Honor Magic6 Ultimate vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max: A Deep Dive into Flagship Power
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a seamless ecosystem and long-term software support, the iPhone 15 Pro Max remains the safer bet. However, the Honor Magic6 Ultimate’s blazing-fast 80W wired and 66W wireless charging, combined with the raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, makes it a compelling choice for power users and those seeking cutting-edge Android features.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor Magic6 Ultimate | Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max |
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66 - A3106 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3106 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2024, March 18 | 2023, September 12 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, March 22 | Available. Released 2023, September 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, silicone polymer back (eco leather) | Glass front, glass back, titanium frame (grade 5) |
| Dimensions | 162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 159.9 x 76.7 x 8.3 mm (6.30 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International)· eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) |
| Weight | 227 g (8.01 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | King Kong Rhinoceros | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) | 1290 x 2796 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 110.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak) | LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) | Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Apple GPU (6-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 14, MagicOS 8 | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.4-2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", LiDAR AF, PDAF, OIS 180 MP, f/2.6, (periscope telephoto), 1/1.49", PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), AF | 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth) |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), ProRes, 3D (spatial) video, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.0, (ultrawide), AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 80W wired 66W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5600 mAh | Li-Ion 4441 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Purple | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium |
| Models | BVL-AN20 | A2849, A3105, A3106, A3108, iPhone16,2 |
| Price | About 900 EUR | € 758.79 / $ 579.87 / £ 628.29 |
| SAR | - | 1.07 W/kg (head) 1.11 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
Honor Magic6 Ultimate
- Blazing-fast 80W wired charging
- 66W wireless charging – industry leading
- Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Software update longevity is uncertain
- Camera processing may be overly saturated
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Exceptional battery life (16:01h active use)
- Industry-leading camera system and video recording
- Seamless iOS ecosystem and long-term software support
- Efficient A17 Pro chip
- Slower charging speeds compared to Honor
- Less flexible software customization options
Display Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a measured peak brightness of 1787 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Honor Magic6 Ultimate’s display specs aren’t provided, Honor typically employs high-brightness OLED panels. The iPhone’s ProMotion technology (adaptive refresh rate) is a key advantage, offering smoother scrolling and animations. The absence of refresh rate information for the Honor suggests it may not match the iPhone’s fluidity. Both likely utilize LTPO technology for power efficiency, but the iPhone’s calibration and color accuracy are generally considered industry-leading.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is renowned for its computational photography prowess and video recording capabilities. While specific sensor details for the Honor Magic6 Ultimate are missing, its camera system is likely a key selling point. The iPhone’s image processing prioritizes natural-looking images, while Honor often leans towards more vibrant, saturated colors. The iPhone’s cinematic mode and ProRes video recording offer professional-grade features. Without detailed specs on the Honor’s camera, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the iPhone’s established reputation and consistent performance give it an edge.
Performance
The core battle lies between the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) and Apple’s A17 Pro (3nm). Apple’s move to a 3nm process gives the A17 Pro a significant efficiency advantage, potentially leading to sustained performance under heavy load. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s octa-core configuration (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) aims for peak performance, but the A17 Pro’s hexa-core design (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz) focuses on maximizing performance per watt. The iPhone’s unified memory architecture also contributes to faster data access. While the Snapdragon offers impressive raw power, the A17 Pro’s efficiency and optimized software integration likely translate to a smoother, more consistent experience.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 Pro Max achieves an impressive 16:01h active use score, demonstrating excellent battery life. The Honor Magic6 Ultimate’s battery capacity is not specified, but its charging capabilities are a standout feature. 80W wired charging is significantly faster than the iPhone’s PD2.0 charging (50% in 30 min). The 66W wireless charging is also dramatically faster than the iPhone’s 15W MagSafe/Qi2. While the iPhone excels in endurance, the Honor’s charging speed allows for quick top-ups, mitigating concerns about battery life. The 5W reverse wired charging on the Honor is also a useful feature for charging accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Magic6 Ultimate if you need unparalleled charging speeds, prioritize raw Android performance, and appreciate innovative features like reverse wired charging. Buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max if you prefer a refined user experience, a mature app ecosystem, and guaranteed software updates for years to come, alongside a consistently excellent camera system.