vivo X90s vs Honor Magic5 Pro: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The vivo X90s and Honor Magic5 Pro represent compelling alternatives to the established Samsung and Google flagships. The X90s leverages MediaTek’s Dimensity 9200+ for raw power, while the Magic5 Pro opts for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, prioritizing efficiency and a broader feature set. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and battery life, the Honor Magic5 Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 offers superior sustained performance and efficiency, coupled with a brighter display and longer battery endurance. However, the vivo X90s’s 120W charging is a significant advantage for those who value speed.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X90s 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, 18, 19, 26, 28, 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, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 88 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2023, June 262023, February 27
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, June 30Available. Released 2023, March 31
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather backGlass front, glass back or eco leather back
Dimensions164.1 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm or 8.9 mm162.9 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)
Weight197.5 / 201.5 / 202.2 / 203.5 g (6.98 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 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1800 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X3 & 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 9200+ (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUImmortalis-G715 MC11Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, OriginOS 3Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Pixel Shift, dual-LED dual-tone 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/1.8, (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, AF, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.0, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, AF50 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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit audio stereo recording
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a+B2c), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)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/6/7, tri-bandWi-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
Charging120W wired, 50% in 8 min Reverse wired66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
Type4810 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 5100 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5450 mAh (China only)
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Red, GreenBlack, Meadow Green, Blue, Purple, Orange
ModelsV2241HAPGT-AN10, PGT-N19
PriceAbout 510 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)

vivo X90s

  • Ultra-fast 120W wired charging
  • Potentially higher peak CPU clock speed
  • Likely vibrant and color-accurate display

  • Potentially lower battery life
  • Dimensity 9200+ may throttle under sustained load
  • Less efficient chipset compared to Snapdragon

Honor Magic5 Pro

  • Superior battery life and endurance
  • More efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Brighter display for outdoor visibility

  • Slower 66W wired charging
  • May prioritize natural color accuracy over vibrancy
  • Higher price point (potentially)

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic5 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1227 nits, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the X90s. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both likely utilize high-refresh-rate OLED panels, the Magic5 Pro’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a superior panel with deeper blacks. The X90s may compensate with potentially more accurate color calibration, a common strength of vivo’s displays, but without specific data, it’s difficult to confirm. Bezels are likely comparable, given both phones target a premium aesthetic.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are advertised as having strong camera systems, but detailed sensor information is lacking. The focus should be on image processing. Honor typically leans towards a more natural, realistic look, while vivo often employs more vibrant, saturated colors. The presence of OIS on both is expected, but the aperture and sensor size of the main cameras will be crucial differentiators. Without specific details, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner, but the Magic5 Pro’s reputation for computational photography suggests a slight edge in challenging lighting conditions. We can safely ignore any 2MP macro lenses on either device.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor Magic5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is built for sustained performance and efficiency. Its CPU configuration – 1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, and 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 – is optimized for multitasking and demanding applications. The vivo X90s’s Dimensity 9200+ (4nm) features a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X3), but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s architectural improvements and superior GPU generally translate to better gaming performance and thermal management. Both utilize LPDDR5x RAM, but the Snapdragon’s Adreno GPU is a clear advantage for graphics-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic5 Pro demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving an impressive 12:06h of active use and a 115-hour endurance rating. While the vivo X90s’s battery capacity is unknown, the Magic5 Pro’s larger battery and more efficient chipset contribute to its superior longevity. However, the X90s counters with blazing-fast 120W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 8 minutes, significantly faster than the Magic5 Pro’s 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. The X90s also offers reverse wired charging, while the Magic5 Pro supports both wired and wireless reverse charging, albeit at a lower 5W wired output.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo X90s if you absolutely need the fastest charging available in a flagship smartphone and prioritize peak CPU performance for short bursts. It’s ideal for users who frequently find themselves needing a quick power boost. Buy the Honor Magic5 Pro if you value sustained performance, exceptional battery life, a brighter and more vibrant display, and a more refined overall user experience. This phone is geared towards power users and multimedia enthusiasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 9200+ in the vivo X90s suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 9200+ is a powerful chip, it's known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This can lead to thermal throttling, reducing sustained performance during prolonged gaming. The X90s’s cooling system will mitigate this, but the Magic5 Pro is likely to maintain higher frame rates for longer periods.
❓ How does the 50W wireless charging on the Honor Magic5 Pro compare to the wired charging speed of the vivo X90s?
The vivo X90s’s 120W wired charging is significantly faster than the Honor Magic5 Pro’s 50W wireless charging. The X90s can reach 50% charge in just 8 minutes, while the Magic5 Pro’s wireless charging will take considerably longer. However, the convenience of wireless charging is a benefit for some users.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging on the Honor Magic5 Pro useful for charging accessories like earbuds?
Yes, the 5W reverse wireless charging on the Honor Magic5 Pro is suitable for topping up accessories like wireless earbuds or smartwatches. While not a fast charging solution, it provides a convenient way to share power in a pinch.
❓ What kind of gaming performance can I expect from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Honor Magic5 Pro?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Honor Magic5 Pro delivers exceptional gaming performance. It can handle demanding titles at maximum settings with high frame rates and minimal throttling. The Adreno GPU provides a significant advantage in graphics-intensive games.