Honor Magic5 Ultimate vs. ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra: The Ultimate Showdown

The flagship smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders are vying for the top spot: the Honor Magic5 Ultimate and the ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra. Both pack the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but which phone delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The nubia Z50 Ultra edges out the Magic5 Ultimate thanks to its faster 80W wired charging and potentially superior camera system (though both are excellent). However, the Magic5 Ultimate boasts reverse wireless charging and a slightly more refined design, making it a close contest. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor Magic5 Ultimate	ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 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	LTE
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	CDMA2000 1x

Launch
Announced	2023, March 06	2023, March 07
Status	Available. Released 2023, March 20	Available. Released 2023, March 14

Body
Build	Glass front, eco leather back	-
Dimensions	162.9 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)	163.9 x 76.3 x 8.3 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	217 g (7.65 oz)	228 g (8.04 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)	-

Display
Protection	Glass/ceramic coating	-
Resolution	1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)	1116 x 2480 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)	6.8 inches, 111.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1500 nits (peak)

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 (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 740	Adreno 740
OS	Android 13, MagicOS 7.1	Android 13, MyOS 13

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	512GB 16GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
	UFS 4.0	UFS 4.0

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, Ring-LED, dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
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)	64 MP, f/1.6, 35mm (standard), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.3, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", PDAF, OIS, 3.3x optical zoom (vs. 26mm cam) 50 MP, f/2.X, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), PDAF
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 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)	16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.22µm, under display
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps	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/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.3, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless
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+L2+L5), GALILEO, BDS
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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	Ultra Wideband (UWB) support	-

Battery
Charging	66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired	80W wired, PD3.0, QC4
Type	Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Orange	Black, Silver, Starry Sky
Models	PGT-AN20	NX712J
Price	About 900 EUR	About 540 EUR

Honor Magic5 Ultimate

Excellent camera system
Reverse wireless charging
Premium design and build quality
Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

Slower wired charging (66W)
Software experience can vary by region
Potentially higher price

ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra

Faster wired charging (80W)
Potentially superior camera performance
Aggressive design
Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

Software support can be a concern (ZTE)
Design may be polarizing
Less established brand recognition

Display Comparison

Both phones feature stunning AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (likely 120Hz). The nubia Z50 Ultra is rumored to have a slightly larger display (6.8-inch vs. 6.67-inch on the Magic5 Ultimate) and potentially higher peak brightness. Color accuracy and viewing angles should be excellent on both.

Camera Comparison

The Magic5 Ultimate is known for its impressive camera system, including a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 12MP telephoto. The nubia Z50 Ultra is rumored to feature a 64MP main sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 12MP telephoto. Image processing and software features will be crucial in determining the better camera.

Performance

Identical Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipsets and CPU configurations mean performance will be virtually indistinguishable in everyday use and demanding games. Thermal management will be a key differentiator in sustained performance.

Battery Life

Both phones likely have a similar battery capacity (around 5000mAh). The nubia Z50 Ultra's 80W wired charging significantly outperforms the Magic5 Ultimate's 66W wired charging. Wireless charging is also faster on the nubia Z50 Ultra (50W vs 5W reverse wired on the Magic5 Ultimate).

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic5 Ultimate is ideal for users who prioritize reverse wireless charging, a potentially more polished software experience (depending on region), and a slightly more premium feel. The ZTE nubia Z50 Ultra is a better choice for those who value faster charging speeds and potentially a more aggressive camera approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?

Honor generally offers more consistent software updates and support compared to ZTE, although this can vary by region. ZTE's software support has been a historical concern.

❓ Is the nubia Z50 Ultra worth buying if I'm concerned about software updates?

Consider the potential trade-off. The Z50 Ultra offers compelling hardware, but be aware of the potential for less frequent or timely software updates compared to the Magic5 Ultimate.