1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Motorola One 5G Ace | Honor Magic5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-14 | 2023-03-31 | The Honor Magic5 Pro is significantly newer, benefiting from more recent hardware and software advancements. |
| Dimensions | 166.1 × 76.1 × 9.9 mm | 162.9 × 76.7 × 8.8 mm | The Motorola is slightly taller and thicker, while the Honor is a bit wider. The Honor might feel more premium, being thinner. |
| Weight | 212g | 219g | The Motorola is slightly lighter, but the difference is likely not very noticeable. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.7" | 6.81" | The Honor has a slightly larger screen, providing a slightly more immersive experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1312x2848 | The Honor has much higher resolution, resulting in significantly sharper text and images. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 393 | 460 | The higher PPI on the Honor means a noticeably crisper and more detailed display. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | The OLED display on the Honor offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to the LCD of the Motorola. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | The 120Hz refresh rate of the Honor makes scrolling and animations significantly smoother and more fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1800 nits | The Honor display will be much more visible in bright sunlight. The Motorola's brightness is not provided. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | The Honor's chipset offers significantly higher performance for demanding tasks, gaming, and multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 330,000 | 1,406,562 | The Honor has a much higher AnTuTu score, indicating a drastic performance advantage in real-world use cases. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 740 | The Honor’s GPU is considerably more powerful, providing better graphics performance for gaming and GPU intensive tasks. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | Slightly higher resolution on the Honor, but other factors like sensor size are more important. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.7 | f/1.6 | A wider aperture on the Honor allows for better low-light performance and shallower depth of field. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | Unknown | 1/1.12" | Larger sensor on the Honor captures more light, leading to better low-light photos. |
| Telephoto Camera | No | 50MP | The Honor has a dedicated telephoto lens for optical zoom, which the Motorola lacks. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP | 50MP (as part of ultrawide/macro) | The Motorola has a dedicated wide angle lens while the Honor integrates it with Macro. Honor's wide angle lens offers a higher resolution. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | Integrated in ultrawide | Motorola has a dedicated macro lens. The Honor integrates macro functionality within its ultrawide lens, offering a higher resolution. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 16MP | 12MP | Slightly higher resolution on the Motorola. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | The Motorola has a wider aperture for slightly better low-light selfies. |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@60fps | The Honor can record 4K video at 60fps, which is smoother than the 30fps on the Motorola, and has better EIS. |
| DxOMark (Mobile) | Not Available | 152 | The Honor has a strong score in DxOMark indicating better image and video quality. |
| DxOMark (Selfie) | Not Available | 123 | The Honor's selfie camera also has a good score in DxOMark. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5100mAh | Similar battery capacity, suggesting comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 15W wired | 66W wired, 50W wireless | The Honor charges significantly faster and also offers wireless charging. |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer | Li-Polymer batteries tend to be lighter and more flexible than Li-Ion. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 13 (Upgradable to 14) | The Honor ships with a much newer version of Android, with the option to update. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Up to 802.11ac | Up to WiFi 7 | The Honor supports the latest WiFi standards, offering faster speeds and more reliable connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | The Honor has a newer Bluetooth version. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Honor has a more comprehensive GPS system, resulting in more accurate location tracking. |
| SIM | Single SIM | Dual SIM + eSIM | The Honor supports dual SIM functionality, and has eSIM support for more flexibility. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64 GB or 128 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB | The Honor offers more storage options. |
| RAM | 4 GB or 6 GB | 8 GB, 12 GB, or 16 GB | The Honor has significantly more RAM, leading to smoother multitasking and better performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | 2 microphones | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers | The Honor has superior audio, with stereo speakers. |
| Security | |||
| Features | rear-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both use fingerprint sensors. |
| Other Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Fingerprint, Gravity | The Honor includes gravity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Motorola One 5G Ace Advantages:
- Potentially More Affordable: The Motorola is an older phone, and may be more affordable.
- Slightly Lighter: A minor weight advantage may be noticeable during prolonged use.
- Dedicated Macro lens : Has a dedicated macro lens.
Honor Magic5 Pro Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: The newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset offers drastically faster processing, better gaming, and smoother multitasking.
- Superior Display: The OLED display with higher resolution, pixel density, refresh rate, and brightness provides a vastly better viewing experience.
- Better Camera System: The Honor has a more versatile and capable camera system, with optical zoom, larger sensors, better video recording, and superior image quality, as indicated by its DxOMark score.
- Faster Charging: The Honor has dramatically faster wired and wireless charging speeds, reducing downtime.
- More RAM and Storage Options: Offers more RAM, and significantly higher internal storage.
- Newer Android Version: Ships with a more recent OS and will receive more updates.
- Enhanced Connectivity: Supports newer WiFi standards, a more comprehensive GPS system and Dual SIM functionality.
- Better Audio: Features stereo speakers and DTS:X support.
- Additional Features: Includes features such as silicon-carbon battery, reverse charging, and comprehensive suite of sensors.
Trade-offs:
- The Motorola sacrifices performance, display quality, camera capabilities, charging speed, software, and build quality for a lower price point, making it a more budget-oriented device.
- The Honor offers premium performance and features, but likely at a significantly higher price. The absence of a dedicated Macro lens for those that might find it necessary.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Motorola One 5G Ace:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users, basic smartphone users.
- Use Cases:
- General web browsing, social media, and email.
- Users who do not need demanding gaming or processing capabilities.
- Users who prioritize a larger screen over display quality.
- Price-to-Value: If found at a very low price, it provides basic functionality.
Honor Magic5 Pro:
- Ideal User: Power users, photography enthusiasts, and gamers who want the best experience.
- Use Cases:
- Demanding gaming, video editing, and resource-intensive applications.
- Professional photographers who require a high-quality camera system.
- Users who prioritize display quality and a smooth user experience.
- Price-to-Value: Excellent value for those who need top-tier performance and features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget?
- If your budget is very limited, the Motorola may be your only option.
- How important is performance?
- If you use your phone for demanding tasks, the Honor is the clear choice.
- How important are display quality and camera capabilities?
- If you value a high-quality display and a versatile camera, the Honor excels.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Basic Usage: If you primarily use your phone for calls, messages, and casual browsing, the Motorola will suffice, provided you find it at a low enough price.
- Scenario 2: Performance-Focused User: If you are a gamer or use your phone for resource-intensive tasks, the Honor is the only choice.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast: If you want a versatile camera system, the Honor offers more capabilities.
- Scenario 4: Value-Conscious User Wanting Great Performance: The Honor provides excellent value given its top-end specifications and capabilities, provided you have the budget for it.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would definitively pick the Honor Magic5 Pro. While the Motorola One 5G Ace might be more budget-friendly, the Honor Magic5 Pro offers a vastly superior user experience in nearly every aspect that matters to me:
- Performance: As someone who often uses my phone for demanding applications and gaming, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a must. The difference in performance is substantial, going beyond mere numbers in the spec sheet and translating into tangible benefits like faster app loading, better multitasking, and more fluid gaming experience.
- Display: The vibrant OLED display of the Honor, with its high resolution, brightness and 120Hz refresh rate, makes the experience of viewing media and scrolling through social media significantly more enjoyable.
- Camera: I am a big fan of smartphone photography, and the versatility and quality of the camera system on the Magic5 Pro are extremely attractive. The addition of optical zoom, wide angle (integrated in macro) lens, and the improved video capabilities will be used frequently.
- Charging: The faster charging speeds, both wired and wireless, on the Honor are a practical benefit that significantly reduces downtime.
- Software: Newer version of Android also ensures that I have better security, enhanced features and will get updates for a longer time.
- Connectivity: The better connectivity features also make it a better buy.
While the Motorola might be sufficient for basic tasks, I prefer the premium experience the Honor provides, which goes beyond just raw specs. The Honor is future-proof and more capable in demanding tasks and is a worthy investment for me.
