A photographing optical lens assembly includes five lens elements with refractive power, in order from an object side to an image side. The first lens element with refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface and an image-side surface both being aspheric. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element with refractive power has a concave object-side surface. The fifth lens element with refractive power has an object-side surface and a concave image-side surface with at least one inflection point, both the object-side surface and the image-side surface being aspheric.