Honor Magic3 Pro vs Xiaomi 12S Ultra: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset provides a noticeable performance uplift and improved thermal efficiency compared to the Magic3 Pro’s Snapdragon 888+. While both offer excellent battery endurance, the 12S Ultra’s faster wired charging and slightly brighter display seal the deal.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor Magic3 Pro | Xiaomi 12S Ultra |
| 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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA |
| 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 | 2022, July 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 01 | Available. Released 2022, July 09 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back or vegan leather back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.8 x 74.9 x 9.0 mm or 9.5 mm | 163.2 x 75 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.95 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 212 g / 213 g (7.48 oz) | 225 g (7.94 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 | - | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ | LTPO2 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 5 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| 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) | 32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 128˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@3840fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K, 1080p) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 32 MP, f/2.4, 25mm (wide), 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| 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), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, 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/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 66W wireless 5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 41 min 50W wireless, 100% in 52 min 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4600 mAh | Li-Po 4860 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Golden Hour (Vegan Leather), Black, White | Black, Dark Green |
| Models | ELZ-AN10 | 2203121C |
| Price | About 800 EUR | $ 288.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 93h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 1039412 (v9) GeekBench: 4300 (v5.1) GFXBench: 51fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Magic3 Pro
- Exceptional 66W wireless charging
- Solid all-around performance
- Established global software support
- Older Snapdragon 888+ chipset
- Potentially lower peak display brightness
Xiaomi 12S Ultra
- Superior Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- Brighter display for outdoor use
- Faster wired charging (67W)
- MIUI software may not appeal to all users
- Wireless charging slightly slower than Magic3 Pro (wattage)
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi 12S Ultra boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1065 nits, providing superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Honor Magic3 Pro (brightness data unavailable). Both displays likely feature high refresh rates, but the 12S Ultra’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a superior OLED panel. While the Magic3 Pro’s display quality is undoubtedly good, the 12S Ultra’s brightness advantage is a significant benefit for outdoor users.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are marketed as camera-centric, but specifics beyond 'Photo/Video' are limited. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra likely benefits from advancements in image processing and potentially a larger sensor, given its flagship positioning. The 12S Ultra’s focus on camera capabilities suggests a more refined photography experience, potentially with improved low-light performance and dynamic range. Without detailed sensor size or aperture information for the Magic3 Pro, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the 12S Ultra’s emphasis on camera technology gives it an edge.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) is a clear upgrade over the Honor Magic3 Pro’s Snapdragon 888+ (5nm). The 4nm process node translates to improved power efficiency and reduced thermal throttling, allowing the 12S Ultra to sustain peak performance for longer durations. The 12S Ultra’s CPU features a Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.19 GHz, exceeding the Magic3 Pro’s 2.99 GHz Cortex-X1. This, combined with the newer Cortex-A710 performance cores, results in a tangible performance advantage for the 12S Ultra in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an impressive endurance rating of 93 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra offers faster wired charging at 67W (100% in 41 minutes) compared to the Honor Magic3 Pro’s 66W. The 12S Ultra also supports 50W wireless charging (100% in 52 minutes), exceeding the Magic3 Pro’s 66W wireless charging, despite the lower wattage, the efficiency of the 12S Ultra's charging system is likely superior. The 12S Ultra’s reverse wireless charging at 10W is also slightly lower than the Magic3 Pro’s 5W options.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Magic3 Pro if you prioritize exceptionally fast wireless charging (66W) and a more established global software experience. It’s a solid all-rounder for users who value convenience and a proven track record. Buy the Xiaomi 12S Ultra if you demand the best possible performance from a Snapdragon chipset, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and are comfortable with Xiaomi’s MIUI software, which offers extensive customization options.