Honor's Magic series offers compelling smartphones, but choosing between the flagship Magic5 Pro and the more budget-friendly Magic5 Lite can be tricky. This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their features, performance, and value to help you make the right decision.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor Magic5 Pro is the clear winner for power users, boasting a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a brighter display, and a more advanced camera system. However, the Magic5 Lite offers excellent value with a solid battery life and a more accessible price point, making it a great choice for everyday users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | LTE |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, February 27 | 2023, February 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 31 | Available. Released 2023, February 20 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back or eco leather back | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 161.6 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm (6.36 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 219 g (7.72 oz) | 175 g (6.17 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Scratch/drop-resistant glass |
| Resolution | 1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MagicOS 7.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 4.0 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm
TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| 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 | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm
TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| | 24-bit audio stereo recording | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired
50W wireless
Reverse wireless
5W reverse wired | 40W wired |
| Type | Market-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5100 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh (China only) | Li-Po 5100 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Meadow Green, Blue, Purple, Orange | Midnight Black, Emerald Green, Titanium Silver |
| Models | PGT-AN10, PGT-N19 | RMO-NX1, RMO-NX3 |
| Price | £ 799.99 / € 407.79 | About 190 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 109h
|
Endurance rating 111h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-24.6 LUFS (Very good)
|
-31.4 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance |
GeekBench: 4378 (v5.1), 5096 (v6) |
AnTuTu: 387250 (v9)
GeekBench: 1912 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Magic5 Pro
- Flagship Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
- Brighter, Higher Resolution Display
- Superior Camera System
- Faster Charging (66W)
- Reverse Wireless Charging
- Higher Price
- Potentially Larger and Heavier
Honor Magic5 Lite
- Excellent Value for Money
- Solid Battery Life
- Compact and Lightweight
- 5G Connectivity
- Mid-Range Performance (Snapdragon 695)
- Less Bright Display
- Less Advanced Camera
Display Comparison
The Magic5 Pro's display shines with a measured peak brightness of 1227 nits, significantly outperforming the Magic5 Lite's 864 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the Pro's superior brightness makes it much more visible in direct sunlight. The Pro likely has a higher resolution as well, contributing to a sharper image.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Magic5 Pro's camera system is expected to be significantly more advanced. The Pro likely features larger sensors, better image processing, and potentially additional lenses (telephoto, ultrawide) for greater versatility. The Lite's camera is adequate for casual photography.
Performance
The Magic5 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset is a powerhouse, easily handling demanding games and applications. The Magic5 Lite's Snapdragon 695 5G is a capable mid-range chip, suitable for everyday tasks but will struggle with intensive workloads. Expect a noticeable difference in responsiveness and multitasking capabilities.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive battery life, with endurance ratings around 111-115 hours. The Magic5 Pro's active use score of 12:06h suggests efficient power management despite its more powerful hardware. The Magic5 Lite's 40W wired charging is slightly slower than the Pro's 66W wired charging.
Buying Guide
The Honor Magic5 Pro is ideal for photography enthusiasts, gamers, and anyone who demands top-tier performance. The Honor Magic5 Lite is perfect for budget-conscious buyers who prioritize battery life and a smooth, reliable experience for everyday tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What is the difference in performance between the two phones?
The Magic5 Pro offers significantly faster performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, making it ideal for gaming and demanding apps. The Magic5 Lite's Snapdragon 695 is suitable for everyday tasks.
❓ Which phone has better camera quality?
The Honor Magic5 Pro has a superior camera system with likely larger sensors and more advanced features, resulting in better image quality and more versatility.
