Honor Magic3 vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro: A Detailed Showdown

The Honor Magic3 and Huawei Mate 40 Pro represent the pinnacle of mobile technology from their respective brands. Both boast impressive specs and premium features, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? This comprehensive comparison will break down every aspect, from display quality to camera performance, to help you make an informed decision.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro edges out the Honor Magic3 thanks to its exceptional camera system, slightly better wireless charging, and impressive endurance rating. However, the Magic3's Snapdragon 888 offers a competitive performance boost, making it a strong contender for gamers and power users.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic3 Huawei Mate 40 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, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, August 122020, October 22
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, August 20Available. Released 2020, November 01
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or vegan leather back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
Dimensions162.8 x 74.9 x 8.99 mm (Glass) / 9.5 mm (Vegan Leather)162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm (Glass) / 9.5mm (Leather)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight203 g (Glass) / 202 g (Vegan Leather) (7.16 oz)212 g (7.48 oz)
 IP54, dust and water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant
Display
Resolution1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)1344 x 2772 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~456 ppi density)
Size6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+OLED, HDR10, 90Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)Kirin 9000 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Mali-G78 MP24
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 5Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide)-
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)50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 20 MP, f/1.8, 18mm (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)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+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, 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, compassFace ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired66W wired 50W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4600 mAhLi-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsGolden Hour (Vegan Leather), Blue Hour (Vegan Leather), Black, WhiteMystic Silver, White, Black, Green, Yellow
ModelsELZ-AN00NOH-NX9, NOH-AN00, NOH-AN01
PriceAbout 670 EURAbout 790 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 97h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.9 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 686835 (v8) GeekBench: 3704 (v5.1) GFXBench: 43fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic3

  • Blazing-fast Snapdragon 888 performance
  • Vibrant OLED display
  • Fast 66W wired charging
  • Competitive camera system

  • Battery life slightly less impressive than Mate 40 Pro
  • No wireless charging (except reverse)
  • Software experience may vary by region

Huawei Mate 40 Pro

  • Exceptional camera system
  • Outstanding battery life (97h endurance)
  • 50W wireless charging
  • Premium design and build quality
  • Infinite contrast ratio display

  • Kirin 9000 chipset slightly less powerful than Snapdragon 888
  • Software support concerns (due to US sanctions)
  • No Google Mobile Services (GMS) by default

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent OLED displays. The Mate 40 Pro boasts a measured 807 nits max brightness and an infinite contrast ratio, providing stunning visuals. The Magic3's display is also vibrant and sharp, though specific brightness figures are less readily available. The Mate 40 Pro's display arguably has a slight edge in overall visual impact.

Camera Comparison

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro's camera system is a standout feature. Its versatile lens setup and advanced image processing algorithms consistently produce exceptional photos and videos. The Honor Magic3's camera is also very capable, but it doesn't quite reach the Mate 40 Pro's level of detail and dynamic range, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Mate 40 Pro's video recording capabilities are also generally considered superior.

Performance

The Honor Magic3's Snapdragon 888 chipset delivers blistering performance, particularly in demanding games. While the Kirin 9000 in the Mate 40 Pro is also powerful, the Snapdragon 888 generally holds a slight advantage in raw processing power and GPU performance. Both handle everyday tasks with ease.

Battery Life

The Mate 40 Pro boasts an impressive endurance rating of 97 hours, indicating exceptional battery life. The Magic3's battery life is also good, but not quite as remarkable. Both phones support 66W wired charging, allowing for rapid top-ups. The Mate 40 Pro also includes 50W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, offering added convenience.

Buying Guide

The Honor Magic3 is ideal for users prioritizing raw performance and a vibrant display, especially gamers and those who enjoy multitasking. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro is a better choice for photography enthusiasts and those seeking long-lasting battery life and a premium, refined user experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Honor Magic3 have Google Play Services?
Availability of Google Play Services on the Honor Magic3 varies by region due to previous restrictions. Check local availability before purchasing.
❓ Is the Huawei Mate 40 Pro worth buying in 2023?
Despite being an older model, the Mate 40 Pro remains a compelling option due to its exceptional camera and battery life. However, consider the lack of GMS and potential software update limitations.