Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs HONOR Magic V5 5G

Our Verdict: HONOR Magic V5 5G is the more expansive hardware choice than Apple iPhone 16 Plus, led by the bigger screen, the stronger 20MP front camera, a larger 5,820 mAh battery, and a foldable design. Apple iPhone 16 Plus starts lower SIM-free at £482, roughly £651 below HONOR Magic V5 5G; Apple iPhone 16 Plus also has the lower contract total in the current deals; software is a real divider too, with iPhone 16 Plus on Apple iOS and Magic V5 5G on Android. Choose HONOR Magic V5 5G if you care most about the bigger screen and the stronger 20MP front camera; choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if the lower cost is the priority.

The iPhone 16 Plus is the cheaper one to own: around £796 over a typical contract, £506 less than the V5 5G.

Expert Rating
4.2
12 reviews
4.3
10 reviews
Screen
6.7" 7.95"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED Foldable LTPO AMOLED
Resolution
2796 x 1290 2172 x 2352
Pixels Per Inch
460 403
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 20 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A18 (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery
4,674 mAh 5,820 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 512GB
OS
Apple iOS Android
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth
5.3, A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions
160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 156.8 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm
Weight
199 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
£32.79/mo (£9.00 upfront) £13.00/mo (£979.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£510.00 £1133.00

Prices updated 27 July 2026

Apple iPhone 16 Plus Apple iPhone 16 Plus HONOR Magic V5 5G HONOR Magic V5 5G
Expert Rating 4.2
12 reviews
4.3
10 reviews
Screen 6.7" 7.95"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED Foldable LTPO AMOLED
Resolution 2796 x 1290 2172 x 2352
Pixels Per Inch 460 403
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 50 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 20 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A18 (3 nm) Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)
Battery 4,674 mAh 5,820 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 512GB
OS Apple iOS Android
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7
Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 156.8 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm
Weight 199 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 £32.79/mo
£9.00 upfront
£13.00/mo
£979.00 upfront
SIM-free £510.00 £1133.00
Prices updated 27 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Apple iPhone 16 Plus

24 Months

128GB

White

Refurbished

10GB

Data

£32.79 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)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or HONOR Magic V5 5G cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus is cheaper on contract at £795.96 over the life of the deal from £32.79 per month with £9.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The HONOR Magic V5 5G has the bigger screen at 8" compared to the Apple iPhone 16 Plus's 6.7", the Apple iPhone 16 Plus has the sharper display at 460 pixels per inch versus 403, and the Apple iPhone 16 Plus 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 16 Plus or HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus features a 48 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 16 Plus or HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £510.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the HONOR Magic V5 5G comes in 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and HONOR Magic V5 5G use?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is powered by the Apple A18 (3 nm), 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 16 Plus or HONOR Magic V5 5G?

It's a trade-off: the Apple iPhone 16 Plus is lighter but the HONOR Magic V5 5G is more compact. It's 23g lighter at 199 grams, though the HONOR Magic V5 5G is actually the more compact phone at 156.8 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus is slimmer at 7.8mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or HONOR Magic V5 5G?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus 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 16 Plus and HONOR Magic V5 5G run?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus runs Apple iOS 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.