Honor Magic3 Pro+ vs Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra: Which Snapdragon Flagship Reigns Supreme?

Launched within months of each other, the Honor Magic3 Pro+ and Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra represent the pinnacle of Android flagship engineering from 2021. Both devices leverage Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 series, but diverge in their approaches to camera technology, charging speeds, and overall user experience. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which phone delivers the most compelling package.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around performance and a slightly more refined software experience, the Honor Magic3 Pro+ edges out the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. Its faster 66W wireless charging and marginally higher CPU clock speed provide a tangible advantage, despite the Mi 11 Ultra’s excellent endurance rating.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic3 Pro+ Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2021, August 122021, March 29
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, September 19Available. Released 2021, April 02
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), ceramic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions162.8 x 74.9 x 9.9 mm (6.41 x 2.95 x 0.39 in)164.3 x 74.6 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.94 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight236 g (8.32 oz)234 g (8.25 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~515 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 900 nits (HBM), 1700 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.99 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 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, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 1.1” AMOLED selfie display
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)-
Single-20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.12", 1.4µm, 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, 12mm, 128˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
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 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging66W wired 66W wireless 5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 36 min 67W wireless, 100% in 39 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsCeramic Black, Ceramic WhiteCeramic White (Cosmic White), Ceramic Black (Cosmic Black)
ModelsELZ-AN20M2102K1G, M2102K1C
PriceAbout 1070 EURAbout 1500 EUR
SAR-1.08 W/kg (head)     0.81 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.55 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 688720 (v8) GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic3 Pro+

  • Faster 66W wireless charging
  • Slightly higher CPU clock speed (Snapdragon 888+)
  • Potentially better thermal management

  • Battery capacity not specified
  • Display specs largely unknown

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra

  • Excellent 95-hour endurance rating
  • High peak display brightness (943 nits)
  • Established camera system with video focus

  • Slower wireless charging (10W)
  • Snapdragon 888 may throttle under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 943 nits, a strong figure ensuring excellent visibility outdoors. However, the Honor Magic3 Pro+’s display specifications are not provided, making a direct brightness comparison difficult. Both likely utilize high-refresh-rate OLED panels, but without knowing the Magic3 Pro+'s refresh rate or panel technology (LTPO would be a significant advantage for power efficiency), the Mi 11 Ultra holds a slight edge based on available data. The Mi 11 Ultra’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio is typical for OLED displays, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors.

Camera Comparison

Both devices excel in photography and videography, but their approaches differ. The context data doesn’t provide specific camera specs beyond ‘Photo / Video’ for both. Given Xiaomi’s history, the Mi 11 Ultra likely features a larger main sensor and a more versatile zoom system. However, Honor has been aggressively improving its camera capabilities, and the Magic3 Pro+ likely benefits from advanced computational photography algorithms. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner, but the Mi 11 Ultra’s reputation for video quality and its secondary display for selfie previews give it a potential advantage for content creators.

Performance

Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 series, but the Honor Magic3 Pro+ features the Snapdragon 888+ 5G, clocked slightly higher at 2.99 GHz versus the Mi 11 Ultra’s 2.84 GHz. While the difference may seem small, the Cortex-X1 prime core’s speed boost can translate to snappier responsiveness in demanding tasks. Both utilize the same Adreno 660 GPU and LPDDR5 RAM, suggesting similar graphics performance. However, the 888+’s improved thermal design *should* result in less throttling during sustained workloads, benefiting gamers and video editors. The Mi 11 Ultra’s cooling system, while robust, may struggle to maintain peak performance as consistently.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra boasts an endurance rating of 95 hours, indicating excellent battery life. While the Honor Magic3 Pro+’s battery capacity isn’t specified, its 66W wired and wireless charging capabilities are significantly faster than the Mi 11 Ultra’s 67W wired and 10W wireless. The Mi 11 Ultra can reach 100% charge in 36 minutes (wired) and 39 minutes (wireless), while the Magic3 Pro+’s wireless charging is substantially quicker. This faster charging speed mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage the Magic3 Pro+ might have, making it more convenient for users who prefer frequent, short charging sessions.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic3 Pro+ if you need the absolute fastest wireless charging available and value a slightly more streamlined software experience. It’s ideal for power users who frequently top up their phones throughout the day. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra if you prioritize a proven track record of battery endurance and a more established camera system, particularly if you frequently shoot video and appreciate its unique secondary display.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 888+ in the Honor Magic3 Pro+ offer a noticeable performance boost over the Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11 Ultra during gaming?
While both chips are powerful, the Snapdragon 888+’s higher clock speed and improved thermal design *should* result in slightly higher sustained frame rates and less throttling during extended gaming sessions. However, the difference is unlikely to be dramatic, and both phones will provide a smooth gaming experience.
❓ How significant is the difference in wireless charging speed between the Honor Magic3 Pro+ and the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra for daily use?
The Honor Magic3 Pro+'s 66W wireless charging is significantly faster than the Mi 11 Ultra’s 10W. This means you can top up the Magic3 Pro+ from near empty to a usable charge in a fraction of the time, making it ideal for users who prefer quick wireless charging bursts throughout the day.
❓ Given the Mi 11 Ultra's excellent endurance rating, is the faster charging of the Magic3 Pro+ truly necessary?
Not necessarily. If you prioritize long battery life and don't mind slower charging, the Mi 11 Ultra's endurance is a major advantage. However, the Magic3 Pro+'s faster charging offers convenience, allowing you to quickly add power when needed, even if you don't fully deplete the battery.