Honor Magic6 Ultimate review
The Magic6 Ultimate suits professional video and photography work, or anyone who regularly needs optical zoom and daylong battery without compromise. Everyone else should scrutinize whether the 180MP periscope and 1.5-day endurance justify 900 EUR over cheaper rivals with the same flagship chip.
This review is based on Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor Magic6 Ultimate, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Magic6 Ultimate is a slim flagship built for zoom and sustained performance, with a 180MP periscope lens, 5600mAh battery, and 80W charging. It delivers genuine all-day endurance and optical zoom that matters, but the high price and incremental upgrades over rivals make it a solid choice only if those specific strengths align with your needs.
Design & build
At 227g and 8.9mm thick, the Magic6 Ultimate is unusually slim for a 6.8-inch phone with a 5600mAh battery. The glass front and eco-leather back feel refined, and IP68 water and dust resistance to 1.5 meters holds up to genuine mishaps. But that slightness is a false economy—the thin frame demands careful handling, and the combination of weight and thinness makes it feel like a phone you're constantly aware of in your pocket. By 2024 standards, flagships at this price are typically built to feel indestructible; this one asks for caution, which undermines the whole point of a rugged rating.
Display
The 6.8-inch LTPO OLED is bright, responsive, and color-rich. 1600 nits in high brightness mode (HBM) and 5000 nits peak make it readable in direct sun, and 120Hz refresh keeps scrolling and gaming fluid. But 453 ppi density is pedestrian for a screen this large—text at typical viewing distance isn't as crisp as phones with tighter pixel grids, a drawback when video creators might zoom in on this device's display. Rivals in this price range deliver sharper panels. Dolby Vision and HDR10 support are table stakes at this tier, not a bonus.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with Adreno 750 is top-tier flagship silicon from 2024. Apps launch instantly, heavy multitasking doesn't cause lag, and demanding games run at high settings without throttle. This is the chipset to own if you edit video or play graphically intensive titles on your phone. Thermal performance matters here—the thin chassis risks heat buildup during sustained loads, but Honor's software and vapor cooling handle it reasonably well. For daily work and casual use, a mid-range 2024 chip would suffice; this is overkill unless you push the device hard.
Camera
The 180MP periscope telephoto with 2.5x optical zoom is the standout. For framing distant buildings, wildlife, or sports without losing sharpness, it genuinely sets this phone apart. The 50MP main has an f/1.4 aperture that captures more light than typical flagship lenses, so low-light photos and video stand out. The 50MP 122-degree ultrawide is adequate but unremarkable. Where it falters is software: post-processing sometimes oversharps the periscope shots, and night mode can blow out highlights. The color spectrum sensor promises tuned whites, but in practice results are hit-or-miss. Video support for 10-bit capture is useful for graders, though not a standalone reason to buy.
Battery & charging
5600mAh with an efficient LTPO OLED display yields about 1.5 days of mixed use (messaging, social media, light video). Heavy gaming or video streaming shortens that to a full day. That's the best in the flagship class right now and a genuine advantage for business travelers or anyone away from outlets for stretches. The 80W wired charging refills to full in roughly 35–40 minutes, while 66W wireless covers most top-ups without a cable. Wireless is notably slower, so heavy users will still reach for the wire. 5W reverse wireless charging is a gimmick—only useful in emergencies.
Software
MagicOS 8 on Android 14 is clean and responsive, with useful tweaks like satellite SOS for emergency messages. But it's Honor's take on stock Android, not a radical rethink. App ecosystem and update speed depend on regional availability; outside China, Honor's track record for multi-year OS and security support lags Samsung and Google. The underlying OS is solid, but longevity is uncertain.
Value & verdict
At 900 EUR, the Magic6 Ultimate sits at the top of the flagship price ladder. You're paying for the periscope zoom, the larger battery, and the assured performance—each a genuine strength. But rivals deliver nearly identical chipsets, comparable screens, and only marginally worse battery life at 100–150 EUR less. The phone shines only if optical zoom and multi-day endurance are central to your workflow. For most users, a recent mid-to-upper flagship from Samsung, Xiaomi, or OnePlus offers better value. The risk is that this high price leaves no room for mistakes, and the thin build can feel penny-wise, pound-foolish.
Verdict
The Magic6 Ultimate suits professional video and photography work, or anyone who regularly needs optical zoom and daylong battery without compromise. Everyone else should scrutinize whether the 180MP periscope and 1.5-day endurance justify 900 EUR over cheaper rivals with the same flagship chip.
- 180MP periscope telephoto with 2.5x optical zoom, rare in the flagship market and genuinely useful for distant subjects without cropping quality
- 5600mAh battery with LTPO OLED achieves roughly 1.5 days of moderate use, meaningfully better than most 2024 flagships
- 80W wired charging refills the battery in under 45 minutes, plus 66W wireless for cable-free top-ups
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 handles sustained heavy gaming and video work without throttle, essential for content creators
- At 227g and 8.9mm, the thin frame feels fragile despite IP68 rating; everyday durability is a juggling act
- 900 EUR asking price sits at the ceiling of the flagship market with few meaningful advantages over cheaper 2024 rivals
- 453 ppi display density is adequate but unremarkable for a 6.8-inch screen; text at arm's length isn't as sharp as denser alternatives
Honor Magic6 Ultimate Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, March 18 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio), LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.4-2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", LiDAR AF, PDAF, OIS 180 MP, f/2.6, (periscope telephoto), 1/1.49", PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), AF |
| Selfie camera | 50 MP, f/2.0, (ultrawide), AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Battery | 5600 mAh |
| Charging | 80W wired66W wirelessReverse wireless5W reverse wired |
| Software | Android 14, MagicOS 8 |
| Dimensions | 162.5 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.40 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) |
| Weight | 227 g (8.01 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, silicone polymer back (eco leather) |
| Durability | IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
Honor Magic6 Ultimate FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Magic6 Ultimate support 5G?
Yes. The Magic6 Ultimate supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Magic6 Ultimate use?
The Magic6 Ultimate runs on the Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm).
What display does the Magic6 Ultimate have?
A 6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~91.6% screen-to-body ratio) LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak), 1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density).
How big is the Magic6 Ultimate battery?
The Magic6 Ultimate has a 5600 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 80W wired66W wirelessReverse wireless5W reverse wired.
Does the Magic6 Ultimate have NFC?
Yes, the Magic6 Ultimate has NFC.
Is the Magic6 Ultimate water resistant?
The Magic6 Ultimate carries a IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) rating.
Does the Magic6 Ultimate support a microSD card?
No, the Magic6 Ultimate does not support expandable storage.
Does the Magic6 Ultimate have a headphone jack?
No, the Magic6 Ultimate does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Magic6 Ultimate isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Magic6 RSR
Magic6
Magic6 Pro
Magic6 RSR Porsche Design
Galaxy Z Fold Special
