Honor Magic3 Pro vs. Huawei Mate 40 Pro: A Detailed Showdown

The Honor Magic3 Pro and Huawei Mate 40 Pro represent the pinnacle of mobile technology from their respective brands. Both boast impressive specs and premium features, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? This comprehensive comparison will break down every aspect, from display quality to camera performance, to help you make an informed decision.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic3 Pro edges out the Mate 40 Pro thanks to its Snapdragon 888+ chipset offering slightly better performance and faster charging speeds. However, the Mate 40 Pro’s exceptional camera system and incredible battery life remain compelling reasons to consider it. It's a close call!

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor Magic3 Pro	Huawei Mate 40 Pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2021, August 12	2020, October 22
Status	Available. Released 2021, September 01	Available. Released 2020, November 01

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back or vegan leather back, aluminum frame	Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	162.8 x 74.9 x 9.0 mm or 9.5 mm	162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	212 g / 213 g (7.48 oz)	212 g (7.48 oz)
	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)	IP68 dust/water resistant

Display
Resolution	1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)	1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)
Size	6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+	OLED, HDR10, 90Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)	Kirin 9000 5G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Mali-G78 MP24
OS	Android 11, Magic UI 5	Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services

Memory
Card slot	No	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad	50 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)	-
Single	13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)	-
Triple	-	50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 20 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (ultrawide), PDAF
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)	13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	32-bit/384kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a)	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass

Battery
Charging	66W wired 66W wireless 5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired	66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless
Type	Li-Po 4600 mAh	Li-Po 4400 mAh

Misc
Colors	Golden Hour (Vegan Leather), Black, White	Mystic Silver, White, Black, Green, Yellow
Models	ELZ-AN10	NOH-NX9, NOH-AN00, NOH-AN01
Price	About 800 EUR	About 790 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 97h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-24.9 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 686835 (v8) GeekBench: 3704 (v5.1) GFXBench: 43fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic3 Pro

Faster Performance (Snapdragon 888+)
Faster Charging (66W wired & wireless)
Likely 120Hz Display Refresh Rate
Vibrant Display

Camera not quite as good as Mate 40 Pro
Battery life slightly shorter than Mate 40 Pro

Huawei Mate 40 Pro

Exceptional Camera System
Outstanding Battery Life
Premium Design and Build Quality
High Brightness Display

Slightly Slower Performance (Kirin 9000)
Limited Google Services Support
Slower Wireless Charging (50W vs 66W)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent OLED displays with vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Mate 40 Pro boasts an impressive contrast ratio (nominally infinite) and a measured 807 nits brightness, while the Magic3 Pro offers a slightly more modern refresh rate (likely 120Hz vs. 90Hz on the Mate 40 Pro, though this needs confirmation). The Magic3 Pro's display may offer slightly better responsiveness.

Camera Comparison

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro’s camera system is arguably its strongest asset. It consistently delivers exceptional image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The Magic3 Pro’s camera is also very good, but it doesn't quite reach the same level of overall photographic excellence as the Mate 40 Pro. The Mate 40 Pro's video recording capabilities are also highly regarded.

Performance

The Honor Magic3 Pro’s Snapdragon 888+ provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Kirin 9000 in most benchmarks and real-world usage. While the Kirin 9000 is still a powerful chip, the 888+ generally handles demanding tasks and gaming with greater ease. Both phones offer smooth multitasking and a fluid user experience.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 97 hours. While the Magic3 Pro’s battery life is respectable, it doesn't match the Mate 40 Pro’s longevity. Both phones offer 66W wired charging and 5W reverse wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic3 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing raw performance, fast charging, and a vibrant display. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro is a better choice for photography enthusiasts and those who demand exceptional battery life and a premium, refined user experience, especially if Google services aren't a priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Honor Magic3 Pro have Google Play Services?

No, the Honor Magic3 Pro does not have Google Play Services due to trade restrictions. It relies on Honor's own app store and alternative app sources.

❓ Is the Huawei Mate 40 Pro worth buying in 2023?

Yes, the Mate 40 Pro remains a compelling option in 2023, especially for its camera and battery life. However, be aware of the lack of Google Play Services and consider newer alternatives if that's a dealbreaker.