Honor Magic9 Super review
This phone suits buyers who prioritize screen size, battery endurance, and processing power over charging speed and camera versatility. Anyone choosing between flagships at this price and needing 100W+ charging or a stronger ultrawide should cross-shop competitors.
This review is written with AI assistance from Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor Magic9 Super, 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 Honor Magic9 Super is a competent flagship that leans into raw power and screen real estate, but charges slower than rivals and withholds key specs like charging wattage from its spec sheet. For €590, it is a solid all-rounder with no serious weakness, though it does not stand out enough to justify picking it over faster-charging competitors at the same price.
Design & Build
At 227g and 8.1mm thick, the Magic9 Super is trim for a 6.81-inch phone and sits comfortably between pocket-friendly and full-featured. Glass front, aluminum frame, and dual nano-SIM slots keep things conventional. The standout here is the built-in cooling fan and IP68/IP69K rating, which is top-tier protection—the phone can survive high-pressure jets and submersion to 1.5m for half an hour. The four color options (black, white, green, yellow) are standard fare. Weight and thickness are genuinely competitive against larger rivals; you won't feel like you're lugging a brick.
Display
The 6.81-inch OLED is where Honor invested heavily. 2000 nits peak brightness (HBM) is mature flagship territory, and the 120Hz refresh with 3840Hz PWM dimming will feel smooth and responsive in everyday use. The 19.5:9 aspect ratio is tall and narrow, good for scrolling and one-handed use on a large screen. The catch is resolution: 1280 x 2788 pixels yields 450ppi, which is lower than smaller flagships and will show softness in text and fine details if you hold the phone close. This is not a deal-breaker for most, but it trades crispness for a larger screen at the cost of visual fidelity. HDR support and a billion color palette round out a capable panel.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, built on 3nm, is the current peak for Android performance. The Oryon V3 architecture does not leave anything on the table; this chip will handle any app, game, or workload you throw at it, and benchmarks will put it alongside its few flagship peers. The Adreno 840 GPU is similarly maxed out. Paired with 12GB or 16GB RAM options, multitasking and app switching are instant. The built-in cooling fan is a thoughtful addition for sustained gaming or video recording, though most users will never notice thermal throttling even without it. Storage maxes at 512GB with no microSD slot, which is standard for this tier but limits expansion if you shoot a lot of video.
Camera
The rear setup is uneven. The 200MP main sensor with f/1.9 aperture and OIS is capable in good light and decent in low light, though the 200MP count matters less in real use than the f/1.9 does. The 50MP telephoto at 3x optical zoom adds practical reach, and OIS helps steady it. The weak link is the 12MP ultrawide—this is entry-level spec for a €590 flagship in 2026, when most rivals at this price give you 48MP or higher. You will lose dynamic range and detail in ultra-wide shots. The 50MP front camera is standard and fine for video calls and selfies. Video recording up to 4K at 120fps with OIS and HDR is solid, though not exceptional.
Battery & Charging
The 11,000mAh battery is genuinely large, among the biggest in any flagship this year, and will easily net two days of moderate use. Honor's spec sheet conspicuously omits charging wattage, which is a red flag. Given that this is a 2026 flagship at €590 and rivals are pushing 100W+, it is fair to assume charging is slower—possibly 80W, possibly less. Without the official figure, you cannot be sure, but the omission suggests it is not a strength. Wireless charging is not mentioned, so assume wired-only.
Software
Android 17 with MagicOS 11 ships here. MagicOS tends to add minor tweaks and integrations on top of stock Android, though it is generally light compared to heavier customizations. Updates and long-term support are a question mark for a phone that has not shipped yet; Honor's track record on this varies by region. No surprises here, but no flagship-class guarantees either.
Value & Verdict Context
At €590, the Magic9 Super is a fair flagship buy if you value a large screen, long battery life, and raw performance. The missing charging wattage spec is deliberate obfuscation and suggests it is not competitive. The 12MP ultrawide is a clear compromise. For this price, you are getting flagship performance and battery, but camera features and charging speed lag rivals. The phone is light and slim for its size, durable, and will not bottleneck any task. If a big OLED and all-day (or two-day) battery matter more to you than fast charging or a versatile camera, this is a solid pick. If you value charging speed or zoom camera quality, look elsewhere.
Verdict
This phone suits buyers who prioritize screen size, battery endurance, and processing power over charging speed and camera versatility. Anyone choosing between flagships at this price and needing 100W+ charging or a stronger ultrawide should cross-shop competitors.
- Latest flagship silicon (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) with CPU and GPU that match the best Android performance available
- Very large OLED display with 2000 nits peak brightness, fast 120Hz refresh, and 91.4% screen-to-body ratio
- Generous 11,000mAh battery, one of the largest available in a flagship phone this year
- Compact and light at 227g and 8.1mm, plus IP68/IP69K water resistance with built-in cooling for sustained performance
- Charging wattage not disclosed, which is a red flag for a €590 flagship in 2026 when rivals routinely hit 100W or beyond
- 12MP ultrawide is underpowered for the price and era, a common compromise on flagship specs but still underwhelming
- 450ppi pixel density on a 6.81-inch screen means text and fine detail lack the crispness of smaller flagships at the same resolution
Honor Magic9 Super Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2026, September 28 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.81 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio), OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR, 2000 nits (HBM), 10000 nits (peak)* |
| Resolution | 1280 x 2788 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~450 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 200 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.55", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.4, 68mm (telephoto), 1/2.93", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), PDAF |
| Selfie camera | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.88" |
| Battery | 11000 mAh |
| Software | Android 17, MagicOS 11 |
| Dimensions | 161.8 x 76.7 x 8.1 mm (6.37 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| Weight | 227 g (8.01 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, aluminum frame |
| Durability | IP68/IP69K dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Built-in cooling fan |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Honor Magic9 Super FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Magic9 Super support 5G?
Yes. The Magic9 Super supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Magic9 Super use?
The Magic9 Super runs on the Qualcomm SM8850-AC Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm).
What display does the Magic9 Super have?
A 6.81 inches, 113.5 cm2 (~91.4% screen-to-body ratio) OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR, 2000 nits (HBM), 10000 nits (peak)*, 1280 x 2788 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~450 ppi density).
How big is the Magic9 Super battery?
The Magic9 Super has a 11000 mAh battery.
Does the Magic9 Super have NFC?
Yes, the Magic9 Super has NFC.
Is the Magic9 Super water resistant?
The Magic9 Super carries a IP68/IP69K dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Built-in cooling fan rating.
Does the Magic9 Super support a microSD card?
No, the Magic9 Super does not support expandable storage.
Alternatives to consider
If the Magic9 Super isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Magic9
Magic8 RSR Porsche Design
Magic8 RSR
Magic V6
Galaxy Z Fold8
