Honor Magic6 Ultimate vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Deep Dive Comparison

Both the Honor Magic6 Ultimate and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology, powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, they diverge in key areas like charging speed, battery optimization, and software approach, creating a compelling choice for discerning buyers. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a polished software experience, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the superior choice. While the Honor Magic6 Ultimate impresses with its 80W wired and 66W wireless charging, the S24 Ultra’s 13:49h active use score demonstrates a more efficient power management system.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic6 Ultimate Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, March 182024, January 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, March 22Available. Released 2024, January 24
Body
BuildGlass front, silicone polymer back (eco leather)Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2)
Dimensions162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)162.3 x 79 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 3.11 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT· Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN
Weight227 g (8.01 oz)232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz)
Display
ProtectionKing Kong RhinocerosCorning Gorilla Armor
Resolution1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak)Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 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)8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
OSAndroid 14, MagicOS 8Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
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), AF-
Video4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, HDR10+
Single50 MP, f/2.0, (ultrawide), AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
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, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging80W wired 66W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5600 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, PurpleTitanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange
ModelsBVL-AN20SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS
PriceAbout 900 EUR$ 514.94 / C$ 929.99 / £ 630.00 / € 658.53 / ₹ 84,999
SAR-1.26 W/kg (head)     0.62 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.06 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)

Honor Magic6 Ultimate

  • Blazing-fast 80W wired charging
  • Impressive 66W wireless charging
  • Potential for unique software features (MagicOS)

  • Battery life likely inferior to S24 Ultra
  • Camera performance unconfirmed, potential for over-saturation
  • MagicOS may not appeal to all users

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

  • Exceptional 13:49h battery life
  • Refined and feature-rich software (One UI)
  • Proven camera system with excellent image quality

  • Slower 45W wired charging
  • Wireless charging capped at 15W
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 1447 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Magic6 Ultimate’s display specs are not provided, Samsung’s history suggests a superior panel with potentially better color accuracy and calibration. The S24 Ultra’s adaptive refresh rate (LTPO) likely contributes to better power efficiency, complementing its larger battery. The S24 Ultra’s display is a clear advantage for media consumption and outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs for the Honor Magic6 Ultimate are missing, making a direct comparison challenging. However, the S24 Ultra’s camera system is renowned for its versatility and image quality. The S24 Ultra’s image processing prioritizes natural colors and detail, while Honor often leans towards more saturated and vibrant images. The S24 Ultra’s superior optical image stabilization (OIS) and advanced video recording capabilities are likely to provide a smoother and more professional-looking result. Without specific sensor details for the Magic6 Ultimate, the S24 Ultra holds a significant advantage based on its established reputation.

Performance

Both devices utilize the Qualcomm SM8650-AB/AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), but subtle CPU clock speed differences exist. The S24 Ultra’s CPU reaches 3.39GHz on the Cortex-X4, slightly exceeding the Magic6 Ultimate’s 3.3 GHz. While this difference is unlikely to be noticeable in most tasks, it could translate to marginally faster performance in demanding applications. Both phones feature LPDDR5x RAM, but the S24 Ultra’s thermal management, honed over years of optimization, likely prevents more significant throttling during sustained workloads. The 4nm process node ensures efficient power consumption across both devices.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 13:49h active use score is a standout feature, demonstrating exceptional battery life. The Honor Magic6 Ultimate compensates with significantly faster charging – 80W wired and 66W wireless – compared to the S24 Ultra’s 45W wired and 15W wireless. This means the Magic6 Ultimate can gain a substantial charge in a shorter time, but the S24 Ultra will likely last considerably longer on a single charge. The Magic6 Ultimate also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a niche feature not found on the S24 Ultra.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic6 Ultimate if you absolutely prioritize the fastest possible charging speeds and are comfortable with Honor’s MagicOS. This phone is ideal for users who frequently run out of battery and need a quick top-up. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you value long-lasting battery life, a mature and feature-rich software ecosystem, and a consistently excellent camera experience. It’s the better choice for power users and those invested in the Samsung ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Honor Magic6 Ultimate’s fast charging degrade the battery health over time?
While 80W charging is incredibly fast, Honor likely incorporates battery health management technologies to mitigate degradation. However, consistently utilizing extremely fast charging *can* contribute to faster battery wear over the long term compared to slower charging methods. The S24 Ultra’s slower charging may offer slightly better long-term battery health.
❓ Is the Magic6 Ultimate’s MagicOS a significant departure from standard Android?
MagicOS is a heavily customized version of Android, offering a distinct user interface and feature set compared to Samsung’s One UI. Users accustomed to stock Android or One UI may experience a learning curve. MagicOS often includes unique features and optimizations, but its long-term software support and update frequency are less established than Samsung’s.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 perform in gaming on each device?
Both phones will deliver excellent gaming performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, the S24 Ultra’s superior thermal management system is likely to prevent more aggressive throttling during extended gaming sessions, maintaining higher frame rates for longer periods. The Magic6 Ultimate may experience some throttling under sustained load.