)
Display Comparison
The Magic5 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display at 1227 nits compared to the Magic5 Lite's 864 nits. Both offer excellent contrast (infinite nominal), but the Pro's higher brightness makes it more visible in direct sunlight. The Pro likely also has a higher resolution and potentially a smoother refresh rate (likely 120Hz, while the Lite is likely 60Hz), further enhancing the viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer capable camera systems, the Magic5 Pro's hardware and image processing are considerably more advanced. Expect better image quality, dynamic range, low-light performance, and video recording capabilities on the Pro. The Pro likely features a more versatile camera setup with telephoto and ultrawide lenses offering higher resolution and improved features.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Magic5 Pro delivers a massive performance advantage over the Snapdragon 695 5G in the Magic5 Lite. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a much better gaming experience on the Pro. The Pro's CPU architecture is also more efficient, contributing to better overall power management despite its higher performance.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive battery life, with the Magic5 Lite achieving an endurance rating of 111h and the Magic5 Pro at 115h (old rating) and 109h (active use). The Magic5 Pro's faster 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging provide a significant advantage in charging speed compared to the Lite's 40W wired charging.
Buying Guide
The Honor Magic5 Lite is ideal for students, casual users, or anyone on a tight budget who needs a reliable phone with long battery life. The Honor Magic5 Pro is perfect for power users, photographers, gamers, and those who demand the best possible performance and features in a smartphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Honor Magic5 Pro worth the extra money?
If you prioritize performance, camera quality, and a premium display, the Magic5 Pro is definitely worth the investment. However, if you're on a budget and primarily need a reliable phone for everyday tasks, the Magic5 Lite offers excellent value.
❓ What is the difference in camera quality between the two phones?
The Magic5 Pro has a significantly more advanced camera system with better sensors, lenses, and image processing capabilities. Expect noticeably better image quality, especially in low light, and more versatile shooting options.
