HONOR Magic5 long term review

update (April 9, 2024): We've decided to update our HONOR Magic5 seasoned review because the device begun receiving the Android 14 update with MagicOS eight.0. Do word that we're speakme about international instruments right here, instruments like the one we reviewed. which you could study more about the update on the conclusion of the application area.

The HONOR Magic5 professional is the company's latest flagship, and we're right here to evaluation it. I've been the usage of it for ages now, and i do have a number of techniques to share. HONOR in fact did step up compared to final 12 months, even though. The Magic4 seasoned turned into a very good telephone, however had some downsides that this year's new release fixes. the honor Magic5 professional basically managed to surprise me in some ways, and that's no longer convenient to do this present day.

HONOR paid amazing consideration to the design of this mobilephone, whereas it also mounted some camera-connected complications and a few other issues. As is the case with each cell, notwithstanding, the Magic5 professional is not ideal. So, let's discover precisely what this cell offers so that you can be extra suggested before you pull the set off.

desk of contents HONOR Magic5 pro assessment: Hardware / Design

the respect Magic5 professional is comparable to its predecessor design-wise, to a level, but we'll get to that in a second. the honour Magic5 seasoned comprises a huge display on the entrance, with thin bezels, and that display is additionally curved. there is a pill-shaped gap within the exact-left nook, but there's a fine explanation for that, as the mobilephone offers 3D facial scanning. On the again, HONOR opted for a big, round digicam island, with three cameras on it. each the entrance and the back facets are curved. The screen additionally has a extremely moderate curve on the good and backside, incidentally, no longer many individuals will observe although.

Glass fashions with glossy & matte coatings can be found

The backplate on this cell is produced from glass, and it has a good looking matte coating. neatly, i can talk most effective about the model I've reviewed, and that's the green one. HONOR officially refers to it as 'Meadow green'. The Black model looks to have a daily, bright coating on the lower back, on the way to, undoubtedly entice fingerprints. That's now not the case with this green mannequin, though, now not at all. It additionally looks gorgeous on exact of that.

The digicam island progressively rises to the excellent

The telephone has a gradual incline towards the good of the camera island on the returned, which not only appears quality but is additionally advantageous. I frequently anchored my finger under the digicam island while i was keeping the machine. The gentle is mirrored very nicely off the returned of the mobile, and also a hoop across the camera array. no longer many individuals will care, but when you care about such design particulars, you'll likely find it irresistible. i know I do, it indicates HONOR made an effort to make some thing different.

The camera module design is an improvement in comparison to the Magic4 pro

Now, the respect Magic4 pro also has a round camera island on the again, however this one looks tons improved, in my view. It's visually a lot more attractive, as there's now not as a good deal going on. HONOR simplified things. The cell remains slippery, youngsters, and additionally significant at the identical time. So, using a case can be a good suggestion. It does believe good in the hand, notwithstanding, I didn't consider like it was cutting into my hand uncomfortably or anything else of the form. It weighs 219 grams, however due to the fact its size, that's not extraordinary nor too plenty, to be reasonably sincere. On true of every little thing, the mobilephone is additionally water and dust-resistant (IP68 certification).

A case is blanketed

HONOR did include a case with the honour Magic5 professional, which is at all times preferred. As you can also have guessed, it's a daily gel case aka silicone case. it is see-via, but it's at all times beneficial to have. This case does add reasonably somewhat of grip for you and should do a good job of protecting your mobilephone. It even has some additional fabric on the corners, simply to be secure. that you could all the time use it just unless you get one more case in case you don't love it. The element is, it's there, and it fits this cell nicely.

HONOR Magic5 pro review: monitor

HONOR included a truly mind-blowing panel here. Let's get the specs out of the way first. the honour Magic5 pro aspects a 6.81-inch 2848 x 1312 LTPO OLED display. That panel is curved on all 4 facets, and it supports a 120Hz refresh rate. it can also challenge up to 1 billion colorations and receives immensely shiny outside. it can go all the way as much as 1,800 nits of brightness at its peak, on the automatic setting. The reveal element ratio is nineteen.5:9, in case you were questioning.

The screen is big, vivid & vivid

So, on paper, this screen appears splendid. Is that the case in specific use, though? neatly, yes, it is. The monitor is not simplest massive and vibrant, however it also produces very vivid colors, and it's greater than sharp ample. which you can tweak it additionally within the settings in case you need. yes, the viewing angles are additionally magnificent. touch response is tremendous, and so is haptic feedback in case you're typing, or using the keyboard to stream the slider. There isn't a single criticism I actually have about this display, other than the hole within the right-left nook.

Its pill-formed digital camera cutout is an eyesore, however it has a aim

That gap does have a goal, but those of you who don't in reality use facial scanning certainly have a appropriate to complain. it is distracting, and during my utilization, I didn't really get used to it. I presume i might if I used it for a longer period of time, but it's not as seamless of a transition from a hole punch. The same became the case ultimate yr, basically, as a minimum so far as i will be able to remember. That capsule-fashioned gap is also not precisely close to the left aspect of the reveal so that definitely doesn't support.

functionality-sensible, this is a very good reveal. It does every little thing a high-conclusion screen may still do, after which some. in case you're now not troubled by means of the hole within the exact-left corner, make sure you not be anxious about this reveal at all.

HONOR Magic5 seasoned evaluation: performance

HONOR went all out when it comes to the Magic5 professional internals. The company not only decided to make use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC but also LPDDR5X RAM and united states4.0 flash storage. In different phrases, it definitely grabbed the strongest SoC purchasable, and the quickest RAM and flash storage contraptions accessible. All that doesn't in reality imply lots with out proper optimization, appropriate? well, in keeping with what I've seen from this mobile, HONOR did a really respectable job with software optimization as well. The Magic5 professional carried out admirably all over my utilization.

The performance is marvelous, even when it comes to gaming

It flew via the rest I determined to throw at it, really. It managed to open apps in reality quickly, shopping was a breeze, and so was streaming / content consumption. The cellphone processed pictures and video all the way through my utilization, whereas it additionally did a very good job on the gaming entrance. I ran Subway Surfers, useless Cells, and Genshin have an effect on on the mobilephone. It did a phenomenal job with all three video games, even Genshin have an impact on. rather a few telephones fight here, however that became no longer the case with the Magic5 professional. I don't feel efficiency may be a controversy on this phone for rather some time, it really did feel that easy. I don't definitely have a criticism value noting.

HONOR Magic5 professional evaluation: Battery

the respect Magic5 pro does have a big, high-res display to energy, which is why it's an excellent component HONOR stuffed in a 5,100mAh battery here. In combination with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is awfully first rate at power consumption, I managed to get excellent battery existence with the gadget. fact be talked about there was now not a single day after I had to can charge it earlier than I went to mattress, nor became I ever anxious about battery lifestyles. This won't imply that a good deal to you, as your utilization may be different, as will your sign, but I managed to get eight hours of reveal-on time distinct instances. It nevertheless had a lot of juice left within the tank, so I doubtless could have pushed it even extra.

66W wired & 50W wireless charging is supported

HONOR additionally thought about charging. The machine helps 66W wired charging, and a charger is covered within the field. On true of that, it supports 50W instant charging, and both reverse wired and wireless charging. that you could get it thoroughly charged in about an hour, while 50W charging will take a bit longer. HONOR could have gone with even quicker wired charging, however here's sooner than each Samsung and Apple offer. still, it pales in assessment to the honour Magic4 seasoned, which presents 100W for both wired and wireless charging. 50W instant charging does seem to be ordinary with chinese flagships nowadays and is a whole lot sooner than what Samsung and Apple offer as smartly (15W). So, we are able to't really whinge.

HONOR Magic5 seasoned assessment: digicam

the honour Magic5 seasoned has three cameras on the again, and two on the front. The mobilephone comprises a 50-megapixel leading digicam (1.4um pixel dimension, f/1.6 aperture, 23mm lens, OIS, multi-directional PDAF), together with a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (122-degree FoV). The third digicam on the back is additionally a 50-megapixel one, here's a periscope telephoto unit (3.5x optical zoom, OIS). A 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (122-diploma FoV) sits on the entrance, together with a ToF 3D depth digital camera. The Magic5 professional helps advanced facial scanning.

The digicam performance is enhanced in comparison to its predecessor

First things first, the honour Magic5 pro has miraculous hardware, when it involves cameras. That being noted, the photographs this phone can take look particularly superior than what the Magic4 pro delivered. many of the time they're on element. They are likely to provide good colours, a variety of detail, and neatly-balanced highlights all through the day, for the most half. At nighttime, the digicam does permit adequate mild into the shot, and many of the time it balances out photographs.

extra optimizations are necessary, notwithstanding

You'll observe that I mentioned many of the time a couple of times there. HONOR does should optimize issues a bit of more here. every now and then, the subject i used to be shooting wasn't precisely in focus as a good deal as it turned into purported to be, and the colours weren't exactly spot on. Some balancing is required for this digicam to in reality shine, nonetheless it's basically close. It does a fine job at macro photography, incidentally. even if the mild is a little bit difficult, as you'll see within the digital camera samples below, the Magic5 seasoned did a fine job.

It even contains a able periscope camera

moreover, this mobilephone does consist of a periscope telephoto digital camera. it could zoom as much as 100x, however I in reality would no longer suggest that, of route. The telephone does a superb job throughout the day with these high-zoom stages, notwithstanding no longer to the stage of the Galaxy S23 extremely. still, the images up to 30x are greater than usable, and quite greater compared to the Magic4 seasoned. I'm basically completely happy HONOR protected a periscope camera here, that's for sure.

The video recording is decent. The mobilephone performs premiere at fullHD recording at 30 or 60 fps, however it does a great job at 4K as well. The first-class does drop off right through nighttime, however now not greater than on most different flagship handsets obtainable. It's respectable normal.

HONOR Magic5 professional camera samples (huge & ultrawide):

camera samples (macro):

digital camera samples (periscope):

HONOR Magic5 pro evaluation: utility

Android 13 ships out of the container on the honor Magic5 seasoned. The issue is, it comes with MagicOS 7.1 on desirable of it. MagicOS is exceptionally different than stock Android, and truth be pointed out, for my part, it's now not one of my favourite implementations, your mileage may additionally fluctuate, even though. The point is, MagicOS 7.1 works definitely neatly on this telephone. It's fluid and responsive, and reasonably bold on the equal time. This UI truly combines Android and iOS, in a method. It has a quick search characteristic (aka HONOR Search) when you swipe good-down throughout the screen, for example. It additionally has a alternative for preserving your whole apps on domestic monitors, notwithstanding that you can exchange that and set off the app drawer.

Knuckle Gestures are somewhat positive for taking screenshots

There are some wonderful points blanketed here, like Knuckle Gestures, the usage of which which you could take screenshots, partial screenshots, and more. additionally, MagicOS comes with big folders, which enable you to enlarge a daily folder so for you to set off apps without delay, with out opening the folder first. These are just some examples. It does lack fabric You, though, and a few different Android 13 points that you simply can be used to if you've used Android 13 on another gadget.

The UI does seem to be a bit cartoonish and disconnected

The UI looks a little cartoonish, and it kind of has a disconnect from one component to the different, design-clever. Pop-up dialogues are in all caps, and it looks a little bit bizarre general. here is a style alternative, and if you're irritated by the minimalistic approach, here is definitely distinctive. it's also worth noting that another parts of the UI work slightly in a different way than on other Android phones. as an instance, when it involves disregarding notifications, that you could dismiss them in reality rapidly best by way of swiping them faraway from left to right, no longer the other way around. in case you do it the wrong way around, you'll get a couple of alternate options first, and will then must swipe once more to push aside a notification.

The UI could be greater purposeful

coming into cut up reveal mode is additionally somewhat cumbersome. truly, many people gained't even be aware of there's a break up reveal mode here. You can't prompt it from the overview menu without delay, or by way of a gesture. First, you deserve to go to the overview menu and open a particular app in a small window. then you definitely need to open the 2nd app that you'd like to run in a break up display mode, and at that point stream the windowed app to the higher or decrease component of the display. here's quite unintuitive, and i in fact don't recognize why HONOR implemented it this way. additionally, you can not switch locations between the suitable and backside app whereas in break up screen mode.

MagicOS' windowed mode is effective

I've mentioned windowed apps above, that's a pleasant feature to have, and it really works neatly on the Magic5 professional, so long as the UI lets you window an app. that you could use it in windowed mode, or minimize it within the sort of a circular icon attached to the appropriate facet of the monitor, to make use of later. It's a effortless feature, that's for sure. If simplest HONOR covered a split display icon next to the window-an-app icon in the overview menu, issues would be a great deal easier.

It's significantly different compared to different Android implementations

standard, this UI is reasonably practical, however I essential to mention some oddities, distinct implementations, and missing features so that you're ready in case you boot the mobilephone. Many people are used to some facets on most different telephones, so… it's value noting that MagicOS is a bit of different.

updated April 9, 2024:

Android 14 with MagicOS 8.0 has started rolling out to the honor Magic5 pro gadgets. We're talking about international contraptions right here, and here is the first cellphone that's getting the update. As a reminder, MagicOS 8.0 did come pre-installed on the respect Magic6 professional, but the Magic5 seasoned is the first world gadget to get it post-launch. With that in mind, this replace weighs three GB, and the changelog comprises 7 categories. We'll discuss one of the crucial adjustments within the subsequent paragraphs, and for extra assistance, click here.

This update brings smoother animations to the desk, as HONOR says you'll get a "greater natural and cozy adventure". On true of that, the 'Magic capsule' is here too. this is HONOR's such as Apple's Magic Island, in fact. The folders on the telephone at the moment are extra customizable than ever. Widgets at the moment are stackable, neatly, some of them, no longer all. They even have to be the equal size for those who stack them. The 'Magic Portal' is also part of this replace, it permits you to touch and dangle textual content or photographs on the display and drag them left or right to set off Magic Portal in some applications.

This replace also makes it viable to double-press the volume Down button to trigger ultra photo or Flashlight. Do observe for you to customise that. HONOR additionally added the ultra power Saving mode, and the so-known as 'Parallel house' function for even more privacy.

HONOR Magic5 seasoned review: in case you buy it?

So, should you purchase the respect Magic5 professional? neatly, this cell does have a lot of competitors available. It also combines a unique set of points no longer many other telephones have. You're getting top-of-the-line specs, surprising reveal and battery existence, quickly wired and wireless charging, and 3D facial scanning all within the same kit. no longer to point out an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and extra. That being talked about, the biggest tradeoff right here is HONOR's UI, which wants work. It doesn't definitely have an effect on the efficiency as much because it stands in its own manner and lacks some points that should doubtless be there. if you, however, desire a special experience, and also you don't intellect what I've outlined in the utility area above, the respect Magic5 professional is definitely price sorting out. This telephone has considerable potential.

make sure to buy the honor Magic5 seasoned if you:

…desire a special utility adventure…want all the specs…want 3D facial scanning on an Android mobile…appreciate having definitely quickly wired & instant charging…hate OEMs who don't encompass (fast) chargers in the field…appreciate striking battery life…desire good digital camera performance

You shouldn't purchase the honor Magic5 pro if you:

…need one of the vital application elements this cellphone is missing…find the tablet-fashioned cutout too distracting…discover this mobile very pricey