Honor Magic6 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

Both the Honor Magic6 and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represent the pinnacle of Android smartphone technology, powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, they diverge significantly in areas like charging speed, display characteristics, and overall user experience. This comparison dissects these differences to help you choose the right flagship for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-around excellence, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra emerges as the stronger contender. Its superior battery life, brighter display, and refined software experience outweigh the Honor Magic6’s faster charging capabilities. However, the Magic6 presents a compelling alternative for those prioritizing rapid power-ups.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic6 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, January 112024, January 17
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, January 18Available. Released 2024, January 24
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather)Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor), glass back (Corning Gorilla Armor), titanium frame (grade 2)
Dimensions161.8 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm (6.37 x 2.97 x 0.32 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
Weight199 g or 206 g (7.02 oz)232 g or 233 g (8.18 oz)
Display
ProtectionJurhino glassCorning Gorilla Armor
Resolution1264 x 2800 pixels (~453 ppi density)1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~505 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.2 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~88.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 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
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color 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/1.9, (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", AF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, 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, 22mm (wide), 1/2.93", AF12 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 2.0, 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
Charging66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 5450 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, Blue, Purple, WhiteTitanium Black, Titanium Gray, Titanium Violet, Titanium Yellow, Titanium Blue, Titanium Green, Titanium Orange
ModelsBVL-AN00SM-S928B, SM-S928B/DS, SM-S928U, SM-S928U1, SM-S928W, SM-S928N, SM-S9280, SM-S928E, SM-S928E/DS
PriceAbout 570 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

  • Significantly faster 66W wired charging
  • Faster 50W wireless charging
  • Potential for more aggressive pricing

  • Battery life is unknown and likely less than S24 Ultra
  • Camera details are limited, making a direct comparison difficult

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

  • Exceptional 13:49h battery life
  • Brighter and more color-accurate display (1447 nits)
  • Refined software experience and feature set

  • Slower 45W wired charging
  • Slower 15W wireless charging

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1447 nits, compared to an unstated peak brightness for the Honor Magic6. While both likely utilize LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, Samsung’s panel offers superior visibility in direct sunlight. The S24 Ultra’s display is also known for its excellent color accuracy, crucial for photo and video editing. The Honor Magic6’s display quality, while likely very good, remains less defined without specific brightness and color gamut data.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera analysis is hampered by a lack of specific sensor information for the Honor Magic6. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is renowned for its versatile camera system, featuring a high-resolution main sensor and advanced image processing. While the Magic6 likely offers a competitive camera experience, Samsung’s established expertise in computational photography and video stabilization gives it an edge. The absence of details regarding the Magic6’s OIS and lens apertures makes a direct comparison difficult, but the S24 Ultra’s system is known for its exceptional low-light performance and dynamic range.

Performance

Both devices are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm), but subtle CPU clock speed differences exist. The S24 Ultra’s CPU peaks at 3.39 GHz, slightly higher than the Magic6’s 3.3 GHz. While this difference is unlikely to be noticeable in most everyday tasks, it could translate to marginal gains in sustained performance during demanding workloads. Both utilize a similar core configuration (1x Cortex-X4, 3x Cortex-A720, 2x Cortex-A720, 2x Cortex-A520). Thermal management will be key; the S24 Ultra’s larger chassis may offer better heat dissipation, potentially mitigating throttling during extended gaming sessions.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra demonstrates a clear advantage in battery endurance, achieving 13 hours and 49 minutes of active use. The Honor Magic6’s battery capacity is not specified, but its 66W wired charging significantly outpaces the S24 Ultra’s 45W charging. The Magic6 also offers 50W wireless charging, compared to the S24 Ultra’s 15W wireless charging. While the S24 Ultra’s battery lasts longer, the Magic6 can replenish its battery much faster, offering a different trade-off for users with varying priorities. The Magic6 also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a feature not present on the S24 Ultra.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic6 if you absolutely need the fastest charging speeds available and value a potentially more aggressive price point. It’s ideal for users constantly on the move who can’t afford downtime. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra if you prioritize long-lasting battery life, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and a more polished, feature-rich software ecosystem. It’s the better choice for power users and content creators.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How much faster is the Honor Magic6's charging compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra in real-world scenarios?
The Honor Magic6's 66W charging can potentially take a phone from 0-100% in under 40 minutes, while the S24 Ultra's 45W charging takes around 30 minutes to reach 65%, and longer for a full charge. This means the Magic6 offers a significantly quicker top-up, ideal for users who need a rapid power boost.
❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Galaxy S24 Ultra experience thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a powerful chip, sustained performance can be affected by thermal throttling. The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s larger chassis and improved cooling system are designed to mitigate this, but some throttling may still occur during extended, graphically intensive gaming. The Honor Magic6’s thermal performance is unknown, but its smaller form factor could make it more susceptible to throttling.
❓ Is the 4.5W reverse wireless charging on the S24 Ultra useful for charging accessories like earbuds?
The 4.5W reverse wireless charging on the S24 Ultra is primarily intended for charging small accessories like earbuds or smartwatches. It's a convenient feature for topping up these devices on the go, but it's not designed for quickly charging larger devices like another smartphone.