Apple iPhone 12 vs Honor Magic 5 Pro
The Verdict
iPhone 12 excels with iOS optimization, superior night mode capability, and iconic design despite aging specs. Its A14 Bionic chip delivers smooth performance with just 4GB RAM, while the compact 6.1-inch display offers excellent visibility. Battery life reaches a full day, though wireless charging maxes at 15W MagSafe. Honor Magic 5 Pro overwhelms with hardware: a massive 5100mAh battery, 120Hz LTPO display with 1800 nits brightness, 66W fast charging, and a versatile quad-camera system featuring 50MP telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 8-12GB RAM handle demanding tasks effortlessly. Magic 5 Pro's 219g weight and 8.77mm thickness feel premium but bulky. For users prioritizing ecosystem integration, photography finesse, and portability, iPhone 12 remains compelling. Power users wanting raw capability, larger displays, and premium features should choose Honor Magic 5 Pro, which delivers significantly more value at $899.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 if…
- →First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- →Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- →Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
Buy the Honor Magic 5 Pro if…
- →Triple 50 MP camera system with excellent 3.5x periscope telephoto
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers flagship performance
- →50W wireless charging is among the fastest available
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12
Pros
- First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
- A14 Bionic delivers excellent performance and efficiency
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording is a first for any smartphone
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors offered 90Hz or 120Hz
- Small 2815 mAh battery offers mediocre battery life
- 64 GB base storage is inadequate in 2020
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto lens — only dual camera
Honor Magic 5 Pro
Pros
- Triple 50 MP camera system with excellent 3.5x periscope telephoto
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers flagship performance
- 50W wireless charging is among the fastest available
- IP68 water resistance with 5100 mAh battery
- 3D face unlock via ToF sensor is fast and secure
Cons
- Thick and heavy at 219 g and 8.77 mm
- MagicOS software is heavily skinned — not stock Android
- Brand recognition is lower than Samsung or Apple in Western markets
- 66W wired charging is slower than competitors like OnePlus 100W
- Limited global after-sales service network
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | Honor Magic 5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (MagicOS 7.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 219 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Aluminum frame, nano-crystal glass back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 162.9 x 76.7 x 8.77 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS, Sony IMX906 |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.4, 3D ToF |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | 50 MP, f/2.0 |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP, f/3.0, 3.5x optical zoom, OIS |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5100 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 66W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.81 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | LTPO OLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 2848 x 1312 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1800 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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