Honor Magic4 vs Google Pixel 6 Pro: Which Android Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Honor Magic4 and Google Pixel 6 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the Android flagship space. The Magic4 prioritizes raw power and charging speed with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, while the Pixel 6 Pro focuses on computational photography and a refined software experience powered by Google’s Tensor chip. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best overall value.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing peak performance and incredibly fast charging, the Honor Magic4 is the clear winner. However, the Google Pixel 6 Pro’s superior camera processing and unique software features make it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic4 Google Pixel 6 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, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GLUOG, G8VOU
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G8VOU
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GLUOG
Launch
Announced2022, February 282021, October 19
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 30Available. Released 2021, October 28
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.6 x 74.5 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 2.93 x 0.35 in)163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.99 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)210 g (7.41 oz)
 IP54, dust and water resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1224 x 2664 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~431 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)
Size6.81 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~93.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm)Google Tensor (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Mali-G78 MP20
OSAndroid 12, Magic UI 6Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF 50 MP, f/2.2, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5" 8 MP, f/3.4, (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 104mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10, 10-bit video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single12 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1.22µm11.1 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.22µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit audio stereo recording-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4800 mAhLi-Ion 5003 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Cyan, GoldCloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black
ModelsLGE-AN00GLUOG, G8VOU, GF5KQ
PriceAbout 900 EUR€ 199.99 / $ 204.99 / £ 275.00 / ₹ 29,699
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 84h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Performance- AnTuTu: 585485 (v8), 719815 (v9) GeekBench: 2831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 39 fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Magic4

  • Significantly faster 66W wired charging
  • Potentially better sustained performance due to Snapdragon 8 Gen 1’s thermal efficiency
  • Reverse wired charging capability

  • Camera performance is unknown without detailed specs
  • Honor’s software experience may not appeal to all users

Google Pixel 6 Pro

  • Exceptional camera quality and computational photography
  • Clean and intuitive Google software experience
  • Unique Google features like Magic Eraser and Live Translate

  • Slower 23W wired charging
  • Google Tensor chip may throttle under sustained heavy load

Display Comparison

The Pixel 6 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 846 nits, providing excellent visibility outdoors. While the Magic4’s peak brightness isn’t specified, Honor typically delivers competitive displays. Both feature infinite (nominal) contrast ratios, typical of OLED panels. The Pixel 6 Pro’s larger display size (6.71 inches vs. Magic4’s 6.8 inches) and potentially more refined color calibration give it a slight edge for media consumption, though the Magic4’s panel technology isn’t detailed enough to definitively rule it out.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 6 Pro’s camera system is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging the Tensor chip’s AI capabilities. While specific sensor details for the Magic4 are missing, the Pixel 6 Pro’s image processing consistently delivers excellent dynamic range and accurate colors. The Pixel 6 Pro’s focus on software optimization and features like Magic Eraser provides a significant advantage for casual photographers. Without detailed sensor information for the Magic4, it’s difficult to assess its low-light performance or zoom capabilities relative to the Pixel 6 Pro.

Performance

The Honor Magic4’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) offers a theoretical performance advantage over the Google Pixel 6 Pro’s Google Tensor (5nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1’s Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.00 GHz is designed for burst performance, while the Tensor’s Cortex-X1 cores run at 2.80 GHz. However, the 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 should provide better thermal efficiency, potentially mitigating throttling during sustained workloads. The Pixel 6 Pro’s Tensor chip excels in AI and machine learning tasks, powering features like real-time translation and advanced image processing. The Magic4’s LPDDR5 RAM versus the Pixel 6 Pro’s unspecified RAM speed is another factor, potentially favoring the Magic4 in memory-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

Both the Honor Magic4 and Google Pixel 6 Pro achieve an endurance rating of 84 hours, suggesting comparable real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. However, the Magic4’s 66W wired charging is a game-changer, offering significantly faster charging speeds than the Pixel 6 Pro’s 23W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes). The Magic4 also includes 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Pixel 6 Pro. The Pixel 6 Pro compensates with 23W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, offering more versatile charging options, but slower overall speeds.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic4 if you need uncompromising processing power for demanding games and applications, and value the convenience of 66W wired charging. Buy the Google Pixel 6 Pro if you prioritize exceptional camera quality, a clean and intuitive software experience, and benefit from Google’s exclusive features like Magic Eraser and Live Translate.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the Honor Magic4 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a powerful chip, it's known to generate heat. However, the Magic4’s 4nm process node and potential cooling solutions should mitigate throttling better than some other devices using the same chipset. Real-world performance will depend on the game and ambient temperature.
❓ How does the Google Tensor chip’s AI processing benefit everyday use on the Pixel 6 Pro?
The Tensor chip powers features like Magic Eraser in Google Photos, which removes unwanted objects from images, and Live Translate, enabling real-time translation of conversations. It also enhances voice recognition and improves the overall responsiveness of Google Assistant.
❓ Is the 23W wireless charging on the Pixel 6 Pro a practical alternative to wired charging?
While convenient, 23W wireless charging is significantly slower than the Magic4’s 66W wired charging. It’s best suited for overnight charging or topping up the battery throughout the day, rather than quickly replenishing it from low levels.
❓ What kind of software updates can Pixel 6 Pro users expect compared to the Honor Magic4?
The Pixel 6 Pro benefits from Google’s direct software support, guaranteeing timely Android updates and security patches for at least 5 years. Honor’s update schedule is less predictable, and users may experience delays in receiving the latest Android versions.