Honor Magic3 Pro vs Huawei Mate 50 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The Honor Magic3 Pro and Huawei Mate 50 Pro represent distinct approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The Magic3 Pro, leveraging the Snapdragon 888+, aimed for raw performance, while the Mate 50 Pro, with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G, prioritized efficiency and camera capabilities. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right flagship.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Huawei Mate 50 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, despite the 4G limitation, delivers excellent performance and superior battery life (10:36h active use, 104h endurance rating) compared to the Magic3 Pro. The Mate 50 Pro’s 946 nits peak brightness also provides a better viewing experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic3 Pro Huawei Mate 50 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
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, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2021, August 122022, September 06
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 01Available. Released 2022, September 28
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or vegan leather back, aluminum frame-
Dimensions162.8 x 74.9 x 9.0 mm or 9.5 mm162.1 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm (6.38 x 2.97 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight212 g / 213 g (7.48 oz)205 g / 209 g (7.23 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Huawei Kunlun Glass
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1212 x 2616 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~428 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.74 inches, 111.8 cm2 (~91.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 730
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 5EMUI 13 (International), HarmonyOS 3.0 (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
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)-
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Triple-50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
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), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2
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, compassFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
 -BDS Satellite Message (sending only)
Battery
Charging66W wired 66W wireless 5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Po 4700 mAh
Misc
ColorsGolden Hour (Vegan Leather), Black, WhiteBlack, Silver, Purple, Orange
ModelsELZ-AN10DCO-AL00, DCO-LX9
PriceAbout 800 EURAbout 900 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 104h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 979921 (v9) GeekBench: 3839 (v5.1) GFXBench: 68fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic3 Pro

  • Faster CPU clock speed (2.99 GHz vs 3.19 GHz)
  • 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
  • 66W wireless charging is faster than Mate 50 Pro's 50W

  • Less efficient Snapdragon 888+ chipset
  • Likely shorter battery life
  • Display brightness is unknown and likely lower

Huawei Mate 50 Pro

  • More efficient Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Superior battery life (10:36h active use)
  • Brighter display (946 nits)
  • Likely better camera image processing

  • Limited to 4G connectivity
  • Slower wireless charging (50W vs 66W)
  • Potentially less raw CPU power in specific benchmarks

Display Comparison

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 946 nits measured, compared to the Honor Magic3 Pro’s unspecified peak brightness. While both likely utilize OLED panels, the Mate 50 Pro’s higher brightness translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology. The lack of detailed refresh rate information for the Magic3 Pro leaves the Mate 50 Pro as the clear winner in display quality based on available data.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are advertised as having strong camera systems, but detailed sensor information is lacking. The context data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for both. Given Huawei’s historical strength in mobile photography, the Mate 50 Pro likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes. Without specific details on megapixel counts, aperture values, or OIS implementation, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Huawei’s brand reputation suggests an edge for the Mate 50 Pro.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Huawei Mate 50 Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4nm) represents a generational leap over the Honor Magic3 Pro’s Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5nm). The 8+ Gen 1’s newer Cortex-X2 core (3.19 GHz) and Cortex-A710 cores (2.75 GHz) offer improved single-core and multi-core performance, respectively, compared to the Magic3 Pro’s Cortex-X1 (2.99 GHz) and A78 cores (2.42 GHz). Crucially, the 4nm process node of the 8+ Gen 1 provides superior thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads. However, the Mate 50 Pro is limited to 4G connectivity, a significant drawback for users in 5G areas.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate 50 Pro demonstrably excels in battery life, achieving an impressive 10:36h of active use and a 104-hour endurance rating. While the Honor Magic3 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, its 66W wired and 66W wireless charging capabilities are matched by the Mate 50 Pro’s 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. The Mate 50 Pro’s superior efficiency, stemming from the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s 4nm process, allows it to extract significantly more usage from its battery, making it the clear winner for users prioritizing longevity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic3 Pro if you absolutely require 5G connectivity and prioritize the fastest possible CPU clock speeds for demanding tasks, even at the cost of battery life. Buy the Huawei Mate 50 Pro if you value exceptional battery endurance, a brighter display, and a refined camera experience, and can live without 5G connectivity. The Mate 50 Pro is the better all-rounder for the average user.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the lack of 5G on the Huawei Mate 50 Pro significantly impact real-world performance?
For users in areas with robust 5G coverage, the absence of 5G on the Mate 50 Pro is a noticeable limitation. However, in areas with limited or no 5G, the difference will be negligible. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s efficiency gains often outweigh the benefits of 5G for everyday tasks.
❓ How does the thermal management differ between the Snapdragon 888+ and the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in these devices?
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, built on a 4nm process, is significantly more thermally efficient than the Snapdragon 888+ (5nm). This means the Mate 50 Pro is less prone to overheating and throttling during prolonged gaming or demanding tasks, resulting in more consistent performance.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the Mate 50 Pro a significant drawback compared to the Magic3 Pro's 66W?
While 66W is faster, the difference in real-world charging times isn't massive. The Mate 50 Pro's superior battery efficiency means you'll likely be charging less frequently, mitigating the impact of the slightly slower wireless charging speed.