1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Nokia X20 | Honor Magic5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 168.9 × 79.7 × 9.1 mm | 162.9 × 76.7 × 8.8 mm | The Nokia X20 is slightly larger and thicker, potentially less comfortable for small hands and pocketability |
| Weight | 220g | 219g | Virtually identical weight, no practical difference in hand feel. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.81" | Honor Magic5 Pro has a marginally larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1312x2848 | Honor Magic5 Pro's higher resolution results in a noticeably sharper and clearer display. |
| Pixel Density | 395 ppi | 460 ppi | Honor Magic5 Pro has a significantly sharper display due to higher pixel density, beneficial for reading and viewing high-resolution content. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | Honor Magic5 Pro's OLED provides superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, especially noticeable in dark scenes and HDR content |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor Magic5 Pro's 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations smoother and more responsive. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1800 nits | Honor Magic5 Pro offers vastly superior screen visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Honor Magic5 Pro's chipset is significantly faster, leading to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and enhanced gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 323,425 | 1,406,562 | Honor Magic5 Pro offers significantly higher performance in all tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 740 | Honor Magic5 Pro's GPU provides superior graphics capabilities, crucial for gaming and graphic-intensive applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4470mAh | 5100mAh | Honor Magic5 Pro offers longer battery life due to higher capacity, reducing the need for frequent charging. |
| Charging | 18W | 66W | Honor Magic5 Pro charges much faster, reducing the time spent tethered to a charger. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, 50W Wireless, Silicon-carbon, 5W Reverse | Honor Magic5 Pro provides more versatile charging options, including fast wireless and reverse charging. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.79, 0.80µm | 50MP, f/1.6, 1/1.12" Sony IMX878, 1.40µm | Honor Magic5 Pro has a larger sensor, a larger pixel size, and wider aperture, resulting in higher quality photos, especially in low light. |
| Telephoto | None | 50MP, f/3.0, 1/2.51" Sony IMX858, 0.64µm | Honor Magic5 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities and portrait mode which are lacking on the Nokia X20. |
| Selfie | 32MP, f/2.0, Unknown | 12MP, f/2.4, 1.22µm | Nokia X20 has higher resolution selfie, but Honor's slightly larger pixel size could mean better low light performance |
| Wide Angle | 5MP, Unknown | None | Nokia X20 has a dedicated Wide Angle, missing on Honor Magic5 Pro |
| ToF 3D Sensor | None | 0.3MP, Unknown | Honor Magic5 Pro offers enhanced depth sensing for better portrait effects |
| Portrait (Depth) | 2MP, Unknown | None | Nokia X20 has a dedicated portrait depth sensor |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, Unknown | None | Nokia X20 has a dedicated Macro lens |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 50MP f/2.0, 1/2" Omnivision OV64B 0.70µm | Honor Magic5 Pro offers a high quality wide angle and macro combined sensor |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps HDR, EIS | Honor Magic5 Pro offers higher video quality, HDR, and better stabilization. |
| DxOMark | Not Tested | Mobile: 152, Selfie: 123 | Honor Magic5 Pro's camera is significantly better based on DxOMark scores. |
| Features | Basic Camera Features | Additional: 4K Video, Optical zoom, OIS, Ultra stable video, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Laser AF, PDAF, LAF, Dual front camera, RAW, Night Mode, More | Honor Magic5 Pro camera capabilities are far more sophisticated |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (Upgradable to 14) | Android 13 (Upgradable to 14) | Honor Magic5 Pro has a more recent OS version out of the box |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | WiFi 7 (802.11be) | Honor Magic5 Pro offers faster and more reliable wireless connections with newer WiFi standards. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.2 LE | Honor Magic5 Pro supports newer Bluetooth with enhanced audio codecs for better wireless audio. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | More comprehensive, incl. GPS(L1+L5) | Honor Magic5 Pro offers better location accuracy, with more supported satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM/eSIM | Honor Magic5 Pro offers the option for using a digital eSIM in addition to two physical SIMs. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128 GB | 128/256/512 GB | Honor Magic5 Pro offers more options for internal storage, offering more room for photos, videos, apps and files. |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 8/12/16 GB | Honor Magic5 Pro offers more RAM which can lead to better multitasking and gaming performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither device supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | 2 microphones | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers | Honor Magic5 Pro offers a better audio experience with stereo speakers and DTS surround sound technology. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Both offer biometric security; side mounted fingerprint sensor is usually faster and more reliable |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both phones likely use some level of screen protection |
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope; Gravity | Honor Magic5 Pro has more sensors for more advanced features |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Nokia X20 Advantages:
- Potentially Lower Price: Typically, older mid-range phones are more budget-friendly, but the price of these phones may vary depending on the region.
- Dedicated Wide Angle, Macro and Depth Cameras: May offer a wider range of creative camera options
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: While basic, these are considered very fast, practical and reliable compared to in-display sensors
Practical Implications of Nokia X20 Advantages:
- Budget-Conscious Choice: This might be a suitable option for someone on a tight budget, who is looking for a solid overall experience with more creative camera options, while not needing the top tier performance or screen quality.
- Fast Fingerprint Sensor: Offers an easier way to unlock the phone.
Honor Magic5 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: OLED with higher resolution, refresh rate, and brightness.
- Significantly Higher Performance: Much more powerful chipset and GPU.
- Better Camera System: Higher quality main sensor, telephoto lens, better video capabilities, higher video quality, and overall significantly higher dxomark rating.
- Larger Battery with Fast Charging and Wireless charging: Longer battery life with faster wired and wireless charging.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Supports newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.
- More versatile SIM: Supports eSIM
- Stereo Speakers: Higher quality audio output.
- More RAM and Storage: Better for multitasking and storing more data.
Practical Implications of Honor Magic5 Pro Advantages:
- Enhanced Visual Experience: More enjoyable for media consumption, gaming, and everyday use.
- Smoother and Faster Performance: Ideal for demanding apps, multitasking, and gaming.
- Superior Photography and Videography: Captures higher quality photos and videos in various conditions.
- All-day Battery Life and Faster Charging: Reduces battery anxiety and downtime.
- Future-Proof Connectivity: Faster speeds and better reliability.
- Better Overall Experience: Higher quality in general for daily use.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Nokia X20 sacrifices performance, display quality, and camera capabilities for a potentially lower price and offers dedicated Wide Angle, Macro, and depth cameras.
- Honor Magic5 Pro is likely to cost more. It forgoes dedicated Wide Angle, Macro and depth sensors but provides a higher quality combined Wide Angle and Macro lens.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal Users for Nokia X20:
- Budget-conscious users: Prioritizing affordability over cutting-edge features.
- Users with basic smartphone needs: Focusing on communication, browsing, and light media consumption.
- Users who prefer creative photography: Who will appreciate dedicated wide angle, macro and depth sensors.
- Users who do not need high performance and advanced functionality: Casual users who value battery life and reliability.
Use Cases for Nokia X20:
- Everyday communication and browsing.
- Casual photography and social media sharing.
- As a backup or secondary device.
- Basic gaming and light app use.
Ideal Users for Honor Magic5 Pro:
- Power Users: Demanding users needing top performance for gaming, heavy multitasking, and productivity.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize high-quality camera capabilities for both photos and videos.
- Media Consumers: Users who value high-quality displays for watching videos and playing games.
- Users who prioritize a premium experience: Demanding users who desire the best display, camera, performance, battery and features
Use Cases for Honor Magic5 Pro:
- Demanding gaming and resource-intensive tasks.
- High-quality photography and videography.
- Immersive media consumption.
- Professional or creative work.
- Users who rely on their phone for all-day use.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- Nokia X20: Offers a solid experience for its price but is significantly less advanced.
- Honor Magic5 Pro: Provides a premium experience with high performance, excellent cameras, and a great display, but comes with a higher price tag.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? Is affordability the top priority, or are you willing to pay a premium for advanced features?
- What are your primary use cases? Do you need top performance and camera quality, or do you have basic needs?
- How important is display quality and battery life? Are you fine with a basic display and battery life, or do you require a high quality display and long-lasting battery?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User
- Recommendation: Nokia X20 is the more appropriate option, if you value a lower price, solid everyday experience and the extra sensors.
- Scenario 2: Performance and Camera Focused User
- Recommendation: Honor Magic5 Pro is the clear choice if performance, camera quality, and display quality are critical, and you are willing to pay for a premium experience.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User with Moderate Needs
- Recommendation: Depending on the price difference, If display quality and camera are very important, then the Honor Magic5 Pro is still the better choice. However, the Nokia X20 may be considered to save money.
What I would choose and why
Personally, I would choose the Honor Magic5 Pro. While the Nokia X20 may appeal to those with very strict budget constraints, the Honor Magic5 Pro offers an overall significantly better user experience in nearly every category.
My reasoning is as follows:
- Display Quality: I watch a lot of videos and the vastly superior OLED display with its high resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and brightness is a huge advantage. It makes content much more immersive and enjoyable.
- Performance: I use a lot of apps and occasionally play games, so the vastly superior performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset is critical for ensuring a smooth and responsive experience.
- Camera Capabilities: I value good photos, especially in low light, and the large sensor and wide aperture on the Honor Magic5 Pro, along with its telephoto lens, would be a significant upgrade from the Nokia X20.
- Battery and Charging: Having a larger battery and 66W fast charging significantly reduces battery anxiety, especially since I use my phone for a substantial part of my day.
- Future Proofing: With the newer standards for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and other added features, the Honor Magic5 Pro is a far more future-proof device than the Nokia X20.
While the price of the Honor Magic5 Pro is higher, the improvements in display, performance, camera, battery and software significantly justify the cost for me. The Nokia X20 is a solid phone for basic use cases but the Honor Magic5 Pro offers a much more premium experience for those that are looking for a high quality device. Therefore, the higher price is worth it for my personal use case, and I would choose the Honor Magic5 Pro.
