Honor Magic5 Pro vs Huawei nova 11 Pro: A Detailed Comparison

The Honor Magic5 Pro and Huawei nova 11 Pro represent distinct approaches to the premium smartphone market. The Magic5 Pro aims for uncompromising flagship performance, while the nova 11 Pro prioritizes a stylish design and rapid charging at a potentially more accessible price point. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Honor Magic5 Pro is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers significantly faster performance and better efficiency, complemented by a brighter, higher-quality display and longer battery life. While the nova 11 Pro offers impressive 100W charging, it can't match the Magic5 Pro's overall capabilities.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei nova 11 Pro 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, 38, 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
 CDMA2000 1x CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2023, April 172023, February 27
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 27Available. Released 2023, March 31
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather backGlass front, glass back or eco leather back
Dimensions164.3 x 74.4 x 7.9 mm (6.47 x 2.93 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)
Weight188 g or 193 g (6.63 oz)219 g (7.72 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionKunlun Glass-
Resolution1200 x 2652 pixels (~429 ppi density)1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~91.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120HzLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 740
OSHarmonyOS 3.0Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
Dual50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF-
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-50 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, 1080p, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
Dual8 MP, f/2.2, 52mm (telephoto), AF, 2x optical zoom 60 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 100˚ (ultrawide), AF-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@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, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/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, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging100W wired, 50% in 15 min Reverse wired66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5100 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh (China only)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, White, GoldBlack, Meadow Green, Blue, Purple, Orange
ModelsGOA-AL80, GOA-LX9PGT-AN10, PGT-N19
PriceAbout 500 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 nova 11 Pro

  • Extremely fast 100W wired charging
  • Stylish and eye-catching design
  • Competitive price point (likely)

  • Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset is less powerful
  • Lower display brightness
  • Shorter battery life

Honor Magic5 Pro

  • Flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • Significantly brighter and higher-quality display
  • Longer battery life and versatile charging options
  • 5G connectivity

  • Higher price tag
  • Charging speed is slower than nova 11 Pro (wired)

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic5 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1227 nits compared to the nova 11 Pro’s 702 nits. This translates to vastly improved visibility in direct sunlight. While both are capable displays, the Magic5 Pro’s higher peak brightness and likely higher quality panel (though panel type isn't specified) provide a more immersive viewing experience. The Magic5 Pro also benefits from an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The nova 11 Pro’s display, while adequate, is clearly outmatched in terms of raw visual performance.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable photo and video capabilities, but details beyond that are limited. Without specific sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the Magic5 Pro’s flagship positioning suggests a more advanced camera system overall. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s image signal processor (ISP) is also more powerful, enabling better image processing and low-light performance. The absence of detailed camera specs on both devices makes a precise comparison challenging, but the Magic5 Pro likely holds an advantage due to its higher-end chipset and presumed superior sensor technology.

Performance

The performance gap between these two devices is substantial. The Honor Magic5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a generational leap ahead of the Huawei nova 11 Pro’s Snapdragon 778G 4G (6nm). The 8 Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core, coupled with its more efficient 4nm process, delivers significantly faster CPU and GPU performance. This difference is particularly noticeable in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The 778G is a capable mid-range chip, but it will struggle to keep pace with the Magic5 Pro in resource-intensive scenarios. Furthermore, the 4nm process of the 8 Gen 2 contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads. The 4G limitation on the nova 11 Pro is also a significant drawback for users requiring fast mobile data speeds.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic5 Pro demonstrates superior battery endurance. Its active use score of 12:06h and endurance rating of 115h significantly outperform the nova 11 Pro’s 89h endurance rating. While the nova 11 Pro’s 100W wired charging is incredibly fast (50% in 15 minutes), the Magic5 Pro’s 66W wired charging, combined with its 50W wireless and 5W reverse wireless charging, offers greater versatility. The larger battery capacity (implied by the longer endurance) in the Magic5 Pro, coupled with the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, results in a longer-lasting and more convenient user experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei nova 11 Pro if you prioritize aesthetics and extremely fast charging above all else, and are comfortable with the limitations of the Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset. Buy the Honor Magic5 Pro if you demand top-tier performance for gaming and demanding applications, require a superior display experience, and value extended battery life with versatile charging options.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 778G 4G in the nova 11 Pro limit its usefulness for travel, where 5G is readily available?
Yes, the 4G limitation is a significant drawback for frequent travelers or users in areas with strong 5G coverage. You'll experience considerably slower download and upload speeds compared to a 5G-enabled device like the Honor Magic5 Pro.
❓ How much faster is the 100W charging on the nova 11 Pro compared to the 66W charging on the Magic5 Pro in a real-world scenario?
While 100W is faster on paper, the difference in practical terms isn't massive. The nova 11 Pro can reach 50% charge in 15 minutes, while the Magic5 Pro will take slightly longer. Both offer very rapid charging, but the Magic5 Pro's wireless charging capabilities add convenience.
❓ Is the camera on the Honor Magic5 Pro capable of recording 8K video?
While not explicitly stated in the provided data, flagship phones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset typically support 8K video recording. It's highly probable the Magic5 Pro offers this feature, providing greater flexibility for video creators.
❓ Will the Snapdragon 778G in the nova 11 Pro struggle with graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile?
The Snapdragon 778G can run these games, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. The Magic5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will provide a significantly better gaming experience with higher settings and more consistent performance.