Honor Magic 5 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The Verdict
Honor Magic 5 Pro delivers superior value with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, faster 66W charging, and brighter 1800-nit display compared to the aging S21 Ultra's Snapdragon 888 and 25W charging. Both feature 120Hz LTPO OLED displays and IP68 ratings, but Honor's camera system offers more versatility with three 50MP sensors versus Samsung's mixed resolution approach. Samsung edges out in 8K video recording and maintains a higher resolution screen at 3200x1440. However, at $300 less, the Magic 5 Pro provides newer technology, superior charging speeds, and competitive photography capabilities with less bloatware through MagicOS. Battery capacity slightly favors Honor at 5100mAh. For most users seeking flagship performance without the premium Samsung tax, the Magic 5 Pro represents the smarter choice.
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 S21 Ultra if…
- →100x Space Zoom with 10x optical telephoto
- →108 MP main sensor with excellent detail
- →S Pen support (first S-series to do so)
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 S21 Ultra
Pros
- 100x Space Zoom with 10x optical telephoto
- 108 MP main sensor with excellent detail
- S Pen support (first S-series to do so)
- 1440p 120Hz LTPO adaptive display
- 5000 mAh battery with all-day endurance
Cons
- Heavy at 227 g
- Snapdragon 888 can overheat under load
- S Pen sold separately, no silo slot
- Slow 25W charging for the class
- No charger or earbuds in the box
Full Specifications
| Spec | Honor Magic 5 Pro | Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (MagicOS 7.1) | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 219 g | 227 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, nano-crystal glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 76.7 x 8.77 mm | 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS, Sony IMX906 | 108 MP, f/1.8, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.4, 3D ToF | 40 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | 50 MP, f/3.0, 3.5x optical zoom, OIS | 10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.0 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Periscope | — | 10 MP, f/4.9, 10x optical zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5100 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 66W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 50W wireless | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.81 inches | 6.8 inches |
| Type | LTPO OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO |
| Resolution | 2848 x 1312 | 3200 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 (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 660 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
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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