Honor Magic 5 Pro vs Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Verdict
Honor Magic 5 Pro delivers exceptional value at $899, featuring a brighter 1800-nit display, faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, and superior charging speeds (66W wired, 50W wireless). Its triple 50MP camera system with higher megapixel counts and f/1.6 aperture excels in low light. Sony Xperia 1 IV justifies its $1599 premium through professional Cinema Pro video capabilities, 4K@120fps recording, and continuous optical zoom ranging 85-125mm, catering to content creators and photography enthusiasts. Battery capacity slightly favors Honor at 5100mAh versus 5000mAh. However, Sony's taller 21:9 aspect ratio and 4K display resolution appeal to videophiles, while its lighter 185g design enhances portability. For mainstream users prioritizing performance, value, and everyday photography, Honor Magic 5 Pro offers substantially better returns. Sony targets professionals willing to pay significantly more for specialized video and zoom features.
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 Sony Xperia 1 IV if…
- →True optical continuous zoom (85-125mm) is unique
- →4K 120Hz OLED display
- →Professional video recording with Cinema Pro
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
Sony Xperia 1 IV
Pros
- True optical continuous zoom (85-125mm) is unique
- 4K 120Hz OLED display
- Professional video recording with Cinema Pro
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- microSD card slot for expandable storage
Cons
- $1599 was the most expensive mainstream phone
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 overheating problems
- 12 MP sensors felt dated versus competition
- Slow 30W charging
- Point-and-shoot camera results behind rivals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Honor Magic 5 Pro | Sony Xperia 1 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13 (MagicOS 7.1) | Android 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 219 g | 185 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 x 71 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS, Sony IMX906 | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/2.4, 3D ToF | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@120fps, Cinema Pro |
| Telephoto | 50 MP, f/3.0, 3.5x optical zoom, OIS | 12 MP, f/2.3-2.8, 85-125mm continuous zoom |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.0 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5100 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 66W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | 50W wireless | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.81 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | LTPO OLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2848 x 1312 | 3840 x 1644 |
| 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 (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 3.1 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| 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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