Honor Magic5 Ultimate vs Honor Magic4 Ultimate: The Ultimate Showdown

Honor's flagship series consistently pushes the boundaries of mobile technology. The Magic4 Ultimate set a high bar, but does the Magic5 Ultimate surpass it? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide which phone deserves your money.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic5 Ultimate offers a noticeable performance boost thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, improved efficiency, and slightly refined camera capabilities. While the Magic4 Ultimate's 100W wired charging is a standout feature, the Magic5 Ultimate's overall package makes it the winner for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor Magic5 Ultimate	Honor Magic4 Ultimate

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2023, March 06	2022, March 17
Status	Available. Released 2023, March 20	Available. Released 2022, April 22

Body
Build	Glass front, eco leather back	Glass front, ceramic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	162.9 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)	163.6 x 74.7 x 11.4 mm (6.44 x 2.94 x 0.45 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	217 g (7.65 oz)	242 g (8.54 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Glass/ceramic coating	Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution	1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)	1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size	6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~93.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)	LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+

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 (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 740	Adreno 730
OS	Android 13, MagicOS 7.1	Android 12, Magic UI 6

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	512GB 16GB RAM	512GB 12GB RAM
	UFS 4.0	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad	-	50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.12", 1.4µm, PDAF 64 MP, f/2.2, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.5", PDAF TOF 3D (depth)
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)	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), 1/2.5", AF TOF 3D (depth)	-
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)	12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit audio stereo recording	24-bit audio stereo recording

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, 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, ultrasonic), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Ultra Wideband (UWB) support	-

Battery
Charging	66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired	100W wired, 100% in 30 min 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
Type	Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh	Li-Po 4600 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Orange	Ceramic Black, Ceramic White
Models	PGT-AN20	LGE-AN20
Price	About 900 EUR	About 1150 EUR

Honor Magic5 Ultimate

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
Improved Efficiency & Battery Life
Refined Camera System
Sleek Design

Slower Wired Charging (66W)
Potentially Higher Price

Honor Magic4 Ultimate

Blazing Fast 100W Wired Charging
Excellent Camera System
Premium Build Quality
Generally Lower Price

Older Processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 1)
Less Efficient Chipset
Potential for Thermal Throttling

Display Comparison

Both phones feature stunning 6.8-inch OLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates and vibrant colors. The Magic5 Ultimate may have slightly improved brightness and color accuracy, but the difference is subtle. Both offer excellent viewing experiences.

Camera Comparison

Both phones boast impressive camera systems with large sensors and advanced features. The Magic5 Ultimate's camera system benefits from software optimizations and potentially slightly improved image processing, resulting in more natural-looking photos and better low-light performance. Both offer excellent zoom capabilities.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Magic5 Ultimate is a significant upgrade over the 8 Gen 1 in the Magic4 Ultimate. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and noticeably better gaming performance. The Gen 2's improved efficiency also contributes to better battery life.

Battery Life

While both phones have a 4700mAh battery, the Magic5 Ultimate's more efficient chipset allows it to last longer on a single charge. The Magic4 Ultimate's 100W wired charging provides significantly faster charging speeds (fully charged in around 30 minutes) compared to the Magic5 Ultimate's 66W wired charging.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic5 Ultimate is ideal for power users, mobile gamers, and photography enthusiasts who prioritize performance and a refined experience. The Honor Magic4 Ultimate remains a compelling choice for those seeking incredibly fast wired charging and a slightly lower price point, especially if they don't heavily rely on the absolute latest processor.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 a big upgrade over the 8 Gen 1?

Yes, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers significant improvements in performance, efficiency, and graphics capabilities compared to the 8 Gen 1. You'll notice a difference in everyday use and especially in demanding tasks like gaming.

❓ How much faster is the Magic4 Ultimate's charging?

The Magic4 Ultimate's 100W wired charging is considerably faster than the Magic5 Ultimate's 66W charging. It can fully charge the phone in around 30 minutes, while the Magic5 Ultimate takes longer.