1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Honor Magic5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | 162.9 × 76.7 × 8.8 mm | Similar height and thickness, but the Honor Magic5 Pro is wider and has slightly larger overall volume, potentially feeling less comfortable for one-handed use. |
| Weight | 197g | 219g | The OnePlus 9 Pro is significantly lighter by 22g, making it more comfortable for extended use and carrying around. |
| Build | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (screen) | Unknown (screen) | OnePlus 9 Pro uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for better screen protection against scratches and minor impacts; Honor Magic5 Pro’s screen protection is unknown. |
Display
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Honor Magic5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.7" | 6.81" | The Honor Magic5 Pro offers a slightly larger display, which provides a more immersive viewing experience for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1440x3216 | 1312x2848 | The OnePlus 9 Pro has a noticeably sharper display with more pixel density, resulting in crisper text and image details. |
| Pixel Density | 525 ppi | 460 ppi | The higher pixel density on the OnePlus 9 Pro translates to finer detail and greater clarity, especially noticeable for reading small text. |
| Technology | OLED | The Honor Magic5 Pro’s OLED panel offers superior color vibrancy, deeper blacks, and better viewing angles than an unspecified technology on OnePlus 9 Pro. | |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both phones offer smooth scrolling and animations with a 120Hz refresh rate. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1800 nits | The Honor Magic5 Pro is significantly brighter and is much more usable outdoors in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Honor Magic5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | The Honor Magic5 Pro's newer chipset offers better performance and efficiency, resulting in faster app loading, better multitasking, and smoother gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 877,600 | 1,406,562 | The Honor Magic5 Pro scores much higher, indicating significantly better overall performance, particularly for demanding tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 740 | The Adreno 740 in the Honor Magic5 Pro provides superior graphics performance, beneficial for gaming and graphically intensive apps. |
Camera
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Honor Magic5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43", Sony IMX789, 1.12µm | 50MP, f/1.6, 1/1.12", Sony IMX878, 1.40µm | The Honor Magic5 Pro’s larger sensor and wider aperture should result in better low-light performance and image quality. |
| Telephoto + portrait Lens | None | 50MP, f/3.0, 1/2.51", Sony IMX858, 0.64µm | The Honor Magic5 Pro has a dedicated telephoto + portrait lens, enhancing portrait mode and optical zoom capabilities over OnePlus 9 Pro. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13", Sony IMX471, 0.70µm | 12MP, f/2.4, 1.22µm | The OnePlus 9 Pro has a higher resolution selfie camera, but the Honor Magic5 Pro’s larger pixels can improve low-light performance. |
| Telephoto Lens | 8MP, f/2.4, 1/4.4", Omnivision OV08A10, 1.00µm | None | OnePlus 9 Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens for zooming capabilities. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/1.56", Sony IMX766, 1.00µm | None | The OnePlus 9 Pro has a dedicated Wide Angle Lens for capturing wider scenes. |
| ToF 3D sensor | None | 0.3MP | The Honor Magic5 Pro includes a ToF 3D sensor that can improve depth perception. |
| Wide Angle + Macro lens | None | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2", Omnivision OV64B, 0.70µm | The Honor Magic5 Pro includes a wide angle + macro lens for detailed close-up shots. |
| Black & white | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The OnePlus 9 Pro includes a dedicated black and white sensor for more artistic photos. |
| Video Recording | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 4K@60fps | The OnePlus 9 Pro supports higher resolution video recording, making it ideal for users needing 8K video. |
| DxOMark (Mobile) | Main: 122 (Photo: 124, Video: 118) | Main: 152 (Photo: 154, Video: 144) | The Honor Magic5 Pro has significantly better camera performance overall, especially in video. |
| DxOMark (Selfie) | NA | Main: 123 (Photo: 116, Video: 136) | Honor Magic5 Pro's selfie camera has a good score, but no comparison available to the OnePlus. |
| Camera Features | 4K Video, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Contrast detection autofocus (CDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode, RAW 12 bits | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Laser AF, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Laser autofocus (LAF), Dual front camera, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | Both have a rich set of features, but vary in specific autofocus, video and lens capabilities. |
Battery
| Feature | OnePlus 9 Pro | Honor Magic5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5100mAh | The Honor Magic5 Pro has a larger battery, which generally translates to longer battery life. |
| Charging | 65W fast charging | 66W fast charging | Both offer fast charging, and the 1W difference is negligible in real-world usage. |
| Battery Features | Reverse charging, Non-removable, Wireless charging 50W, Reverse wireless charging | Non-removable, Wireless charging 50W, Silicon-carbon battery, Reverse Charging 5W | OnePlus 9 Pro offers faster reverse wireless charging and Honor Magic5 Pro offers better energy density, longer lifespan, and faster charging speeds. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages
- Lighter Design: More comfortable for extended use and carrying.
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and pixel density for better clarity.
- 8K Video Recording: Offers professional-grade video capabilities.
- Wider variety of camera lenses: includes telephoto, wide-angle, and black and white lenses.
- Faster Reverse Wireless charging: Can share battery wirelessly with other devices faster than the Honor.
- Dolby Atmos: better spatial audio.
Honor Magic5 Pro Advantages
- Superior Performance: Newer, more powerful chipset for faster and smoother operation.
- Larger Battery: Longer battery life to get you through the day.
- Brighter Display: Much better outdoor visibility in sunlight.
- Superior Main Camera: Better image quality due to larger sensor, wider aperture and higher resolution.
- Better Camera Scores: Much higher DxOMark scores for both the main and selfie cameras.
- Newer Wi-Fi Standard: Supports Wi-Fi 7 for the fastest speeds and better performance.
- eSIM Support: Supports digital SIM cards in addition to nano SIM cards.
- Additional camera lenses: includes a dedicated Telephoto+Portrait and Wide Angle + Macro lenses.
Trade-offs
- OnePlus 9 Pro: Sacrifices overall performance and battery life for a sharper display and lighter body. It has older Wi-Fi and bluetooth technologies.
- Honor Magic5 Pro: Trades slightly heavier body and a sharper screen for better overall performance, battery life, camera quality and newer connectivity standards.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Pro Ideal Users
- Users Prioritizing a Lightweight Design: Those who value comfort and ease of handling.
- Users Needing a Sharper Display: Those who work with detailed visual content and need the highest clarity.
- Users who need 8K Video Recording: Ideal for professional video creators.
- Users who need faster reverse wireless charging: Users who need to wirelessly charge other devices more often.
- Users who need a more versatile set of camera lenses: Users who prefer having a variety of lenses including telephoto, wide angle and black and white cameras.
Honor Magic5 Pro Ideal Users
- Power Users: Those who need the best performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who prioritize the best camera quality, especially in low light.
- Users who prioritize battery life: Those who want a phone that will last all day without needing to be charged.
- Users requiring a bright screen: Ideal for those who frequently use their phone outdoors under bright conditions.
- Users who need the best Wi-Fi performance: Those who need the fastest internet speeds and the most reliable connections.
- Users that want a larger and vibrant OLED screen: Users who prioritize a more immersive and visually pleasing screen experience.
Price-to-Value
- The Honor Magic5 Pro provides more value for its price by offering a more advanced feature set and significantly improved performance. It excels in areas that matter most to the modern smartphone user, such as battery life, camera quality and processing power.
- The OnePlus 9 Pro is a solid choice but may not be worth the current price given the age of the device and newer technologies available in the market.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your priority: Performance or Display? (Honor for performance, OnePlus for sharper display.)
- How important is camera quality to you? (Honor for superior camera quality.)
- How often will you be using the device outdoors and/or for long periods of time? (Honor for better battery and brighter display, OnePlus for lighter weight.)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Mobile Gaming & Heavy Use - Choose Honor Magic5 Pro. The superior chipset, larger battery, and enhanced GPU will significantly improve your gaming and overall mobile experience.
- Scenario 2: Outdoor Photography & Content Creation - Choose Honor Magic5 Pro. The significantly better main camera, brighter screen, and more capable overall camera system will enhance both capturing and reviewing photos and videos.
- Scenario 3: Casual User needing good value - Choose Honor Magic5 Pro. Its newer technology, larger battery, and improved camera provide significant value for a similar price point. The OnePlus 9 Pro is an older device and may not be worth the same price today.
- Scenario 4: Users needing the lightest device with the sharpest screen for work - Choose OnePlus 9 Pro. The slightly lighter body and sharper screen will be beneficial if these are the highest priorities.
My Choice
I would choose the Honor Magic5 Pro.
Reasons:
- Future-Proofing: The Honor Magic5 Pro has a newer chipset, better GPU, and better Wi-Fi standard, making it a more future-proof device with better overall performance and longevity.
- Superior Camera: Given the importance of mobile photography in modern smartphone usage, the Honor Magic5 Pro’s significantly higher DxOMark score, larger main camera sensor, and wider aperture translate to better image quality in diverse shooting conditions.
- Battery Life: The larger battery and more efficient chipset are crucial for all-day usage, reducing the need to recharge throughout the day.
- Overall Value: The Honor Magic5 Pro provides more overall value for its cost by offering enhanced performance, camera, and battery capabilities, and is the better option for users who prioritize camera, battery life and performance. While the OnePlus 9 Pro has a sharper display, the Honor Magic5 Pro has a vibrant OLED screen, is much brighter, and has a much more up to date feature set.
While the OnePlus 9 Pro has its strengths, the Honor Magic5 Pro edges it out with a more modern feature set, much improved camera and processing power, and significantly better battery life, which are higher priorities for me than the slight difference in screen sharpness and weight.
