Honor Magic5 vs Samsung Galaxy A54: The Ultimate Showdown

The smartphone market is overflowing with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting two strong contenders against each other: the Honor Magic5, known for its flagship performance, and the Samsung Galaxy A54, a popular mid-range champion. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone comes out on top.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic5 delivers significantly superior performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. However, the Galaxy A54 boasts a brighter display and potentially longer battery life in certain usage scenarios. Ultimately, the Magic5 is for power users, while the A54 is a great all-rounder.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic5 Samsung Galaxy A54
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2023, February 272023, March 15
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, March 31Available. Released 2023, March 24
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions161.4 x 75.5 x 7.8 mm (6.35 x 2.97 x 0.31 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight191 g (6.74 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1224 x 2688 pixels (~439 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.73 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
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 (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 13, MagicOS 7.1Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS-
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple54 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", AF50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
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 recording-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired25W wired
TypeLi-Po 5100 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Glacier Blue, Green, Purple, OrangeLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsPGT-AN00, PGT-N09SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
PriceAbout 900 EUR€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR-0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 119h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic5

  • Flagship Performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
  • Excellent Camera Quality
  • Fast Charging (66W)
  • Premium Build Quality

  • Potentially Shorter Battery Life
  • Higher Price Point
  • Software Support - Less Established than Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Bright and Vibrant Display
  • Excellent Battery Life
  • Samsung's Ecosystem Integration
  • Water and Dust Resistance (IP67)

  • Mid-Range Performance (Exynos 1380)
  • Slower Charging (25W)
  • Less Powerful Camera than Magic5

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A54 takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 980 nits, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Magic5 has a good display, it doesn't reach the same brightness levels. The A54's infinite contrast ratio (nominal) also contributes to a more immersive viewing experience. Both phones feature vibrant colors and smooth refresh rates.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems. The Magic5 generally produces more detailed images with better dynamic range, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Galaxy A54 excels in consistent color reproduction and user-friendly camera software. Video recording capabilities are comparable, with both offering stable footage.

Performance

Here, the Honor Magic5 absolutely dominates. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a flagship chipset, significantly outperforming the Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54. Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and significantly better gaming performance on the Magic5. The A54 is still capable for everyday tasks, but it won't handle demanding applications as well.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A54 demonstrates impressive battery endurance, with an active use score of 11:15h and an endurance rating of 119h. The Honor Magic5's battery life is respectable, but likely won't match the A54's longevity, especially with its more power-hungry chipset. Both phones support fast charging, though the Magic5's 66W charging is faster than the A54's 25W.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic5 is ideal for gamers, content creators, and anyone who demands top-tier performance. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is a fantastic choice for everyday users who prioritize a vibrant display, reliable battery life, and Samsung's ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Honor Magic5 is significantly better for gaming due to its powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.
❓ Does the Galaxy A54 have water resistance?
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy A54 has an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.
❓ How does the Magic5's software support compare to Samsung?
Samsung generally offers longer and more consistent software updates than Honor. However, Honor is improving in this area.