vivo V29 vs Honor Magic5 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Features and Performance

The vivo V29 and Honor Magic5 Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone market. The V29 aims to deliver a premium experience at a more accessible price point, while the Magic5 Pro throws everything but the kitchen sink at the competition. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you 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 provides significantly faster performance and better thermal management, complemented by a brighter display and longer battery life. However, the vivo V29 remains a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing a sleek design and fast charging.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo V29 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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 26, 28, 66, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2023, July 312023, February 27
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, SeptemberAvailable. Released 2023, March 31
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, plastic frameGlass front, glass back or eco leather back
Dimensions164.2 x 74.4 x 7.5 mm (6.46 x 2.93 x 0.30 in)162.9 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight186 g (6.56 oz)219 g (7.72 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Resolution1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 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 SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 740
OSAndroid 13, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 13Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesRing-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)
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Auxiliary lens50 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@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit audio stereo recording
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)GPS (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/ac, 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, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging80W wired, 50% in 17 min66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
Type4600 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5100 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh (China only)
Misc
ColorsSpace Black, Himalayan Blue, Purple Fairy, Majestic RedBlack, Meadow Green, Blue, Purple, Orange
ModelsV2250PGT-AN10, PGT-N19
PriceAbout 250 EUR£ 799.99 / € 407.79
SAR EU0.94 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)-
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)

vivo V29

  • 80W SuperVOOC Charging: Extremely fast charging speeds.
  • Sleek Design: Often features a stylish and eye-catching aesthetic.
  • Competitive Price: Offers a premium experience at a lower price point.

  • Snapdragon 778G Limitation: Performance lags behind flagship chipsets.
  • Lower Display Brightness: Less visible in direct sunlight.

Honor Magic5 Pro

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Power: Unmatched performance for gaming and demanding tasks.
  • Brighter Display: Excellent visibility in all lighting conditions.
  • Superior Battery Life: Lasts longer on a single charge.

  • Higher Price: Significantly more expensive than the vivo V29.
  • 66W Charging: Slower wired charging than the V29.

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic5 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 1227 nits compared to the vivo V29’s 996 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both devices feature excellent displays, the Magic5 Pro’s higher peak brightness and likely higher contrast ratio (indicated by 'Infinite (nominal)') provide a more immersive viewing experience. We expect the Magic5 Pro to also benefit from LTPO technology, enabling variable refresh rates for improved power efficiency, a feature not explicitly stated for the V29.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are equipped with capable camera systems, but details beyond 'Photo / Video' are limited. However, the Magic5 Pro’s flagship positioning suggests a more advanced sensor and image processing pipeline. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is far more powerful than the 778G’s, enabling better noise reduction, dynamic range, and video stabilization. Without specific sensor size information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the Magic5 Pro likely features a larger main sensor and more sophisticated optical image stabilization (OIS).

Performance

The performance gap between these two phones is substantial. The Honor Magic5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a generational leap ahead of the vivo V29’s Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm). The 8 Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core and more efficient 4nm process deliver significantly faster CPU and GPU performance. This difference is particularly noticeable in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The 778G is still capable, but will exhibit more throttling under sustained load. The Magic5 Pro’s LPDDR5x RAM further enhances performance, offering faster data transfer speeds than the V29’s likely LPDDR5 configuration.

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 vivo V29’s 99h endurance rating. While the V29 offers incredibly fast 80W wired charging (50% in 17 minutes), the Magic5 Pro compensates with a larger battery and more efficient chipset. The Magic5 Pro also adds 50W wireless charging and reverse wireless/wired charging, offering greater versatility. The faster charging of the V29 is a benefit, but the Magic5 Pro’s overall battery life is more impactful for all-day use.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo V29 if you need a stylish smartphone with exceptionally fast 80W charging and are willing to compromise on raw processing power. It’s ideal for everyday tasks, social media, and casual gaming. Buy the Honor Magic5 Pro if you prioritize top-tier performance for demanding games and applications, a brighter and more vibrant display, and extended battery life, even if it comes at a higher price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Honor Magic5 Pro experience thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While no chipset is immune to throttling, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s 4nm process and advanced thermal management solutions in the Magic5 Pro significantly mitigate this issue. It’s designed to maintain high performance for longer periods compared to the Snapdragon 778G in the vivo V29, which will throttle more noticeably under sustained load.
❓ Is the 80W charging on the vivo V29 significantly faster in real-world use than the 66W charging on the Honor Magic5 Pro?
Yes, the vivo V29’s 80W charging is demonstrably faster, reaching 50% charge in just 17 minutes. While 66W is still fast, the V29 offers a quicker top-up. However, the Magic5 Pro’s larger battery and more efficient chipset mean you may not need to charge as frequently.
❓ Does the Honor Magic5 Pro support all 5G bands used by major carriers in the US?
Honor devices have historically had limited US carrier support. It's crucial to verify compatibility with your specific carrier and 5G bands before purchasing the Magic5 Pro, as some bands may not be supported.
❓ What type of RAM does each phone use, and how does that impact performance?
The Honor Magic5 Pro likely utilizes LPDDR5x RAM, which offers faster data transfer speeds than the LPDDR5 RAM expected in the vivo V29. This faster RAM contributes to smoother multitasking and quicker app loading times, especially when paired with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.