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Today, we have a premium smartphone review – the HONOR Magic 7 Pro. We recently tested the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, so it’s interesting to see whether this new release from HONOR can compete with Samsung’s flagship.
It’s expected to be a tough contest, as the Magic 7 Pro launched just a month ago, and it’s already making waves across the internet. But let’s be realistic – every gadget has its strengths and weaknesses. What exactly are they? Let’s find out.
Read also: HONOR 200 Pro Smartphone Review: Almost a Flagship
Positioning and price
Before we dive into the features of the HONOR Magic 7 Pro, let’s talk about its price. Some users online have called the Magic 7 Pro the best Android device of 2025, but at the same time, many have voiced their frustration with its high price. What’s more, the cost varies across different markets – in Europe, for example, the price is higher. However, in Germany, the phone is significantly cheaper.
The version with 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage is priced from $1156 / €1103. However, before drawing conclusions about whether this is expensive or not, it’s important to take a closer look at the device itself.
The HONOR Magic 7 Pro is available in two colors – black and gray. Both variants have the same memory options: 12/256 GB, 12/512 GB, 16/512 GB, and 16 GB/1 TB. However, not all memory configurations are available in every market.
Specifications of HONOR Magic 7 Pro
- Screen: OLED LTPO, 6.8 inches, refresh rate 120 Hz, 1280×2800 (453 ppi), brightness up to 5000 nits, screen to body ratio 89.9%
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Video chip: Adreno 830
- RAM: 12/16 GB (LPDDR5X)
- Permanent memory: 256/512 GB, 1 TB (UFS 4.0)
- Battery and charging: 5270 mAh, 100W wired charging, 80W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging
- Cameras:
- Main: 50 megapixels (1/1.3″), variable aperture f/1.4-f/2.0, OIS, laser autofocus
- Wide-angle: 50 megapixels, 122° viewing angle, EIS, f/2.0
- Periscopic telephoto: 200 megapixels (1/1.4″), 3x optical zoom, Digital zoom up to 100x OIS, f/2.6, laser autofocus, AI support
- Front: 50 megapixels, f/2.0, 90° viewing angle, 4K recording
- Security: 3D face scanning, in-display fingerprint scanner
- Operating system: Android 15 with MagicOS 9.0 shell, 5 years of OS updates, 6 years of security patches
- Dimensions and weight: 162.7 × 77.1 × 8.8 mm, 223 g
- Protection: IP69, SGS 5-star certificate
- Communication and connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 7, NFC, infrared port, Bluetooth 5.4 (LDAC, SBC, AAC, aptX HD), USB-C 3.2
Read also: HONOR 200 Lite Smartphone Review: An Imperfect Mid-Ranger
Package contents
Nowadays, most flagship device manufacturers minimize the contents of the box, and HONOR has followed suit. Inside, you’ll find just the smartphone, a charging cable, and a SIM card ejector tool – there’s no documentation (but who really reads that?). I appreciate this minimalism – no unnecessary extras. And as you might have guessed, there’s no charging adapter either.
Design and layout of elements
The phone looks quite good, and the design of the rear panel immediately caught my attention – it features both “waves” and an unusual grey-pearlescent color. The frame is made of metal, and the back surface is covered with dual glass.
The only thing I didn’t like is the bulky camera module, which protrudes from the body. It looks fine, but in my opinion, it’s not the best design choice due to the potential for dust buildup (dirt can accumulate in these areas) and its impact on the overall aesthetics of the device.
The elements are arranged in the usual way. The front panel features thin bezels and a front-facing camera. Additionally, instead of a traditional flat display, we get slightly curved edges and a “waterfall” screen. On the right side, you’ll find the volume and power buttons.
The left side is empty. The stereo speakers are located at the top and bottom. At the bottom, you’ll also find the charging port and the SIM card slot.
Ergonomics
As I mentioned before, I’m not fond of the large camera island, as it causes the weight to be unevenly distributed, making the phone feel heavier than it actually is. However, the HONOR Magic 7 Pro weighs just 223 g. The body has an ergonomic shape – with no sharp edges and smooth curves, which adds to the comfort during use.
On the other hand, a “flaw” of the body is that the rear panel is very slippery, and I was concerned the phone might slip out of my hands. At the same time, its smooth and pleasant-to-the-touch surface adds a sense of premium quality, which is definitely a plus.
The phone can be used with one hand (especially if you have larger hands, but even I didn’t encounter any difficulties).
HONOR Magic 7 Pro Display
The display is excellent! It features LTPO OLED technology with a 6.8-inch diagonal. The maximum refresh rate is 120 Hz. The resolution is 1280×2800 pixels (453 ppi). The peak brightness reaches 5000 nits, but in everyday use, it typically sits around 1600 nits.
Looking at the screen, you can see that it has a waterfall shape. While I’m not a fan of such designs, I have to admit that the slightly curved edges didn’t interfere with use. The color reproduction also didn’t disappoint.
There are three refresh rate settings: dynamic, standard, and high. What’s the difference? In dynamic mode, the refresh rate adjusts based on the content being displayed. The high mode uses the maximum 120 Hz, while the standard mode only uses 60 Hz to save battery life (which noticeably slows down all processes).
The settings also allow you to adjust the appearance and style of the home screen, enable eBook mode, adjust the color mode and color temperature, and enhance video quality. There’s now a feature called “HONOR Eye Comfort Display.” In reality, this is all the same as before, just with a new name. This option enables eye protection (eyeease), dynamic dimming, and reduces screen flicker.
Of course, there’s also Always on Display (AoD), which can work either across the entire screen or just on part of it (AoD shows notifications in any mode).
Another important detail is the optical fingerprint scanner. In my case, it worked quickly and never let me down, so I have no complaints. It’s positioned at a convenient height. Personally, I prefer this type of scanner over one integrated into the power button.
Read also: HONOR Magic6 Lite Smartphone Review: Too Many Drawbacks
Processor, memory, performance
The HONOR Magic 7 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC with an Adreno 830 GPU. The memory in our test unit is 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. It’s worth noting that the system takes up a significant 19.11 GB, which is quite a lot. Together, these components provide high reliability, smooth performance, and a comfortable user experience.
There were no performance issues – everything worked perfectly. I don’t play games often, but the Magic 7 Pro pleasantly surprised me with its speed, making gaming on it a real pleasure. The phone also performed well in benchmarks:
Does the device heat up? There was a temperature increase during long gaming sessions and intense tests, as expected. In other cases, the back panel remained cool, as it should be.
Cameras
Honestly, it’s not easy to impress someone with mobile photography capabilities today. It’s commonly believed that Apple is the undisputed leader in iOS photography, while Samsung holds that position for Android. However, despite these assumptions, I’m confident that HONOR competes with them on equal terms and doesn’t fall behind in terms of quality.
HONOR Magic 7 Pro has three cameras:
- Main – 50 megapixels (1/1.3”, f/1.4-f/2.0, OIS)
- Wide-angle – 50 megapixels (122° FOV, EIS, f/2.0)
- 3x telephoto lens – 200 megapixels (1/1.4”, OIS, f/2.6)
The main camera produces bright yet natural shots with good dynamic range and contrast. Even on a cloudy day, the sharpness and level of detail remain consistently high.
The ultra-wide module also performs well. The color reproduction is slightly weaker than that of the main camera, but overall, it still delivers good results.
I have no complaints about the front camera – it’s great for selfies or group shots, and there’s a “zoom-out” option (I’ve noticed that many new smartphones now include this feature). The only thing I’d like to see improved is a stronger background blur in portrait mode. When taking photos in low light, a backlit frame automatically activates.
The zoom works well, and even with significant magnification, all elements remain sharp. However, with heavy zoom, it’s noticeable that the AI starts to add certain details. While this looks quite natural when capturing trees or fences, when photographing people, the AI doesn’t always perform perfectly, which can affect the realism of the shot.
Macro shots are simply stunning, allowing you to get up close to the subject and enjoy impressive detail. Though the difference is barely noticeable, the level of detail remains high.
The night mode slightly darkens the photos, but in a good way. The images gain more detail, and the shadows from objects and light sources appear more natural.
ALL PHOTOS IN ORIGINAL RESOLUTION
The video has good stabilization, and you can smoothly switch between the main and wide-angle modules. The maximum zoom for video is 10x.
The camera interface is simple and user-friendly, offering modes such as extended video settings, Pro, slow-motion, panorama, super macro, scene, document scanning, and multi-camera shooting, among others. For most users, the extended settings or Pro mode may not be essential, but for bloggers and those who work frequently with photos and videos, these features will definitely come in handy.
Read also: Honor 90 Review: “Flagship Killer” with a 200 MP Camera
Unlock the device
One of the most interesting unlocking options is the fast fingerprint scanner and 3D face recognition. We are familiar with how the fingerprint sensor under the screen works, but what exactly is 3D face recognition? It’s similar to Face ID, but more accurate, as it works even in complete darkness. I tested it with glasses and headphones, and even without these accessories, the phone still recognized me.
However, I can’t say which method is better – 3D scanner or fingerprint sensor, as both work quickly. So, it’s really up to the user to decide which method is more convenient for them.
HONOR Magic 7 Pro Sound
The smartphone has stereo speakers (top and bottom), and the sound is evenly distributed. However, I noticed that the bottom speaker seems to be slightly more powerful.
You can change the speaker effects in the settings:
- Premium Bass – slightly enhances low frequencies (especially noticeable in podcasts, music, and YouTube videos)
- 3D Surround Sound – creates a surround sound effect (works best with headphones)
- Standard Mode – standard sound without enhancements.
That’s interesting! The phone is capable of splitting audio frequencies: one speaker focuses on mid and high frequencies, while the other adds depth, enriching the sound with effects and details. This setup likely helps deliver a more immersive audio experience.
The sound quality of the HONOR Magic 7 Pro firmly places it among top-tier models, although there are smartphones on the market with even better audio performance. When watching movies with intense action scenes or listening to dynamic music, there can occasionally be a slight muddling of certain sounds. However, the overall audio experience remains very enjoyable, with the Magic 7 Pro delivering deep and immersive sound.
HONOR Magic 7 Pro data transfer
The phone supports all the necessary communication standards:
- 5G
- Wi-Fi 7
- NFC
- IR-port
- Bluetooth 5.4 (LDAC, SBC, AAC, aptX HD)
- USB-C 3.2
Read also: Honor Earbuds X6 TWS Headphones Review: Good Sound for $35
Software
The HONOR Magic 7 Pro runs on Android 15 with the MagicOS 9.0 interface. The system is intuitive and straightforward, with no unnecessary elements. There were a few apps that I didn’t find useful, but I wouldn’t categorize them as “bloatware.”
The settings offer features like HONOR Connect and interactive AI capabilities, including screen-on detection during visual contact, Magic Portal, text extraction from images, quick translation, and more.
There are also various customization options for the interface, functionality, and appearance, including the “Magic Capsule,” which provides access to services for enhanced efficiency, advanced privacy settings, parental controls, and more.
The HONOR Magic 7 Pro supports air gesture controls. How does it work? The phone recognizes hand movements through specialized sensors. For example:
- Non-contact scrolling: Simply swipe your hand up or down in front of the screen.
- Taking screenshots: Clench your fist in front of the phone.
- Returning to the menu: Turn your palm to go back to the previous section.
Honestly, I tried using gestures to control the phone, but it turned out to be quite inconvenient and not very practical, as the functionality is limited. As a result, I ended up performing 90% of actions in the usual way, using gestures only for about 10%. The question is: why create a return gesture when a simple swipe is faster?
The Magic 7 Pro will receive 5 years of system updates and 6 years of security updates, ensuring long-term support with new features and protection.
Battery life
The device features a 5270 mAh battery. It supports 80W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, and standard 100W wired charging.
During my time using the Honor Magic 7 Pro, I was pleasantly surprised by how long the phone lasts on a single charge. I watched movies, listened to music, browsed social media, sent messages, and took photos – and the device performed surprisingly well for an extended period.
There are also various performance and power-saving modes:
- Performance mode: Maximizes power but reduces battery life by about an hour.
- Battery saving mode: Extends battery life by 2.5 hours.
- Ultra power saving mode: Disables most background processes, leaving only essential functions like calls and SMS.
It’s also convenient that the Magic 7 Pro displays an estimated usage time based on the current load. For example, if a few hours are remaining in normal mode, switching to power-saving mode increases that time. This helps you determine whether it’s time to charge the phone or if you can continue using it without worry.
The HONOR Magic 7 Pro can be used intensively throughout the day, and if needed, you can activate power-saving mode to extend battery life. This is a big plus, as there’s nothing worse than a smartphone running out of battery at the most crucial moment.
Conclusions
The HONOR Magic 7 Pro is a flagship smartphone with a 6.8-inch OLED LTPO display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and ample memory. The device runs smoothly, easily handles a full day of active use, and supports 100W charging, wireless charging, and reverse charging. The cameras are top-tier, though the AI is still not perfect.
The main question is whether it’s worth spending over $1100 on the Magic 7 Pro. On one hand, there are new features or improvements on existing ones: 3D face unlock, AI functions, and air gestures. On the other hand, there are some drawbacks: the slippery body and the bulky camera module, which makes it difficult for the device to sit steadily on a flat surface without a case. Another factor is that HONOR will have to compete with Apple and Samsung, which could only be achievable by lowering the price. Do you think the HONOR Magic 7 Pro can maintain a spot in the top three?
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