Honor Magic5 Ultimate vs. vivo X90 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

Both the Honor Magic5 Ultimate and the vivo X90 Pro+ represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone engineering, powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. However, these devices diverge significantly in their approach to camera technology and charging capabilities, creating a compelling choice for discerning users. This comparison will dissect these differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the vivo X90 Pro+ emerges as the slightly stronger choice. Its 80W wired charging significantly reduces downtime compared to the Honor Magic5 Ultimate’s 66W, and while both share the same core processor, the X90 Pro+’s camera system offers a more refined and versatile experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic5 Ultimate vivo X90 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
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, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2023, March 062022, November 22
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, March 20Available. Released 2022, December 06
Body
BuildGlass front, eco leather backGlass front, aluminum frame, eco leather back
Dimensions162.9 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)164.4 x 75.3 x 9.7 mm (6.47 x 2.96 x 0.38 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight217 g (7.65 oz)221 g (7.80 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)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)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~517 ppi density)
Size6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1800 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, Funtouch (Global), Origin OS 3 (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 4.0UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Pixel Shift, dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-50.3 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, Laser AF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.6, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.4", 0.7µm, AF, 2x optical zoom, OIS 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, AF
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
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)-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, 14-bit RAW video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNo-
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit audio stereo recording32-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) support-
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired80W wired, 100% in 33 min (advertised) 50W wireless Reverse wired
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 5450 mAhLi-Po 4700 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, OrangeBlack, Red
ModelsPGT-AN20V2227A
PriceAbout 900 EURAbout 1030 EUR

Honor Magic5 Ultimate

  • 50W Wireless Charging offers convenience.
  • 5W Reverse Wired Charging for accessories.
  • Potentially better long-term software support (Honor ecosystem).

  • Slower 66W wired charging compared to the vivo.
  • Camera system likely less advanced than the X90 Pro+.

vivo X90 Pro+

  • 80W Wired Charging for significantly faster top-ups.
  • Likely superior camera performance due to larger sensor.
  • Aggressive cooling potentially reduces thermal throttling.

  • Software update schedule may be less consistent.
  • No reverse wired charging.

Display Comparison

While both devices likely feature high-quality OLED panels, specific details like peak brightness and color calibration are missing. However, given vivo’s history with display technology, the X90 Pro+ may offer a slightly more vibrant and color-accurate experience. Both will benefit from the efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, minimizing power draw and maximizing display-on time. The absence of refresh rate data prevents a definitive comparison in smoothness.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs are unavailable, but both phones are expected to feature advanced camera systems. The vivo X90 Pro+ is known for its 1-inch sensor, which captures significantly more light than traditional smartphone sensors, resulting in superior low-light performance and dynamic range. While the Honor Magic5 Ultimate likely boasts a high-resolution sensor, the larger sensor size of the X90 Pro+ provides a fundamental advantage. The absence of aperture data makes it difficult to assess depth-of-field capabilities, but both are expected to offer excellent image stabilization.

Performance

Both the Honor Magic5 Ultimate and the vivo X90 Pro+ utilize the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm), featuring the same Octa-core CPU configuration (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510). This means raw processing power will be nearly identical. The key differentiator will be thermal management and sustained performance. While both benefit from the 4nm process node’s improved efficiency, vivo’s cooling solutions are often more aggressive, potentially leading to less throttling during extended gaming sessions. RAM specifications are missing, but both are expected to utilize LPDDR5x for fast memory access.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic5 Ultimate offers 66W wired charging, while the vivo X90 Pro+ boasts a faster 80W wired charging solution, advertised to reach 100% in 33 minutes. This difference in charging speed is significant for users who prioritize minimizing downtime. Both devices support 50W wireless charging, providing a convenient alternative. The Honor Magic5 Ultimate also includes 5W reverse wired charging, a niche feature for topping up accessories. Battery capacity is not specified, but the faster charging of the X90 Pro+ effectively mitigates any potential disadvantage from a slightly smaller battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic5 Ultimate if you prioritize a more balanced feature set and potentially better long-term software support within the Honor ecosystem. Its 50W wireless charging and reverse wired charging offer added convenience. Buy the vivo X90 Pro+ if you are a photography enthusiast who values rapid charging and a consistently excellent camera experience, even if it means potentially navigating a less established software update schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in either phone exhibit significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a highly efficient chip, sustained peak performance can lead to throttling. Vivo typically implements more aggressive cooling solutions, potentially giving the X90 Pro+ a slight edge in maintaining consistent frame rates during extended gaming compared to the Honor Magic5 Ultimate.
❓ How does the charging speed difference (66W vs 80W) translate to real-world usage?
The 80W charging on the vivo X90 Pro+ can realistically shave off 10-15 minutes from a full charge compared to the Honor Magic5 Ultimate’s 66W. This is particularly beneficial for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery throughout the day.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specifications a major concern when comparing these two devices?
Yes, it is. However, the vivo X90 Pro+ is widely recognized for its exceptional camera system, particularly its 1-inch sensor. This sensor size is a significant advantage, suggesting superior low-light performance and dynamic range even without precise megapixel counts or aperture details.