Xiaomi 17 Pro Max vs. Honor Magic6 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max and Honor Magic6 Pro represent the pinnacle of Android flagship development, but cater to slightly different priorities. Xiaomi pushes the boundaries of performance and endurance with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite, while Honor focuses on a premium display experience and refined design. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the power user prioritizing sustained performance and exceptional battery life, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 20:50 active use score significantly outperform the Honor Magic6 Pro. However, the Honor Magic6 Pro’s brighter display is a compelling advantage for media consumption.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi 17 Pro Max 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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71LTE
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 89 SA/NSASA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, September 252024, January 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, September 25Available. Released 2024, January 18
Body
BuildGlass front (Dragon Crystal Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (NanoCrystal Shield), glass back or silicone polymer back (eco leather)
Dimensions162.9 x 77.6 x 8 mm (6.41 x 3.06 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
Weight219 g (7.72 oz)225 g or 229 g (7.94 oz)
Display
ProtectionXiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3NanoCrystal Shield
Resolution1200 x 2608 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~416 ppi density)1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density)
Size6.9 inches, 116.6 cm2 (~92.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 2160Hz PWM, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, 3500 nits (peak)LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M)Octa-core (1x3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.3 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 840Adreno 750
OSAndroid 16, HyperOS 3Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.6, 115mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF (30cm - ∞), OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.4, 17mm, 102˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, 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@30fps (HDR), 4K@30/60/120fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR, 10-bit video
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panorama-
Single50 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (wide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, PDAF50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/2.93", 0.6µm, AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (with Dolby Atmos)Yes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC 55.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, Display Port, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging100W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 100W PPS 50W wireless 22.5W reverse wireless80W wired 66W wireless Reverse wireless 5W reverse wired
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 7500 mAhSi/C Li-Ion 5600 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Purple, GreenBlack, Green, Blue, Purple, White
Models2509FPN0BCBVL-AN16, BVL-N49
PriceAbout 720 EUR€ 455.54 / $ 899.00 / £ 598.99

Xiaomi 17 Pro Max

  • Exceptional battery life (20:50h active use)
  • Cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor
  • Faster charging speeds (100W wired, 50W wireless)

  • Lower peak display brightness compared to Honor
  • Potential for software bloat (typical of Xiaomi)

Honor Magic6 Pro

  • Incredibly bright display (1578 nits)
  • Refined design and user experience
  • Fast wireless charging (66W)

  • Shorter battery life (14:06h active use)
  • Less powerful processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3)

Display Comparison

The Honor Magic6 Pro immediately stands out with its measured peak brightness of 1578 nits, significantly exceeding the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s 1026 nits. This difference translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both likely employ LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates (based on brand trends), Honor’s higher brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor use. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max will likely offer excellent color accuracy, but the Magic6 Pro’s brightness is a key differentiator. Bezels are expected to be minimal on both, reflecting current flagship design trends.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, the chipset differences suggest the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max will have a processing advantage for computational photography. The Snapdragon 8 Elite’s ISP is likely more capable, leading to faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. Both phones will likely feature advanced OIS and multi-lens systems, but the Xiaomi’s processing power could be a deciding factor in image quality. We anticipate both will avoid heavily relying on low-resolution auxiliary lenses.

Performance

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) represents a leap in mobile processing. Its octa-core configuration, featuring 2x4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L cores and 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M cores, promises substantial performance gains over the Honor Magic6 Pro’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm). The 3nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Elite should deliver improved thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. While the Honor Magic6 Pro’s Cortex-X4 prime core is powerful, the Xiaomi’s Oryon architecture is designed for sustained peak performance. The Xiaomi’s LPDDR5x RAM will further enhance performance.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s active use score of 20:50h is a significant advantage over the Honor Magic6 Pro’s 14:06h. This translates to nearly 6 hours of additional real-world usage. While the Honor Magic6 Pro offers respectable 80W wired and 66W wireless charging, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s 100W wired, 50W wireless, and 22.5W reverse wireless charging capabilities provide greater flexibility and faster top-ups. The Xiaomi’s superior battery life, combined with faster charging, makes it the clear winner in this category.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max if you need uncompromising performance for gaming, demanding applications, and all-day battery life. Its faster charging and more powerful chipset make it ideal for those who push their phones to the limit. Buy the Honor Magic6 Pro if you prioritize a stunningly bright and vibrant display for media consumption and a more refined, polished user experience, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance and raw processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max generate excessive heat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s 3nm process node is designed to improve thermal efficiency compared to previous generations. While some heat generation is inevitable during intensive tasks, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is expected to manage temperatures effectively, minimizing throttling and maintaining consistent performance. Advanced cooling solutions, such as vapor chambers, are also likely implemented.
❓ How does the 80W wired charging on the Honor Magic6 Pro compare to the 100W charging on the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max in real-world scenarios?
While 80W is fast, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s 100W charging will demonstrably reduce charge times. Expect a faster 0-50% charge on the Xiaomi, though the difference may be less noticeable when charging from 50-100%. The Xiaomi also supports the PPS standard, potentially optimizing charging speeds with compatible chargers.
❓ Is the reverse wireless charging on the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s 22.5W output sufficient to meaningfully charge accessories like earbuds or smartwatches?
Yes, 22.5W is a substantial reverse wireless charging output. It will comfortably charge most earbuds cases and smartwatches at a reasonable speed. It's also capable of providing a slow charge to other Qi-compatible smartphones in a pinch.