Honor Magic5 vs. vivo X90 Pro+: A Deep Dive into Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Flagships

The Honor Magic5 and vivo X90 Pro+ represent the pinnacle of Android flagship design, both powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. However, these devices aren’t simply carbon copies. The X90 Pro+ distinguishes itself with significantly faster charging capabilities, including wireless, while the Magic5 focuses on a more balanced approach. This comparison dissects the nuances to determine which phone best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing the fastest possible charging and wireless convenience, the vivo X90 Pro+ is the clear winner. Its 80W wired and 50W wireless charging significantly outperform the Honor Magic5’s 66W wired and 5W reverse wired. However, the Magic5 remains a compelling option for those seeking a refined experience without the premium price tag.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor Magic5	vivo X90 Pro+

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
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, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE-A, 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, November 22
Status	Available. Released 2023, March 31	Available. Released 2022, December 06

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back or eco leather back	Glass front, aluminum frame, eco leather back
Dimensions	161.4 x 75.5 x 7.8 mm (6.35 x 2.97 x 0.31 in)	164.4 x 75.3 x 9.7 mm (6.47 x 2.96 x 0.38 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight	191 g (6.74 oz)	221 g (7.80 oz)
	-	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)

Display
Resolution	1224 x 2688 pixels (~439 ppi density)	1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~517 ppi density)
Size	6.73 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~90.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (peak)	LTPO4 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1800 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, Funtouch (Global), Origin OS 3 (China)

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

Main Camera
Features	Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama	Zeiss 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
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm	32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
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	-
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video	8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, 14-bit RAW video

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm	32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps	1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	-
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit audio stereo recording	32-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.3, 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, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.2, 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), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum

Battery
Charging	66W wired 5W reverse wired	80W wired, 100% in 33 min (advertised) 50W wireless Reverse wired
Type	Li-Po 5100 mAh	Li-Po 4700 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, Glacier Blue, Green, Purple, Orange	Black, Red
Models	PGT-AN00, PGT-N09	V2227A
Price	About 900 EUR	About 1030 EUR

Honor Magic5

Potentially more affordable price point
Balanced feature set
Efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance

Slower charging speeds (66W wired)
No wireless charging
Limited reverse charging capability

vivo X90 Pro+

Significantly faster 80W wired charging
50W wireless charging support
Potentially superior camera system

Likely higher price tag
Faster charging may impact long-term battery health (though mitigated by smart charging algorithms)
Potential for more heat generation during fast charging

Display Comparison

While both devices likely feature high-quality AMOLED displays, specific details like peak brightness and refresh rate aren't provided. However, given the flagship positioning, both will likely deliver vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The absence of LTPO information suggests both may not dynamically adjust refresh rates to the same extent as some competitors, potentially impacting battery life during static content viewing. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both, reflecting current design trends.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specifications are missing, but the X90 Pro+’s positioning suggests a more advanced camera system. While both will likely feature excellent image quality, the X90 Pro+’s ‘Pro+’ designation hints at a larger main sensor and potentially more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The absence of information regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is notable; its presence is crucial for sharp, stable photos and videos, especially in low light. We can assume both will offer a versatile camera experience, but the X90 Pro+ likely has an edge in overall image quality and features.

Performance

Both the Honor Magic5 and vivo X90 Pro+ utilize the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm). The CPU configuration is identical – 1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, and 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510. This means raw processing power will be nearly indistinguishable. Performance differences will likely stem from thermal management and RAM optimization. The 4nm process node ensures excellent power efficiency, minimizing throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The type and speed of RAM (likely LPDDR5x) will also play a role, but this information is currently unavailable.

Battery Life

The vivo X90 Pro+’s 80W wired charging, capable of a full charge in 33 minutes (advertised), is a significant advantage over the Honor Magic5’s 66W charging. This translates to considerably less downtime. Furthermore, the X90 Pro+ adds 50W wireless charging, a feature absent on the Magic5. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging speeds of the X90 Pro+ mitigate the impact of a potentially smaller battery. The Magic5’s 5W reverse wired charging is a niche feature, useful for topping up accessories but not a primary charging solution.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic5 if you need a well-rounded flagship experience with a focus on software optimization and a more conservative approach to charging. It’s ideal for users who don’t mind slightly slower charging in exchange for potentially better long-term battery health. Buy the vivo X90 Pro+ if you prioritize speed above all else – specifically, the ability to rapidly replenish your battery both wired and wirelessly. This phone is for power users and those who frequently find themselves needing a quick charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in either phone exhibit significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s 4nm process is designed to minimize throttling. However, sustained high performance will inevitably generate heat. The effectiveness of each phone’s cooling system (vapor chamber, graphite sheets, etc.) – which isn’t specified – will determine how well it manages heat and maintains peak performance over extended periods. Expect some performance dip, but it should be manageable.

❓ Is the 5W reverse wired charging on the Honor Magic5 useful for more than just emergencies?

The 5W reverse wired charging is primarily a convenience feature. It’s sufficient for slowly topping up accessories like wireless earbuds or a smartwatch, but it’s not a practical solution for quickly charging another phone. Consider it a ‘nice-to-have’ rather than a core feature.

❓ How does the charging speed of the vivo X90 Pro+ affect long-term battery health?

While 80W charging is incredibly fast, modern smartphones employ smart charging algorithms that reduce charging speed as the battery nears full capacity. This helps mitigate potential degradation. However, consistently using extremely fast charging *may* contribute to slightly faster battery wear over several years compared to slower charging methods.