Honor Magic7 vs. Xiaomi 13 Ultra: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance and Photography

The Honor Magic7 and Xiaomi 13 Ultra represent the pinnacle of Android flagship development, but cater to different priorities. The Magic7 aggressively pursues raw processing power with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite, while the 13 Ultra doubles down on a refined camera system and all-day battery endurance. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing peak performance and future-proofing, the Honor Magic7’s Snapdragon 8 Elite offers a clear advantage. However, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s exceptional camera system and longer battery life make it the more practical choice for everyday users and photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic7 Xiaomi 13 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, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2024, October 302023, April 18
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, November 08Available. Released 2023, April 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Giant Rhino Glass), fiber-reinforced plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), eco leather back, aluminum frame
Dimensions162.1 x 75.8 x 8 mm (6.38 x 2.98 x 0.31 in)163.2 x 74.6 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.36 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)227 g (8.01 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionGiant rhino glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus
Resolution1264 x 2800 pixels (~453 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.2 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 4320Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1300 nits (HBM), 2600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 830Adreno 740
OSAndroid 15, MagicOS 9Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
 -UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 67mm filter ring holder (optional)
Quad-50 MP, f/1.9 or f/4.0, 23mm (wide), 1.0"-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.8, 75mm (telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/3.0, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.8, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth)
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF 50 MP, f/2.4, 68mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, dual pixel PDAF-
Video4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video8K@24fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K@60fps, 1080p)
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/2.93", 0.6µm32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with large amplitude stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort, 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, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging100W wired 80W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired90W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 35 min 50W wireless, 100% in 49 min 10W reverse wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 5650 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Gray, Blue, GoldBlack, Olive Green, White, Orange, Yellow, Blue
ModelsPTP-AN002304FPN6DC, 2304FPN6DG
PriceAbout 580 EUR€ 797.98 / $ 389.69
SAR EU-0.99 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)

Honor Magic7

  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
  • Faster wired and wireless charging speeds
  • Potential for superior gaming performance

  • Camera specifications currently unknown
  • Battery life potentially lower than Xiaomi 13 Ultra

Xiaomi 13 Ultra

  • Exceptional camera system and image quality
  • Long battery life and excellent endurance
  • Fast charging speeds (90W wired, 50W wireless)

  • Older generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor
  • May not offer the absolute fastest performance

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra boasts a measured peak brightness of 1207 nits, suggesting a vibrant and easily viewable display in direct sunlight. While the Magic7’s display specifications are currently unavailable, Honor typically employs high-quality OLED panels. The 13 Ultra’s display technology is likely LTPO, enabling adaptive refresh rates for improved power efficiency. Without further details on the Magic7’s panel, the 13 Ultra currently holds an advantage in confirmed display performance.

Camera Comparison

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s camera system is its defining feature, though specific details are missing. Xiaomi’s Ultra series is renowned for its exceptional image quality, likely leveraging a large main sensor, advanced OIS, and sophisticated image processing algorithms. The Magic7’s camera specifications are currently unknown, but Honor has been steadily improving its camera technology. The 13 Ultra’s established reputation and likely larger sensor size give it a significant edge in image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The 13 Ultra’s focus on photography is a clear differentiator.

Performance

The Honor Magic7’s Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite, featuring a custom Oryon V2 Phoenix CPU configuration (2x4.32 GHz + 6x3.53 GHz), represents a significant leap in mobile processing. This architecture, built on a 3nm process, promises substantial gains in both performance and efficiency compared to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710, 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510). The Oryon cores are designed for higher single-core and multi-core performance, translating to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming capabilities. The Magic7 is poised to deliver a noticeably snappier experience, especially in CPU-intensive tasks.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra achieves an impressive 10:09h active use score and an endurance rating of 108 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The Honor Magic7 offers faster charging with 100W wired and 80W wireless, compared to the 13 Ultra’s 90W wired (35 min to 100%) and 50W wireless (49 min to 100%). The Magic7 also includes 5W reverse wired charging and reverse wireless charging. While the Magic7 charges faster, the 13 Ultra’s superior endurance suggests it will last longer on a single charge, making it more convenient for users who don’t want to constantly top up their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic7 if you demand the absolute fastest Android experience, frequently engage in demanding mobile gaming, and value the latest processor technology. Buy the Xiaomi 13 Ultra if you prioritize camera quality, all-day battery life, and a more polished, mature software experience, even if it means sacrificing some raw processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ How much of a real-world performance difference will I see between the Snapdragon 8 Elite and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s 3nm process and Oryon CPU architecture are expected to deliver a noticeable performance uplift, particularly in CPU-bound tasks like video editing and demanding games. Expect faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and potentially higher frame rates in graphically intensive titles. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 remains a very capable chip, and the difference may not be dramatic in all scenarios.
❓ Does the Xiaomi 13 Ultra’s camera perform well in low-light conditions?
Xiaomi’s Ultra series is renowned for its low-light photography capabilities. The 13 Ultra likely features a large main sensor and advanced image processing algorithms that excel in capturing detailed and vibrant images even in challenging lighting conditions. Expect minimal noise and excellent dynamic range in low-light shots.
❓ Is the 80W wireless charging on the Honor Magic7 significantly faster than the 50W on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra?
Yes, the 80W wireless charging on the Magic7 is considerably faster than the 13 Ultra’s 50W. This translates to a significantly shorter time to fully charge the device wirelessly, offering greater convenience for users who prefer wireless charging.
❓ Will the Honor Magic7 experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s 3nm process is designed to improve thermal efficiency, potentially reducing the likelihood of significant thermal throttling. However, sustained high performance will inevitably generate heat. The Magic7’s thermal management system will be crucial in mitigating throttling and maintaining consistent performance during long gaming sessions.