Honor Magic6 Ultimate vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Honor Magic6 Ultimate and Google Pixel 8 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the Android flagship space. The Honor aggressively pursues raw performance and charging speed, while the Pixel 8 Pro prioritizes computational photography and a tightly integrated software experience. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing peak performance and blazing-fast charging, the Honor Magic6 Ultimate is the clear winner. However, the Google Pixel 8 Pro excels in camera versatility and offers a more refined, AI-powered software experience, making it ideal for photography enthusiasts and those deeply invested in the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic6 Ultimate Google Pixel 8 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 bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - G1MNW
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - G1MNW
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, March 182023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, March 22Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front, silicone polymer back (eco leather)Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm (6.40 x 3.01 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight227 g (8.01 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionKing Kong RhinocerosCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Google Tensor G3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Immortalis-G715s MC10
OSAndroid 14, MagicOS 8Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple50 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), AF50 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.8, 113mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.0, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single50 MP, f/2.0, (ultrawide), AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)10.5 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, thermometer (skin temperature)
Battery
Charging80W wired 66W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
TypeLi-Po 5600 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, PurpleObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsBVL-AN20GC3VE, G1MNW
PriceAbout 900 EUR€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

Honor Magic6 Ultimate

  • Blazing-fast 80W wired charging
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
  • Potentially superior gaming performance

  • Camera details are currently unknown
  • Software experience may not be as refined as Pixel

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Exceptional camera with AI-powered features
  • Long-lasting battery life
  • Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Tensor G3 processor is less powerful than Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Display Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Magic6 Ultimate’s display specs aren’t provided, Honor typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The Pixel 8 Pro’s display technology is likely LTPO, enabling variable refresh rates for improved efficiency. The Pixel’s color accuracy is a known strength, crucial for content creators, while the Magic6 Ultimate’s display quality remains an unknown without further specifications.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera system is built around computational photography, leveraging Google’s AI algorithms for exceptional image processing. While specific sensor details aren’t provided for the Magic6 Ultimate, the Pixel 8 Pro’s strengths lie in its software-driven enhancements like Super Res Zoom and Magic Editor. The Pixel 8 Pro’s video capabilities are also highly regarded, with features like Cinematic Blur. Without knowing the Magic6 Ultimate’s sensor sizes and apertures, it’s difficult to directly compare hardware, but the Pixel 8 Pro’s consistent image quality and advanced features give it an edge for most users.

Performance

The Honor Magic6 Ultimate’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) chipset, with its octa-core configuration peaking at 3.3 GHz, promises superior CPU and GPU performance compared to the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor G3 (4nm). The Snapdragon’s Cortex-X4 prime core is a newer generation than the Tensor G3’s Cortex-X3, translating to faster single-core speeds. The Tensor G3’s nona-core setup focuses on AI and machine learning tasks, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s Adreno GPU will likely deliver a more substantial gaming advantage. The Magic6 Ultimate benefits from the Snapdragon’s superior thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions.

Battery Life

The Google Pixel 8 Pro achieves an impressive 11:14h active use score, and an endurance rating of 90 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The Honor Magic6 Ultimate offers significantly faster charging speeds – 80W wired and 66W wireless – compared to the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W wired and 23W wireless. This means the Magic6 Ultimate can replenish its battery much quicker, even if its overall capacity is smaller. The Pixel 8 Pro also features 'Bypass Charging' which reduces battery degradation, a feature not mentioned for the Honor.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic6 Ultimate if you need uncompromising processing power for demanding games and applications, and if minimizing downtime with incredibly fast 80W wired and 66W wireless charging is crucial. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prefer a camera system renowned for its computational photography prowess, a clean Android experience with guaranteed updates, and features like Magic Eraser and Best Take that simplify photo editing.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Honor Magic6 Ultimate's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset get noticeably hotter than the Pixel 8 Pro's Tensor G3 during prolonged gaming?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is generally more thermally efficient than the Tensor G3, meaning it's likely to maintain peak performance for longer periods without significant throttling. However, Honor's thermal management implementation will play a crucial role. Early reports suggest the Magic6 Ultimate has a robust cooling system, potentially mitigating any heat concerns.
❓ How does the 66W wireless charging on the Honor Magic6 Ultimate compare to the Pixel 8 Pro in real-world usage?
The Honor Magic6 Ultimate's 66W wireless charging is significantly faster than the Pixel 8 Pro's 23W wireless charging. Expect a full wireless charge on the Honor to take around 45-60 minutes, while the Pixel 8 Pro will likely require over 90 minutes. This makes the Honor a much more convenient option for users who frequently rely on wireless charging.
❓ Is the Pixel 8 Pro's 'Magic Eraser' feature truly effective at removing unwanted objects from photos?
The Pixel 8 Pro's Magic Eraser is remarkably effective at removing small to medium-sized objects from photos, often producing seamless results. However, its performance can vary depending on the complexity of the background and the size of the object being removed. It's a powerful tool for quick photo editing, but it's not a perfect solution for all scenarios.