Honor Magic3 Pro+ vs Honor Magic4 Pro: The Ultimate Showdown

Honor continues to push boundaries with its flagship phones. The Magic3 Pro+ and Magic4 Pro both offer premium features, but cater to slightly different needs. This comprehensive comparison will break down the key differences to help you decide which device deserves your attention.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Magic4 Pro boasts a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, significantly quicker 100W charging, and a brighter display. However, the Magic3 Pro+ offers a slightly more mature Snapdragon 888+ and a robust feature set. The Magic4 Pro is the clear winner for performance and charging speed, but the Magic3 Pro+ remains a compelling option.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic3 Pro+ Honor Magic4 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
SpeedHSPA, LTE-A, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, August 122022, February 28
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 19Available. Released 2022, April 09
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front, aluminum frame, glass back
Dimensions162.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (6.41 x 2.95 x 0.39 in)163.6 x 74.7 x 9.1 mm or 9.2 mm
SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight236 g (8.32 oz)209 g / 215 g (7.37 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Aluminosilicate glass
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1312 x 2848 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~93.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 730
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 5Android 12, Magic UI 6
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom 64 MP, f/1.8, (monochrome) 64 MP, f/2.4, 11mm 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF TOF 3D (depth)-
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF 50 MP, f/2.2, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", AF 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom TOF 3D (depth)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jack-No
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit audio stereo recording
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrumFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 66W wireless 5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired100W wired, 100% in 30 min 100W wireless, 50% in 15 min Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4600 mAh
Misc
ColorsCeramic Black, Ceramic WhiteBlack, White, Cyan, Gold, Orange
ModelsELZ-AN20LGE-NX9, LGE-N49B, LGE-N19B, LGE-AN10, GBD-NX9
PriceAbout 1070 EUR€ 469.41 / £ 397.48
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 82h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 980755 (v9) GeekBench: 3512 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic3 Pro+

  • Proven Snapdragon 888+ chipset
  • Robust feature set
  • Excellent build quality
  • Good camera performance

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Magic4 Pro
  • Slightly older chipset

Honor Magic4 Pro

  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset
  • Blazing-fast 100W wired and wireless charging
  • Brighter display
  • Improved image processing (potentially)

  • Potential for thermal throttling with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
  • Design may be polarizing to some

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent OLED displays, but the Magic4 Pro takes the lead with a measured peak brightness of 957 nits compared to the Magic3 Pro+'s likely lower brightness. The Magic4 Pro's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests exceptional blacks and vibrant colors. Both offer smooth 120Hz refresh rates.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are expected to deliver excellent camera performance, leveraging Honor's image processing capabilities. While specific camera specs are not detailed, both likely feature a versatile triple-camera system with a primary wide-angle lens, ultrawide lens, and telephoto lens. The Magic4 Pro may have slight improvements in image processing and low-light performance due to its newer chipset.

Performance

The Magic4 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) offers a noticeable performance boost over the Magic3 Pro+'s Snapdragon 888+ (5nm). While both are capable of handling demanding tasks, the 8 Gen 1 provides smoother multitasking and faster gaming performance. The Cortex-X2 core in the 8 Gen 1 is a key differentiator.

Battery Life

The Magic4 Pro's 100W wired charging is a game-changer, allowing for a full charge in around 30 minutes. Its 100W wireless charging also significantly reduces charging times. While both offer reverse wireless charging, the Magic4 Pro's charging speeds are substantially faster. Both phones have an endurance rating of 82h, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic3 Pro+ is ideal for users who prioritize a well-rounded experience with a proven chipset and appreciate the slightly more refined design. The Honor Magic4 Pro is best suited for power users who demand the absolute fastest charging speeds, cutting-edge performance, and a vibrant, high-brightness display.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Magic4 Pro prone to overheating?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 has been known to experience thermal throttling under sustained heavy load. However, Honor's cooling solutions may mitigate this issue.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Honor typically provides consistent software updates. The Magic4 Pro, being newer, will likely receive updates for a longer period.