Honor Magic7 Pro review
This phone suits someone who spends time outdoors, needs a clear optical zoom for photography, and has the budget for a flagship without blinking—but most buyers will find better value in the slightly older Samsung S24 Ultra or this year's iPhone 16 Pro, both of which cost less and offer no real performance penalty.
This review is based on Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor Magic7 Pro, 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 Magic7 Pro is a bright, large-screen flagship built around a periscope zoom camera and top-end performance. It does what Honor intends: screens well outdoors, plays games without strain, and shoots distant subjects with optical zoom—but lacks meaningful features that would justify its price over rivals at this tier.
Design & build
The Magic7 Pro is thin and light for a 6.8-inch phone—223 grams and 8.8 mm—which makes it comfortable in hand and easy to pocket. Glass front and back with NanoCrystal Shield (Mohs 5) offer a step up in scratch resistance over ordinary Gorilla Glass, though both still need a case to survive daily carry. IP68/IP69 waterproofing goes beyond industry standard; it survives immersion to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes and withstands high-pressure water jets, a margin that matters if you actually work near water. The phone feels solid, but at this price point, so do most flagships.
Display
This is where the Magic7 Pro earns its brightness credentials. The 6.8-inch OLED reaches 5000 nits peak brightness and 1600 nits in high brightness mode, enough to read comfortably in direct sunlight without the washout many phones suffer. 120Hz refresh and LTPO tech mean scrolling feels smooth, and Dolby Vision plus HDR support handle video well. The catch is resolution: 1280×2800 pixels works out to 453 ppi, which sounds adequate but trails the 1440p+ panels that rivals like Samsung and Apple now pair with flagships at this price. Text stays readable, but side-by-side, the difference is visible. For someone spending £700 on a display, this is a compromise.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Elite with its 2.77M AnTuTu score is flagship-tier silicon; it runs current games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile at high settings without stuttering, except in rare, extreme moments. Multitasking, app launches, and everyday use have no friction. This part of the phone has no real weakness—it is built to last a couple of years without showing age. The 12GB base RAM is adequate, but 16GB on the highest tier makes sense if you plan to keep the device four or five years.
Software
Android 15 with MagicOS 10 feels reasonably clean compared to some skins; Honor promises seven major Android upgrades, which puts you at roughly Android 22 by end-of-life—a solid commitment in a market where many vendors stop at four. The UI is usable without bloat, though MagicOS does add Honor's own services and apps alongside Google's, which some users will delete and others will ignore. Nothing here sets the phone apart.
Camera
The headline is the 200MP periscope telephoto at 72 mm with true 3x optical zoom, paired with a 50MP main shooter and 50MP ultrawide. In practice, the periscope lens is the real differentiator. It opens at f/2.6 with multi-directional PDAF and OIS, which means zoomed shots hold detail and focus even in dim light—a genuinely useful trait for wildlife, events, or distant architecture. The main 50MP sensor is large (1/1.3") with an f/1.4-2.0 aperture, solid for portraits and low-light work. The 50MP ultrawide at 122 degrees is capable but typical; nothing here breaks new ground. Video tops out at 4K 60fps with OIS and 10-bit support, which is standard for flagships in 2024. Overall, Honor has built a capable camera system anchored by an uncommon zoom lens, but the main sensor and ultrawide don't outshoot Samsung or Apple.
Battery & charging
The global model uses a 5850 mAh battery with Si/C chemistry, which should deliver around 13 to 15 hours of mixed use—solid but not exceptional for a phone this size. 100W wired charging hits full capacity in roughly 33 minutes, and 80W wireless takes about 44 minutes, both rates that rank among the fastest in the flagship tier. Reverse wired charging at 5W is a throwback feature with negligible real-world use. The European model ships with only 5270 mAh, a noticeable cut that suggests regulatory constraint rather than choice—if you live in Europe, expect shorter runtime. For most users, one full charge per day is realistic.
Value & verdict
At £699 in the UK or €632 in Europe, the Magic7 Pro sits at the top of the flagship price ladder, level with the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. For that money, you are buying a bright display, strong performance, and a zoom camera. You are not, however, buying a clear win over rivals. The lower resolution panel than competitors, the lack of a card slot at this price tier, and no standout feature in everyday use make it a harder sell than the raw specs suggest. The periscope zoom matters if you shoot distant subjects regularly, and the outdoor brightness is genuinely useful. For most users, though, last year's flagship or a rival this year will feel just as fast and take photos that are just as good, while costing less or offering more flexibility. Honor has built a competent flagship, but not one that justifies its premium to anyone except those who specifically want the zoom camera and outdoor brightness.
Verdict
This phone suits someone who spends time outdoors, needs a clear optical zoom for photography, and has the budget for a flagship without blinking—but most buyers will find better value in the slightly older Samsung S24 Ultra or this year's iPhone 16 Pro, both of which cost less and offer no real performance penalty.
- Periscope 200MP telephoto with true 3x optical zoom and fast f/2.6 aperture cuts through poor light and holds focus while zoomed, rare at this price point
- 6.8-inch OLED hits 5000 nits peak and 1600 nits sustained brightness, making it one of the few phones genuinely readable in direct sunlight without squinting
- 100W wired charging fills the 5850 mAh battery in about 33 minutes, and 80W wireless is also genuinely fast by modern standards
- Snapdragon 8 Elite with 2.77M AnTuTu score runs current games at high settings and handles multitasking without hiccups
- At £699 or €632, it costs more than Samsung S24 Ultra and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max in most markets while offering no lasting advantage over them
- The 1280×2800 resolution on a 6.8-inch screen sounds sharp on paper (453 ppi) but is noticeably less crisp than the 1440p+ panels rivals now use at this price
- No card slot and a 256GB base storage tier feel stingy for a flagship costing £700, especially when competitors offer double that
Honor Magic7 Pro Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, October 30 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio), LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 4320Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.4-2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 200 MP, f/2.6, 72mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.0, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Selfie camera | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.93", 0.6µm, PDAF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Battery | 5850 mAh |
| Charging | 100W wired, 100% in 33 min80W wireless, 100% in 44 minReverse wireless5W reverse wired |
| Software | Android 15, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades, MagicOS 10 |
| Dimensions | 162.7 x 77.1 x 8.8 mm (6.41 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) |
| Weight | 223 g (7.87 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (NanoCrystal Shield), glass back |
| Durability | IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
Honor Magic7 Pro FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Magic7 Pro support 5G?
Yes. The Magic7 Pro supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Magic7 Pro use?
The Magic7 Pro runs on the Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm).
What display does the Magic7 Pro have?
A 6.8 inches, 112.8 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 4320Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, 1600 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak), 1280 x 2800 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi density).
How big is the Magic7 Pro battery?
The Magic7 Pro has a 5850 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 100W wired, 100% in 33 min80W wireless, 100% in 44 minReverse wireless5W reverse wired.
Does the Magic7 Pro have NFC?
Yes, the Magic7 Pro has NFC.
Is the Magic7 Pro water resistant?
The Magic7 Pro carries a IP68/IP69 dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) rating.
Does the Magic7 Pro support a microSD card?
No, the Magic7 Pro does not support expandable storage.
Does the Magic7 Pro have a headphone jack?
No, the Magic7 Pro does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Magic7 Pro isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Magic6 Pro
Magic7 RSR
Magic7
Magic8 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
