The Ultimate Honor Magic 6 Pro Review: Everything You Need

Honor Magic 6 Pro:

Introducing an alternative to the Galaxy S24 Ultra

Tech writer Rating: 7.9/10

Furthermore, the Honor Magic 6 Pro introduces a fresh method of interaction through its innovative AI eye-tracking feature. This feature enables users to effortlessly access and engage with apps using only their eyes. Although the international versions of the Honor Magic 6 Pro currently lack eye-tracking capability, it is anticipated to be integrated in future updates. A demonstration video showcases the potential of this eye-tracking technology, illustrating its ability to remotely control a car via an app solely through eye movements.

Specifications and Features:

Beyond these cutting-edge functionalities, the Magic 6 Pro boasts a suite of specifications and features typical of a flagship phone in 2024. Having extensively tested the device for two weeks, I can attest that it delivers a robust Android experience encased in a premium hardware design. With its vibrant display, long-lasting battery, impressive cameras, swift processor, and innovative AI-driven tools, the Magic 6 Pro emerges as one of the standout Android phones of 2024.

Despite its strengths, the Magic 6 Pro is not without its flaws. One notable drawback is Honor’s software upgrade policy, which falls short compared to competitors like Google’s Pixel 8 lineup and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, both offering seven years of major OS upgrades and security updates. Honor commits to four years of Android updates and security patches, which while respectable, trails behind its counterparts. Additionally, during my brief usage, I observed that the display tended to accumulate dust, debris, and minor scratches.

Considering these practical considerations, I find it challenging to recommend the Magic 6 Pro over Samsung’s competing Galaxy S24 Plus or Galaxy S24 Ultra models. Moreover, potential buyers residing in the US may encounter hurdles in purchasing the Magic 6 Pro, as Honor currently has no plans for a stateside release. However, the device is slated to launch in the UK and other regions, priced at £1,100 (approximately $1,390 and AU$2,120) for the variant with 12GB RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

Operating system:

The Magic 6 Pro operates on Magic OS 8.0, which is built upon Android 14. Honor positions its latest operating system as one that deeply understands its users, leveraging AI-based features. Notably, the eye-tracking feature, although not yet available globally, allows users to conveniently access notifications.

Katie Collins of CNET, who tested the Magic 6 Pro’s eye-tracking technology at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, described navigating the phone as effortless, swift, and responsive. She even successfully answered a phone call using only her eyes.

Reflecting on this remarkable feature, Collins remarked, “When the demo phone rang, a direction appeared on the screen telling me to look at a specific spot at the top left corner of the screen if I wanted to answer. I also was able to turn off an alarm and open messages the same way — simply by directing my gaze to a specific point on the screen.”

Eye-tracking Feature:

While impressive, the eye-tracking feature would not significantly influence my decision to purchase a phone. Nevertheless, Honor deserves commendation for introducing innovative ways for users to interact with their devices.

While Honor may not possess the global recognition of industry giants like Apple or Samsung, the Chinese company is steadfast in its pursuit to carve out a prominent position for itself. This ambition is clearly evident in its latest offering, the Magic 6 Pro.

Silicon-Carbon Battery:

Unveiled at Mobile World Congress, the Honor Magic 6 Pro stands out as the first smartphone available outside of China to feature a silicon-carbon battery. This innovative battery type is touted by researchers for its reduced environmental impact and lower risk of overheating compared to the prevalent lithium-ion batteries.

Upon unboxing the Magic 6 Pro, it’s apparent that Honor aimed for distinction. The model I received boasts a serene sage green hue, complemented by a gold-finished trim surrounding both the camera bump and the device’s body. Featuring a textured rear surface and a distinctive cushion-shaped camera bump, Honor draws inspiration from the realms of jewelry and classical timepieces. However, the phone’s bulky camera bump prevents it from lying completely flat on surfaces, a common issue among contemporary smartphones. Additionally, the Magic 6 Pro’s screen exhibits subtle curved edges.

Display:

At the front, a sizable 6.78-inch display with subtle curves and a peak brightness of 1,600 nits immediately catches the eye. Even under direct sunlight, the screen remains easily legible. The inclusion of a 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth software animations, enhancing the user experience when navigating between apps and scrolling through social media. However, during my brief usage, I noticed visible signs of wear and tear, with the screen accumulating dust, debris, and several small scratches after being carried in a tote bag without a protective case. Honor asserts that the Magic 6 Pro’s screen employs nanocrystal glass technology.

Falcon camera system:

The Magic 6 Pro’s standout feature is its Falcon camera system, comprising four lenses. Leading the rear camera module is a 2.5x telephoto lens with an f/2.6 aperture, enabling superior light intake for bright and clear photos with minimal image noise. This telephoto lens is paired with a high-resolution 108-megapixel sensor, ensuring impressive results even with digital zoom. Additionally, the Magic 6 Pro boasts a 2.5x optical zoom and can digitally zoom up to 100x, though image quality starts to degrade noticeably beyond 30x.

Accompanying the telephoto camera are a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens. On the front, a 50-megapixel selfie camera completes the ensemble, promising high-quality captures.

In essence, the Honor Magic 6 Pro embodies the company’s commitment to innovation and excellence, offering consumers a blend of advanced features and distinctive design elements.

I’m really pleased with how the image above came out. You can even see the reflection of the building opposite in the glass, although it appears to be artificially sharpened in the image.

The picture below was taken using the default settings on a bright, sunny day in Hong Kong. The Magic 6 Pro enhances the blue tones of the sky and sea, which I personally find appealing.

Zoom Capabilities:

Here are a series of photos showcasing the zoom capabilities of the Magic 6 Pro. The first image was captured with the 0.5x ultrawide camera, while the second utilized the telephoto camera at 5x digital zoom.

Let’s push the limits. Below is a photo taken at 100x digital zoom. It’s remarkable that you can make out even a semblance of the ship’s bow. With the naked eye, I could barely discern anything except for a tiny silhouette of the ship. As expected, the image is somewhat blurry, but it offers a rough idea of the subject.

Now, let’s focus on something closer at hand (and cuter). The photo below of my dog Rocky showcases the telephoto capabilities of the Magic 6 Pro. It’s a crisp image captured in a well-lit room, highlighting the intricate details of his fur.

Portrait mode was among my favorite features to utilize on the Magic 6 Pro. It’s effortless to capture stunning portrait shots. I particularly admire the natural-looking bokeh in the background and the sharpness of the foreground.

Edge detection:

During my time using the Magic 6 Pro, I noticed occasional challenges with edge detection. Take a look at the images below featuring the heart-shaped balloon to understand what I mean. The first was taken in portrait mode, where you can see the attempt to separate the balloon from the background. However, the Magic 6 Pro seems to struggle with accurately delineating the balloon and its string.

Below is another photo of the same balloon with portrait mode disabled. Here, you can clearly discern the balloon’s string and the background, as captured in default settings. Despite the light streaming in through the window, the camera accurately portrayed the balloon in its natural environment.

The camera performance of the Magic 6 Pro is impressive. Images captured in various lighting conditions appear vibrant, sharp, and visually appealing. With the portrait lens boasting 108 megapixels, the zoom capabilities of this phone are also outstanding. Whether zooming digitally or optically, the photos retain their sharpness. I’m particularly excited to test this phone’s capabilities at a tennis match and capture some action shots.

However, if I were to nitpick, I noticed that the camera tends to enhance the blue tones of skies and water beyond their true colors. Additionally, the selfie camera has a tendency to lighten the complexion, resulting in a fairer appearance than reality. While I prefer cameras that capture true-to-life images, these issues were minor and didn’t significantly affect my overall experience.

Occasionally, I encountered challenges with portrait mode’s edge detection. Nevertheless, it was easily rectified by adjusting the camera slightly. Overall, capturing beautiful portrait shots with a natural bokeh effect in the background and crisp foreground was effortless. The Magic 6 Pro undoubtedly ranks among my favorite portrait cameras.

Battery Performance:

Battery Performance: Equipped with a large 5,600-mAh silicon-carbon battery, this year’s Magic 6 Pro delivers impressive battery life. During moderate usage, including phone calls, social media browsing, email reading, video streaming, and music playback, the battery easily lasted throughout the day. Additionally, in a 45-minute battery drain test involving a Zoom call, social media browsing, and gaming, the battery only depleted by 8%. This performance aligns well with other gaming phones such as the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro and falls slightly short of the Google Pixel 8 Pro, both of which use lithium-ion batteries.

The use of silicon-carbon batteries in smartphones is an emerging trend due to its potential environmental advantages and reduced risk of overheating. However, long-term reliability and widespread adoption are still under research and development.

Performance:

Performance: Powered by Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, the Magic 6 Pro effortlessly handles various tasks. Whether playing graphic-intensive games like Genshin Impact, participating in Zoom video calls, or multitasking between applications, the device exhibits no stutters or freezes. While benchmark tests may show it lagging behind some competitors in certain processor tests, it excels in graphic and gaming performance, surpassing even the ROG Phone 8 Pro in 3D Mark tests.