Huawei

Huawei Honor Magic: Pros and Cons

Android OS v6.0 (Marshmallow)
HiSilicon Kirin 950
Mali-T880 MP4
4 GB / 64 GB
5.09 inch (1440 x 2560 px)
12 MP, 3968 x 2976 px, autofocus

Huawei announced the launch of the Honor Magic smartphone in 2016. The manufacturer is offering this smartphone with 5.09 inch AMOLED display, HiSilicon Kirin 950 SoC, and 4 GB of RAM. The Honor Magic series was launched with Android OS v6.0 (Marshmallow) pre-installed, but it is upgradable. The phone comes with a high-quality AMOLED display. This smartphone has a single camera on the back (12 MP, 3968 x 2976 px, autofocus). Does this phone justify its price tag? I hope to provide clarity by the conclusion of my review.

Table of Contents

This article shares our personal experiences and thoughts about using the Huawei Honor Magic smartphone. We hope to offer helpful insights to others interested in this device. The specifications below are from the official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you've seen any mistakes or things missing in these specifications, please let us know.

Huawei Honor Magic / 1

Huawei Honor Magic specifications

BrandHuawei
NameHonor Magic
ModelNTS-AL00
Release date2016

Weight, dimensions, colors

Weight5.11 oz
Dimensions5.75 x 2.75 x 0.31 inch
Colorsblack, white
SIM typeNano SIM

The weight of Huawei Honor Magic is about 5.11 oz with battery. This is average for smartphones of the same size. Smartphones use a Nano SIM as a small chipcard for a subscriber identity module (SIM).

Huawei Honor Magic / 1

System, chipset, performance

OS versionAndroid OS v6.0 (Marshmallow)
SoCHiSilicon Kirin 950
CPUOcta-core, Quad-core 2.3 GHz Cortex-A72, Quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53
GPUMali-T880 MP4

The Huawei Honor Magic comes with Android OS v6.0 (Marshmallow) out of the box. The Android operating system uses the Linux kernel as its foundation. It includes a user interface, middleware, and many pre-installed applications. An advanced scheduler manages this octa-core CPU. It assigns tasks to the CPU for real-time speed and power efficiency. Many mobile devices use ARM Mali GPUs. They are well known for their good performance and power efficiency.

Huawei Honor Magic / 2

Display type, size, resolution

Display typeAMOLED
Screen size5.09 inch
Resolution1440 x 2560 px
Multitouch supportyes

AMOLED displays enable an Always-On Display feature. A part of the screen remains active to display the time, date, and notifications. The 5.09 inch display make this smartphone pocket-friendly. The size of the screen is measured diagonally, from corner to corner.

Huawei Honor Magic / 3

Memory, storage

RAM4 GB
Internal storage64 GB
Memory card slotno

The Huawei Honor Magic comes with 4 GB of RAM, which is considered to be sufficient for most users' needs. The needed RAM amount for good performance depends on factors. These include the OS, the apps, and the services you use. 64 GB of storage is usually seen as good for a smartphone. It should be enough for most users. The internal storage of the Huawei Honor Magic (4 GB) cannot be expanded.

Huawei Honor Magic / 4

Cameras, flash

Main camera12 MP, 3968 x 2976 px, autofocus
FlashDual LED
Selfie camera8 MP

The single camera can be enough for many smartphone users. It depends on their photography needs and preferences. The Honor Magic comes with a basic camera setup and lacks any advanced features.

Huawei Honor Magic / 5

Connectivity, network, wireless

GSM 2G bands850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Network coverage2G / 3G / 4G
Wi-FiWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetoothv4.2, A2DP
GPSA-GPS, GLONASS
NFCno
FM radioyes
USBUSB Type-C
Headphone3.5 mm jack

Worldwide, people use 4G networks. They have become the standard for mobile networks in many countries. The phone is capable of connecting to Wi-Fi networks. The Honor Magic smartphone is capable of connecting to Bluetooth devices. The GPS allows this smartphone to find their exact location. It provides accurate navigation and mapping. The phone isn't NFC (Near Field Communication) capable. NFC is not essential for basic phone functionality, but it can be useful. The 3.5 mm headphone jack allows you to connect wired headphones or earphones to the device.

Battery type, capacity, charger

TypeLi-Po 2900 mAh, non-removable

The Li-Po 2900 mAh, non-removable battery gives the smartphone a good battery backup. The lithium polymer (Li-Po) battery is a light-weight, rechargeable battery. The battery of Honor Magic isn't removable without voiding the warranty.

Features, sensors, specials

Sensorsaccelerometer, compass, fingerprint, gyroscope, hall, light, proximity
SpecialsDual SIM, Fast Charging

Today, smartphones come with many sensors. They help make the user experience better. The Honor Magic smartphone has an accelerometer. The Honor Magic phone has a fingerprint scanner. The light sensor detects the level of light in the environment. Dual SIM is great for businesses. They want to give staff a device with separate numbers and bills for personal and business use. The fast charging technology comes in handy when you need quick juice on your device.

Verdict, pros and cons

Every phone has its strengths and weaknesses, and this Huawei phone is no exception. As with any device, there are aspects that shine and others that fall short. By examining both sides, we can paint a complete picture of what this phone has to offer. Let's explore its standout features and areas for improvement. Remember, this is just my opinion, and yours might be different.

Pros

  • AMOLED display
  • adequate memory
  • Dual SIM support

Cons

  • limited-size screen
  • non-expandable storage
  • single camera setup
  • no OIS function
  • no 5G support
  • no NFC feature
  • low-capacity battery
Add Huawei Honor Magic to your comparison

Please let us know if you find incorrect information or something isn't working. Also, tell us if you have a suggestion for improvement.

Lucas Bradley I'm Lucas Bradley, the founder of the Phone42.com site. I love technology, especially smartphones, and I've been working with tech stuff for more than 20 years. This means I've seen a lot of changes and have learned a bunch about what makes a good phone. On Phone42.com, I look at all kinds of phones. They can be from big, well-known companies or new ones trying to make their mark. I want to help people understand what's new and cool in the world of smartphones, in a way that's easy to get.
Phone42.com / Smartphones / Huawei / Huawei Honor Magic