Sony Xperia 1 VI vs Honor Magic6 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The Sony Xperia 1 VI and Honor Magic6 Pro represent distinct approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The Xperia 1 VI continues Sony’s focus on a creator-centric experience, while the Magic6 Pro aims to deliver cutting-edge technology and rapid charging. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing battery life and charging speed, the Honor Magic6 Pro emerges as the winner. Its 80W wired and 66W wireless charging significantly outperform the Xperia 1 VI’s 30W and 15W respectively, coupled with a longer active use battery score of 14:06h versus 17:27h.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia 1 VI 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 bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - EuropeLTE
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - EuropeSA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, May 152024, January 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, June 03Available. Released 2024, January 18
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front (NanoCrystal Shield), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather)
Dimensions162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight192 g (6.77 oz)225 g or 229 g (7.94 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2NanoCrystal Shield
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density)1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020LTPO 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, upgradable to Android 16, up to 3 major Android upgradesAndroid 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesZeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye trackingLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 85mm (telephoto), f/3.5, 170mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3.5x-7.1x continuous optical zoom, OIS, 4cm macro @ 120mm, no AF 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", 1.4µm, dual pixel 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@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/2.93", 0.6µm, AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video outputUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless80W wired 66W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
Type5000 mAhSi/C Li-Ion 5600 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Platinum silver, Khaki green, Scar redBlack, Green, Blue, Purple, White
ModelsXQEC54EUKCB.GC, XQEC54EUKCG.GC, XQEC54EUKCS.GC, XQ-EC72BVL-AN16, BVL-N49
Price$ 1,299.99 / £ 829.00 / € 977.98€ 455.54 / $ 899.00 / £ 598.99

Sony Xperia 1 VI

  • Potentially superior image processing for natural photos
  • Refined software experience (Sony's UI)
  • More compact form factor

  • Slower charging speeds (30W wired, 15W wireless)
  • Lower peak display brightness
  • Shorter active use battery life

Honor Magic6 Pro

  • Significantly faster charging (80W wired, 66W wireless)
  • Higher peak display brightness for outdoor use
  • Longer active use battery life

  • Potentially more aggressive image processing
  • Larger and heavier design
  • Software experience may not appeal to all users

Display Comparison

Both the Xperia 1 VI and Magic6 Pro utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but their displays diverge significantly. The Honor Magic6 Pro boasts a peak brightness of 1578 nits, measured, exceeding the Xperia 1 VI’s 1310 nits. This difference translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely employ LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates (though not explicitly stated), the Magic6 Pro’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor users. The Xperia 1 VI’s display, while excellent, is geared towards color accuracy for content creation, while the Magic6 Pro prioritizes sheer brightness.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specifications are missing, but the focus should be on image processing and sensor size. While megapixel counts are important, the Xperia 1 VI’s history suggests a focus on natural color reproduction and advanced video capabilities. The Magic6 Pro, based on Honor’s recent offerings, likely emphasizes computational photography and AI-powered scene optimization. Without sensor size data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Xperia 1 VI’s brand reputation in photography gives it a slight edge for users prioritizing manual control and image fidelity. We can safely ignore any 2MP macro lenses on either device.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) chipset, featuring an identical 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. The 4nm process node ensures efficient power consumption, but the Magic6 Pro’s larger chassis may allow for a more robust cooling solution, potentially mitigating thermal throttling during sustained workloads. RAM specifications are not provided, but both are expected to utilize LPDDR5x for fast memory access.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic6 Pro’s charging capabilities are a standout feature. Its 80W wired charging can replenish the battery to 50% in under 20 minutes, while the Xperia 1 VI’s 30W charging takes 30 minutes for the same result. The Magic6 Pro also supports 66W wireless charging, significantly faster than the Xperia 1 VI’s 15W wireless charging. Despite the Xperia 1 VI achieving a longer active use score of 17:27h compared to the Magic6 Pro’s 14:06h, the faster charging speeds of the Magic6 Pro make it more convenient for users who frequently need to top up their battery.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VI if you prioritize a more refined software experience, a focus on photography and videography tools, and a slightly more compact form factor. Buy the Honor Magic6 Pro if you demand the fastest possible charging speeds, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and a longer-lasting battery for power users who frequently utilize demanding applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in either phone exhibit thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While both phones utilize the same chipset, the Honor Magic6 Pro’s potentially larger chassis and more robust cooling system may allow it to sustain peak performance for longer periods. However, software optimization plays a crucial role, and real-world testing is needed to determine which device manages heat more effectively.
❓ How does the 80W wired charging of the Honor Magic6 Pro compare to other fast-charging solutions on the market?
80W is exceptionally fast, placing the Magic6 Pro among the quickest-charging smartphones currently available. It’s significantly faster than the 65W charging found on many OnePlus and Xiaomi devices, and substantially quicker than the 30W charging on the Sony Xperia 1 VI. This translates to less downtime and more time using the phone.
❓ Is the difference in active use battery life (17:27h vs 14:06h) significant in real-world scenarios?
The difference of over 3 hours in active use is noticeable, particularly for heavy users. However, the Honor Magic6 Pro’s faster charging mitigates this difference, allowing for quick top-ups throughout the day. The Xperia 1 VI’s longer battery life is more beneficial for users who frequently find themselves away from power outlets.