Honor Magic3 vs Sony Xperia 1 III: Which Snapdragon 888 Flagship Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Honor Magic3 offers a more compelling package. Its significantly faster 66W charging and competitive feature set provide a better daily experience, despite the Xperia 1 III’s slightly better endurance rating. The Xperia 1 III caters to a niche audience prioritizing a specific Sony aesthetic and camera experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor Magic3 | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| 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, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 12 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 20 | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back or vegan leather back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 162.8 x 74.9 x 8.99 mm (Glass) / 9.5 mm (Vegan Leather) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (Glass) / 202 g (Vegan Leather) (7.16 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| IP54, dust and water resistant | IP65/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) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.76 inches, 115.7 cm2 (~94.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm |
| 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) | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a) | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 5W reverse wired | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4600 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Golden Hour (Vegan Leather), Blue Hour (Vegan Leather), Black, White | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | ELZ-AN00 | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 670 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Magic3
- 66W wired charging for incredibly fast top-ups
- Potentially more aggressive pricing
- Modern design aesthetic
- Limited camera details available
- Display specifications are less detailed
Sony Xperia 1 III
- 82-hour endurance rating suggests excellent battery life
- Sony’s established camera expertise and color science
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging options
- Slower 30W wired charging
- Higher price point likely
- More traditional flagship design
Display Comparison
Both devices utilize the Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) chipset, meaning core performance will be similar. However, the Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a measured peak brightness of 620 nits, suggesting a potentially more visible display in direct sunlight. While the Magic3’s display specs are not provided, Sony’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a high-quality panel. The absence of LTPO information for either device suggests neither offers adaptive refresh rate technology for optimal power efficiency, a feature becoming increasingly common in this price bracket.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are advertised as having strong photo and video capabilities, but specifics are limited. The lack of sensor size information makes a direct comparison difficult. Sony’s reputation for image processing and color science is well-established, potentially offering a more refined look for photography enthusiasts. The absence of details regarding OIS and lens apertures on the Magic3 hinders a thorough assessment. The Xperia 1 III’s video capabilities are a known strength, but without comparable data for the Magic3, it’s hard to determine the extent of the difference.
Performance
Both the Honor Magic3 and Sony Xperia 1 III are powered by the same Octa-core CPU configuration: 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55. This ensures comparable CPU performance in everyday tasks and demanding applications. Thermal management will likely be a key differentiator, but without specific cooling system details, it’s difficult to predict which device will sustain peak performance for longer periods. The Magic3’s 5nm fabrication process is identical to the Xperia 1 III’s, so thermal differences will likely stem from chassis design and cooling solutions.
Battery Life
The Sony Xperia 1 III claims an endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. However, this is a lab-based metric. The Honor Magic3 counters with a significantly faster 66W wired charging capability, capable of rapidly replenishing the battery. The Xperia 1 III offers 30W wired charging with a 50% charge in 30 minutes, alongside wireless and reverse wireless charging options. The Magic3 also includes 5W reverse wired charging. The faster charging speed of the Magic3 is a significant advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Magic3 if you prioritize rapid charging, a modern design, and a feature-rich experience without a premium price tag. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you are a content creator deeply invested in Sony’s ecosystem, value a more traditional flagship form factor, and appreciate the nuanced color science of their camera system.