Sony Xperia Pro vs Honor Magic5 Pro: A Generational Leap in Android Flagships

The Sony Xperia Pro, released with a focus on professional content creators, features the older Snapdragon 865. The Honor Magic5 Pro, a more recent release, boasts the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This comparison dissects whether the newer chipset and features of the Magic5 Pro justify its position as the superior flagship, or if the Xperia Pro’s unique features still hold value.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Honor Magic5 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers significantly faster performance and improved efficiency, coupled with faster charging and a brighter display. While the Xperia Pro offers a unique form factor and connectivity, the Magic5 Pro provides a more modern and powerful experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 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, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
5G bands2, 5, 66, 260, 261 Sub6, mmWave1, 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
Announced2020, February 24. Released 2021, January 272023, February 27
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, March 31
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back, plastic frameGlass front, glass back or eco leather back
Dimensions170.2 x 76.2 x 10.2 mm (6.70 x 3.00 x 0.40 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)
Weight225.1 g (7.94 oz)219 g (7.72 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6-
Resolution1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density)1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~76.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, HDR BT.2020LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)
 Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 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 SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 740
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.XUFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single-12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (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)
Video4K@24/25/30/60fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit audio stereo recording
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, micro HDMIUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Native Sony Alpha camera support-
Battery
Charging21W wired, PD66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5100 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh (China only)
Misc
ColorsBlackBlack, Meadow Green, Blue, Purple, Orange
Models-PGT-AN10, PGT-N19
PriceAbout 2000 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)

Sony Xperia Pro

  • Dedicated HDMI input for professional workflows
  • Robust build quality
  • Unique form factor

  • Outdated Snapdragon 865 chipset
  • Slow 21W charging
  • Likely inferior battery life

Honor Magic5 Pro

  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Fast 66W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • Bright and efficient display

  • May lack niche professional features
  • Larger size may not appeal to all users
  • Software experience may differ from Sony's

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic5 Pro’s display dominates with a measured peak brightness of 1227 nits, significantly outshining any expected output from the Xperia Pro’s panel (spec not provided, but likely lower). The Magic5 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests an OLED panel, offering perfect blacks, while the Xperia Pro’s display technology is unspecified. The Magic5 Pro likely benefits from LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, conserving battery life, a feature absent in the older Xperia Pro.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing for the Xperia Pro. The Honor Magic5 Pro’s camera system is expected to benefit from the improved ISP within the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, enabling faster image processing and enhanced low-light performance. Without specific sensor details for the Xperia Pro, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the Magic5 Pro’s newer chipset and likely more advanced image processing algorithms give it a clear advantage.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Honor Magic5 Pro, fabricated on a 4nm process, represents a substantial leap over the 7nm+ Snapdragon 865 in the Xperia Pro. The Magic5 Pro’s CPU configuration – 1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, and 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 – offers significantly improved single-core and multi-core performance compared to the Xperia Pro’s 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. The 4nm node also provides better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic5 Pro excels in battery performance, achieving an active use score of 12:06h and an endurance rating of 109h. This is bolstered by the efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The Xperia Pro’s battery capacity and endurance are not provided, but its older chipset and 21W charging are likely to result in significantly shorter battery life and slower charging times. The Magic5 Pro’s 66W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and even 5W reverse wired charging provide unparalleled convenience and speed.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sony Xperia Pro if you absolutely require dedicated HDMI input for external monitoring and a robust, professional workflow integration. Its niche features cater to a specific audience. Buy the Honor Magic5 Pro if you prioritize overall performance, battery life, fast charging (66W wired, 50W wireless), and a stunning display – it’s the better all-rounder for everyday use and demanding tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 865 in the Xperia Pro struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Snapdragon 865, while capable, will likely exhibit more noticeable frame drops and throttling in graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Magic5 Pro. The newer chipset’s improved thermal efficiency and GPU architecture provide a smoother gaming experience.
❓ How much faster is the 66W charging on the Honor Magic5 Pro compared to the Xperia Pro’s 21W charging?
The 66W charging on the Magic5 Pro will significantly reduce charging times. Expect a full charge in approximately 30-40 minutes, whereas the Xperia Pro’s 21W charging will likely take well over an hour, potentially closer to two hours, to reach 100%.
❓ Is the HDMI input on the Xperia Pro still relevant in 2024?
The HDMI input remains a niche but valuable feature for professionals who require direct connection to external monitors for live streaming, video editing, or other content creation tasks. However, wireless solutions are becoming increasingly viable, diminishing its necessity for some users.
❓ Does the Honor Magic5 Pro support 8K video recording?
While not explicitly stated in the provided data, flagship phones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 typically support 8K video recording. Further investigation of the Magic5 Pro's full specifications would be needed to confirm this feature.