Honor Magic3 vs Honor 70: A Detailed Showdown

Honor continues to deliver compelling smartphones, but choosing between the flagship Magic3 and the mid-range 70 can be tricky. Both offer unique features and appeal to different users. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which Honor phone is the right fit for you.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic3 boasts significantly superior performance thanks to its Snapdragon 888 chipset, making it ideal for demanding users. The Honor 70 shines with its vibrant display, impressive camera features, and excellent battery life, offering great value for the price. The Magic3 wins on power, the 70 on value.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic3 Honor 70
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, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2021, August 122022, May 30
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 20Available. Released 2022, June 02
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or vegan leather back, aluminum frameGlass front, plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions162.8 x 74.9 x 8.99 mm (Glass) / 9.5 mm (Vegan Leather)161.4 x 73.3 x 7.9 mm (6.35 x 2.89 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight203 g (Glass) / 202 g (Vegan Leather) (7.16 oz)178 g (6.28 oz)
 IP54, dust and water resistant-
Display
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM7325-AE Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 642L
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 5Android 12, Magic UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)32 MP, f/2.4, (wide)
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF 64 MP, f/1.8, (monochrome) 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)54 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.49", PDAF 50 MP, f/2.2, 122˚ (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)32 MP, f/2.4, (wide)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a)GPS, GLONASS, BDS
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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired66W wired, 60% in 20 min 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Po 4800 mAh
Misc
ColorsGolden Hour (Vegan Leather), Blue Hour (Vegan Leather), Black, WhiteMidnight Black, Emerald Green, Icelandic Frost, Crystal Silver
ModelsELZ-AN00FNE-AN00, FNE-NX9
PriceAbout 670 EUR£ 201.00 / € 189.90
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 100h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -29.4 LUFS (Average)

Honor Magic3

  • Flagship Snapdragon 888 performance
  • Potentially better camera processing
  • Premium build quality
  • Fast 66W charging

  • Shorter battery life compared to 70
  • Higher price point
  • May lack some of the 70's camera features

Honor 70

  • Excellent battery life (100h endurance)
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Stylish design
  • Competitive price

  • Mid-range Snapdragon 778G+ performance
  • Less powerful than Magic3
  • Potentially less refined camera processing

Display Comparison

The Honor 70's 790 nits max brightness provides a noticeably brighter viewing experience, especially outdoors. While the Magic3's display is excellent, it lacks the same peak brightness. The Honor 70's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (likely a marketing term) suggests deep blacks, contributing to a vibrant picture. Both offer smooth scrolling thanks to high refresh rates (likely 120Hz on both).

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems. The Honor 70 is likely to have more advanced computational photography features and potentially a more versatile camera setup (e.g., a dedicated macro lens). The Magic3, with its flagship processor, may offer slightly better image processing and video recording capabilities, especially in low light. Both likely feature high-resolution main sensors.

Performance

Here's where the Magic3 truly shines. The Snapdragon 888 is a flagship chipset, significantly outperforming the 778G+ in the Honor 70. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and significantly better gaming performance on the Magic3. The 70 is still capable for everyday tasks, but struggles with intensive applications.

Battery Life

The Honor 70 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 100h, suggesting exceptional battery life. While the Magic3's battery capacity is likely similar, the more power-hungry Snapdragon 888 will result in shorter battery life compared to the 778G+. Both offer 66W wired charging, allowing for relatively quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic3 is perfect for gamers, power users, and those who prioritize raw performance and flagship features. The Honor 70 is a great choice for everyday users, photography enthusiasts on a budget, and those who value long battery life and a stylish design.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Honor Magic3 worth the extra money?
If you prioritize performance and flagship features, the Magic3 is worth the investment. However, if you're on a budget and value battery life and a vibrant display, the Honor 70 offers excellent value.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Honor Magic3 is significantly better for gaming due to its powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset. It will handle demanding games with ease.