Alright, let’s dive into a head-to-head comparison of the Sony Xperia 5 IV and the Honor Magic6 Pro. As always, we're going beyond the spec sheets to understand what these differences mean for you, the user. We will structure this analysis with real-world considerations in mind.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here's a detailed comparison table, breaking down the key technical specs and their practical implications:
| Feature | Sony Xperia 5 IV | Honor Magic6 Pro | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Physical Size | 156 x 67 x 8.2 mm | 162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm | The Honor is larger, making the Sony more pocketable and easier to handle one-handed. |
| Weight | 172g | 225g | The Sony is significantly lighter, better for long usage periods and less tiring to hold. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.1" | 6.8" | The Honor offers a more immersive viewing experience; Sony is better for one-handed use. |
| Resolution | 1080x2520 | 1280x2800 | Honor's higher resolution means sharper images and text, better suited for media consumption. |
| PPI | 449 | 453 | Pixel density is similar; both phones should display sharp and clear images. |
| Technology | OLED | OLED | Both phones offer excellent contrast and vibrant colors. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits (Data Missing) | 0 nits (Data Missing) | Data not provided, will impact outdoor visibility |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Honor will be faster, offering better performance for demanding apps and gaming. |
| Antutu Score | 1,021,542 | 2,069,877 | The Honor is significantly faster; a key factor for gamers and heavy users. |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 750 | Honor has a newer, more powerful GPU, leading to better gaming and graphics performance. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera (Rear) | 12MP, f/1.7, 1/1.7", 1.80µm | 50MP, f/1.4, 1/1.3", 1.20µm | Honor's higher resolution and larger sensor will likely result in better low-light performance and detailed images. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | None | 180MP, f/2.6 | Honor has a dedicated portrait lens for superior zoomed shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 12MP, f/2.0, 1.25µm | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.51", 0.64µm | Honor's higher resolution should allow better detail in selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | 12MP, f/2.4, 1/3.5", 1.00µm | None | Sony has a telephoto lens for optical zoom capabilities. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP, f/2.2, 1/2.55", 1.40µm | None | Sony offers a wider field of view, great for landscape shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.88", 0.61µm | Honor offers a macro camera, great for close-up shots and details |
| DXOMark Mobile Score | 119 | 158 | Honor has much higher camera performance (photos, video, overall) |
| DXOMark Selfie Score | None | 151 (Selfie) | Honor provides a selfie camera experience that outshines the Sony on all fronts. |
| Video | Up to 4K@120fps | Up to 4K@60fps and 1080@240fps | Both offer excellent video quality with stabilization; Honor offers higher slow-motion capture rates. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5600mAh | Honor's larger battery capacity means longer usage time between charges. |
| Charging | 30W | 80W | Honor charges significantly faster; less downtime. |
| Features | Bypass Charging | 66W Wireless Charging, Reverse wireless charging, E1 Power Efficiency Chip | Honor is more versatile with its charging options, including wireless. Sony has "Bypass charging" for extended use |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to 13 | Android 14, upgradable to 18 | Honor ships with a newer, more feature-rich Android experience. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7, MIMO | The Honor is more future-proof and offer better speeds. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3, EDR | Honor features more enhanced Bluetooth capabilities. |
| GPS | GLONASS | GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), BeiDou (B2), QZSS (L1 + L5) | The Honor is more future-proof and offer better speeds. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | Up to 256 GB | Up to 1024 GB | The Honor has much more storage capacity. |
| RAM | 8GB | Up to 16 GB | The Honor has better multitasking performance with more RAM available. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res | DTS / DTS X | Both phones deliver excellent quality, the Sony has Dolby Atmos. |
| Security | |||
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Sony features a more advanced fingerprint implementation. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Unknown | Sony provides better build quality by offering screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Barometer, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Hall | Barometer, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, Gravity | Both phones offer an array of sensors. |
2. Key Insights
Sony Xperia 5 IV: The Xperia 5 IV is a compact powerhouse focused on delivering a premium experience in a smaller form factor. It has a strong emphasis on media consumption, audio quality, and the Sony camera experience. Its key advantage is its more pocketable design and lighter weight making it comfortable for prolonged use. This is coupled with more advanced fingerprint technology and excellent video recording capabilities.
Honor Magic6 Pro: The Magic6 Pro is the more aggressive device, built for performance, boasting a larger, higher-resolution display, a much more powerful processor, and a more versatile camera system. It also features faster charging (both wired and wireless) and a larger battery. Honor has pushed the boundaries in terms of performance and cutting-edge features.
Key Differences Translated to User Experience:
- Performance: The Honor Magic6 Pro is the clear winner in raw performance. The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 combined with double the RAM in the highest configuration results in a much snappier phone experience, better for gaming, and heavy multitasking.
- Display: The Honor has a larger, sharper display that's better for media consumption and gaming. However, the Sony may be better for those who prefer a more compact experience, the differences are very marginal.
- Cameras: The Honor provides a more versatile and higher-performing camera system, especially for low-light and zoom capabilities. While the Sony has a more traditional Sony experience, the Honor has a better all-around performance, confirmed by the DXOMark results.
- Battery and Charging: The Honor wins here with a larger battery and much faster charging speeds, both wired and wireless, offering much better day-to-day performance for heavy users.
- Design and Ergonomics: The Sony shines in this category, with a lighter, more compact design that is more pocketable and easier to hold for long durations.
Trade-offs:
- The Sony sacrifices screen size and performance for portability and a more traditional Sony experience.
- The Honor is bulkier and heavier, but it provides higher specs and a more future-proof experience.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
- Sony Xperia 5 IV:
- Best For: Users who prioritize a compact, lightweight phone with premium Sony features. Good for multimedia users, content creators and those who value a comfortable one-handed experience and prefer a traditional Sony experience.
- Use Cases: Ideal for on-the-go media consumption, photography (with a Sony flair), and for those who want a high-end experience without a huge footprint.
- Honor Magic6 Pro:
- Best For: Power users who want the absolute best in performance, camera capabilities, and display quality, who also enjoy the latest features in Android. Also for gamers, media enthusiasts, and users who need a phone that can handle anything they throw at it.
- Use Cases: Gamers, heavy multitaskers, those who consume a lot of media, and users who need an excellent and versatile camera system for all types of shooting.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to help you decide:
Do I prioritize portability and single-handed use over maximum performance?
- If yes, the Sony Xperia 5 IV is the better choice.
- If no, the Honor Magic6 Pro is preferable.
Do I heavily rely on my phone for gaming or other performance-intensive tasks?
- If yes, the Honor Magic6 Pro with its superior chip and GPU is the clear winner.
- If no, either phone will perform well for everyday tasks.
How important is camera versatility and low-light performance to you?
- If you want top of the line, go with the Honor.
- If you want a more traditional Sony camera experience, go with the Sony.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
The Casual User: If you primarily use your phone for browsing, social media, and occasional photos, the Sony Xperia 5 IV will be more than adequate and offer a more comfortable experience.
The Gamer/Power User: The Honor Magic6 Pro is the obvious choice, offering top-tier performance, a larger display, and a robust battery for extended gaming sessions and heavy multitasking.
The Photographer: The Honor Magic6 Pro offers the more versatile camera system, but the Sony will still offer good results, with a more traditional Sony experience.
Conclusion
Both the Sony Xperia 5 IV and the Honor Magic6 Pro are excellent devices, but they cater to different user needs. The Sony excels in its compact design and premium Sony experience. The Honor dominates with raw performance, a cutting-edge camera, and impressive battery and charging capabilities.
My Choice
For my personal needs, I would choose the Honor Magic6 Pro. Here is why:
As a tech journalist and smartphone analyst, I’m constantly pushing my devices to their limits - testing new apps, capturing photos and videos, running benchmarks, and heavily multitasking. The Honor’s raw performance and camera versatility are a must. While I appreciate the design and smaller size of the Sony, the improvements in processing power, display, battery, and camera quality on the Honor are too significant to overlook for my professional use case.
It is important to note that the choice will always come down to your specific priorities and preferences. I hope this thorough analysis helps you make an informed decision that best fits your needs.
