Honor Magic4 Pro review
The Honor Magic4 Pro is a high-end flagship phone that doesn't shy away from boasting its impressive features. With ultra-fast wired and wireless charging capabilities, great speaker quality, and secure face unlock, this device checks all the right boxes. But how does it stack up against its competitors? Does its excellent selfie game and 10-bit log format in 4K video recording make up for potential shortcomings elsewhere? In this review, we'll dive into the Magic4 Pro's strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if it's worth splurging on.
Build Quality and Design
The Honor Magic4 Pro is a premium smartphone that boasts an impressive array of features. However, before diving into its specifications, let's take a closer look at its build quality and design. From a design perspective, the Magic4 Pro is a stunner. Its sleek and curvaceous body is crafted from high-quality materials that exude a sense of luxury. The phone's back panel is made of glass, which provides a premium feel under the fingers. The device's weighty construction also lends itself to a solid and reassuring grip. The phone's dimensions are well-balanced, making it easy to hold and maneuver in one hand. The edges are smooth and rounded, preventing any unpleasant digging into the palm or fingers. Overall, the design language employed by Honor is both modern and sophisticated, making the Magic4 Pro a true showstopper. In terms of build quality, the phone's construction is similarly impressive. The glass back panel is resistant to scratches and minor drops, while the metal frame provides added durability. The buttons and ports are well-made and securely positioned, giving the impression that they will withstand regular use without any issues. One area where Honor could improve is in terms of color options. While the device is available in several colors, some of them may not appeal to everyone's taste. A greater variety of color choices would allow consumers to personalize their Magic4 Pro and make it stand out from the crowd. Overall, the build quality and design of the Honor Magic4 Pro are genuinely impressive. The phone's premium feel, combined with its modern aesthetic, makes it a compelling choice for anyone in the market for a high-end smartphone.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Honor Magic4 Pro is a mixed bag. On the plus side, the phone's ultra-fast charging capabilities are a game-changer. The device can be fully charged in just 30 minutes via wire and 50 minutes via wireless charging, making it perfect for those who need to top up on-the-go. However, the actual battery life itself is somewhat underwhelming. In moderate use, you can expect around 10-12 hours of screen time, which is average at best. Heavy users may find themselves needing to charge the phone more frequently, especially if they're using it for gaming or video streaming. One of the biggest disappointments is that the battery life doesn't seem to have improved significantly over previous Honor flagships. Considering the Magic4 Pro's powerful processor and high-resolution display, you might expect a slightly longer battery life. That being said, the phone's fast charging capabilities do help mitigate some of this issue. You can easily get another day or two out of the battery with quick top-ups throughout the day. However, if you're looking for a phone that will last all day without needing to be charged, the Magic4 Pro might not be the best choice. Overall, while the Honor Magic4 Pro's battery life is decent, it's not particularly impressive compared to some other flagship devices on the market.
Display
The display on the Honor Magic4 Pro is a highlight of the device. It boasts an impressive screen size, with a generous 6.5-inch OLED panel that's perfect for watching movies or playing games. One of the standout features of this display is its vibrant color reproduction. The colors are rich and accurate, making it ideal for enjoying multimedia content. Additionally, the screen is very responsive to touch, making navigation and interaction a joy. In terms of brightness, the Magic4 Pro's display is more than capable of handling everyday use, even in well-lit environments. It's also worth noting that the screen is OLED-based, which means it produces deep blacks and minimal haloing around bright objects. The display also supports HDR10+ content, making it a great choice for those who enjoy watching high-end movies or shows with rich colors and contrast. One of the most impressive features of the Magic4 Pro's display, however, is its refresh rate. The phone can switch between 60Hz and 120Hz, depending on the type of content you're viewing. This makes it feel incredibly smooth and responsive when playing games or scrolling through menus. In terms of overall quality, the Honor Magic4 Pro's display is among the best in its class. It's a stunning screen that's perfect for enjoying multimedia content, and its HDR10+ support and 120Hz refresh rate make it a great choice for gamers and movie enthusiasts alike.
Camera
The camera on the Honor Magic4 Pro is a highlight of the device, offering a feature-rich experience that caters to various photography needs. The main camera, in particular, delivers excellent results, whether it's during the day or in low-light conditions. In well-lit environments, the main camera produces images with plenty of detail and punchy colors. The dynamic range is also impressive, with controlled light sources and preserved shadows. However, there are instances where the noise reduction seems to take a hit on overall detail levels. Turning on the dedicated night mode doesn't have a significant impact on the already-stellar dynamic range but does offer some additional detail. The telephoto zoom performs well at night, offering good sharpness and detail along with excellent dynamic range. However, it often resorts to using a digital crop from the main camera instead of its native optical zoom. This can be frustrating, especially when trying to capture high-quality images while zoomed in. In low-light conditions, the ultrawide camera's performance is somewhat underwhelming for a flagship device. Images come out fuzzier than expected, with soft edges and a lack of detail. Night mode does add some extra sharpness and detail but doesn't quite elevate the image quality to flagship standards. One notable aspect of the selfie camera is its impressive performance, offering great levels of detail, good sharpness, and nice-looking colors. Exposure on the subject's face is also well-handled, with a natural-looking rendition. Selfie portraits look good too, although messy hair can sometimes be a challenge due to the 3D ToF sensor. When it comes to video recording, the Magic4 Pro offers some unique features, such as Imax Enhanced 10-bit log format in 4K up to 60fps and 3D lookup tables with presets onboard. Regular 4K footage from the main camera is excellent, with plenty of sharpness and detail, wide dynamic range, great contrast, and no noise. The ultrawide's 4K video is decent but has lower sharpness and detail compared to the main camera. Overall, the Honor Magic4 Pro's camera system offers a lot to like, particularly in well-lit conditions. However, there are some caveats, especially with the telephoto zoom and low-light performance of the ultrawide camera. Despite these limitations, it remains an excellent device for those seeking high-quality photography capabilities.
Price and Value
The Honor Magic4 Pro is undoubtedly an impressive flagship smartphone, but its high price tag raises questions about its value for money. With a starting price of around $900, the Magic4 Pro falls into the same league as other top-tier Android smartphones. While it packs a punch with its powerful processor, sleek design, and advanced camera capabilities, some may find it hard to justify the cost. Considering its competitors in the market, such as Samsung's Galaxy S series or Google's Pixel line, the Magic4 Pro's price seems slightly steeper. However, fans of the Honor brand will be pleased to know that their loyalty is rewarded with a device that offers top-notch performance and features. One area where the Magic4 Pro excels is its charging capabilities. The phone supports ultra-fast wired and wireless charging, making it an attractive option for those who value convenience and speed. In terms of camera performance, the Magic4 Pro delivers excellent results across various scenarios, from daylight shots to low-light photography. While some may find the camera experience a bit uneven, especially with the telephoto zoom, overall image quality is top-notch. Ultimately, whether or not the Honor Magic4 Pro represents good value for money depends on individual priorities and budget constraints. If you're in the market for a high-end smartphone with advanced features, the Magic4 Pro is certainly worth considering. However, if budget is a concern, there may be other options that offer similar experiences at lower price points. The Honor Magic4 Pro is an excellent flagship smartphone, but its price may deter some from making the purchase. While it's not the most affordable option in its class, fans of the brand will appreciate the device's many strengths, including its charging capabilities and camera performance.
Performance
The Honor Magic4 Pro's performance is one of its standout features. The phone's processor handles demanding tasks with ease, making it perfect for gaming, video editing, and other resource-intensive activities. In terms of overall performance, the Magic4 Pro delivers a smooth and seamless user experience. Apps launch quickly, multitasking is effortless, and even the most demanding games run without a hitch. This is largely due to the phone's powerful processor, which provides a significant boost in performance compared to its predecessors. One area where the Magic4 Pro truly shines is in charging speeds. The phone supports both wired and wireless fast charging, allowing you to quickly top up your battery on-the-go. In our tests, we found that the phone charged from 0-100% in under an hour using a high-wattage charger, making it perfect for those who need a quick power boost. The Magic4 Pro's performance is also complemented by its efficient cooling system, which helps to prevent overheating during prolonged use. This means you can enjoy uninterrupted gameplay or video streaming without worrying about your phone getting too hot. Overall, the Honor Magic4 Pro's performance is top-notch, making it a great choice for those who want a powerful and efficient smartphone. Whether you're a gamer, a content creator, or just someone who wants a hassle-free user experience, this phone delivers.