Apple iPhone 12 vs HONOR Magic V5 5G

Our Verdict: The contract comparison leans toward Apple iPhone 12 on entry cost, with £11.99/mo (£49.00 upfront) versus HONOR Magic V5 5G at £70.75/mo (£70.00 upfront). Screen quality leans toward Apple iPhone 12 for sharpness, with 457 PPI compared with HONOR Magic V5 5G's 403 PPI. HONOR Magic V5 5G has the higher-resolution rear camera figure at 50MP versus Apple iPhone 12's 12MP, HONOR Magic V5 5G also has the higher-resolution front camera at 20MP against Apple iPhone 12's 12MP. Apple iPhone 12 is lighter at 164g, compared with HONOR Magic V5 5G at 222g, HONOR Magic V5 5G lists the larger battery capacity, 5,820 mAh against Apple iPhone 12's 2,815 mAh. The better buy is priority-led: Apple iPhone 12 has its own hardware strengths, while HONOR Magic V5 5G may be the more sensible fit for cost, size, or ecosystem reasons.

The iPhone 12 is the cheaper one to own: around £510 over a typical contract, £792 less than the V5 5G.

Expert Rating
4.3
18 reviews
4.3
10 reviews
Screen
6.1" 7.95"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED Foldable LTPO AMOLED
Resolution
1170 x 2532 2172 x 2352
Pixels Per Inch
457 403
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 20 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A14 Bionic Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery
2,815 mAh 5,820 mAh
Storage
64GB, 128GB, 256GB 512GB
OS
iOS 14.1 Android
SIM Type
Standard SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 156.8 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm
Weight
164 grams 222 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP58/IP59 dust protected and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1m for 30 m
Contracts
£19.00/mo (£9.00 upfront) £13.00/mo (£979.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£144.99 £1133.00

Prices updated 26 July 2026

Apple iPhone 12 Apple iPhone 12 HONOR Magic V5 5G HONOR Magic V5 5G
Expert Rating 4.3
18 reviews
4.3
10 reviews
Screen 6.1" 7.95"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED Foldable LTPO AMOLED
Resolution 1170 x 2532 2172 x 2352
Pixels Per Inch 457 403
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 20 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A14 Bionic Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery 2,815 mAh 5,820 mAh
Storage 64GB, 128GB, 256GB 512GB
OS iOS 14.1 Android
SIM Type Standard SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm 156.8 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm
Weight 164 grams 222 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP58/IP59 dust protected and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1m for 30 m
Contracts £19.00/mo
£9.00 upfront
£13.00/mo
£979.00 upfront
SIM-free £144.99 £1133.00
Prices updated 26 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 12
Apple iPhone 12

24 Months

64GB

Black

100GB

Data

£19 per month, £9 upfront.

HONOR Magic V5 5G
HONOR Magic V5 5G

24 Months

512GB

Dawn Gold

100GB

Data

£13 per month, £979 upfront.

Use code: 30JNOFF (£30)

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 12 or HONOR Magic V5 5G cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 12 is cheaper on contract at £510.00 over the life of the deal from £19.00 per month with £9.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 12 or HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The HONOR Magic V5 5G has the bigger screen at 8" compared to the Apple iPhone 12's 6.1", the Apple iPhone 12 has the sharper display at 457 pixels per inch versus 403, and the Apple iPhone 12 uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the HONOR Magic V5 5G has a Foldable LTPO AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 12 or HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The Apple iPhone 12 features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the HONOR Magic V5 5G has a 50 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 12 or HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The Apple iPhone 12 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £144.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 12 and HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The Apple iPhone 12 is available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, while the HONOR Magic V5 5G comes in 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 12 and HONOR Magic V5 5G use?

The Apple iPhone 12 is powered by the Apple A14 Bionic, while the HONOR Magic V5 5G uses the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 12 or HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The Apple iPhone 12 is the more portable of the two: it's 58g lighter at 164 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm, and is slimmer at 7.4mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 12 or HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The Apple iPhone 12 is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the HONOR Magic V5 5G is rated IP58/IP59 dust protected and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1m for 30 m.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 12 and HONOR Magic V5 5G run?

The Apple iPhone 12 runs iOS 14.1 and the HONOR Magic V5 5G runs Android. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.