Honor Magic5 vs. Xiaomi 13 Pro: Which Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Flagship Reigns Supreme?

Both the Honor Magic5 and Xiaomi 13 Pro represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology, powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. However, they diverge in key areas like charging technology and battery optimization, creating a clear distinction for potential buyers. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing convenience and rapid replenishment, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is the clear winner. Its 120W wired charging, coupled with respectable battery endurance, significantly reduces downtime. While the Honor Magic5 offers a solid experience, it can't match the Xiaomi's charging prowess.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic5 Xiaomi 13 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
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, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2023, February 272022, December 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, March 31Available. Released 2022, December 14
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back or silicone polymer back, aluminum frame
Dimensions161.4 x 75.5 x 7.8 mm (6.35 x 2.97 x 0.31 in)162.9 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm or 8.7 mm
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight191 g (6.74 oz)210 g or 229 g (7.41 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1224 x 2688 pixels (~439 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.73 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1900 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, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.1 - 128GB UFS 4.0 - 256/512GB
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm-
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", AF50.3 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm - ∞), 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/120/240/960fps, 1080p@1920fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit audio stereo recording24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min 50W wireless, 100% in 36 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5100 mAhLi-Po 4820 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Glacier Blue, Green, Purple, OrangeCeramic White, Ceramic Black, Ceramic Flora Green, Mountain Blue
ModelsPGT-AN00, PGT-N092210132G, 2210132C
PriceAbout 900 EURAbout 750 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 115h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1281666 (v9) GeekBench: 5087 (v5.1), 5323 (v6) GFXBench: 64fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic5

  • Potentially more natural color science in photos
  • Balanced overall package
  • May prioritize long-term battery health with slower charging

  • Significantly slower charging speeds (66W)
  • Limited wireless charging options (5W reverse)
  • Camera system details are sparse

Xiaomi 13 Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W wired charging
  • Convenient 50W wireless charging
  • Brighter display for outdoor visibility

  • MIUI software can be polarizing
  • Image processing may be overly saturated for some users
  • Faster charging may contribute to slightly faster battery degradation over time

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1253 nits peak brightness compared to an unspecified value for the Honor Magic5. While both likely utilize high-quality OLED panels, the Xiaomi’s higher peak brightness translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. Both devices are expected to feature adaptive refresh rate technology (LTPO) for power efficiency, but the Xiaomi’s contrast ratio is explicitly stated as infinite (nominal), suggesting deeper blacks and a more vibrant image. Bezels are likely comparable, given both phones target the premium segment.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are advertised as having capable photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking. The Xiaomi 13 Pro’s camera system is likely to be more heavily marketed, given Xiaomi’s recent focus on camera technology. Without specific sensor sizes or aperture details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s image processing algorithms are known for their vibrant and sometimes oversaturated look, while Honor typically aims for more natural color reproduction. The absence of details on the Honor Magic5’s camera system suggests it may not be a primary differentiator.

Performance

Both the Honor Magic5 and Xiaomi 13 Pro are equipped with the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) chipset, featuring the same Octa-core CPU configuration (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 virtually identical. Performance differences will likely stem from thermal management and software optimization. The 4nm process node ensures excellent power efficiency, minimizing throttling during sustained workloads. RAM configurations are not specified, but both are expected to utilize LPDDR5x for fast memory access.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 13 Pro’s charging capabilities are a standout feature, offering 120W wired charging (0-100% in 19 minutes), 50W wireless charging (0-100% in 36 minutes), and 10W reverse wireless charging. The Honor Magic5, in contrast, is limited to 66W wired charging and 5W reverse wired charging. While the Xiaomi 13 Pro’s battery life is rated at 10:55h of active use and 115h endurance, the Honor Magic5’s battery capacity and endurance are not specified. The Xiaomi’s faster charging significantly mitigates any potential battery capacity disadvantage, making it more convenient for users who frequently need to top up their devices.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic5 if you prioritize a balanced package with a focus on software experience and potentially longer-term battery health due to slower charging. Buy the Xiaomi 13 Pro if you demand the fastest possible charging speeds, value wireless charging capabilities, and are comfortable with Xiaomi’s MIUI software.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Xiaomi 13 Pro's 120W charging generate excessive heat during use?
While 120W charging does produce some heat, the Xiaomi 13 Pro incorporates advanced thermal management systems to mitigate this. The charging process is intelligently controlled to balance speed and temperature, preventing damage to the battery. Users report only moderate warmth during charging, not uncomfortable heat.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specifications for the Honor Magic5 a cause for concern?
The limited camera information suggests that Honor isn't positioning the Magic5 as a camera-centric device. While it will likely offer a competent camera experience, it may not compete directly with the Xiaomi 13 Pro or other flagship phones known for their photographic prowess. Expect a balanced camera system rather than a groundbreaking one.
❓ How does MIUI on the Xiaomi 13 Pro compare to other Android skins?
MIUI is a heavily customized Android skin known for its extensive features and visual changes. It can be more resource-intensive than stock Android and includes pre-installed apps (bloatware). However, Xiaomi has been improving MIUI with each iteration, focusing on performance and user experience. It's a matter of personal preference; some users appreciate the customization options, while others prefer a cleaner Android experience.