Honor Magic4 Lite vs Google Pixel 6a: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Honor Magic4 Lite and Google Pixel 6a represent compelling options. The Magic4 Lite prioritizes rapid charging and endurance, while the Pixel 6a leverages Google’s Tensor chip for a unique software and camera experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right phone.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a smooth, intelligent camera experience and guaranteed software updates, the Google Pixel 6a is the better choice. However, the Honor Magic4 Lite excels in battery endurance and charging speed, making it ideal for users who demand all-day power and quick top-ups.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor Magic4 Lite	Google Pixel 6a

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	LTE	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada)
5G bands	SA/NSA	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada)
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	-	1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International)

Launch
Announced	2022, March 23	2022, May 11
Status	Available. Released 2022, April 26	Available. Released 2022, July 21

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions	166 x 75.8 x 8 mm (6.54 x 2.98 x 0.31 in)	152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	189 g (6.67 oz)	178 g (6.28 oz)
	-	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1080 x 2388 pixels (~385 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size	6.81 inches, 112.3 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz	OLED, HDR
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)	Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)	Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 619	Mali-G78 MP20
OS	Android 11, Magic UI 4.2	Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Dual	-	12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.5	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Triple	48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	-
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.5	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

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

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	66W wired	18W wired, PD3.0
Type	Li-Po 4800 mAh	Li-Po 4410 mAh

Misc
Colors	Titanium Silver, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black	Chalk, Charcoal, Sage
Models	ANY-LX1, ANY-LX2, ANY-LX3	GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L
Price	About 180 EUR	$ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 104h	Endurance rating 94h
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: 1229:1	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-34.0 LUFS (Poor)	-
Performance	AnTuTu: 387218 (v9) GeekBench: 1906 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	-

Honor Magic4 Lite

Exceptional 104-hour battery endurance
Ultra-fast 66W wired charging
Competitive price point

Less powerful Snapdragon 695 chipset
Inferior camera image processing compared to Pixel 6a
Less frequent software updates

Google Pixel 6a

Powerful Google Tensor chip for smooth performance
Superior camera quality and computational photography
Guaranteed software updates and clean Android experience

Shorter 94-hour battery endurance
Slower 18W wired charging
Higher price compared to Honor Magic4 Lite

Display Comparison

The Pixel 6a boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 876 nits compared to the Magic4 Lite’s 535 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While the Magic4 Lite offers a 1229:1 contrast ratio, the Pixel 6a’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (typical of OLED panels) delivers deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. The Pixel 6a’s OLED panel also likely benefits from a higher PWM dimming rate, potentially reducing eye strain for sensitive users, a specification not provided for the Magic4 Lite. The lack of high refresh rate on either device is a common trade-off in this price bracket.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but approach image capture differently. The Pixel 6a leverages Google’s computational photography prowess, powered by the Tensor chip, to deliver consistently excellent photos, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. While specific sensor details are missing for the Magic4 Lite, the Pixel 6a’s image processing excels in dynamic range and detail preservation. The Pixel 6a’s software features, like Night Sight and Portrait Mode, are industry-leading. The Magic4 Lite’s camera is described as capable of Photo/Video, but lacks the software sophistication of the Pixel 6a. The absence of OIS information for the Magic4 Lite suggests it may struggle with low-light video stabilization.

Performance

The Google Pixel 6a’s Google Tensor chip, fabricated on a 5nm process, represents a substantial leap in performance over the Honor Magic4 Lite’s Snapdragon 695 (6nm). The Tensor’s octa-core configuration, featuring Cortex-X1 and Cortex-A76 cores, delivers significantly faster processing speeds (2.80 GHz vs 2.2 GHz peak) and improved AI capabilities. While the Snapdragon 695 is adequate for everyday tasks, the Tensor excels in demanding applications like video editing and gaming. The Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip also enables features like Magic Eraser and Real Tone, unavailable on the Magic4 Lite. The 6nm Snapdragon 695 will be more efficient than older 7nm or 8nm chips, but cannot match the 5nm Tensor.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic4 Lite boasts an impressive endurance rating of 104 hours, exceeding the Pixel 6a’s 94 hours. This suggests the Magic4 Lite will last longer on a single charge under typical usage. However, the Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip is more power-efficient under heavy load. The Magic4 Lite’s 66W wired charging is a significant advantage, allowing for a full charge in under 40 minutes, while the Pixel 6a’s 18W charging takes considerably longer. The faster charging of the Magic4 Lite mitigates the slightly smaller battery capacity, making it a strong contender for users who prioritize quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic4 Lite if you need exceptional battery life and incredibly fast 66W charging, and are comfortable with a less refined software experience. This phone is perfect for users who prioritize longevity and don't rely heavily on advanced computational photography. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you prefer a clean Android experience, superior image processing capabilities powered by the Tensor chip, and guaranteed software updates, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance and charging speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 695 in the Honor Magic4 Lite struggle with graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact?

While the Snapdragon 695 can handle less demanding games, Genshin Impact and similar titles will likely require significant graphics settings reductions to achieve playable frame rates. The Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip offers a much smoother gaming experience due to its more powerful GPU and CPU.

❓ How long will the Pixel 6a receive software and security updates?

Google guarantees at least 3 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Pixel 6a, ensuring long-term software support and protection against vulnerabilities. Honor’s update policy is less consistent, and the Magic4 Lite is likely to receive fewer updates.

❓ Is the 66W charging on the Honor Magic4 Lite compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers?

The Honor Magic4 Lite utilizes its own proprietary 66W charging protocol. While it may work with some PD chargers, it won't achieve the full 66W charging speed unless you use the included charger. The Pixel 6a supports PD3.0, offering broader charger compatibility.

❓ How does the image processing of the Pixel 6a handle skin tones compared to the Honor Magic4 Lite?

Google’s Tensor chip and software algorithms are specifically designed to accurately represent diverse skin tones, a feature known as Real Tone. The Honor Magic4 Lite’s image processing is less sophisticated in this regard and may produce less accurate skin tones in certain lighting conditions.