Description
Honor Magic5 Lite Review: A Well-Rounded Midrange Phone
In 2023, Honor revisits its flagship Magic series with significant upgrades, presenting the Magic5 Lite. With features inspired by the Asian-market release, Honor x9a, the new model addresses the shortcomings of the Magic4 Lite, providing an improved OLED display, a better main camera, an ultrawide rear camera, larger battery capacity, and a fresh design.
The Magic5 Lite is sleek, sporting a distinctive design that stands out among mid-range devices. The phone comes with the updated Magic UI 6.1, based on Android 12, promising more features and improvements.
Key specifications of the Magic5 Lite include a 6.67" AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 695 SoC, memory options of 6GB or 8GB RAM with storage up to 256GB, and a 64MP main camera. The device packs a larger 5100mAh battery, supports 40W wired charging, and includes an under-display optical fingerprint reader, NFC, and an Infrared port.
Despite its impressive features, the Magic5 Lite still uses the same Snapdragon 695 SoC as its predecessor, which lacks 4K video recording capabilities. Another surprising change is the exclusion of a charger and a phone case in the box, though this may not apply to all markets.
The Magic5 Lite is lighter and easier to handle, with its 6.67-inch display smaller than its predecessor's 6.81-inch one. It features a plastic chassis with a frosted glass-like back panel and a curved display, contributing to improved grip and a better feel.
The Magic5 Lite sports a more elegant and simplified camera bump design. Despite its premium features, some users might find other phones within the same price range with a more premium build.
The Magic5 Lite's 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 10-bit color depth and 120Hz refresh rate is a significant upgrade over Magic4 Lite's LCD. Despite its lack of advanced HDR video certifications, the new model's display performs respectably well, peaking at 864 nits in auto mode.
The Magic5 Lite's larger 5,100 mAh battery, combined with the OLED panel, results in extended usage time. However, the device supports a slower 40W charging compared to its predecessor's 66W. It also disappoints in terms of speaker quality and loudness, featuring a single, bottom-firing loudspeaker that falls short compared to competitors with stereo speaker setups.
In conclusion, the Honor Magic5 Lite is a well-rounded mid-range phone offering key improvements over its predecessor. Despite some drawbacks, it stands out with its superior AMOLED display, improved camera, and larger battery. However, its lacking audio capabilities and the exclusion of a charger in the box might leave some potential buyers wanting more.
Specifications:
- Network Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
- 2G bands: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM)
- 3G bands: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
- 4G bands: LTE (unspecified)
- Speed: HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A
- Body Dimensions: 166.1 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm (6.54 x 2.98 x 0.32 in)
- Weight: 189 g (6.67 oz)
- Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
- Display Type: IPS LCD, 90Hz
- Display Size: 6.81 inches, 112.3 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)
- Resolution: 1080 x 2388 pixels (~385 ppi density)
- Platform OS: Android 11, Magic UI 4.2
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4×1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver)
- GPU: Adreno 610
- Memory Card slot: No
- Internal Memory: 256GB – 8GB RAM
- Main Camera: Quad 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF, 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro), 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
- Camera Features: LED flash, panorama, HDR
- Video: 1080p@30fps
- Selfie Camera: Single 16 MP, f/2.5
- Selfie Video: 1080p@30fps
- Sound: Loudspeaker
- 3.5mm jack: No
- WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
- Bluetooth: 5.1, A2DP, LE
- Positioning: Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
- NFC: Yes
- Radio: No
- USB: USB Type-C 2.0, USB On-The-Go
- Features: Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass, proximity sensing
- Battery: Li-Po 4800 mAh, non-removable
- Charging: Fast charging 66W, 81% in 30 min
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- How much storage does Honor X9a 5G have?
- The Honor X9a 5G comes equipped with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display featuring a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The phone's powerful performance is supported by a Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G processor and Adreno 619 GPU, complemented by 8GB of RAM and a generous 256GB of storage.
- Does the Honor X9a 5G support wireless charging?
- Yes, the Honor X9a 5G is compatible with standard wireless charging protocols such as Qi.
- Is the Honor X9a a dual SIM device?
- Yes, the Honor X9a supports dual SIM functionality (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by). The device measures 161.6 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm and weighs 175 grams.
- Is the Honor X9a water-resistant?
- The Honor X9a is both dustproof and water-resistant, meaning it can withstand water exposure from powerful jets, but it is not designed to be submerged in water.
- Does the Honor X9a 5G have NFC?
- The Honor X9a 5G does support NFC. It also comes with a triple rear camera setup comprising a 48 MP main sensor, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. In addition, it supports Wifi, Bluetooth, GPS, 4G LTE, and 5G connectivity options.
- Is the Honor X9a good for gaming?
- Despite its mid-range standing, the Honor X9a impresses with its gaming performance. Games like Call of Duty Mobile and Mobile Legends run smoothly without issues. Even Genshin Impact, known for its high graphical requirements, can run on this device with a stable frame rate, given that the settings are adjusted to low.