Honor Magic8 to Honor Magic9: Is It Worth Upgrading?
A plain-English look at what actually changes, 1 year apart.
Maybe — worth it only if the new features matter to you
The Honor Magic9 is 1 year newer than the Honor Magic8, and both phones land on almost the same BeastScore (90.0 vs 90.0). The biggest improvements: newer qualcomm snapdragon 8 elite gen 5 chipset (replaces snapdragon 8 elite gen 5), 1,000 mah bigger battery, higher-resolution main camera (+150 mp). Trade-offs to know: 20w slower wired charging, 0.2" smaller screen.
What you gain with the Honor Magic9
- Newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset (replaces Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5)
- 1,000 mAh bigger battery
- Higher-resolution main camera (+150 MP)
- 4 GB more RAM
- Launched $105 cheaper
What you give up
- 20W slower wired charging
- 0.2" smaller screen
- 3,000 nits dimmer peak display
- 10 g heavier
Head-to-head
| Spec | Honor Magic8 | Honor Magic9 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore (overall) | 90.0 | 90.0 | No real change |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | New generation chip |
| Battery capacity | 7,000 mAh | 8,000 mAh | +1,000 mAh (14%) |
| Wired charging | 100W | 80W | −20W (20%) |
| Wireless charging | 50W | 50W | No real change |
| Screen size | 6.6" | 6.4" | −0.2" (3%) |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | No real change |
| Peak brightness | 5,000 nits | 2,000 nits | −3,000 nits (60%) |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 200 MP | +150 MP (300%) |
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB | +4 GB (33%) |
| Weight | 199 g | 209 g | +10 g (5%) |
| Launch price | $850 | $745 | −$105 (12%) |
Upgrade if…
- You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day
- Photo quality is a priority for you
- You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features
Honor Magic8 to Honor Magic9: Common Questions
Is it worth upgrading from the Honor Magic8 to the Honor Magic9?
Maybe — worth it only if the new features matter to you. The Honor Magic9 is 1 year newer than the Honor Magic8, and both phones land on almost the same BeastScore (90.0 vs 90.0). The biggest improvements: newer qualcomm snapdragon 8 elite gen 5 chipset (replaces snapdragon 8 elite gen 5), 1,000 mah bigger battery, higher-resolution main camera (+150 mp). Trade-offs to know: 20w slower wired charging, 0.2" smaller screen.
What is the biggest difference between the Honor Magic8 and Honor Magic9?
Newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset (replaces Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5): Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on the Honor Magic8 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on the Honor Magic9.
Does the Honor Magic9 have a bigger battery than the Honor Magic8?
The Honor Magic9 has a 8,000 mAh battery versus 7,000 mAh on the Honor Magic8 (+1,000 mAh (14%)).
Who should upgrade to the Honor Magic9?
Upgrade if: You regularly run out of battery before the end of the day; Photo quality is a priority for you; You play demanding games or want the newest on-device AI features.