Huawei Mate 50 vs Honor Magic5 Pro: The Ultimate Showdown

The Huawei Mate 50 and Honor Magic5 Pro represent the pinnacle of Chinese smartphone engineering. Both boast impressive specs and premium features, but cater to slightly different audiences. This detailed comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one deserves your money.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic5 Pro edges out the Mate 50 thanks to its superior Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, brighter display, and slightly better battery endurance. While the Mate 50 has its strengths, the Magic5 Pro offers a more well-rounded and future-proof experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 50 Honor Magic5 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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 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, 79 SA/NSA - China
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - ChinaCDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2022, September 062023, February 27
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 28Available. Released 2023, March 31
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back or eco leather back
Dimensions161.5 x 76.1 x 8 mm (6.36 x 3.00 x 0.31 in)162.9 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight202 g / 206 g (7.13 oz)219 g (7.72 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass-
Resolution1224 x 2700 pixels (~442 ppi density)1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~88.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 90HzLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 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 SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 740
OSEMUI 13 (International), HarmonyOS 3.0 (China)Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF50 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), 1/2.76", AF TOF 3D (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio 24-bit audio stereo recording
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 BDS Satellite Message (sending only)-
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4460 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5100 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh (China only)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Silver, Purple, OrangeBlack, Meadow Green, Blue, Purple, Orange
ModelsCET-AL00, CET-LX9PGT-AN10, PGT-N19
PriceAbout 720 EUR£ 799.99 / € 407.79
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 109h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- GeekBench: 4378 (v5.1), 5096 (v6)

Huawei Mate 50

  • Refined design and build quality
  • XMAGE image processing
  • Potentially unique camera features
  • Good performance

  • Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (slightly older chipset)
  • Limited software support outside of China
  • No 5G connectivity in some regions

Honor Magic5 Pro

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (superior performance)
  • Brighter and more vibrant display
  • Excellent battery life
  • Versatile camera system

  • Design might be less distinctive
  • Software experience can vary depending on region

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic5 Pro takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 1227 nits, significantly brighter than the Mate 50. While the Mate 50's display is excellent, the Magic5 Pro's infinite contrast ratio (nominal) and higher brightness offer a more immersive and visible experience, especially outdoors. Both utilize OLED technology with smooth refresh rates.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent camera systems. The Mate 50 is known for its XMAGE image processing and potentially unique color science. The Magic5 Pro boasts a versatile camera setup with strong photo and video capabilities. Detailed camera comparisons would require extensive testing, but both are capable of producing stunning images in various conditions. The Magic5 Pro's video recording capabilities are generally considered slightly superior.

Performance

The Honor Magic5 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Mate 50's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. The Gen 2 offers improved CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. Both phones handle everyday tasks with ease, but the Magic5 Pro is the clear winner for demanding users.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic5 Pro demonstrates superior battery life, achieving an active use score of 12:06h and an endurance rating of 109h. The Mate 50's battery life is respectable, but falls short of the Magic5 Pro's longevity. Both offer 66W wired and 50W wireless charging, ensuring relatively quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate 50 is ideal for users deeply invested in the Huawei ecosystem and prioritizing a refined design and potentially unique camera features. The Honor Magic5 Pro is a better choice for those seeking top-tier performance, a vibrant display, and excellent battery life, especially if they aren't tied to a specific brand.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Huawei Mate 50 support 5G?
The Huawei Mate 50 uses a 4G modem due to US trade restrictions, so 5G connectivity is limited in some regions. Check local availability.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Honor generally offers better global software support than Huawei, although both brands are improving. Huawei's software experience can be more limited outside of China.