Honor Magic3 Pro vs. Magic3 Pro+: A Detailed Showdown

Honor's Magic3 Pro and Magic3 Pro+ were flagship contenders, boasting impressive specs and innovative features. But with seemingly identical hardware on paper, discerning the differences can be tricky. This comprehensive comparison dives deep to reveal which phone truly offers the best experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic3 Pro and Pro+ share almost identical core specs. The Pro+ historically offered a slightly improved camera system (particularly in low light) and sometimes a marginally better display calibration, but availability and pricing often made the Pro the more practical choice. Ultimately, it depends on finding the best deal.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic3 Pro Honor Magic3 Pro+
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE-A, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, August 122021, August 12
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 01Available. Released 2021, September 19
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or vegan leather back, aluminum frameGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions162.8 x 74.9 x 9.0 mm or 9.5 mm162.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (6.41 x 2.95 x 0.39 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMDual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Weight212 g / 213 g (7.48 oz)236 g (8.32 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 5Android 11, Magic UI 5
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM512GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 64 MP, f/1.8, (monochrome) 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF TOF 3D (depth)50 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)13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNo-
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, 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, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum
Battery
Charging66W wired 66W wireless 5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired66W wired 66W wireless 5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Po 4600 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsGolden Hour (Vegan Leather), Black, WhiteCeramic Black, Ceramic White
ModelsELZ-AN10ELZ-AN20
PriceAbout 800 EURAbout 1070 EUR

Honor Magic3 Pro

  • Excellent performance
  • Fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • Impressive camera system
  • Vibrant OLED display
  • 5G connectivity

  • Under-display camera visibility
  • Availability can be limited
  • No microSD card slot

Honor Magic3 Pro+

  • Potentially slightly better camera (low light)
  • Excellent performance
  • Fast charging (wired & wireless)
  • Vibrant OLED display
  • 5G connectivity

  • Under-display camera visibility
  • Availability extremely limited
  • No microSD card slot
  • Potentially higher price

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 6.76-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2772 x 1236 resolution. While both offer vibrant colors and smooth scrolling, the Pro+ sometimes had slightly better color accuracy and brightness calibration out of the box, though this varied by unit. The under-display camera on both is noticeable but functional.

Camera Comparison

The camera system is where the Pro+ historically held a slight edge. While both have a 50MP main sensor, a 64MP telephoto, and a 13MP ultrawide, the Pro+ often featured a larger sensor and potentially improved image processing algorithms, resulting in slightly better low-light performance and dynamic range. Both record excellent 4K video.

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 888+ chipset and 8GB/12GB of RAM, both phones deliver blazing-fast performance. Gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications run flawlessly on either device. There's virtually no discernible difference in everyday performance.

Battery Life

Both phones pack a 4500mAh battery and support 66W wired and wireless charging. Real-world battery life is comparable, typically lasting a full day with moderate usage. The 5W reverse wireless charging is a convenient bonus for both.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic3 Pro is ideal for users seeking a high-end flagship experience with a powerful processor, excellent camera, and fast charging without breaking the bank. The Honor Magic3 Pro+ was targeted at photography enthusiasts who prioritized the absolute best camera performance, but its limited availability and potentially higher price made it less accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Honor Magic3 Pro+ worth the extra money?
Historically, the Pro+ offered a marginal camera improvement, but its limited availability and higher price often made the standard Pro a better value. Consider if the camera difference is crucial to you.
❓ What is the under-display camera like?
The under-display camera on both phones is a unique feature, but it's not perfect. Image quality is noticeably softer than a traditional selfie camera, and the screen can be slightly visible around the area.