Huawei Pura X vs. Honor Magic6 Pro: A Head-to-Head Flagship Battle

Both the Huawei Pura X and the Honor Magic6 Pro represent the pinnacle of their respective brands' smartphone engineering. However, they diverge significantly in their core philosophies: Huawei relies on its in-house Kirin 9020 chipset, while Honor leverages the power of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This comparison dissects these differences, focusing on real-world implications for performance, battery life, and overall user experience.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and future-proofing, the Honor Magic6 Pro is the clear winner. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4nm process and superior CPU architecture deliver a noticeable speed advantage. However, the Pura X offers a compelling alternative for those invested in the Huawei ecosystem and potentially prefer its image processing style.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei Pura X	Honor Magic6 Pro

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	LTE
5G bands	SA/NSA	SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2025, March 20	2024, January 11
Status	Available. Released 2025, March 20	Available. Released 2024, January 18

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame	Glass front (NanoCrystal Shield), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather)
Dimensions	Unfolded: 143.2 x 91.7 x 7.2 mmFolded: 91.7 x 74.3 x 15.1 mm	162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	193.7 g or 195.9 g (6.84 oz)	225 g or 229 g (7.94 oz)

Display
Protection	-	NanoCrystal Shield
Resolution	1320 x 2120 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~396 ppi density)	1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)
Size	6.3 inches, 114.9 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)	6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Foldable LTPO2 OLED, 1B colors, HDR Vivid, 120Hz, 2500 nits (peak)	LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
Chipset	Kirin 9020 (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPU	Maleoon 920	Adreno 750
OS	HarmonyOS 5.0	Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 8

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM	256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 1.5 MP multi-spectral channel red maple primary color camera	50 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
Video	4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, HDR Vivid	4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video

Selfie camera
Single	10.7 MP, f/2.2, (wide)	50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/2.93", 0.6µm, AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video	1080p, HDR Vivid	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

Sound
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC	5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASS, NavIC	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2	USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	66W wired 40W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired	80W wired 66W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
Type	4720 mAh	Si/C Li-Ion 5600 mAh

Misc
Colors	Red, Green, Gray, White, Black	Black, Green, Blue, Purple, White
Models	VDE-AL00	BVL-AN16, BVL-N49
Price	About 960 EUR	€ 455.54 / $ 899.00 / £ 598.99

Huawei Pura X

Potentially unique Huawei software experience
Fast 66W wired charging
Reverse wireless charging capabilities

Older 7nm Kirin 9020 chipset
Limited information on display specs
Potentially lower performance compared to Snapdragon

Honor Magic6 Pro

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for top-tier performance
Exceptional 14:06h battery life
Ultra-bright 1578 nits display

May lack the unique software features of Huawei
Potentially higher price point
Reliance on Qualcomm ecosystem

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic6 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1578 nits, making it ideal for outdoor visibility. While the Pura X’s display specs are not provided, the Magic6 Pro’s brightness advantage is substantial. Both support wireless charging, but the Magic6 Pro’s display technology likely incorporates LTPO for adaptive refresh rates, contributing to better power efficiency. The lack of detailed display information for the Pura X makes a comprehensive comparison difficult, but the Magic6 Pro clearly leads in peak brightness.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications for the Pura X, a direct comparison is limited. However, both brands are known for strong camera capabilities. The Magic6 Pro likely benefits from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s advanced ISP for improved image processing. The Pura X’s image processing style is likely to be distinct, potentially favoring Huawei’s signature color science. The absence of sensor size information for the Pura X prevents a meaningful assessment of low-light performance. We can assume both phones will offer a range of shooting modes, but the Snapdragon’s processing power gives the Magic6 Pro an edge in computational photography.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor Magic6 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) is a powerhouse, featuring a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.3 GHz. This contrasts sharply with the Huawei Pura X’s Kirin 9020 (7nm), which utilizes a Taishan architecture. The 4nm process of the Snapdragon offers superior thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. The Snapdragon’s CPU configuration (1x3.3GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.3GHz Cortex-A520) is demonstrably more advanced than the Kirin’s (1x2.5 GHz Taishan Big, 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid, 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510), translating to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. The Magic6 Pro’s LPDDR5x RAM further enhances performance.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic6 Pro shines in battery life, achieving an impressive 14:06h of active use. While the Pura X offers 66W wired charging, 40W wireless, and reverse wireless capabilities, the Magic6 Pro counters with 80W wired charging and 66W wireless, enabling faster top-ups. Both offer 5W reverse wired charging. The Magic6 Pro’s superior battery endurance, combined with faster charging speeds, makes it the more convenient option for power users. The Kirin 9020’s 7nm process may consume more power than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4nm process, contributing to the Magic6 Pro’s longer runtime.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Pura X if you prioritize a potentially unique software experience within the Huawei ecosystem, and value a design that may stand out. Buy the Honor Magic6 Pro if you demand the absolute best Android performance, exceptional battery life (14:06h active use), and a brighter, more vibrant display with a peak brightness of 1578 nits.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020 in the Pura X struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?

While the Kirin 9020 is a capable chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Magic6 Pro offers a significant performance advantage, particularly in graphically intensive games. The Pura X may experience more frame drops or require lower graphics settings to maintain smooth gameplay. The 7nm process also means it will likely generate more heat, potentially leading to thermal throttling.

❓ How much faster is the 80W charging on the Magic6 Pro compared to the Pura X's 66W charging in real-world scenarios?

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 Pura X. The difference is most pronounced in the initial stages of charging, with the rate slowing down as the battery nears full capacity.

❓ Is the reverse wireless charging on either phone useful for charging accessories like earbuds?

Both phones offer reverse wireless charging, but at 5W (Pura X) and unspecified wattage (Magic6 Pro, likely similar), it's primarily a convenience feature for topping up small accessories like earbuds or smartwatches. Don't expect to significantly charge a phone using reverse wireless charging.

❓ Given the geopolitical context, will the Huawei Pura X receive consistent software updates and access to Google services?

This remains a key concern for potential Pura X buyers. Huawei's access to Google services is limited, and the Pura X will rely on Huawei's HarmonyOS. While HarmonyOS is a functional operating system, it lacks the breadth of apps and services available on Android with Google Play Services. Software update consistency is also a potential concern.