HONOR Magic 5 Lite, review and features

Today we're here to tell you all about a highly anticipated review of another highly anticipated device. It's the kind of review we're happy to write. We've been lucky enough to test the new HONOR Magic 5 Lite for a few weeks.

The truth is that HONOR is one of those brands that always sparks a lot of curiosity , and at the same time, a certain amount of goodwill among consumers. Its history with Huawei, Huawei's history with Google, and its creation as an independent brand.

HONOR Magic 5 Lite, much to say

And the company itself, HONOR, seems to still have a lot to say and contribute to the current smartphone market. Without any inferiority complex, but also through a great deal of hard work, HONOR has earned its place in the market through its own merits.

HONOR continues to produce well-balanced devices with each new release, and the Magic 5 Lite is a prime example . It's a more affordable version of a very good smartphone that's equally powerful and appealing. You can now buy your HONOR Magic 5 Lite on Amazon with free shipping.

HONOR Magic 5 Lite Unboxing

We opened the box of the HONOR Magic 5 Lite to tell you what we found inside. First, we found the phone itself . It feels really slim , and the materials clearly have a high-quality feel. In short, a premium-looking device that you can get for much less.

Besides the smartphone, there are few other items inside . We have the charging and data cable , which has a USB Type-C connector on one end and a USB connector on the other. Otherwise, there's only the standard SIM card eject tool and some product documentation.

We miss the glaring omission: the wall charger . HONOR joins the new (and unsightly) trend of leaving it out. It's an item we can reuse from any other device we have at home. But it never actually saves us money when buying the new device, as the manufacturers claim.

To compensate for this absence, we found an item that comes as a gift . HONOR includes a case for the Magic 5 Lite . Naturally, it fits the device perfectly. If I had to find a fault, it would be that it has a slightly "feminine" design that won't appeal to all users.

This is what the HONOR Magic 5 Lite looks like

The truth is, as soon as we held the HONOR Magic 5 Lite in our hands, we noticed a very high-quality device . After a few months of testing rugged phones, the HONOR feels incredibly light and thin . But the truth is, even when compared to other conventional smartphones, it still seems slim.

We found it to be a beautiful and well-designed phone , with dimensions that fit perfectly in the hand. It's 161,6 millimeters long and 73,9 millimeters wide , weighing only 175 grams . Slim, lightweight, and, in our opinion, very attractive. Are you considering it? Buy the HONOR Magic 5 Lite now on Amazon.

On the front, we find its 6,67-inch borderless AMOLED display with OLED technology, a 20:9 aspect ratio , and a very small hole- punch notch . It boasts a 1080 x 2400 FHD+ resolution and an impressive 120Hz refresh rate.

A percentage of screen occupation of 93%.

We can't overlook one of the details that makes this screen special: the fingerprint reader located beneath it . After being configured to read our finger, the sensor has worked flawlessly every time. Truly convenient and very reliable.

On its very thin side frame , the physical control buttons are located on the right : the Home button and the classic elongated button for controlling playback volume and calls. The left side of the device, as well as its top, are completely smooth.

At the bottom, we find several elements. From left to right, first is the SIM card tray slot , an unusual location. In the center is the USB Type-C charging port , next to the microphone . And on the far left is its single speaker.

On the back, HONOR has opted to retain its original and now iconic camera module . That large circle, with its metal ring housing the lenses, instantly identifies it as an HONOR. This camera module, dubbed MATRIX by the manufacturer, has a glossy finish that will easily attract fingerprints and dust.

HONOR Magic 5 Lite data sheet

[table]

Brand, HONOR

Model, Magic 5 Lite

Display, AMOLED 6.67 inches

Resolution, 1080 x 2400 px Full HD +

Screen ratio, 20:9

Processor, Qualcomm Snapdragon 695

CPU, 2×2.2 GHz Kyro 660 Gold + 6×1.7 GHZ Kyro 660 Silver

Type, Octa-Core

GPU, Qualcomm Adreno 619

RAM memory, 6 GB

Storage, 128 GB

Triple camera module

1st lens, 64 Mpx CMOS BSI

2nd lens, Wide Angle 5 Mpx

3rd lens, Macro 2 Mpx

Front camera, 16 Mpx

Battery, 5100 mAh

Operating System, Android 12

Dimensions, 73.9 x 161.6 x 7.9 mm

Weight, 175 g

Price, €298.00

Purchase link, HONOR Magic 5 Lite

[/ Table]

The screen of the Magic 5 Lite

One of the most striking features of the Magic 5 Lite is its generously sized 6.67-inch screen . This is a very comfortable size for everyday use. And considering its 1080 x 2400 px Full HD+ resolution, we can confirm that the user experience has been excellent.

We have exceptional brightness and a very powerful color gamut . Having a high-quality screen also significantly improves the camera experience . Seeing photos in detail with realistic and vibrant colors is always a plus.

The device's elongated size offers a 20:9 screen format , ideal for watching series, movies, YouTube, or for having a good time with your favorite game.

We really like the camera solution, with a minimal hole-shaped notch located in the center of the top of the screen. If we had to find a fault, it would be the rounded edges of the screen, which have so many detractors. Although we have to say, they look fantastic.

The equipment of the HONOR Magic 5 Lite

When we talk about a Lite device, we usually think of a low-end device, but this is only when compared to its big brother. Its features can compete face to face, without fear, against any recent mid-range device.

For its processor , HONOR uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip . This is the same processor found in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11, the POCO X4 Pro , and devices from brands like OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, and Motorola. All of them have received positive performance reports.

We found its octa-core CPU configuration to be as follows: 2 x 2.2 GHz Kyro 660 Gold + 6 x 1.7 GHz Kyro 660 Silver . This 6-nanometer processor has a clock speed of 2.2 GHz and a 64-bit architecture . The chip is complemented by 6 GB of RAM to deliver excellent performance .

Storage only goes up to 128 GB , and we have some bad news… we can't expand it with a memory card. But we do have the option of up to 6 GB of virtual RAM with HONOR RAM TURBO . Overall, the Magic 5 Lite's general performance exceeds our expectations.

Photographic section of the HONOR Magic 5 Lite

Now it's time to talk about the camera, another key factor when deciding whether or not to choose one smartphone over another. The Magic 5 Lite features a truly unique camera module, a hallmark of HONOR design . It's a large metal "ring" housing its three lenses and the flash.

The main lens boasts a 64-megapixel resolution, capable of delivering truly excellent results. It features a BSI CMOS sensor with a faster readout speed , enabling its electronic shutter to provide quicker autofocus response . This is especially useful for burst shooting with autofocus.

The second lens is a wide-angle lens with 5 MP resolution and an f/2.2 aperture. The third lens is a macro lens with 2 MP resolution and an f/2.4 aperture . These are sufficient to complete a photography package that generally delivers good results.

The front camera , with a resolution of 16 MP and a focal aperture of 2.45 , is more than enough to take quality selfies and make clear, high-resolution video calls.

Regarding the camera's performance, we detected some issues with autofocus and depth of field in certain photos . There's more noise than expected in dark areas . These are details that seem easily fixable with a software update.

Night mode is a very pleasant surprise . In an area where most cameras struggle, which is understandable, the Magic 5 Lite excels with excellent definition , superb lighting control , and minimal noise.

Finally, we also find the multi-camera mode quite original , allowing you to record simultaneously with the main and front cameras. Ideal for commenting on live videos, for example. And as for the videos themselves, while they aren't 4K , they do offer very good stabilization.

Examples of photos with the HONOR camera

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we always take some photos to show examples of the results the Magic 5 Lite is capable of . Here are some samples of this camera's potential.

A photograph in broad daylight and outdoors has all the elements in favor for the sensor to be able to offer its full potential. We see a photo with good color, good definition.

In this photo we can appreciate what we have discussed. In less illuminated areas, or with more darkness, noise and less definition of depth is observed. Even so, in general it is a capture with a well differentiated range of colors and textures.

This photo has been taken in very low light conditions. Using the night mode, the AI ​​together with the processing software do a good job. After a countdown of three seconds, the screen shows us a much better image than expected.

For this capture we have used the bokeh mode. The object is perfectly defined and the rear blur is quite correct. We can see some contour lines in the background. In general also a good photograph.

Autonomy and extras of the HONOR Magic 5 Lite

The 5 Lite's battery is another noteworthy feature. It boasts a 5100 mAh capacity , which is average for current devices, but lasts longer than many others . The excellent energy efficiency of its components is evident , allowing for up to two full days of use without needing to recharge.

Connectivity is important, and HONOR knows it. Therefore, the Magic 5 Lite features 5G, NFC, GPS, Bluetooth 5.1, and even an infrared port . This is increasingly rare in modern devices, but we really appreciate it; it doesn't get in the way at all and can have a variety of useful applications.

HONOR Magic 5 Lite Pros and Cons

Professionals

We love its design , super slim and very stylish.

The screen , its resolution and size offer a very good user experience.

Its battery performs above average.

Cons

The curved screen design isn't entirely appealing. It's an almost forgotten format with numerous drawbacks and few advantages.

Power adapter not included .

Editor's opinion