Okay, let's dive deep into the comparison between the Huawei Mate 50 Pro and the Honor Magic5 Pro. This is going to be a fun one, given both phones pack some serious tech! I’ll focus on translating the specs into real-world scenarios to help you decide which of these powerhouses might be a better fit for you.
1. Specifications Breakdown
First, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty with a detailed table:
| Feature | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Honor Magic5 Pro | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 162.1 × 75.5 × 8.5 mm | 162.9 × 76.7 × 8.8 mm | Honor Magic5 Pro is slightly larger, potentially feeling more substantial in hand. |
| Weight | 205g | 219g | Huawei is a touch lighter, potentially more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.74" | 6.81" | Both phones have very similar displays, with a negligible 0.07" difference. |
| Resolution | 1212x2616 | 1312x2848 | Honor Magic5 Pro offers a slightly sharper display with more pixels. |
| PPI | 428 | 460 | Honor Magic5 Pro's higher pixel density results in sharper visuals. |
| Technology | OLED | OLED | Both provide vibrant colours and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both phones provide fluid scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1800 nits | Honor Magic5 Pro is significantly brighter, making it much more visible outdoors in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Honor Magic5 Pro offers a newer generation chipset, offering better speed and efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,022,043 | 1,406,562 | The Honor Magic5 Pro offers a smoother experience in demanding tasks and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 740 | Honor Magic5 Pro has a more advanced GPU, providing better graphics performance in gaming and demanding tasks. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 4700mAh | 5100mAh | Honor Magic5 Pro may offer a slightly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 66W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Both phones charge quickly, but battery tech differs (Li-Ion vs. Li-Polymer). |
| Features | 50W Wireless, 7.5W Reverse | 50W Wireless, 5W Reverse, Silicon-carbon battery | Both provide fast wireless charging. Honor Magic5 Pro has silicon-carbon battery and slightly less reverse charging power. Huawei offers 7.5W reverse charging power. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 50MP, f/1.4, 1/1.56" | 50MP, f/1.6, 1/1.12" | Mate 50 Pro has a wider aperture but the Magic5 Pro has larger sensor size. |
| Telephoto + portrait | None | 50MP, f/3.0, 1/2.51" | Magic5 Pro has this dedicated lens. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.4 | 12MP, f/2.4, 1.22µm | Huawei offers a higher resolution selfie camera |
| Telephoto Lens | 64MP, f/3.5, 1/2" | None | Huawei offers a dedicated telephoto camera |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2 | None | Huawei offers a dedicated wide angle lens. |
| ToF 3D sensor | None | 0.3MP | Magic 5 Pro has this dedicated sensor. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2" | Magic 5 Pro has this dedicated lens. |
| Video | 4K@60, 1080p@480, 720p@3840 | 4K@60, 1080p@60, Slow-motion 960fps | Both have great video recording features, with 4k and slow motion, Huawei has more slow-motion modes but lower fps rate in slow-motion. Honor Magic5 Pro offers slow-motion 960 fps. |
| DxoMark Mobile | 149 (Photo: 152, Video: 141) | 152 (Photo: 154, Video: 144) | Honor Magic5 Pro scored higher overall on DxoMark |
| DxoMark Selfie | 145 (Photo: 147, Video: 143) | 123 (Photo: 116, Video: 136) | Huawei Mate 50 Pro scored higher on selfie camera performance on DxoMark. |
| Camera Features | Triple camera, CDAF | Quadruple camera, Continuous Autofocus, Ultra Stable Video | Both are feature-rich, but each has its unique capabilities; Honor offers Quadruple camera setup with advanced autofocus. |
| Software | |||
| OS | - | Android 13 (Upgradable to 14) | Honor Magic5 Pro uses a more up-to-date version of android with the possibility of getting updates |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | Honor Magic5 Pro supports newer Wi-Fi standards, leading to faster speeds. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.2 LE | Both are similar; Honor Magic5 Pro offers Low Energy feature. |
| GPS | Multiple, Including L1+L5 | Multiple, Including L1+L5 | Both are similar, but Honor has GPS, Galileo, and Beidou; while Huawei has GLONASS additionally. |
| SIM | Nano SIM + Nano SIM | Nano SIM + Nano SIM / eSIM | Honor has eSIM support for seamless carrier switching, while Huawei supports only physical dual SIMs. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 256GB/512GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB | The same maximum storage capacity of 512GB available to both. |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB/12GB/16GB | Honor Magic5 Pro offers up to 16GB of RAM, which is better for multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
| Audio | Stereo Speakers | DTS/ DTS X, Stereo Speakers | Honor Magic5 Pro has a slight edge by offering enhanced surround sound. |
| Security | Fingerprint | Fingerprint | Both offer basic biometric security via a fingerprint scanner. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Huawei includes environmental sensors (barometer) useful in advanced features and gaming. |
2. Key Insights
Huawei Mate 50 Pro:
- Camera Versatility: The Huawei Mate 50 Pro stands out with its impressive array of telephoto, wide-angle, and standard cameras. It offers a wider aperture on its main sensor and a strong showing in selfie camera performance based on DxoMark scores. This makes it a great option if you want the flexibility of a dedicated telephoto and wide-angle lens, in addition to a powerful primary camera.
- Sensor Suite: The inclusion of a barometer provides added functionality for advanced user.
- Battery and Charging: 50W Wireless and 7.5W reverse charging provides a good feature set for battery and charging.
- Software limitations: Software limitations make the lack of a more updated android version noticeable.
Honor Magic5 Pro:
- Performance Prowess: The Honor Magic5 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, offering significant performance upgrades over the Huawei. This makes it an ideal choice for demanding users, gamers, and those who value speed and efficiency.
- Superior Display: The 1800 nits brightness of the Honor Magic5 Pro ensures excellent outdoor visibility, a key advantage for anyone who uses their phone in bright environments.
- All-Around Camera: The Honor Magic5 Pro stands out with its large primary sensor, telephoto + portrait, wide angle + macro and 3D ToF. In addition, the Honor scored higher in the DxoMark tests for overall camera performance.
- Battery Improvements: A slightly larger battery capacity, silicon-carbon battery, and fast charging help ensure that the Honor Magic5 Pro can handle heavy usage with ease.
- Connectivity: The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 support is a great upgrade for the future. Also, the inclusion of eSIM is a feature that may be useful to some.
- More RAM: Up to 16GB of RAM for power users.
- Audio: The integration of DTS/DTS X for audio enhances surround sound, better audio separation and immersion.
- Software: With an up-to-date version of Android, and the ability to upgrade, the Honor provides a better software experience.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Huawei's Lack of 5G: One crucial limitation for the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is its 4G-only chipset, which could be a significant downside for users in areas with robust 5G coverage.
- Huawei's Camera System: The Huawei has a higher Dxomark score for Selfie Camera, but is missing out on features that the Honor provides such as the telephoto + portrait lens, and wide angle + macro lenses.
- Huawei's Software: The Mate 50 Pro is stuck with an older OS, which will result in less updates and less functionality for certain apps and features.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Huawei Mate 50 Pro is best suited for:
- Photography Enthusiasts who prioritize a highly versatile camera with dedicated lenses.
- Users needing a broad sensor suite: For those that utilize advanced sensors such as barometers.
- Users who do not need 5G connectivity: For those in places without 5G, this can be a powerful phone for photo and video.
- Those who need reverse charging: If you need a powerful device that can charge other devices, this may be the right option for you.
Honor Magic5 Pro is best suited for:
- Power Users and Gamers who prioritize top-tier performance, high-end gaming, and smooth multitasking.
- Users who value screen brightness: The high brightness of the Honor makes it ideal for outdoor visibility.
- Users who want a great overall camera: The main and front-facing cameras perform well.
- Users who need 5G connectivity: The chipset is compatible with 5G networks, and with WiFi 7, the speeds will be blazing fast.
- Those who want to be up-to-date: With the latest Android version, the Honor will have all the newest functionality and upgrades.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three key questions to guide your choice:
- Do you prioritize cutting-edge performance and a brighter display for outdoor use?
- If yes, the Honor Magic5 Pro is the better choice.
- Are versatile camera features, like telephoto and wide-angle lenses, crucial for your needs?
- If yes, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro is the more versatile system.
- Do you need 5G connectivity and future-proof networking features?
- If yes, the Honor Magic5 Pro’s 5G and Wi-Fi 7 support is a must.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
The Mobile Photographer: If you're passionate about photography and enjoy having multiple lenses at your disposal, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro provides an advanced camera system for various shooting conditions.
The Mobile Gamer: If you want the best performance possible in demanding games, the Honor Magic5 Pro is the clear winner due to its more powerful chipset, GPU, and RAM options.
The On-the-Go Professional: If you value strong performance, a bright display for outdoor readability, and the latest software, the Honor Magic5 Pro offers a more up-to-date and feature-rich experience, also with an eSIM for added flexibility.
My Choice:
If I were choosing between these two, I would go with the Honor Magic5 Pro. While I appreciate the Huawei's camera system and the dedicated telephoto lens, the Honor's superior performance, much brighter display, 5G capabilities and up-to-date software make it a better all-around device for my needs. The Honor is also more of a future-proof option thanks to its Wi-Fi 7 support. Plus, I do a lot of outdoor photography, so the better visibility in sunlight would be a huge plus for me. The latest version of Android is a strong consideration as well, because that means more features and compatibility with modern applications. Although the Huawei has a better selfie camera, the overall camera system in the Honor is much better for my use case.
