Honor Magic8 Pro vs. Xiaomi 14 Ultra: A Flagship Face-Off
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw processing power and potentially longer sustained performance, the Honor Magic8 Pro, with its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, emerges as the winner. However, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra offers a compelling package with excellent battery life and a very bright display, making it a strong contender for those valuing efficiency and real-world usability.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor Magic8 Pro | Xiaomi 14 Ultra |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, October 15 | 2024, February 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 23 | Available. Released 2024, February 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (NanoCrystal Shield), fiber-reinforced plastic back | Glass front (Shield Glass), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather), titanium frame (grade 5) or aluminum alloy frame |
| Dimensions | 161.2 x 75 x 8.3 mm (6.35 x 2.95 x 0.33 in) | 161.4 x 75.3 x 9.2 mm (6.35 x 2.96 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - International· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - China | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 219 g (7.72 oz) | 219.8 / 224.4 / 229.5 g (7.76 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | NanoCrystal Shield (INT); Giant Rhino Glass (China) | Xiaomi Shield Glass |
| Resolution | 1256 x 2808 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~458 ppi density) | 1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~522 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.71 inches, 108.3 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.73 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 4320Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, 1800 nits (HBM), 6000 nits (peak) | LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, 1920Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1000 nits (typ), 3000 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) | Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Adreno 750 |
| OS | Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 10 | Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, HyperOS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lenses, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, 67mm filter ring holder (optional) |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.6-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 (10cm - ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.5, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF (30cm - ∞), OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.8, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.51", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 200 MP, f/2.6, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, dual pixel PDAF | - |
| Video | 4K@24/30/60/120fps, 1080p@24/30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@24/30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480/960/1920fps, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision HDR 10-bit rec. (4K@60fps, 1080p) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.93", 0.6µm, PDAF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with large amplitude stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC 5, Auracast, ASHA | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L1+L5), GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band or tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 100W wired (Global) 120W wired, 100W PPS, 40W UFCS (China) 80W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired | 90W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 33 min 80W wireless, 100% in 46 min 10W reverse wireless |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 7100 mAh (Global); 6270 mAh (Europe); 7200 mAh (China) | Market-dependent versions:· 5000 mAh (Global)· 5300 mAh (China only) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Sunrise Gold, Sky Cyan, Black, White | Black, Blue, White, Titanium Gray |
| Models | BKQ-N49, BKQ-AN90, BKQ-AN10 | 24031PN0DC, 24030PN60G |
| Price | About 960 EUR | € 663.14 |
| SAR | - | 0.83 W/kg (head) 0.82 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
Honor Magic8 Pro
- Potentially superior performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- Faster wired charging speeds (up to 120W)
- Likely advanced thermal management due to 3nm process
- Battery life may be lower due to more powerful chipset
- Specific battery capacity is unknown
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
- Excellent real-world battery life (11:25h active use)
- Very bright display (1281 nits)
- Fast charging speeds (90W wired, 80W wireless)
- Chipset is a generation behind the Honor Magic8 Pro
- May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra features a display capable of reaching 1281 nits of peak brightness, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Honor Magic8 Pro’s display specifications aren’t provided, Honor typically employs high-quality panels. The Xiaomi’s brightness advantage is a tangible benefit for outdoor users. Both are likely to utilize LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, conserving battery life, but the Xiaomi’s measured brightness gives it a clear edge in this category. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both devices, reflecting current flagship design trends.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, both manufacturers are known for their camera prowess. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra is expected to feature a sophisticated multi-camera system, likely with a large main sensor and advanced image processing algorithms. The Honor Magic8 Pro will likely focus on computational photography and AI enhancements. The absence of specific sensor details prevents a definitive judgment, but the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s brand reputation suggests a strong emphasis on image quality and versatility. We can assume both will offer excellent low-light performance and advanced zoom capabilities.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor Magic8 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) with a unique Oryon V3 Phoenix CPU configuration (2x4.6 GHz + 6x3.62 GHz). This architecture, built on a 3nm process, promises superior efficiency and performance compared to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) with its (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 + 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 + 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 + 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) configuration. The 3nm node of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 should translate to lower heat generation and potentially less throttling under sustained load, benefiting gamers and power users. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra benefits from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s established optimizations and widespread support.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra demonstrates a strong real-world battery performance, achieving 11 hours and 25 minutes of active use. The Honor Magic8 Pro’s battery capacity is not specified, but its more powerful chipset may consume more energy. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra supports 90W wired charging (0-100% in 33 minutes) and 80W wireless charging (0-100% in 46 minutes). The Honor Magic8 Pro offers faster wired charging, with up to 120W in China and 100W globally, and 80W wireless charging. The Honor’s charging speed provides a quicker top-up, but the Xiaomi’s overall battery life and efficient charging profile are compelling.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Magic8 Pro if you demand the absolute fastest Android performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and are willing to potentially manage battery life more actively. Buy the Xiaomi 14 Ultra if you prioritize a balanced experience with excellent battery endurance, a bright and vibrant display, and a refined camera system, even if it means sacrificing a small amount of peak processing power.