Honor Magic6 Ultimate vs. Huawei Pura 70 Ultra: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

The Honor Magic6 Ultimate and Huawei Pura 70 Ultra represent the pinnacle of their respective brands' smartphone engineering. This comparison pits Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 against Huawei's in-house Kirin 9010, examining which chipset delivers superior performance and efficiency, alongside a detailed look at their camera systems, battery life, and charging capabilities. Both phones aim for the ultra-premium segment, but cater to slightly different priorities.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and gaming, the Honor Magic6 Ultimate takes the lead thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's superior processing power and thermal management. However, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra offers a compelling package with faster charging and a potentially more refined camera experience, making it a strong contender for photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic6 Ultimate Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
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, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bandsSA/NSASA/NSA - China only
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, March 182024, April 18
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, March 22Available. Released 2024, April 29
Body
BuildGlass front, silicone polymer back (eco leather)Glass front, aluminum frame, silicone polymer back (eco leather)
Dimensions162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)162.6 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.40 x 2.96 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight227 g (8.01 oz)226 g (7.97 oz)
Display
ProtectionKing Kong RhinocerosKunlun Glass (Basalt-tempered)
Resolution1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1260 x 2844 pixels (~460 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, HDR, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, 2500 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)Octa-core (1x2.3 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.18 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.55 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Kirin 9010 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 750-
OSAndroid 14, MagicOS 8EMUI 14.2 (International), HarmonyOS 4.2 (China)
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
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/1.6-4.0, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS, retractable lens 50 MP, f/2.1, 90mm (telephoto), PDAF (5cm - ∞), OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF
Video4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single50 MP, f/2.0, (ultrawide), AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)13 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide), AF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EISYes, HDR
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass
Battery
Charging80W wired 66W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired100W wired 80W wireless 20W reverse wireless 18W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 5600 mAhLi-Po 5200 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, PurpleBlack, White, Brown, Green
ModelsBVL-AN20HBP-LX9, HBP-AL00
PriceAbout 900 EUR€ 1,239.99

Honor Magic6 Ultimate

  • Superior processing power with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
  • Potentially better thermal management
  • Likely optimized for gaming

  • Slower charging speeds (80W wired)
  • Wireless charging slower than Pura 70 Ultra
  • Battery life unknown

Huawei Pura 70 Ultra

  • Faster 100W wired charging
  • Excellent battery life (12:29h active use)
  • Potentially superior camera image processing

  • Less powerful Kirin 9010 chipset
  • 7nm process less efficient than 4nm
  • Reliance on Huawei’s ecosystem

Display Comparison

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 1231 nits, suggesting excellent outdoor visibility. While the Honor Magic6 Ultimate’s display specs aren’t provided, Honor typically employs high-quality panels. The Pura 70 Ultra’s brightness is a concrete advantage, especially in direct sunlight. Without knowing the panel technology (LTPO, refresh rate) of the Magic6 Ultimate, it’s difficult to assess its power efficiency compared to the Pura 70 Ultra. Bezels and color accuracy are unknown for both, requiring hands-on testing for a complete evaluation.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications beyond the main sensors, a direct comparison is limited. However, the Pura 70 Ultra’s image processing is a key differentiator, known for its vibrant colors and AI-powered scene optimization. The larger sensor size (if present, data not provided) on either device would be a significant advantage in low-light photography. The absence of information regarding OIS and lens apertures prevents a thorough assessment of image quality. It's likely both phones will offer excellent camera performance, but Huawei’s software expertise could give the Pura 70 Ultra an edge in still photography.

Performance

The Honor Magic6 Ultimate’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) is a clear advantage in raw processing power. Its octa-core configuration, featuring the Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.3 GHz, promises significantly faster performance than the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra’s Kirin 9010 (7nm). The 7nm process of the Kirin 9010, while capable, is less efficient than the 4nm Snapdragon, potentially leading to more thermal throttling under sustained load. The Snapdragon’s architecture – with its mix of Cortex-A720 and A520 cores – is optimized for both performance and efficiency, benefiting gamers and power users. The Kirin 9010’s Taishan cores, while Huawei’s own design, haven’t historically matched the performance of Qualcomm’s Cortex counterparts.

Battery Life

The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra demonstrates a strong real-world battery performance, achieving 12 hours and 29 minutes of active use. The Honor Magic6 Ultimate’s battery capacity is unknown, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s efficiency could offset a potentially smaller battery. The Pura 70 Ultra’s 100W wired charging is significantly faster than the Magic6 Ultimate’s 80W, allowing for quicker top-ups. The Pura 70 Ultra also boasts 80W wireless charging, exceeding the Magic6 Ultimate’s 66W, and offers more reverse wireless charging power at 20W vs 5W. The 18W reverse wired charging on the Pura 70 Ultra is also a unique advantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic6 Ultimate if you need uncompromising performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and value the latest Qualcomm chipset. Buy the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra if you prioritize fast charging speeds, a potentially more polished camera system with Huawei’s image processing, and are comfortable with the Kirin ecosystem. The Pura 70 Ultra is also a better choice for users who heavily rely on wireless charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Kirin 9010 in the Pura 70 Ultra struggle with graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact?
While the Kirin 9010 is a capable chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Honor Magic6 Ultimate is expected to deliver a smoother and more consistent gaming experience, particularly in demanding titles. The 7nm process and potentially less aggressive thermal throttling of the Snapdragon will allow for sustained peak performance.
❓ How much faster is the 100W charging on the Pura 70 Ultra compared to the 80W charging on the Magic6 Ultimate in real-world scenarios?
The 100W charging on the Pura 70 Ultra will significantly reduce charging times. Expect a 0-100% charge in approximately 30-40 minutes, compared to potentially 45-60 minutes on the Magic6 Ultimate. This difference is particularly noticeable when quickly topping up the battery during short breaks.
❓ Does the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra support Google Mobile Services (GMS)?
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, like other recent Huawei devices, does not natively support Google Mobile Services (GMS). It relies on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and the AppGallery. While many popular apps are available through HMS and workarounds exist for others, the experience may differ from devices with GMS.