Since standing alone without being overshadowed by the parent company, Honor is now increasingly active in strengthening the marketing of its products in various markets around the world by offering a selection of devices with attractive specifications. For example, like the Honor Magic5 Pro which was officially introduced at the Mobile World Congress 2023 stage recently. It has been given a new lease of life so that it can function more efficiently and with quality.
This year's design may not have changed much from the previous generation. But the device is upgraded with the latest internal hardware and software. However, there are still certain shortcomings that can be found in the device. Continue reading this review article where we'll share what's interesting, what's changed and even what's missing on the device.
SPECIFICATIONS
Honor Magic5 Pro
Screen 6.81″ OLED 2, lTPO
WQHD+, 120Hz, HDR10+
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (4nm)
1 X 3.19 GHz Cortex X3 chip
4 X 2.8 GHz Cortex A715
3 X 1.8 GHz Cortex A510
Adreno 740 Graphics Chip
RAM 12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage 512GB UFS 4.0
Primary Camera 50MP f/1.6, OIS (Wide Angle)
50MP f/2.0 (Ultra Wide Angle)
50MP f/3.0 OIS (Telephoto 3.5X)
Selfie Camera 12 Megapixel f/2.4
3D ToF
5100 mAh battery
66W wired charging
50W wireless charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof IP68
Scan System Under-screen fingerprint scanner
Face Scan
Sale Price RM4299 (12/512GB)
DESIGN
The design this year has not changed much with a simple design. It has a sturdy rounded frame that surrounds the device. The top and bottom are flat making the device standable on a table. Next, it is joined with a glass back panel that has a rather rough finish so it does not trap dirt easily. This finish also looks elegant, neat and professional but is only limited to the Meadow Green color variant.
Meanwhile, the Black Magic5 Pro still maintains the glossy back panel, but is still classified as a beautiful and exotic color. This color also looks natural, those who choose it are often associated with a relaxed attitude. However, most users think that comfort is more important than cosmetic value. Honor also includes a translucent silicone bezel with every purchase meaning this beautiful back panel is not hidden from view.
Measuring 76.7 x 162.9 x 8.77mm and weighing 219g, the device is balanced in the hand despite having a very large camera bump. It is also not extreme like the previous model and placed in the middle makes it look symmetrical. The tri-camera used also looks balanced and no longer awkward. This is then matched with an LED Flash light and a 3D ToF sensor that is also placed together in the bump.
The power button and audio controls can be found on the right side. The sturdy construction makes it easy to press. Meanwhile, the left side is empty without any buttons and holes. The device also lacks a 3.5mm audio jack but Honor gives another advantage by including a DTS:X Ultra audio tuned audio speaker system. One of them can be found on the audio grille at the bottom followed by the USB-C port, the main microphone hole and the nano-sized SIM tray without a microSD card provided.
Even so Honor once again gives another advantage by providing eSIM capabilities on this device. If an eSIM is used, only one physical SIM can be activated simultaneously. Next another speaker is placed at the top of the device along with an infrared emitter. All of the above is placed in the body of the device that passes the IP68 dust and water proof standard. With unpredictable weather conditions indirectly add value to the device. In fact, it has become a must-have feature on flagship devices and its absence can no longer be forgiven.
SCREEN
Next, the 6.81-inch screen used is the same as its predecessor. The same size also greatly facilitates the process of self-adjustment using this Magic5 Pro. At the same time, no sudden changes have been made by Honor on the front panel of the device with a kind of curved on both sides that also supports a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate.
So in general the device works smoothly without the issue of slow animation. Aided further by the 120Hz setting, the process of making multi-app conversions doesn't cause lag issues. It is also responsive to touch. There is also a choice of Dynamic, Medium (90Hz) and Standard (60Hz) screens all the time suitable for those who care about battery life. The screen is entirely from LTPO OLED that supports the maximum resolution of WQHD+ (2848×1312 pixels). The bezel sizes of all four devices are equally large, making the screen more balanced and pleasing to the eye.
In addition, another thing that should be noted is that the Magic5 Pro screen is capable of reaching a brightness of up to 1800 nits at full HDR. This makes content with brighter and better colors to be enjoyed on the device. The use experience under the scorching sunlight is also satisfactory because the content on the screen can be read easily. There were no issues displaying HDR content from streaming services YouTube and Netflix on our review unit. However, it is different from our colleague's Magic5 Pro unit who found that the Netflix application cannot be used on it.
Then the position of the pill-shaped selfie dual camera placed on the top left corner is the same as the Magic4 Pro. By default all applications will use the entire screen surface but not when watching videos. This results in somewhat interrupted content, especially when the device is used to play games for example.
The fingerprint scanner is also built into the screen with a good response time. No lag issues in fact it's super fast unlocking the device quickly when a finger is placed on it. For those who need other biometric systems, facial scanning is provided with fast performance as well.
BENCH MARK
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is used as the mainstay of the device and is the most powerful chip by Qualcomm used in an Android device to date. It uses TSMC's 4nm build with the presence of an eight-core chip through the division of three different clusters for specific uses. This is paired with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM memory and 512GB UFS 4.0 internal storage without microSD card support.
This is an improvement over the previous Magic4 Pro which offered a combination of 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. However, if you want more options Magic5 Pro also supports the turbo RAM feature with the addition of 7GB RAM virtually. With this the device offers up to 19GB of RAM to allow more applications to be launched simultaneously and the device is capable of handling any daily task. What we can say is that this year Android flagship devices will compete fiercely as the software gets better and the hardware also gets more powerful.
Here, we compare this chip device with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in iQOO 11, Xiaomi 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. Then followed by the Vivo X90 powered by the Dimensity 9200 chip and the Apple A16 Bionic chip on the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The total score of the benchmark score is as below:
Geekbench 6
Honor Magic5 Pro – 1925/4852
Xiaomi 13 Pro – 1868/5272
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 1922/5017
Vivo X90 – 1668/4000
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 2524/6317
Antutu 3D
Honor Magic5 Pro – 1,090,731
Xiaomi 13 Pro – 1,252,296
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 1,171,384
Vivo X90 – 1,147,029
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 974,941
Wild Life Extreme
Honor Magic5 Pro – 2502
Xiaomi 13 Pro – None
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 3247
Vivo X90 – 3176
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 3373
There is nothing negative we can say about the performance. Whether used for daily activities or for the first time, the device is able to function smoothly. It provides a fast and responsive user experience without chronic downtime issues. The combination of a powerful processor and the now larger RAM size ensures that the device has no problem launching more than 12 applications without having to perform a refresh process. The experience of testing some heavy games with the highest graphics settings also shows that the device is capable of working well. Next, the level of heating experienced is also only lukewarm.
MLBB game specific settings provide graphics achieve High + frame rate High. This is paired with HD and HP abilities that can be activated. Next, the COD Mobile game by default provides High graphics + High frame rate, then the highest setting can reach Very High graphics + Max frame rate. In addition, the game can also be played at Ultra frame rate but is limited to Low graphics only. Then the Alsphat 9 game on High graphics with a playing session of more than 30 minutes only gives a warm feeling in the palm of the hand.
SOFTWARE
The latest MagicOS 7.1 interface is used and it is based on Android 13 which also works fully with any application or service that requires a Google account login. This includes Google Playstore, YouTube, Maps and Gmail which can be accessed without problems due to the presence of GMS. It is interesting when Honor also promises updates for three years of the operating system and five years for security on this new device.
The update period is similar to a number of Android devices in other markets but the five-year advantage on the security system puts it on par with what Samsung offers. Even so, the advantage is still on Samsung devices that are given system updates for four years.
Overall, the new interface doesn't change much from the previous iteration. The interface elements almost look like native Android with some Honor ecosystem support that allows it to be used with laptops and tablets more easily through the Honor Connect feature. The device also offers an Always on Display option with various style settings, in addition to the app drawer capabilities that can also be used if needed.
There is also the ability of files that can be enlarged such as ColorOS 13 is also supported as well as helping to speed up the process of opening applications. It can be done directly from the main dashboard without the need to open a file. Also found are real-time anti-fraud and malware detection apps like those offered on Huawei devices.
The Turbo X Engine system upgrade is said to offer smoother performance, extended battery life and signal enhancement. In addition, virtual memory support of up to 7GB that allows the Magic5 Pro to have up to 19GB of RAM memory is also included.
CAMERA
The tri-camera system is still retained in the new generation with a different sensor configuration. It consists of a combination of 50MP + 50MP + 50MP sensors with OIS support. There is no 1-inch sensor on the wide-angle sensor but just a 1/1.12-inch 50MP sensor. Then the second 50MP sensor is for ultra wide angle, followed by the third 50MP sensor (Sony IMX858) for telephoto periscope with optical zoom up to 3.5X and digital 100X.
This telephoto periscope camera is also powered by new ultra-fusion optics that combine image data from multiple lenses to improve quality between optical zoom levels. Also given focus is the Millisecond Falcon Capture feature aimed at increasing the auto focus speed time and the shutter button to capture fast moving objects with minimal blur.
While many manufacturers are rushing to produce devices with 1″ sensors, Honor takes a different approach in determining the advantages of its products. According to the statement of the head of Honor, George Zhao Zhiwei in a brief interview during the day said that they strive to achieve a balance between specifications and user experience. If Honor uses a 1″ sensor, then the device will be thick. In addition, the current sensor used on the Magic5 Pro already provides a great experience without having to compromise on the thickness of the device.
On the front, a 16MP sensor is used which is larger than the 12MP on the Magic4 Pro. Next, the 3D ToF sensor is for autofocus purposes, producing a special bokeh effect and a 3D face system. As with other Honor devices, there is no option for recording photos with a 16:9 ratio. On the other hand, only given a choice of either 1:1, 4:3 and full. There is also no 8K support instead the video recording format is supported only 4K/60FPS with built-in stabilization. Another advantage can also be found when the device supports a 21:9 aspect ratio screen mode to create a movie-like recording.
Various special photography modes can also be found on the device. One of them is AI Motion Sensing Capture which allows still pictures to be taken despite drastic movements. For example, like running fast and jumping high. It becomes more interesting when there is no need to press the shutter button, instead the picture will be taken automatically. Next Magic-Log video recording 10-bit Log 4K 60FPS and Movie 3D LUT. This is the same function as before where it allows every detail on the recording to be well maintained.
Then it can be re-patterned with more attractive color tones according to the user's wishes. Not only that, there is also a built-in 4K HDR recording mode and built-in RAW image capture through the camera app settings. However, 4K format recording on this device can only be made with a duration of 15 minutes only.
IMAGE QUALITY
Image reproduction using the main camera gives satisfactory results. Whether viewed through a smartphone or laptop screen, it's consistently bright with satisfying detail. The picture taken looks sharp with good focus. Next, the built-in AI artificial intelligence system also facilitates the device to offer the best settings according to the current situation. However, the color tones become more saturated than in the real world. We personally have no problem with the quality of this kind of picture, in fact it makes it easier to continue uploading to social media.
However we started to notice color differences starting to occur when it came to changing the wide to ultra-wide sensor. Color reproduction appears bluish compared to wide sensors. The image quality however is still able to provide quality similar to the main camera with satisfactory details when taken in sufficient lighting. If otherwise, it becomes less satisfactory with lifeless colors and m
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
1x Honor Magic5 Pro.
1x Silicone frame.
1x 66W Charger.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
CONCLUSION
Looking at its offerings, Magic5 Pro can be one of the best choices for users who want a powerful flagship device. Not only is it capable of handling a large number of challenging daily tasks, it is also fun to use while playing. The use of the Magic name is also in line with Honor's somewhat different approach compared to others.
The absence of a 1-inch sensor on the camera system does not mean that the device loses its attractiveness. On the other hand Honor takes a different approach in determining the advantages of the product. The combination of advanced cameras and the latest software makes the photography experience even more interesting. The same can be said for the video experience, although we are still presented with quality videos from other flagship devices.
PRO
⦁ Large OLED screen with LTPO and 120Hz
⦁ Powerful chip with fast RAM and memory.
⦁ Large battery with fast charging.
⦁ Still has an infrared emitter.
⦁ Has a 3D face scanner.
CONS
⦁ Not equipped with a 1″ sensor that most users want.
⦁ Android version update support is not as good as other manufacturers.