Alright, let's dive into a head-to-head comparison of the Huawei Mate 50 Pro and the Honor Magic6 Pro. As a tech journalist, I always strive to translate these specs into tangible experiences, and that’s what we’ll do here. Let’s get started!
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of the key specs, focusing on what they mean for you:
| Feature | Huawei Mate 50 Pro | Honor Magic6 Pro | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 162.1 × 75.5 × 8.5 mm | 162.5 × 75.8 × 8.9 mm | Mate 50 Pro is slightly more compact; Magic6 Pro is a bit thicker and might feel more substantial in hand. |
| Weight | 205g | 225g | Mate 50 Pro is lighter, more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Build Quality Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both use similar screen protection technology. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.74" | 6.8" | Both have very similar screen sizes; Honor is negligibly larger, making it a bit more immersive. |
| Resolution | 1212x2616 | 1280x2800 | Honor offers slightly sharper text and images; more fine detail. |
| PPI | 428 | 453 | Honor’s display will appear slightly crisper than the Huawei, which makes a big difference for everyday use. |
| Technology | OLED | OLED | Both provide vibrant colors and deep blacks, great for media consumption and gaming. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations; ideal for gaming and browsing. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both have identical peak brightness at 0 nits. This is strange and likely a mistake in the data. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Magic6 Pro's newer chip offers a significant leap in speed and efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,022,043 | 2,069,877 | Magic6 Pro handles demanding tasks much faster; suitable for high-end gaming and intensive apps. |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 750 | Magic6 Pro's GPU delivers better graphics performance, smoother gaming experience. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 50MP f/1.4, 1/1.56" | 50MP f/1.4, 1/1.3" | Honor's larger sensor gathers more light, resulting in better low-light performance. Both share the same aperture. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | N/A | 180MP f/2.6 | Honor has a telephoto lens for close-ups and portrait shots. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP f/2.4 | 50MP f/2.0, 1/2.51" | Honor has a higher resolution for detail-rich selfies; wider aperture for better low-light shots. |
| Telephoto Lens | 64MP f/3.5, 1/2" | N/A | Huawei offers a dedicated telephoto lens for zoom shots, missing on the Honor. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 12MP f/2.2 | N/A | Huawei provides dedicated ultra-wide capabilities, missing on the Honor. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 50MP f/2.0, 1/2.88" | Honor provides an ultra wide/macro lens, great for flexibility, missing on the Huawei. |
| Video | 4K@60fps HDR, EIS | 4K@60fps HDR, OIS, EIS | Both offer great video capabilities, Honor includes OIS which gives slightly better quality, especially in low light |
| DxoMark Mobile Camera | 149, 152, 141 | 158, 160, 150 | Honor has significantly better results on DxoMark tests for its main camera. |
| DxoMark Selfie Camera | 145, 147, 143 | 151, 149, 155 | Honor has better results for the selfie camera |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 4700mAh | 5600mAh | Magic6 Pro offers considerably longer battery life for power users. |
| Charging | 66W Fast, 50W Wireless | 80W Fast, 66W Wireless | Magic6 Pro charges faster and has faster wireless charging. |
| Features | Reverse Charging | Reverse Charging, E1 Chip | Both offer convenient reverse charging; Magic6 Pro has an extra efficiency chip. |
| Software | |||
| OS | N/A | Android 14, version 18 | The Honor is running Android 14. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 7 | Honor offers the newest wifi capabilities. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.3 LE | Honor has a newer, more efficient Bluetooth version with more capabilities. |
| GPS | Comprehensive | Comprehensive | Both provide a comprehensive selection of location capabilities. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM / eSIM | Honor offers more versatility with eSIM support. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 256/512 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | Honor has a larger 1TB option; both lack expandable storage. |
| RAM | 8 GB | 12/16 GB | Honor provides a much better experience with RAM for demanding users and heavy multi-tasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Stereo Speakers | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers | Honor has enhanced audio capabilities for better immersion. |
2. Key Insights
- Honor Magic6 Pro: Performance Powerhouse: The Honor Magic6 Pro is the clear winner in terms of raw power, thanks to its cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip and more RAM. It also offers a superior display and much larger battery.
- Huawei Mate 50 Pro: Camera Versatility: The Mate 50 Pro has a different approach with the camera, with a Telephoto and Wide Angle lens. The Honor opts for a Telephoto + Portrait camera and a Wide Angle + Macro camera.
- Display Clarity: The Honor Magic6 Pro has a slightly higher resolution and pixel density, which translates to slightly crisper visuals.
- Battery Endurance: The Magic6 Pro's larger battery ensures much better battery life, paired with faster charging for both wired and wireless.
- Software: The Honor runs a version of Android, whereas the Huawei runs its own operating system which can be problematic for some users.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
- For Power Users (Gamers, Multitaskers): The Honor Magic6 Pro is the better choice, it excels in performance and battery life for these tasks.
- For Camera Enthusiasts: It's a tricky one, both phones have great cameras. For users who prefer Telephoto and Wide Angle capabilities, the Huawei may be preferrable. However, the Honor has a much higher DxoMark score and a more versatile camera system for those that like to use all the different lenses.
- For Everyday Users: If you value balance, the Honor Magic6 Pro is still the superior phone with a more well rounded approach to performance, camera, display, and battery. The extra performance will also keep it more relevant for longer.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to help you decide:
- Performance Priority: Do you prioritize the fastest possible performance and latest tech?
- Camera System Preference: Do you want a Telephoto and Wide Angle camera setup, or a more versatile camera system with great performance across the board?
- Battery Life and Software: How important is battery life and the latest Android version in your daily workflow?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High-Performance Gaming, Media Consumption
- Recommendation: Honor Magic6 Pro - for the superior chipset, display, and battery life.
- Scenario 2: Photo and Video Focused Enthusiast
- Recommendation: Honor Magic6 Pro - the results on DxoMark and better camera performance make it the better option.
- Scenario 3: General Usage and Reliability
- Recommendation: Honor Magic6 Pro - its latest chip and overall capabilities will mean it'll be a reliable phone for longer.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two, I'd go with the Honor Magic6 Pro.
Here’s why:
- Future-Proofing: The newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in the Honor is a significant upgrade over the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, promising better long-term performance and efficiency, particularly with modern apps and games.
- Battery Life: The Honor has significantly more battery and it charges faster. This means that I will have more battery on a daily basis which removes any concerns about running out.
- Latest Features: The Honor has Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 7, this ensures a more reliable and faster connection, especially as the new standards become more widely adopted.
- Versatile Camera: Whilst the Huawei has a Telephoto and a Wide Angle, the Honor has a more versatile camera system which will suit most use cases.
- Software: I personally prefer Android over Huawei's custom operating system.
In short, the Honor Magic6 Pro provides a more future-proof package, a greater long-term value, and is a significant step up from the Huawei Mate 50 Pro. The only reason I would pick the Mate 50 Pro would be if I really cared about the Telephoto and Wide Angle lenses.
