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Honor Magic 5 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Updated Apr 2026phones
Honor Magic 5 Pro
Honor
Honor Magic 5 Pro
$899
8.4/10
Winner
VS
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
$1,199
7.8/10

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.

Value5 Pro
CameraS21 Ultra
Battery5 Pro
DisplayS21 Ultra
Performance5 Pro

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

Honor Magic 5 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Value
8.4
6.8
Camera
8.5
8.7
Battery
8.6
7.1
Display
8.8
8.9
Performance
8.9
7.2

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

SpecHonor Magic 5 ProSamsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
SoftwareAndroid 13 (MagicOS 7.1)Android 11, One UI 3.1
Body
Weight219 g227 g
MaterialAluminum frame, nano-crystal glass backAluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus
IP ratingIP68IP68
Dimensions162.9 x 76.7 x 8.77 mm165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9 mm
Camera
Main camera50 MP, f/1.6, OIS, Sony IMX906108 MP, f/1.8, OIS
Front camera12 MP, f/2.4, 3D ToF40 MP, f/2.2
Video4K@60fps8K@24fps, 4K@60fps
Telephoto50 MP, f/3.0, 3.5x optical zoom, OIS10 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom
Ultrawide50 MP, f/2.012 MP, f/2.2
Periscope10 MP, f/4.9, 10x optical zoom
Memory
RAM8 GB / 12 GB12 GB
Storage options256 GB, 512 GB128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
Battery
Capacity5100 mAh5000 mAh
Charging66W wired25W wired
Wireless charging50W wireless15W wireless
Display
Size6.81 inches6.8 inches
TypeLTPO OLEDDynamic AMOLED 2X, LTPO
Resolution2848 x 13123200 x 1440
Refresh rate120Hz120Hz
Brightness (nits)18001500
Processor
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 660
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
Connectivity
5G
NFC
USBUSB-C 3.1USB-C 3.2
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.35.2

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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