Honor Magic 5 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy A35
The Verdict
Honor Magic 5 Pro represents a flagship device with exceptional imaging capabilities, featuring a 50MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom and exceptional low-light performance via its f/1.6 main camera. Display quality is outstanding with 1800 nits peak brightness on a 120Hz LTPO OLED panel. Battery life receives a boost from 50W wireless charging, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ensures premium performance. Samsung Galaxy A35 serves the mid-range segment effectively, offering solid fundamentals: a bright 1000-nit Super AMOLED display, dependable 50MP main camera with OIS, and newer Android 14 software. However, its Exynos 1380 processor trails significantly behind, 4K video maxes out at 30fps, and charging maxes at 25W. The A35 excels as a value proposition for users prioritizing affordability, while the Magic 5 Pro delivers genuinely superior capabilities across imaging, display technology, and performance for those willing to spend premium prices.
Who Should Buy
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
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A35 if…
- →Solid build with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides
- →Bright 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- →Long-lasting 5000 mAh battery
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
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
Samsung Galaxy A35
Pros
- Solid build with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both sides
- Bright 120Hz Super AMOLED display
- Long-lasting 5000 mAh battery
- IP67 water and dust resistance
- Four years of OS upgrades promised
Cons
- Only 6 GB RAM in base configuration
- Wi-Fi 5 is dated for 2024
- Exynos 1380 trails Snapdragon 7 chips
- Slow 25W charging with no in-box charger
Full Specifications
| Spec | Honor Magic 5 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A35 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (MagicOS 7.1) | Android 14, One UI 6.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 219 g | 209 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, nano-crystal glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus+ |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP67 |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 76.7 x 8.77 mm | 161.7 x 78.0 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS, Sony IMX906 | 50 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.4, 3D ToF | 13 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 50 MP, f/3.0, 3.5x optical zoom, OIS | 5 MP macro |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB | 6 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5100 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 66W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 50W wireless | — |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.81 inches | 6.6 inches |
| Type | LTPO OLED | Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2848 x 1312 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1800 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz + 4x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Exynos 1380 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 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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