Meizu 18 Pro vs Honor Magic5 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Android Phones

The Meizu 18 Pro, representing a refined compact flagship experience, now faces off against the newer Honor Magic5 Pro, a device prioritizing battery life and cutting-edge performance. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two Android contenders, focusing on how their underlying hardware translates into real-world usability.
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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 better performance and efficiency than the Meizu 18 Pro’s Snapdragon 888, coupled with a brighter display and longer battery life. While the Meizu 18 Pro offers a more compact form factor, the Magic5 Pro’s advantages outweigh this benefit for the majority of buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 18 Pro Honor Magic5 Pro
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, 79 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)162.9 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)219 g (7.72 oz)
 WaterproofIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6-
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density)1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 107.6 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 420 nits (typ), 1300 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 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, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
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)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)
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 TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
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 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 40% in 15 min, 100% in 50 min 40W wireless 10W reverse wireless66W 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
ColorsBlue, White, GrayBlack, Meadow Green, Blue, Purple, Orange
Models-PGT-AN10, PGT-N19
PriceAbout 640 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)

Meizu 18 Pro

  • Compact and ergonomic design
  • Potentially more affordable (depending on current pricing)
  • Clean software experience (typical of Meizu)

  • Older Snapdragon 888 chipset
  • Less efficient battery performance
  • Lower peak display brightness

Honor Magic5 Pro

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Exceptional battery life and fast charging
  • Brighter and more vibrant display

  • Larger form factor
  • Potentially higher price point
  • Honor's software can be divisive

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic5 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1227 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the Meizu 18 Pro. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely utilize OLED technology, the Magic5 Pro’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a more advanced panel. The Meizu 18 Pro’s display characteristics (PWM dimming rate, color accuracy) are unknown, but the Magic5 Pro’s brightness advantage is a clear win for outdoor use and HDR content consumption.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are advertised as having strong camera systems, but detailed sensor information is lacking for the Meizu 18 Pro. The Honor Magic5 Pro’s camera system is likely to benefit from the improved ISP within the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, enabling faster image processing and better low-light performance. Without specific details on the Meizu 18 Pro’s sensor sizes and lens apertures, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the Magic5 Pro’s modern chipset gives it a distinct advantage in computational photography.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor Magic5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) represents a substantial leap over the Meizu 18 Pro’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm). The Gen 2’s new Cortex-X3 prime core, clocked at 3.2 GHz, and revised Cortex-A715/A710 performance cores deliver faster processing speeds and improved efficiency. The 4nm process node further enhances thermal management, reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While both phones likely feature LPDDR5 RAM, the Gen 2’s architecture will provide a smoother multitasking experience and better gaming performance.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic5 Pro excels in battery life, achieving an active use score of 12:06h and an endurance rating of 115h. This is likely due to the efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The Meizu 18 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, but its Snapdragon 888 is known to be less power-efficient. The Magic5 Pro also offers faster wired charging at 66W compared to the Meizu 18 Pro’s 40W, and a competitive 50W wireless charging versus the Meizu’s 40W. The 5W reverse wired charging on the Magic5 Pro is a unique addition.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 18 Pro if you prioritize a truly compact flagship experience and appreciate a more understated design. It’s ideal for users who find larger phones unwieldy and don’t demand the absolute peak in processing power. Buy the Honor Magic5 Pro if you value long battery life, a brighter and more vibrant display, and the latest in processing technology. This phone is geared towards power users, mobile gamers, and those who heavily rely on their smartphone throughout the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888 in the Meizu 18 Pro throttle under sustained gaming loads?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate significant heat, and throttling is a common occurrence during extended gaming sessions. While Meizu likely implemented thermal management solutions, the Honor Magic5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, built on a more efficient 4nm process, will offer a more consistent gaming experience with less performance degradation.
❓ How does the 66W charging on the Honor Magic5 Pro compare to the 40W charging on the Meizu 18 Pro in real-world use?
The Honor Magic5 Pro’s 66W charging will significantly reduce charging times. Expect a much faster top-up, potentially reaching 100% in under 40 minutes, compared to the Meizu 18 Pro’s estimated 50 minutes for a full charge. This is a substantial benefit for users who frequently need to quickly replenish their battery.
❓ Is the larger size of the Honor Magic5 Pro a significant drawback for one-handed use?
The Honor Magic5 Pro is undeniably a larger phone. Users with smaller hands may find it challenging to comfortably operate with one hand. The Meizu 18 Pro’s compact design is a key advantage for those prioritizing ergonomics and ease of one-handed use.