Honor Magic3 vs Honor X9a: A Detailed Comparison

Choosing a new smartphone can be overwhelming. The Honor Magic3 and Honor X9a both offer compelling features, but cater to different users. This comprehensive comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic3 is the clear winner for performance and camera capabilities thanks to its Snapdragon 888 chipset and advanced camera system. However, the Honor X9a offers excellent value with a vibrant display and solid battery life, making it a great choice for budget-conscious users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor Magic3	Honor X9a

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

Launch
Announced	2021, August 12	2023, January 04
Status	Available. Released 2021, August 20	Available. Released 2023, January 06

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back or vegan leather back, aluminum frame	-
Dimensions	162.8 x 74.9 x 8.99 mm (Glass) / 9.5 mm (Vegan Leather)	161.6 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm (6.36 x 2.91 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	203 g (Glass) / 202 g (Vegan Leather) (7.16 oz)	175 g (6.17 oz)
	IP54, dust and water resistant	-

Display
Resolution	1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPU	Adreno 660	Adreno 619
OS	Android 11, Magic UI 5	Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MagicOS 7

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM

Main Camera
Dual	-	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
Triple	50 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)	-
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a)	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Battery
Charging	66W wired 5W reverse wired	40W wired
Type	Li-Po 4600 mAh	Li-Po 5100 mAh

Misc
Colors	Golden Hour (Vegan Leather), Blue Hour (Vegan Leather), Black, White	Titanium Silver, Emerald Green, Midnight Black
Models	ELZ-AN00	RMO-NX1
Price	About 670 EUR	$ 212.08

Honor Magic3

Flagship Performance
Excellent Camera System
Fast Charging (66W)
Premium Build Quality

Higher Price
Can get warm under heavy load

Honor X9a

Vibrant OLED Display (120Hz)
Good Battery Life
Affordable Price
Stylish Design

Mid-Range Performance
Less Capable Camera
Slower Charging (40W)

Display Comparison

The Honor X9a boasts a 6.67-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and smooth scrolling. The Magic3 also has a 6.76-inch OLED display, but its refresh rate is variable (120Hz). While both are excellent, the X9a's consistent 120Hz might be preferred by some.

Camera Comparison

The Magic3's camera system is a major upgrade. It typically features a multi-lens setup (often including a periscope telephoto lens) offering superior image quality, zoom capabilities, and low-light performance compared to the X9a's more standard camera array. The X9a still takes decent photos, but lacks the Magic3's versatility.

Performance

Here's where the Magic3 truly shines. Its Snapdragon 888 chipset provides significantly faster processing speeds and smoother multitasking compared to the X9a's Snapdragon 695. Gaming performance is dramatically better on the Magic3.

Battery Life

The Honor X9a generally offers slightly better battery life due to its more efficient chipset and potentially larger battery capacity (around 4800mAh). The Magic3 (around 4200mAh) still provides all-day battery life, but may drain faster under heavy use.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic3 is ideal for power users, mobile gamers, and photography enthusiasts who demand top-tier performance and camera quality. The Honor X9a is perfect for everyday users seeking a stylish phone with a good display, reliable battery, and a more affordable price tag.