Honor Magic5 Ultimate vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro+: The Ultimate Showdown

The Honor Magic5 Ultimate and Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ represent the pinnacle of mobile technology from their respective brands. Both boast impressive specs and premium features, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? This in-depth comparison will break down every aspect, from performance to photography, to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic5 Ultimate edges out the Mate 40 Pro+ thanks to its newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset offering superior performance and efficiency. While the Mate 40 Pro+ still holds its own with a fantastic camera, the Magic5 Ultimate's overall package is more compelling in 2024.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor Magic5 Ultimate	Huawei Mate 40 Pro+

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, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	-

Launch
Announced	2023, March 06	2020, October 22
Status	Available. Released 2023, March 20	Available. Released 2020, November 01

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)	162.9 x 75.5 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	217 g (7.65 oz)	230 g (8.11 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)	IP68 dust/water resistant

Display
Protection	Glass/ceramic coating	-
Resolution	1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)	1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)
Size	6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)	OLED, HDR10, 90Hz

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 (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)	Kirin 9000 5G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 740	Mali-G78 MP24
OS	Android 13, MagicOS 7.1	Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services

Memory
Card slot	No	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	512GB 16GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
	UFS 4.0	SFS 1.0

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	-	50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 20 MP, f/2.4, 14mm (ultrawide), PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Single	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@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	12 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)
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit audio stereo recording	32-bit/384kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.2, A2DP, LE
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+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
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	Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
	Ultra Wideband (UWB) support	-

Battery
Charging	66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired	66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless
Type	Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh	Li-Po 4400 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Orange	Ceramic White, Ceramic Black
Models	PGT-AN20	NOP-AN00
Price	About 900 EUR	About 1400 EUR

Honor Magic5 Ultimate

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
Vibrant Display
Fast Charging (66W Wired, 50W Wireless)
Reverse Wireless Charging
Modern Design

Software Support (Potential concerns compared to Huawei)
Price (Can be premium)

Huawei Mate 40 Pro+

Exceptional Camera System (Especially Zoom)
Refined User Experience
Premium Build Quality
Huawei Ecosystem Integration

Older Chipset (Kirin 9000)
Software Updates (Limited due to US sanctions)
Price (Can be premium)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature stunning OLED displays with high refresh rates. The Magic5 Ultimate likely has slightly better color accuracy and brightness due to newer panel technology. The Mate 40 Pro+’s display is still excellent, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling.

Camera Comparison

The Mate 40 Pro+ is renowned for its exceptional camera system, particularly its periscope telephoto lens. While the Magic5 Ultimate boasts a strong camera setup, the Mate 40 Pro+'s image processing and zoom capabilities are arguably superior. Both offer excellent image quality in various conditions.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Magic5 Ultimate provides a significant performance advantage over the Kirin 9000. Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Honor device. The Mate 40 Pro+ remains capable, but the difference is noticeable.

Battery Life

Both phones offer similar battery capacities and charging speeds. The Magic5 Ultimate's more efficient chipset may translate to slightly better real-world battery life, but both should comfortably last a full day.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic5 Ultimate is ideal for power users, gamers, and photography enthusiasts who prioritize raw performance and a vibrant display. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ is a great choice for those who value exceptional camera capabilities and a refined user experience, especially if they are already within the Huawei ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?

Honor generally offers better software support and updates compared to Huawei, which has faced challenges due to US sanctions. However, Huawei's ecosystem integration is a strength for existing users.

❓ Is the Mate 40 Pro+ still a good phone in 2024?

Yes, the Mate 40 Pro+ remains a capable flagship with an excellent camera. However, its older chipset and limited software updates mean it's not as future-proof as the Magic5 Ultimate.