Design & Build
- Big yet Slim: Despite its large form factor, the Honor Magic 5 Pro feels surprisingly slender and manageable, standing out with its IP68 water-resistance and bold circular camera module.
- Curved Glass Aesthetic: The Magic 5 Pro fits comfortably into flagship phone trends with a massive 6.81-inch screen, curved glass edges, and a weight of 219g. At 8.8mm thick, it feels slim for its size, making it a bit easier to hold.
- Eye-Catching Camera Module: Honor’s standout feature is the striking, circular camera design on the back, creating a triangle of lenses. It’s especially noticeable in the Meadow Green model, where the black lenses contrast sharply with the green body.
Screen & Speakers
- Immersive Display: The 6.81-inch OLED display with LTPO tech offers an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate. With high resolution (1312×2848), HDR10+ support, and color accuracy, it’s optimized for both vibrancy and eye comfort.
- Eye-Health Focus: Honor prioritizes long-term viewing comfort with features like dynamic dimming, low flicker, and circadian-friendly certification.
- Decent Audio: The stereo speakers are functional but somewhat tinny by flagship standards, providing decent audio quality for casual content consumption.
Performance & Specs
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2: The Honor Magic 5 Pro is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, alongside 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.
- Smooth Multi-Tasking: This setup allows for smooth handling of demanding games and multi-tasking, though occasional stutters in certain apps hint at software optimization issues.
Camera & Video
- Triple 50MP Rear Camera: The Magic 5 Pro’s cameras include a main 50MP lens with optical image stabilization, capable of capturing bright, detailed images even in low light.
- Ultra-Wide & Telephoto Capabilities: The 50MP ultrawide lens performs well, though lacking optical stabilization, while a 3.5x zoom periscope lens with OIS provides detailed shots up to 10x zoom.
- Selfies and Video: The front camera includes a depth sensor, enhancing portrait shots with precise edge detection. Video recording supports up to 4K/60fps on the rear camera.
Battery & Charging
- Long Battery Life: With a 5100mAh battery, the Magic 5 Pro offers 1-2 days of use on a single charge.
- Fast Charging Options: It supports 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging with Honor’s charger, making quick top-ups convenient.
Software & Updates
- Android 13 with MagicOS: The phone runs Android 13, layered with Honor’s MagicOS, which is functional but may lack the refinement of other flagship OS options.
- Update Commitment: Honor promises three major OS updates and five years of security patches, ensuring a reasonable lifespan for users.
Price & Availability
- Pricing: The Honor Magic 5 Pro is priced at £949/€1,199, which translates to around $1,050 USD, placing it firmly in the flagship territory. This price range is slightly below the absolute top-tier models like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Verdict
The Honor Magic 5 Pro proves to be a strong contender among flagship devices, delivering on battery life, display quality, and camera performance. Its competitive pricing, paired with high-end specs, makes it an attractive choice for those seeking flagship quality without reaching ultra-premium pricing. However, potential buyers may want to consider the slightly lower software polish and performance compared to some rivals.
