Honor Magic5 Ultimate vs. Honor Magic5: A Detailed Comparison

Honor's Magic series consistently delivers impressive smartphones, and the Magic5 and Magic5 Ultimate are no exception. Both boast flagship specs and premium designs, but the Ultimate adds a few key features. This comprehensive comparison will help you determine which model best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic5 Ultimate offers a significant upgrade with its enhanced camera system (including a periscope lens), faster wireless charging, and reverse wired charging. However, the Magic5 remains a fantastic phone with the same powerful processor, making it a compelling choice for those prioritizing value.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic5 Ultimate Honor Magic5
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, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2023, March 062023, February 27
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, March 20Available. Released 2023, March 31
Body
BuildGlass front, eco leather backGlass 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)161.4 x 75.5 x 7.8 mm (6.35 x 2.97 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight217 g (7.65 oz)191 g (6.74 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)-
Display
ProtectionGlass/ceramic coating-
Resolution1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)1224 x 2688 pixels (~439 ppi density)
Size6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (peak)
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 (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, MagicOS 7.1Android 13, MagicOS 7.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 4.0UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm
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), 1/2.5", AF TOF 3D (depth)54 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.49", PDAF 32 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit audio stereo recording24-bit audio stereo recording
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
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)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) support-
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired66W wired 5W reverse wired
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 5450 mAhLi-Po 5100 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, OrangeBlack, Glacier Blue, Green, Purple, Orange
ModelsPGT-AN20PGT-AN00, PGT-N09
PriceAbout 900 EURAbout 900 EUR

Honor Magic5 Ultimate

  • Superior Camera System (Periscope Lens)
  • Faster Wireless Charging (50W)
  • Reverse Wired Charging
  • Premium Build Quality

  • Higher Price
  • Potentially Minor Display Differences

Honor Magic5

  • Excellent Value for Money
  • Flagship Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
  • Good Camera System
  • Sleek Design

  • Slower Charging (66W Wired)
  • No Wireless Reverse Charging
  • Less Advanced Camera Zoom

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.67-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2400 x 1080 resolution. While both offer excellent visuals, the Ultimate might have slightly better color accuracy and brightness due to potential panel variations, but this is often negligible in real-world use. The bezels are minimal on both.

Camera Comparison

This is where the Ultimate truly shines. While both have a 50MP main sensor, the Ultimate adds a 12MP periscope telephoto lens for enhanced optical zoom capabilities (typically 5x or more) and improved low-light performance. The Ultimate also likely has a more advanced image processing algorithm. The Magic5 has a standard telephoto lens, offering decent zoom but not as powerful as the Ultimate.

Performance

Performance is virtually identical. Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, ensuring smooth multitasking, demanding gaming, and effortless app usage. The octa-core CPU and ample RAM (likely 8GB or 12GB on both) guarantee a responsive experience.

Battery Life

Both phones likely have a 4800mAh battery, providing all-day battery life for moderate users. The Ultimate's 50W wireless charging is a significant advantage over the Magic5's standard wired charging and 5W reverse wired charging. The Ultimate also supports reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic5 Ultimate is ideal for photography enthusiasts and users who value fast charging and convenient reverse charging capabilities. The Honor Magic5 is a great option for those seeking flagship performance at a slightly more accessible price point, without needing the Ultimate's advanced camera features.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Honor Magic5 Ultimate worth the extra cost?
If you're a photography enthusiast who values optical zoom and fast wireless charging, then yes. Otherwise, the Magic5 offers excellent value for its price.
❓ Do both phones have 5G connectivity?
Yes, both the Honor Magic5 and Magic5 Ultimate support 5G connectivity.
❓ What software do these phones run?
Both phones run on Honor's MagicOS, based on Android. The specific version may vary slightly depending on the region and update.