Huawei Mate 80 vs Honor Magic6 Pro: A Head-to-Head Comparison of Flagship Power

The Huawei Mate 80 and Honor Magic6 Pro represent two distinct approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The Mate 80, leveraging Huawei’s Kirin 9020, aims for a balanced experience, while the Magic6 Pro, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, prioritizes raw performance. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing peak performance and future-proofing, the Honor Magic6 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers a significant performance leap over the Mate 80’s Kirin 9020, coupled with a brighter display and longer battery life. However, the Mate 80 remains a compelling option for those within the Huawei ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate 80 Honor Magic6 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 bandsLTELTE
5G bandsSA/NSASA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, November 252024, January 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, November 25Available. Released 2024, January 18
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum alloy frame, fiber-reinforced plastic backGlass front (NanoCrystal Shield), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather)
Dimensions161.9 x 76 x 8 mm (6.37 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight217 g (7.65 oz)225 g or 229 g (7.94 oz)
Display
ProtectionHuawei Kunlun Glass 2NanoCrystal Shield
Resolution1280 x 2832 pixels (~460 ppi density)1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)
Size6.75 inches, 110.3 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, HDR VividLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5 GHz & 3x2.15 GHz & 4x1.6 GHz)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetKirin 9020 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 920Adreno 750
OSHarmonyOS 6.0Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF50 MP, f/1.4-2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, PDAF, OIS 180 MP, f/2.6, (periscope telephoto), 1/1.49", 0.56µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, AF
Video4K, 1080p@240fps, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR Vivid4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panorama-
Single13 MP, f/2.0, 18mm (ultrawide), AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/2.93", 0.6µm, AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth6.0, A2DP, LE, L2HC5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB 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/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFace ID, fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired80W wired 66W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
Type5750 mAhSi/C Li-Ion 5600 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Green, GoldBlack, Green, Blue, Purple, White
ModelsVYG-AL00BVL-AN16, BVL-N49
PriceAbout 570 EUR€ 455.54 / $ 899.00 / £ 598.99

Huawei Mate 80

  • Established Huawei ecosystem
  • Potentially refined camera processing
  • Competitive charging speeds (66W wired)

  • Older Kirin 9020 chipset
  • Likely lower peak display brightness
  • Potentially shorter battery life

Honor Magic6 Pro

  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for top-tier performance
  • Exceptional 1578 nits peak display brightness
  • Longer battery life (14:06h active use)
  • Faster 80W wired charging

  • May lack some Huawei-specific software features
  • Potential for a less refined camera aesthetic (subjective)

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic6 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1578 nits, making it far more usable outdoors under direct sunlight compared to the Mate 80 (brightness data unavailable, but typically lower for Kirin-powered devices). While both likely utilize OLED panels, the Magic6 Pro’s brightness advantage is a key differentiator. We expect the Magic6 Pro to also feature LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, improving efficiency, a feature common in Snapdragon flagship devices but less certain on the Mate 80.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, given Honor’s recent focus on camera technology, the Magic6 Pro likely features a more advanced camera system. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is also more capable than the Kirin 9020’s, offering improved image processing, noise reduction, and dynamic range. While Huawei historically excels in computational photography, the Magic6 Pro’s hardware advantage gives it a potential edge. We anticipate the Magic6 Pro to have a larger main sensor, contributing to better low-light performance.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor Magic6 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Huawei Mate 80’s Kirin 9020 (7nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s Cortex-X4 prime core, clocked at 3.3 GHz, provides a significant single-core performance boost. The Magic6 Pro’s CPU configuration (1x3.3 GHz, 3x3.2 GHz, 2x3.0 GHz, 2x2.3 GHz) is architecturally more advanced than the Mate 80’s (1x2.5 GHz, 3x2.15 GHz, 4x1.6 GHz), translating to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic6 Pro’s 14:06h active use score demonstrates superior battery life compared to what we’d expect from the Mate 80 (data unavailable). While the Mate 80 offers 66W wired and 50W wireless charging, the Magic6 Pro counters with 80W wired and 66W wireless, enabling faster top-ups. Both devices support 5W reverse wired charging, a convenient feature for accessories. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s improved efficiency further contributes to the Magic6 Pro’s longer runtime.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate 80 if you value the established Huawei software experience, prefer a potentially more refined camera processing style (based on brand history), and are comfortable with the Kirin chipset’s performance profile. Buy the Honor Magic6 Pro if you demand the absolute fastest Android performance, need a display that excels in direct sunlight with its 1578 nits peak brightness, and prioritize extended battery life with its 14:06h active use score.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Honor Magic6 Pro get noticeably warmer than the Kirin 9020 during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a powerful chip, its 4nm process and advanced thermal management features generally result in lower temperatures compared to the 7nm Kirin 9020 under sustained load. The Magic6 Pro is likely to exhibit less throttling and maintain higher performance for longer periods during gaming.
❓ How does the 80W wired charging on the Honor Magic6 Pro compare to the 66W charging on the Huawei Mate 80 in real-world usage?
The 80W charging on the Magic6 Pro will noticeably reduce charging times. Expect a faster 0-100% charge, potentially shaving off 15-20 minutes compared to the Mate 80. This is particularly beneficial for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the difference in CPU performance between the Kirin 9020 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 noticeable for everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
For basic tasks, the difference may not be immediately apparent. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s superior single-core performance will result in snappier app launches, smoother scrolling, and a more responsive overall user experience, even during everyday use.