Honor Magic5 vs Honor Magic4 Pro: A Detailed Showdown

Honor continues to push boundaries with its flagship devices. The Magic5 and Magic4 Pro both offer premium features, but which one truly delivers the best experience? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and overall value to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic5 edges out the Magic4 Pro thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, offering noticeably improved performance and efficiency. While the Magic4 Pro boasts incredibly fast charging, the Magic5's overall package, including a refined design and better processor, makes it the winner.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor Magic5	Honor Magic4 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 - China	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
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, February 27	2022, February 28
Status	Available. Released 2023, March 31	Available. Released 2022, April 09

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back or eco leather back	Glass front, aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions	161.4 x 75.5 x 7.8 mm (6.35 x 2.97 x 0.31 in)	163.6 x 74.7 x 9.1 mm or 9.2 mm
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	191 g (6.74 oz)	209 g / 215 g (7.37 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Aluminosilicate glass
Resolution	1224 x 2688 pixels (~439 ppi density)	1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size	6.73 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~93.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (peak)	LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 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 (1x3.00 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	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
	UFS	-

Main Camera
Features	Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm	12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple	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	50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF 50 MP, f/2.2, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", AF 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 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	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 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, 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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	66W wired 5W reverse wired	100W wired, 100% in 30 min 100W wireless, 50% in 15 min Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
Type	Li-Po 5100 mAh	Li-Po 4600 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Glacier Blue, Green, Purple, Orange	Black, White, Cyan, Gold, Orange
Models	PGT-AN00, PGT-N09	LGE-NX9, LGE-N49B, LGE-N19B, LGE-AN10, GBD-NX9
Price	About 900 EUR	€ 469.41 / £ 397.48

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 82h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-23.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 980755 (v9) GeekBench: 3512 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic5

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
Improved Efficiency
Refined Design
Likely Improved Camera Processing

Slower Charging than Magic4 Pro
Potentially Higher Price

Honor Magic4 Pro

Blazing-Fast 100W Wired & Wireless Charging
Excellent Display (957 nits)
Strong Camera System
Good Value (potentially lower price)

Older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Chipset
Performance Lags Behind Magic5
Potential for Thermal Throttling

Display Comparison

Both phones feature stunning OLED displays with vibrant colors and excellent contrast. The Magic4 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 957 nits and an infinite contrast ratio, while the Magic5 is expected to have similar, if not slightly improved, brightness and color accuracy. The Magic4 Pro's display is arguably slightly more impressive on paper, but real-world differences are likely minimal.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent camera systems, but the Magic5 is expected to have refinements in image processing and low-light performance. The Magic4 Pro's camera is already highly regarded, offering detailed photos and impressive video capabilities. Specific camera specs are similar, but the newer image signal processor (ISP) in the Magic5 should provide an edge.

Performance

This is where the Magic5 shines. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a significant performance boost over the Magic4 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Expect smoother gaming, faster app loading times, and improved overall responsiveness on the Magic5. The Gen 2's efficiency also contributes to better battery life.

Battery Life

The Magic4 Pro initially impressed with its endurance rating of 82h. The Magic5, with its more efficient chipset, is expected to maintain similar or slightly better battery life despite potentially having a similar capacity battery. The Magic4 Pro's 100W wired and wireless charging is a major advantage, allowing for incredibly fast top-ups, while the Magic5 offers 66W wired charging and 5W reverse wired charging.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic5 is ideal for users prioritizing performance, smooth multitasking, and future-proofing. The Magic4 Pro is a great choice for those who value blazing-fast charging speeds and a vibrant display, and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers substantial improvements in performance, efficiency, and graphics capabilities compared to the 8 Gen 1. It's a noticeable upgrade for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.

❓ Which phone has better battery life overall?

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Magic4 Pro initially rated at 82h. The Magic5's more efficient chipset should maintain similar or slightly better endurance, but the Magic4 Pro's charging speed is significantly faster.