Honor launched its new flagship phone Magic6 Pro at MWC 2024 a while ago and we have a unit in our hands now. So what can you get with this new phone? Then can it live up to expectations? Let's take a look in this first look article.
Specifications
Honor Magic6 Pro
6.8″ LTPO OLED screen
WQHD+, 120Hz
HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Peak brightness 5000nits
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor (4nm)
1×3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 chip
3×3.2 GHz Cortex-A720
2×3.0 GHz Cortex-A720
2×2.3 GHz Cortex-A520
Adreno 750 Graphics Chip
RAM 12GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage 512GB UFS 4.0
Primary Camera 50MP f/1.6, OIS (Wide Angle)
50MP f/2.0 (Ultra Wide Angle)
180MP f/3.0 OIS (Periscope Telephoto)
Optical 2.5X, digital 100X
Selfie Camera 50 MP, f/2.0,
3D ToF
5,600 mAh battery
80W wired charging
66W wireless charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof IP68
Screen Fingerprint Scanner Scan System
Face Scan
Sale Price €1,299 (~RM6,710)
Physical Design
The Honor Magic6 Pro draws attention through its well-built design. Holding the device also feels more solid and heavy than before. The body of the device comes with a different build that includes curved glass on the front panel and a frame on the sides.
The front panel is also covered with a special glass layer called NanoCrystal Shield which is said to have durable properties to protect the screen to be more durable. Finally, the rounded metal frame makes this device even more comfortable to hold.
Meanwhile, the back panel uses a leather material based on rough leather. Packaging is also premium. Especially for the Epi Green color which looks quite stylish like the unit in our hands.
Because the textured back also makes the device not too slippery to hold even without a frame. Anything still depends on each individual's interest because this is just a personal opinion.
The back also houses a large camera bump with three main cameras. The sensor arrangement remains the same as the Magic5 Pro, only the size of the telephoto sensor on the side has been increased. Then Honor also combines circle and square elements through this camera bump.
If you notice there is also 100X branding right? Thus it clearly shows that the telephoto sensor can support digital zoom up to 100X. An LED Flash is also provided near the camera module which is complementary to the device.
The right side houses the power and audio buttons made of metal. Followed by the charging port, SIM slot and speaker at the bottom. There is no SIM slot available, but the memory can be expanded virtually up to 8GB of RAM through the RAM Turbo function.
Then the speaker is a type of stereo that supports DTS Ultra-X technology. Honor also places a red emitter at the top along with another speaker and microphone hole. At the same time the device also passes the IP68 rating which means waterproof and dustproof.
However it should be noted that there is no 3.5mm audio jack provided which requires users to rely entirely on wireless earphones. In fact, this issue is not something new, in fact it has been happening since the second generation device. But that disappointment seems to be cured when Honor tries to achieve balance through the aforementioned features such as stereo speakers, IP68 waterproofing and infrared emitters.
In addition, the NFC function can also be used on devices for various purposes including contactless digital payments. At the same time we welcome the support of the in-screen fingerprint scanner and the 3D face scan which works very smoothly. Both biometric systems are able to scan quickly and smoothly with no failure issues found for the trials so far.
Home Screen
The 6.8″ LTPO OLED WQHD+ front screen used does not show a big change with the previous Magic5 Pro. The use of curved screens on both sides is also still maintained with a 120Hz refresh rate. Then the size of the bezel is thin on almost all sides allowing the device to offer a screen-to-body ratio of 91.6%.
In addition, there is also support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for a more vibrant color display. Then followed by the support of peak brightness reaching 5,000nits to ensure the screen is brighter for everyday use and PWM Dimming technology as high as 4,320Hz to protect the eyes.
Testing so far has found no issues for a beautiful, clear and vibrant visual presentation for indoor use. However the situation changes when used in an open area which shows the screen dimming. But Nexflix content can be streamed at HD resolution since the device is equipped with the Widevine L1 DRM system.
It can also be noted that Honor now changes the position of the selfie camera hole by placing it in the middle. In our opinion this change is not too disturbing considering that the hole is only small.
In fact, over time, users will get used to it and not even notice its existence. Honor also equips this front screen with a NanoCrystal Shield layer for better protection and is said to be durable.
Benchmark – Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip
Honor Magic6 Pro uses Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip with 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 internal storage. The combination of a powerful processor chip and large memory means that good performance can also be expected through it.
The tests so far give a positive view of the performance of the device which works perfectly. Scrolling feels smooth with the 120Hz screen enabled, while applications can be opened instantly without program crashes. As informed the device supports the addition of 8GB virtual RAM through RAM Turbo function. But just as mentioned in the Honor Magic V2 review, no self-changeable abilities are given but rather activated directly by default.
Some benchmark tests were also run on the device with scores as follows:
AnTuTu 3D
Honor Magic6 Pro – 1,366,519
iQOO 12 – 2,075,821
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – 1,768,765
ASUS ROG Phone 8 – 1,953,486
RedMagic 9 Pro – 2,114,787
Geekbench 6
Honor Magic6 Pro – 1362/4677
Xiaomi 14 – 1741/6313
iQOO 12 – 2181/6631
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – 2278/7016
ASUS ROG Phone 8 – 3032/6373
RedMagic 9 Pro – 2153/6775
3DMark Wild Life Extreme
Honor Magic6 Pro – 2492
Xiaomi 14 – 4499
iQOO 12 – N/A
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – 4657
ASUS ROG Phone 8 – 5236
RedMagic 9 Pro – 5231
Software – MagicOS 8.0 Based on Android 14
The latest MagicOS 8.0 software based on Android 14 is seen to be able to increase user satisfaction while using the device. At first glance it seems clear that this new MagicUI interface is no different from the previous iteration, but in fact it is built with an AI model for a number of new features.
Among them is Magic Portal which allows users to change and access services between applications with just drag and drop. Combined with the Magic Ring, it can offer a seamless experience across different devices including tablets, laptops and more. Then the Magic Capsules feature that works like Dynamic Island for basic notifications.
The most important thing is that Magic6 Pro is fully functional with any application or service that requires a Google account login. At the same time, applications such as YouTube, Google Maps, Google Photos, GMail and many other Google ecosystems can be accessed without problems.
Camera System
The tri-camera system is still retained in the new generation with a different sensor configuration. It consists of a combination of a 50MP wide-angle lens, a 50MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 108MP telephoto lens. Again there's no 1-inch sensor on the wide-angle sensor, but there's a significant upgrade to the 180MP telephoto periscope sensor with up to 2.5X optical zoom and 100X digital. Only the ultra wide-angle sensor is not equipped with OIS. On the front there is a 50MP selfie camera and a 3D ToF sensor.
Also given focus is the brand new Millisecond Falcon Capture feature aimed at increasing the auto focus speed time and the shutter button to capture fast moving objects with minimal blur. There is also an AI Motion Sensing Capture function available for the production of still images in drastic motion.
Built-in camera functions include Night, Portrait, Photo, Video, Movie, Slo-mo, High resolution, Time-Lapse, Pano, Pro and Story. In addition to supporting AI and built-in HDR to allow photos to be taken with good light balance. This ability can also be turned off manually through the settings available at the top of the camera application.
AI Motion Sensing Capture
The picture capture option can be taken at a ratio of 1:1, 4:3 and full. Again there is no 8K recording format but only 4K/60fps maximum, followed by the advantage of the 21:9 ratio screen mode to create a movie-like recording. But the actual performance for all of these we will share through the upcoming review article.
Battery Capacity
The 5,600mAh battery is larger than the 5,100mAh used on the Magic5 Pro. What is interesting here is that it is an upgraded silicon-carbon with better capabilities in various conditions. The next improvement is of course the charging system which now supports up to 80W for wired and 66W wireless. Even so, the charging head is provided to support power up to 100W.
What's In The Box
1x Honor Magic6 Pro
1x Silicone frame.
1x 100W Charger.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable
1x SIM Pin.
Conclusion
So how? Are all these offers able to attract your attention? In my opinion, Honor is seen to strengthen its device with wider innovation than before. A good build, the latest processor chip, a versatile camera and a large battery with fast charging are the attractive capital of the device. Stay tuned for a full review from us to see his performance in more depth later.
Pro
Premium design & comfortable to hold.
Built-in GMS support.
Powerful Snapragon 8 Gen 3 processor.
Charging is getting faster.
3D facial scan.
IP68 waterproof.
Cons
There is a fat application.
The camera is less consistent.
No 3.5mm audio jack.