The iQOO Neo9 Pro and Honor Magic6 Pro represent compelling choices in the high-end Android space, but cater to slightly different priorities. The iQOO focuses on delivering flagship-level performance at a more aggressive price point, leveraging the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The Honor Magic6 Pro, meanwhile, arrives as a premium offering with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and a focus on display technology and battery endurance.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw speed and incredibly fast charging, the iQOO Neo9 Pro is the winner. Its 120W charging is a game-changer, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 remains a powerhouse. However, the Honor Magic6 Pro excels in display brightness and sustained performance thanks to the Gen 3, making it ideal for power users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2024, February 22 | 2024, January 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, February 22 | Available. Released 2024, January 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather), plastic frame | Glass front (NanoCrystal Shield), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather) |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 75.7 x 8.0 mm or 8.3 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 | 190 g or 196 g (6.70 oz) | 225 g or 229 g (7.94 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Schott Xensation Up | NanoCrystal Shield |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) | 1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1400 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz 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 | Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 750 |
| OS | Android 14, Funtouch 14 | Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.49", PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 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 | 8K@30fps, 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1" | 50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/2.93", 0.6µm, AF
TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers (closed type) | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 120W wired, 50% in 11 min
Reverse wired | 80W wired
66W wireless
Reverse wireless
5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5160 mAh | Si/C Li-Ion 5600 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Fiery Red, Conqueror Black | Black, Green, Blue, Purple, White |
| Models | I2304 | BVL-AN16, BVL-N49 |
| Price | - | € 455.54 / $ 899.00 / £ 598.99 |
vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro
- Incredibly fast 120W wired charging
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
- Likely optimized for gaming performance
- Potentially lower peak display brightness
- May lack some of the advanced camera features of the Magic6 Pro
Honor Magic6 Pro
- Brighter display with potentially LTPO technology
- Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for superior performance
- Longer battery life (14:06h active use)
- Slower 80W wired charging compared to iQOO
- Higher price point
Display Comparison
The Honor Magic6 Pro immediately stands out with its measured peak brightness of 1578 nits, significantly exceeding what we'd expect from the iQOO Neo9 Pro (spec not provided, but typically lower in this price bracket). This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While the iQOO Neo9 Pro likely employs a high refresh rate AMOLED panel, the Magic6 Pro’s brightness advantage is substantial. The Magic6 Pro’s panel technology is likely LTPO, enabling dynamic refresh rate scaling for improved efficiency, a feature not confirmed for the iQOO. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both, but the Magic6 Pro’s curved display may offer a more immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs are missing, but we can infer some differences. Both phones will likely feature a multi-camera system, but the Magic6 Pro, being a flagship, is expected to have a larger main sensor with more advanced features like improved OIS. The iQOO Neo9 Pro will likely focus on delivering strong performance for the price, potentially sacrificing some of the advanced camera features found in the Magic6 Pro. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on either device is largely irrelevant; image quality will be limited by the sensor size and lens quality. Image processing styles will also differ, with Honor typically favoring more vibrant, saturated colors.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the iQOO Neo9 Pro utilizes the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm), while the Honor Magic6 Pro boasts the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm). The Gen 3 features a redesigned CPU architecture with a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.3 GHz, compared to the Gen 2’s 3.2 GHz Cortex-X3. This, coupled with improvements to the A720 cores (3x3.2 GHz) versus the A715/A710 cores in the Gen 2, results in a noticeable performance uplift in the Magic6 Pro, particularly in multi-threaded tasks. Both phones utilize LPDDR5x RAM, but the Gen 3’s improved memory controller further enhances performance. The iQOO Neo9 Pro will still deliver excellent performance, but the Magic6 Pro has a clear edge in sustained workloads due to better thermal management expected from the newer process and architecture.
Battery Life
The Honor Magic6 Pro demonstrates a significant advantage in battery life, achieving an active use score of 14:06h. While the iQOO Neo9 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, the Magic6 Pro’s endurance is likely due to a combination of a larger battery and the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The iQOO Neo9 Pro compensates with its blazing-fast 120W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 11 minutes. The Magic6 Pro offers 80W wired charging, 66W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wired charging, providing more versatility but slower overall wired charging speeds. The iQOO’s reverse wired charging is a useful addition for topping up accessories.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro if you need a phone that charges incredibly quickly, offers excellent gaming performance without breaking the bank, and prioritizes value. Buy the Honor Magic6 Pro if you prefer a brighter, more color-accurate display, demand the absolute latest processor for sustained heavy workloads, and value wireless charging convenience alongside extended battery life.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the iQOO Neo9 Pro throttle under sustained gaming loads?
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a powerful chip, it can experience some throttling during extended gaming sessions. However, iQOO typically implements robust cooling solutions to mitigate this, and the 4nm process helps with thermal efficiency. Expect excellent gaming performance, but not necessarily sustained peak performance for hours on end.
❓ How does the 66W wireless charging on the Honor Magic6 Pro compare to the 80W wired charging of competitors?
66W wireless charging is exceptionally fast and competitive with many phones' wired charging speeds. While 80W wired charging is faster, the convenience of wireless charging is a significant benefit. A full wireless charge will take longer than a wired charge, but it eliminates the need for cables and reduces wear on the charging port.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging on the Honor Magic6 Pro useful for more than just earbuds?
The 5W reverse wireless charging is primarily intended for accessories like earbuds and smartwatches. It's not powerful enough to significantly charge a smartphone, but it's a convenient way to top up smaller devices when you're away from a power outlet.
