Honor Magic6 vs Google Pixel 8 Pro: Which Android Flagship Wins?

The Honor Magic6 and Google Pixel 8 Pro represent distinct philosophies in the Android flagship space. The Magic6 prioritizes raw power and charging speed, leveraging Qualcomm’s latest silicon, while the Pixel 8 Pro focuses on computational photography and a tightly integrated software experience powered by Google’s Tensor G3. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing peak performance and blazing-fast charging, the Honor Magic6 is the clear winner. However, the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s superior camera processing, longer software support, and refined user experience make it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those deeply invested in the Google ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic6 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, January 112023, October 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, January 18Available. Released 2023, October 12
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather)Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
Dimensions161.8 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm (6.37 x 2.97 x 0.32 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
Weight199 g or 206 g (7.02 oz)213 g (7.51 oz)
Display
ProtectionJurhino glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1264 x 2800 pixels (~453 ppi density)1344 x 2992 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~489 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.2 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~87.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 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
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaMulti-zone Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra-HDR, panorama, Best Take, Zoom Enhance
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.3", PDAF, OIS 32 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 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@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, 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, 22mm (wide), 1/2.93", AF10.5 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 2.0, 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
Charging66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless Bypass charging
TypeLi-Po 5450 mAhLi-Ion 5050 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, Blue, Purple, WhiteObsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Mint
ModelsBVL-AN00GC3VE, G1MNW
PriceAbout 570 EUR€ 362.00 / $ 289.97 / £ 329.95 / ₹ 54,999

Honor Magic6

  • Significantly faster charging speeds (66W wired, 50W wireless)
  • Potentially superior CPU performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
  • Likely better gaming performance due to powerful chipset

  • Camera performance may not match the Pixel 8 Pro’s computational photography
  • Software update commitment may be shorter than Google’s

Google Pixel 8 Pro

  • Exceptional camera quality and computational photography features
  • Clean Android experience with guaranteed long-term software updates
  • Excellent display brightness and color accuracy

  • Slower charging speeds compared to the Honor Magic6
  • Chipset performance may lag behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in demanding tasks

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 8 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 1600 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Magic6’s display specs aren’t provided, Honor typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The Pixel 8 Pro’s LTPO technology allows for a variable refresh rate, dynamically adjusting between 1Hz and 120Hz to conserve battery life – a feature likely present, but unconfirmed, on the Magic6. The Pixel 8 Pro’s color accuracy is renowned, crucial for content creators, and the Magic6 will need to match this to compete.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 8 Pro is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s advanced image processing algorithms. While specific sensor details for the Magic6 are missing, the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera system focuses on delivering consistently excellent results across various lighting conditions. The Pixel 8 Pro’s video capabilities are also exceptional, with features like Cinematic Blur. The Magic6 will need to offer a compelling camera experience to challenge the Pixel 8 Pro, potentially through larger sensor sizes or innovative image stabilization techniques. Ignoring the typical 2MP macro lens found on many phones, the focus should be on the main and ultrawide sensors.

Performance

The Honor Magic6’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) is a powerhouse, featuring an octa-core configuration with a prime Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.3 GHz. This contrasts with the Google Pixel 8 Pro’s Tensor G3 (4nm) nona-core CPU, which prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks over raw CPU horsepower. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s architecture, with its newer Cortex-A720 cores, offers a performance advantage in CPU-intensive workloads. While the Tensor G3 excels in on-device AI processing, the Magic6 will likely demonstrate superior performance in graphically demanding games and applications. The Magic6’s LPDDR5x RAM (spec not confirmed, but highly probable) will further enhance its multitasking capabilities.

Battery Life

The Google Pixel 8 Pro achieves an impressive 11:14h of active use, and an endurance rating of 90 hours, indicating strong battery life. The Honor Magic6’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging significantly outpace the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W wired and 23W wireless charging. The Magic6 can reach 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes with its wired charging, while the Pixel 8 Pro takes a similar amount of time. The Magic6 also offers 5W reverse wired charging and reverse wireless charging, providing added convenience for charging accessories.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic6 if you need uncompromising processing power for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, and if minimizing charging downtime is critical. Its 66W wired and 50W wireless charging are significantly faster than the Pixel 8 Pro’s offerings. Buy the Google Pixel 8 Pro if you prioritize camera quality, especially computational photography features like Magic Eraser and Best Take, and if you value a clean, consistently updated Android experience with guaranteed long-term support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Honor Magic6’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset generate excessive heat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is built on a 4nm process, offering improved thermal efficiency compared to previous generations. However, sustained high performance will inevitably generate heat. Honor likely employs advanced cooling solutions, such as vapor chambers, to mitigate throttling and maintain stable performance during extended gaming. Real-world testing will be crucial to determine the extent of thermal throttling.
❓ How does the Google Tensor G3’s AI capabilities translate into tangible benefits for Pixel 8 Pro users?
The Tensor G3 excels in on-device AI processing, powering features like Magic Eraser (removing unwanted objects from photos), Best Take (combining multiple photos to create the perfect shot), and improved voice recognition. These features enhance the user experience and provide unique capabilities not found on other smartphones. The Tensor G3 also enables faster and more accurate language translation and improved speech-to-text functionality.
❓ Does the Honor Magic6 support 120Hz refresh rate and what type of panel is used?
While not explicitly stated, it is highly probable that the Honor Magic6 features a 120Hz refresh rate display, given its flagship status. Honor typically utilizes high-quality OLED panels in their premium devices, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. Confirmation of the panel type and refresh rate will require further testing.