Honor Magic 5 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The Verdict
Honor Magic 5 Pro delivers superior performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and LTPO OLED display featuring exceptional 1800-nit brightness and 2848x1312 resolution. Camera systems differ in approach: Honor emphasizes versatility with four 50MP sensors and 3.5x optical zoom, while Galaxy Note 20 Ultra offers 108MP main sensor with 5x periscope lens for extended reach. Battery advantage goes to Honor with 5100mAh capacity and significantly faster 66W charging versus Note 20 Ultra's 25W. Samsung's older processor and lower refresh rate display, combined with older Android 10 software, make it feel dated despite premium build quality. For photography enthusiasts and power users, Honor Magic 5 Pro provides better value at $899 with current-generation technology. Galaxy Note 20 Ultra justifies higher cost primarily through S Pen functionality rather than hardware advantages.
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 Note 20 Ultra if…
- →S Pen with ultra-low 9ms latency
- →120Hz adaptive QHD+ display
- →108 MP camera with 50x Space Zoom
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 Note 20 Ultra
Pros
- S Pen with ultra-low 9ms latency
- 120Hz adaptive QHD+ display
- 108 MP camera with 50x Space Zoom
- 5x optical periscope telephoto
- Samsung DeX for desktop-like experience
Cons
- Slow 25W charging for a $1299 device
- No charger in the box in some regions
- Large and heavy
- S Pen silo location changed
- microSD slot removed
Full Specifications
| Spec | Honor Magic 5 Pro | Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (MagicOS 7.1) | Android 10, One UI 2.5 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 219 g | 208 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, nano-crystal glass back | Stainless steel frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 76.7 x 8.77 mm | 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS, Sony IMX906 | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS, laser AF |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.4, 3D ToF | 10 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 50 MP, f/3.0, 3.5x optical zoom, OIS | — |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.0 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 12 MP, f/3.0, 5x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5100 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 66W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 50W wireless | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.81 inches | 6.9 inches |
| Type | LTPO OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2848 x 1312 | 3088 x 1440 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1800 | 1500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.09 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 650 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
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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