1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | vivo V21 5G | Honor Magic5 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 159.7 x 73.9 x 7.3 mm, 176g | 162.9 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm, 219g | The Honor Magic5 Pro is larger and heavier, potentially less comfortable for one-handed use and long periods. The V21 5G is more portable. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.44" | 6.81" | The Honor Magic5 Pro offers a more immersive experience with a larger display, better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1312x2848 | The Honor Magic5 Pro provides a sharper image due to higher resolution, making text and images appear more detailed. |
| PPI | 409 | 460 | The Honor Magic5 Pro has a crisper display; fine details are rendered much better. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, with similar visual quality. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | The Honor Magic5 Pro will have smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1800 nits | The Honor Magic5 Pro is much more viewable in bright outdoor conditions. The V21 5G's brightness is unknown so it is hard to determine its capabilities in that area. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | The Honor Magic5 Pro will perform significantly faster in all tasks, from app loading to gaming. It will also be more efficient. |
| AnTuTu Score | 343,150 | 1,406,562 | The Honor Magic5 Pro offers dramatically superior performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 740 | The Honor Magic5 Pro will provide a much better graphics performance, especially for gaming and graphics-intensive applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.79, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.6, 1/1.12", 1.4µm | The Honor Magic5 Pro has a larger sensor and wider aperture, which should result in better low-light performance and image quality. |
| Telephoto Camera | None | 50MP, f/3.0, 1/2.51", 0.64µm | The Honor Magic5 Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens for zoom capabilities, which V21 5G is missing. |
| Selfie Camera | 44MP, f/2.0, 1/2.65", 0.7µm | 12MP, f/2.4, 1.22µm | The vivo V21 5G has higher resolution but the Honor Magic5 Pro has larger pixels which should result in better low-light selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | None | The V21 5G has a dedicated ultrawide lens for taking wide shots, which Magic5 Pro does not have on its own. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The vivo V21 5G has a dedicated macro lens for closeup shots. |
| Other Camera | None | 50MP Wide + Macro, ToF Sensor | The Honor Magic5 Pro has a wide-angle + macro lens combination, and a ToF sensor for depth sensing. |
| Video | 4K@30fps w/OIS, 1080p@60fps w/OIS | 4K@60fps w/HDR, EIS | The Honor Magic5 Pro records higher quality video with electronic image stabilization at 60FPS. |
| DxOMark | Not Tested | Mobile: 152, Selfie: 123 | The Honor Magic5 Pro is a camera leader, having been benchmarked for quality. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4000mAh | 5100mAh | The Honor Magic5 Pro should last significantly longer on a single charge, ideal for power users. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging, 50W Wireless | The Honor Magic5 Pro charges much faster and has wireless charging, a very convenient and useful feature. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13 (Upgradable to 14) | The Honor Magic5 Pro has a more recent Android version, offering the latest features and security updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 7 | The Honor Magic5 Pro will have significantly faster Wi-Fi speeds and better performance on crowded networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.2 | The Honor Magic5 Pro has a slightly newer version of Bluetooth for better efficiency. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
vivo V21 5G Advantages:
- Lighter and Slimmer: The vivo V21 5G is significantly lighter and thinner, making it more comfortable for one-handed use and portability.
- Dedicated Ultrawide and Macro Lens: The V21 5G has separate lenses for both ultra-wide and macro shots, which allows users flexibility in these areas.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: The V21 5G's selfie camera has more megapixels and a wider aperture, which may result in more detailed selfies under certain conditions.
Honor Magic5 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset offers significantly faster performance for all tasks, from gaming to multitasking.
- Significantly Improved Display: The Honor Magic5 Pro boasts a larger, higher-resolution, brighter display with a faster refresh rate, resulting in a much better viewing experience.
- Better Camera System: The Magic5 Pro has a more versatile camera system with a larger sensor, telephoto lens, and a dedicated wide angle/macro camera for superior image quality, zoom, and details.
- Longer Battery Life & Faster Charging: The larger battery and faster charging (including wireless charging) offer better endurance and convenience.
- More Modern Software: The Magic5 Pro runs on a newer version of Android, providing the latest features and security.
- More Advanced Connectivity: The Honor Magic5 Pro supports newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards, and more satellite navigation systems for better connectivity.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Size and Weight: The Honor Magic5 Pro is bulkier and heavier than the vivo V21 5G, which may be less convenient for some users.
- Ultrawide and Macro Flexibility: The V21 5G has dedicated ultrawide and macro lenses, which can be useful to those who require them, whereas the Honor Magic5 Pro combines both into one sensor.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
vivo V21 5G Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Individuals looking for a more affordable phone that is very thin and light and still provides decent performance.
- Casual Photographers: Users who want dedicated macro and ultrawide lenses for varied photography needs, particularly for social media.
- Users with Smaller Hands: People who prefer a more compact and lightweight device for comfortable one-handed use.
Use Cases:
- Daily social media use.
- General web browsing and casual gaming.
- Users who take a lot of selfies.
Honor Magic5 Pro Ideal User:
- Power Users: Individuals who need the best performance for demanding tasks, such as gaming and video editing.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize camera quality and want a versatile system for different types of photos and videos.
- Media Consumers: People who enjoy watching videos, movies, and playing games on a large and high-quality display.
- Users Who Need Long Battery Life: Individuals who need their phone to last all day with heavy use, without having to reach for a charger.
Use Cases:
- Mobile gaming and intense graphics processing.
- Professional photography and video recording.
- Extensive multimedia consumption (streaming, gaming, etc.).
- Users needing advanced connectivity options and precise navigation.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The vivo V21 5G provides a good budget option if size and weight are major concerns.
- The Honor Magic5 Pro offers a higher price but justifies it with its superior performance, display, camera, battery and charging capabilities.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The vivo V21 5G is more affordable, while the Honor Magic5 Pro is a premium option.
- What are your primary use cases? The V21 5G is suitable for light use while the Honor Magic5 Pro is ideal for demanding tasks.
- How important is display and camera quality? The Honor Magic5 Pro has a significantly better display and camera, so this is key if either are important.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious Casual User - If your budget is a priority and you only need a basic smartphone for social media and light use, the vivo V21 5G would be adequate.
- Scenario 2: Power User or Photography Enthusiast - If you need top-tier performance, camera quality, and display, and you are not particularly worried about size and weight, the Honor Magic5 Pro is the better option.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User (performance and portability) - If you value the combination of performance and portability then the vivo V21 5G is good but the Honor Magic5 Pro does come with the best hardware in terms of performance and battery.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Honor Magic5 Pro. While the vivo V21 5G has the advantages of being more compact and having dedicated ultrawide and macro lenses, the Honor Magic5 Pro significantly surpasses it in nearly every other important aspect. The superior display, processing power, camera, battery, and overall feature set of the Magic5 Pro are more compelling. I personally prioritize performance, camera quality, and battery life, and the Honor Magic5 Pro is the clear winner in these categories.
