Magic5 to Honor Magic9: Is It Worth Upgrading?
A plain-English look at what actually changes, 3 years apart.
Yes — the Honor Magic9 is a worthwhile upgrade
The Honor Magic9 is 3 years newer than the Magic5, and the BeastScore rises from 76.1 to 90.0. The biggest improvements: newer qualcomm snapdragon 8 elite gen 5 chipset (replaces snapdragon 8 gen 2), 2,900 mah bigger battery, higher-resolution main camera (+150 mp). Trade-offs to know: 0.4" smaller screen, 5 g heavier.
What you gain with the Honor Magic9
- Newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset (replaces Snapdragon 8 Gen 2)
- 2,900 mAh bigger battery
- Higher-resolution main camera (+150 MP)
- 8 GB more RAM
- Launched $254 cheaper
What you give up
- 0.4" smaller screen
- 5 g heavier
Head-to-head
| Spec | Magic5 | Honor Magic9 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 76.1 | 90.0 | +13.9 (18%) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | New generation chip |
| Battery capacity | 5,100 mAh | 8,000 mAh | +2,900 mAh (57%) |
| Screen size | 6.8" | 6.4" | −0.4" (6%) |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 200 MP | +150 MP (300%) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | +8 GB (100%) |
| Weight | 204 g | 209 g | +5 g |
| Launch price | $999 | $745 | −$254 (25%) |
Upgrade if…
- You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day
- Photo quality is a priority for you
- You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features
- Your Magic5 is 3+ years old and its battery has worn down
Magic5 to Honor Magic9: Common Questions
Is it worth upgrading from the Magic5 to the Honor Magic9?
Yes — the Honor Magic9 is a worthwhile upgrade. The Honor Magic9 is 3 years newer than the Magic5, and the BeastScore rises from 76.1 to 90.0. The biggest improvements: newer qualcomm snapdragon 8 elite gen 5 chipset (replaces snapdragon 8 gen 2), 2,900 mah bigger battery, higher-resolution main camera (+150 mp). Trade-offs to know: 0.4" smaller screen, 5 g heavier.
What is the biggest difference between the Magic5 and Honor Magic9?
Newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset (replaces Snapdragon 8 Gen 2): Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 on the Magic5 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on the Honor Magic9.
Does the Honor Magic9 have a bigger battery than the Magic5?
The Honor Magic9 has a 8,000 mAh battery versus 5,100 mAh on the Magic5 (+2,900 mAh (57%)).
Who should upgrade to the Honor Magic9?
Upgrade if: You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day; Photo quality is a priority for you; You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features; Your Magic5 is 3+ years old and its battery has worn down.