OnePlus 12 vs Honor Magic6 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The OnePlus 12 and Honor Magic6 Pro represent the cutting edge of Android flagship technology, both powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, they diverge in key areas like display technology and charging implementation, creating a compelling choice for discerning buyers. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Honor Magic6 Pro emerges as the slightly stronger contender. Its significantly brighter display (1578 nits vs 1155 nits) and faster wireless charging (66W vs 50W) provide tangible benefits, offsetting the marginally shorter active use battery life.

PHONES
Phone Names OnePlus 12 Honor Magic6 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - InternationalHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - InternationalLTE
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA - InternationalSA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, December 052024, January 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, December 11Available. Released 2024, January 18
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frameGlass front (NanoCrystal Shield), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather)
Dimensions164.3 x 75.8 x 9.2 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.36 in)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 (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight220 g (7.76 oz)225 g or 229 g (7.94 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2NanoCrystal Shield
Resolution1440 x 3168 pixels (~510 ppi density)1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)
Size6.82 inches, 113.0 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 600 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 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)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 750Adreno 750
OSAndroid 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 16 (International), ColorOS (China)Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 24GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesHasselblad Color Calibration, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, 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
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240/480fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panorama-
Single32 MP, f/2.4, 21mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/2.93", 0.6µm, AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging100W wired, PD, QC, 100% in 26 min (International) 80W wired, PD, QC, 100% in 30 min (USA) 50W wireless, 100% in 55 min 10W reverse wireless80W wired 66W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 5400 mAhSi/C Li-Ion 5600 mAh
Misc
ColorsFlowy Emerald, Silky Black, Silver (Glacial White)Black, Green, Blue, Purple, White
ModelsPJD110, CPH2573, CPH2581, CPH2583BVL-AN16, BVL-N49
Price$ 639.99 / C$ 1,099.99 / £ 549.00 / € 527.00€ 455.54 / $ 899.00 / £ 598.99
SAR1.18 W/kg (head)     0.68 W/kg (body)-

OnePlus 12

  • Faster wired charging (100W in some regions)
  • Established software ecosystem (OxygenOS)
  • Potentially more affordable price

  • Lower peak display brightness
  • Slower wireless charging
  • Software can be divisive

Honor Magic6 Pro

  • Significantly brighter display (1578 nits)
  • Faster wireless charging (66W)
  • Innovative design elements (likely)

  • MagicOS software may not appeal to all
  • Wired charging slightly slower than OnePlus 12 (in some regions)
  • Potential for higher price

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic6 Pro boasts a substantial advantage in display brightness, reaching a measured 1578 nits compared to the OnePlus 12’s 1155 nits. This difference is immediately noticeable in direct sunlight, making the Magic6 Pro far more readable outdoors. While both utilize high refresh rate panels, the impact of the brightness difference is more significant than refresh rate alone. Both are likely LTPO panels, enabling dynamic refresh rate scaling for power efficiency, but Honor’s peak brightness is a clear win for users who frequently use their phones in bright environments.

Camera Comparison

Context data lacks specific camera details, but given the flagship positioning, both phones likely feature multi-camera systems with a primary focus on photo and video quality. The absence of sensor size information prevents a direct comparison. However, the inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is almost guaranteed on both devices. Image processing style will be a key differentiator – OnePlus typically aims for a more natural look, while Honor often employs more vibrant and saturated colors. Without detailed camera specs, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner, but the presence of a high-resolution main sensor is expected on both.

Performance

Both the OnePlus 12 and Honor Magic6 Pro are equipped with the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) chipset, featuring the same CPU configuration: 1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, and 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520. This means raw processing power will be nearly identical. Performance differences will likely stem from thermal management and software optimization. Both devices utilize LPDDR5x RAM, ensuring fast memory access. Given the similar hardware, sustained performance under heavy load will be a key differentiator, requiring in-depth thermal testing to determine which phone exhibits less throttling.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 12 achieves an active use battery score of 14:11h, while the Honor Magic6 Pro scores 14:06h. This minimal difference suggests comparable battery life in real-world scenarios. However, charging speeds are where the Magic6 Pro pulls ahead. It supports 80W wired charging, while the OnePlus 12 offers 100W (International) or 80W (USA) depending on the region. More significantly, the Magic6 Pro boasts 66W wireless charging, significantly faster than the OnePlus 12’s 50W wireless charging. The faster wireless charging is a substantial convenience factor for users who prefer cable-free power-ups. The 10W/5W reverse wireless charging on both devices is a useful, though secondary, feature.

Buying Guide

Buy the OnePlus 12 if you prioritize a well-rounded experience with established software and a slightly more affordable price point. Its 100W wired charging is also faster in some regions. Buy the Honor Magic6 Pro if you demand the brightest possible display for outdoor visibility, value exceptionally fast wireless charging, and are comfortable with Honor’s MagicOS software experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Honor Magic6 Pro's MagicOS offer the same level of customization as OxygenOS on the OnePlus 12?
MagicOS, while feature-rich, generally offers a different approach to customization than OxygenOS. OxygenOS is known for its cleaner, more stock-Android-like experience with extensive personalization options. MagicOS tends to be more visually distinct and includes a wider range of pre-installed features, which some users may find bloatware.
❓ How does the 80W wired charging on the Honor Magic6 Pro compare to the 100W charging on the OnePlus 12 in real-world usage?
While the OnePlus 12 boasts 100W wired charging (in some regions), the difference in charging speed isn't dramatically faster than the Honor Magic6 Pro's 80W. Both phones will charge from 0-100% in under 30 minutes, with the OnePlus 12 potentially being a few minutes quicker. The more significant advantage of the Magic6 Pro lies in its substantially faster 66W wireless charging.
❓ Will the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in either phone struggle with sustained gaming performance due to thermal throttling?
Both the OnePlus 12 and Honor Magic6 Pro utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is a powerful but potentially heat-generating chip. Thermal management will be crucial. While independent testing is required, both manufacturers likely employ vapor chamber cooling systems to mitigate throttling. The effectiveness of these systems will determine how well each phone maintains peak performance during extended gaming sessions.