Honor Magic5 Pro vs Huawei Mate 50 Pro: The Ultimate Showdown

The Honor Magic5 Pro and Huawei Mate 50 Pro are two of the most compelling flagship smartphones available. Both boast impressive features and premium designs, but which one truly comes out on top? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, camera capabilities, and battery life to help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic5 Pro edges out the Mate 50 Pro thanks to its brighter display, superior performance with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and slightly better battery life. However, the Mate 50 Pro’s camera system and unique design might appeal to some users. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic5 Pro Huawei Mate 50 Pro
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) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2023, February 272022, September 06
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, March 31Available. Released 2022, September 28
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back-
Dimensions162.9 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)162.1 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm (6.38 x 2.97 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight219 g (7.72 oz)205 g / 209 g (7.23 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Huawei Kunlun Glass
Resolution1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1212 x 2616 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~428 ppi density)
Size6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.74 inches, 111.8 cm2 (~91.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 730
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8EMUI 13 (International), HarmonyOS 3.0 (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 4.0UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple50 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)50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit audio stereo recording32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -BDS Satellite Message (sending only)
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5100 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh (China only)Li-Po 4700 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Meadow Green, Blue, Purple, OrangeBlack, Silver, Purple, Orange
ModelsPGT-AN10, PGT-N19DCO-AL00, DCO-LX9
Price£ 799.99 / € 407.79About 900 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 109h Endurance rating 104h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.6 LUFS (Very good) -24.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance GeekBench: 4378 (v5.1), 5096 (v6) AnTuTu: 979921 (v9) GeekBench: 3839 (v5.1) GFXBench: 68fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic5 Pro

  • Brighter Display
  • Superior Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
  • Slightly Better Battery Life
  • Versatile Camera System

  • Design might be less distinctive
  • Software experience can vary by region

Huawei Mate 50 Pro

  • Excellent Camera Image Processing (XMAGE)
  • Distinctive Design
  • Strong Build Quality
  • Good Battery Life

  • Slightly Dimmer Display
  • Older Chipset (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
  • Potential Software Limitations (Huawei Ecosystem)
  • 4G only

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic5 Pro takes a clear lead in the display department. Its peak brightness of 1227 nits significantly outshines the Mate 50 Pro's 946 nits, making it much easier to view content outdoors. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), and vibrant colors, but the Magic5 Pro's brightness advantage is noticeable.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent camera systems, but they approach photography differently. The Mate 50 Pro is known for its impressive image processing and color science, often producing vibrant and detailed photos. The Magic5 Pro offers a versatile camera setup with a focus on detail and dynamic range. The Mate 50 Pro's XMAGE image processing is a key differentiator. Real-world testing is needed to definitively declare a winner, but both are top contenders.

Performance

The Honor Magic5 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset provides a noticeable performance boost over the Mate 50 Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. The Gen 2 offers improved CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming experiences. While the 8+ Gen 1 is still a capable chip, the Magic5 Pro has the edge.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic5 Pro demonstrates slightly better battery endurance. Its active use score of 12:06 hours is a bit higher than the Mate 50 Pro's 10:36 hours. Both phones support 66W wired and 50W wireless charging, ensuring relatively quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic5 Pro is ideal for users who prioritize raw performance, a vibrant display, and long battery life. The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is a great choice for those who value camera quality, a distinctive design, and are comfortable with Huawei's ecosystem and potential software limitations (due to US sanctions).

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei Mate 50 Pro support 5G?
No, the Mate 50 Pro is a 4G-only device due to US sanctions impacting Huawei's access to 5G technology.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Honor generally offers more timely software updates and broader global support compared to Huawei, which faces restrictions due to geopolitical factors.