Meizu 18 Pro vs Honor Magic5: A Deep Dive into Performance and Charging

The Meizu 18 Pro, representing a refined compact flagship experience, now faces off against the newer Honor Magic5, boasting the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This comparison isn't just about specs; it's about understanding how the generational leap in silicon impacts real-world performance, battery life, and charging convenience, especially as the Meizu 18 Pro sees price reductions.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Honor Magic5 emerges as the superior choice. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s efficiency and raw power, coupled with its 66W wired charging, provide a noticeable advantage over the Meizu 18 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 and 40W charging. However, the Meizu 18 Pro remains a compelling option for those prioritizing a smaller form factor.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 18 Pro Honor Magic5
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, March 03. Released 2021, March 082023, February 27
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, March 31
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back or eco leather back
Dimensions162.5 x 73 x 8.1 mm (6.40 x 2.87 x 0.32 in)161.4 x 75.5 x 7.8 mm (6.35 x 2.97 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)191 g (6.74 oz)
 Waterproof-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6-
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density)1224 x 2688 pixels (~439 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 420 nits (typ), 1300 nits (peak)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 740
OSAndroid 11, Flyme 9Android 13, MagicOS 7.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP f/2.4, 79mm (telephoto), 1/4.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom 32 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 130˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.4, (depth)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
Video8K, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single44 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/2.65”, 0.7µm12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@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, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 40% in 15 min, 100% in 50 min 40W wireless 10W reverse wireless66W wired 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5100 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlue, White, GrayBlack, Glacier Blue, Green, Purple, Orange
Models-PGT-AN00, PGT-N09
PriceAbout 640 EURAbout 900 EUR

Meizu 18 Pro

  • Compact and ergonomic design
  • 40W Wireless Charging
  • More affordable price point (likely)

  • Older Snapdragon 888 chipset
  • Slower charging speeds (wired)
  • Potentially lower peak performance

Honor Magic5

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Faster 66W wired charging
  • Improved power efficiency and performance

  • Larger form factor
  • Potentially higher price
  • Limited reverse charging options

Display Comparison

While both phones likely feature high-quality OLED panels (data not provided), the core difference lies in the underlying processors impacting display responsiveness. The Honor Magic5 benefits from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s improved ISP, potentially leading to more accurate color reproduction and faster processing of HDR content. The Meizu 18 Pro, while capable, will exhibit slightly slower image processing. Bezels are likely comparable given both brands' focus on premium aesthetics, but the Magic5’s larger size allows for a potentially more immersive experience.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs, we can infer advantages for the Honor Magic5 based on the improved image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This ISP enables faster image processing, better noise reduction, and improved dynamic range. While the Meizu 18 Pro likely has a capable camera system, the Magic5’s processor will provide a computational photography edge. The absence of detailed sensor information prevents a definitive statement on image quality, but the Magic5’s processor is a key advantage.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Honor Magic5 represents a significant architectural upgrade over the Meizu 18 Pro’s Snapdragon 888. The 4nm process node of the Gen 2 delivers superior power efficiency, translating to less thermal throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core, clocked at 3.2 GHz, outperforms the 888’s Cortex-X1 (2.84 GHz). Furthermore, the newer Cortex-A715 and A710 cores in the Magic5 are more efficient than the 888’s A78 and A55, contributing to better multi-core performance and battery life. The Honor Magic5 will demonstrably outperform the Meizu 18 Pro in CPU and GPU-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic5’s 66W wired charging is a clear advantage over the Meizu 18 Pro’s 40W charging. This translates to significantly faster top-up times – a full charge in approximately 50 minutes for the Meizu 18 Pro versus a potentially quicker time for the Magic5. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s efficiency means the Magic5 will likely achieve comparable or better battery life despite potentially having a similar or smaller battery size. The Meizu 18 Pro offers 40W wireless and 10W reverse wireless, while the Magic5 offers 5W reverse wired, making the Meizu more versatile for wireless charging scenarios.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 18 Pro if you prioritize a genuinely compact flagship experience and appreciate a more understated design. It’s ideal for users who find modern phones too large and don’t demand the absolute peak performance. Buy the Honor Magic5 if you prioritize raw performance, faster charging, and a more modern feature set. This phone is geared towards power users, gamers, and those who want the latest technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Meizu 18 Pro throttle under sustained gaming loads?
Yes, the Snapdragon 888 is known to throttle under prolonged heavy use due to its 5nm process and thermal limitations. While Meizu likely implemented cooling solutions, the Honor Magic5’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will maintain higher sustained performance during extended gaming sessions.
❓ How does the 66W charging on the Honor Magic5 compare to real-world charging times?
66W charging on the Honor Magic5 should deliver a full charge in approximately 45-60 minutes, depending on the battery capacity. This is significantly faster than the Meizu 18 Pro’s 40W charging, which typically takes around 50 minutes to reach 100%.
❓ Is the difference in CPU performance between the Snapdragon 888 and 8 Gen 2 noticeable in everyday tasks?
While both chips are powerful, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers a noticeable improvement in responsiveness and smoothness, especially when multitasking or running demanding applications. The difference is most apparent in CPU-intensive tasks like video editing or complex calculations.
❓ Does the Honor Magic5 support global LTE bands, and is it readily available outside of China?
Honor has significantly improved its global availability. The Magic5 generally supports a wide range of LTE bands, but it's crucial to verify compatibility with your carrier before purchasing. Availability varies by region, but it's becoming increasingly accessible through online retailers and official Honor channels.