Honor Magic6 Pro User Review/ Field Test (Part 1)

At Timchew.net we like to take the latest advancements in technology on field tests as the specs on paper sometimes differ from actual performance in the field. When Bell (helicopters) called for a demo flight of their new Designer Series Bell 429 helicopter over Kuala Lumpur, we thought that it would be a great opportunity to test the camera capabilities of the recently launched Honor Magic6 Pro. This flagship smartphone from Honor boasts a constellation of impressive features designed to cater to the needs of discerning users and photography enthusiasts. (Read more about the official launch in Malaysia here: https://timchew.net/2024/03/25/honor-launches-three-new-flagship-smartphones-in-the-magic-series/)

The Honor Magic6 Pro captivates at first glance with its expansive 6.8-inch curved LTPO display with screen resolution that can go up to FHD+ 1280 x 2800. The display boasts a staggering 1.07 billion colours and supports HDR 10+, guaranteeing exceptional clarity and vibrant visuals that transform every interaction with your phone into a visual masterpiece. But the Magic6 Pro doesn’t stop at stunning visuals. The 120Hz refresh rate provided buttery-smooth scrolling and seamless responsiveness, keeping up with even the most demanding tasks and ensuring a lag-free user experience.

My partner’s Honor Magic5 Pro (left) and my Magic6 Pro (right)

On paper, the Honor Magic6 Pro is a mobile photography powerhouse that’s equipped with a powerful triple-lens rear camera system:

  • 50MP Wide Main Camera (f/1.4-f/2.0, OIS): This high-resolution sensor with a variable aperture captures breathtakingly detailed photos in various lighting conditions, ensuring every crisp detail and vibrant colour is preserved.
  • 50MP Ultra-Wide Sensor (f/2.0): Need to capture a sprawling landscape or a large group shot? The ultra-wide sensor has you covered, effortlessly expanding your field of view without sacrificing image quality.
  • 180MP Periscope Telephoto Camera (f/2.6, 2.5x Optical Zoom, 100x Digital Zoom, OIS): Bring distant subjects closer with exceptional clarity and detail thanks to the impressive telephoto lens. Perfect for capturing wildlife, candid portraits, or stunning close-up shots with 2.5x optical zoom and the ability to reach up to 100x digital zoom.

For video shooting, the phone supports up to 4K 60fps (3840×2160) video recording although we didn’t try the maximum setting during the flight. On the front is a 50MP Front Camera(f/2.0) + 3D Depth Camera (that I found really useful as it allows accurate, secure and fast phone unlocking using facial recognition) that can support up to 4K (3840×2160) video recording.

At the heart of the Magic6 Pro lies the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor that tackles even the most demanding applications with ease, making multitasking a breeze. We found that whether we were juggling multiple resource-intensive tasks simultaneously, or editing high-resolution videos, the Magic6 Pro delivered exceptional performance without breaking a sweat. The phone’s MagicOS 8.0 delivered a smooth and pretty intuitive user experience although I would have loved a few more customisation options in the settings.

The Honor Magic6 Pro comes equipped with a long-lasting HONOR Silicon-carbon 5,600mAh battery which is a real plus point for me. There were days when I only needed to charge the phone once in two days (instead of once a day for most of my other phones). The Honor 80W SuperCharge technology (wired) charges the phone in under an hour, and the phone also supports up to max 66W Wireless SuperCharge.

The Honor Magic6 Pro isn’t just about the cameras and performance; it’s also quite the head-turner that exudes sophistication. The phone boasts a sleek and stylish design, and is available in classy Black and eye-catching Epi Green.

Our Designer Series Bell 429 flight over Kuala Lumpur was a good opportunity for us (I passed the phone to MHB Digital’s principal photographer Andy Kho who was up in front in the commander’s seat as this time I wanted to experience being a “VIP passenger” at the back) to test the capabilities of the HONOR Magic6 Pro. All the photos were unedited.

This shot was taken at 9am in the morning with intense backlight but the camera managed to compensate for that ensuring that our faces are bright. You’ve got to love how AI just makes things like photography more simple to the point where you don’t really need to consider where the lighting is coming from. A huge plus point for people like me who use phones as a camera. The white balance was spot on and we were hugely impressed with the crispness of the photo which was sharp without looking oversharpened.
Lovely crisp and clear photos with correct white balance even with strong backlight
The level of detail was impressive!
Flying from Subang Skypark to Batu Caves and then to Kuala Lumpur city centre provided us the opportunity to try the various camera lenses – ultra-wide, wide (main camera) and telephoto. This photo was shot using the ultra-wide 13mm 50MP lens which according to the specs does not have optical image stabilization (OIS) but somehow this photo turned out nice and sharp, probably due to the high shutter speed, overall good lighting and large sensor size (50MP) which allowed the ISO to be dialled down to a mere ISO50.
Look at the gorgeous colours and amazing detail provided by the 50MP Wide Main Camera (f/1.4-f/2.0, with OIS)
The main camera – 50MP Wide Main Camera (f/1.4-f/2.0, OIS) performed flawlessly in the bright sunshine, providing a good level of detail and very crisp photos even though we were travelling in a moving helicopter at speeds of above 100 km/h. Keep in mind that the helicopter, although state-of-the-art and really steady, was moving on all 3-axis but the phone’s OIS managed to handle it well. We also noticed that most of the airborne shots were shot at impressively high shutter speeds and low ISO.
Our highly experienced pilot Captain Mah took us on a tour of Kuala Lumpur’s iconic skyscrapers
We tried zooming in at 2.5x on the Petronas Twin Towers. The 180MP Periscope Telephoto Camera (f/2.6, 2.5x Optical Zoom, 100x Digital Zoom, OIS) performed admirably with a high level of detail thanks to its incredibly large sensor!
Our principal photographer Andy Kho trying out the front camera
The ultra-wide lens does come in handy in tight situations

Both myself and Andy Kho were particularly impressed with the video stabilization capabilities of the Honor Magic6 Pro after reviewing the videos shot during our flight on a large screen. Even without the use of a gimbal, the footage remained remarkably smooth and steady, although we were shooting at a lower frame rate (30fps) and 1080p resolution to avoid overheating the phone.

In terms of colour reproduction, the captured videos exhibited a slightly more vibrant aesthetic. While some may prefer a more neutral colour profile, this characteristic aligns with my personal preference and produced visually appealing results.

Overall, we were thoroughly satisfied with the quality of photos and videos captured before, during, and after the flight. The Honor Magic6 Pro delivered performance consistent with its specifications, particularly in well-lit environments.

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I’ll be bringing the Honor Magic6 Pro around with me to shoot different scenarios in low-lighting conditions such as interior architecture and food so stay tuned for part 2 of my user review!

Published by Tim Chew

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Managing Editor and Founder of MHB Digital - http://mhbdigital.com More than 16 years of media, marketing, and management experience with various media owners and publishers.