The Honor Magic7 Pro, a new flagship Android phone from the rising brand Honor, boasts impressive camera capabilities powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Tested against the backdrop of Slovenia’s Lake Bled, the phone’s camera produced stunningly vibrant and detailed images, raising questions about the authenticity of its AI-enhanced photography. While generally pleased with the results, the reviewer expressed some reservations about the extent of AI intervention, particularly in instances where details seemed fabricated or overly perfected, such as the addition of leaves to a bare tree and the exceptionally detailed moon shot. The phone’s portrait mode, while producing pleasing images, also exhibited a tendency to over-soften skin tones, potentially sacrificing realism for aesthetic appeal.
Beyond its photographic prowess, the Magic7 Pro offers a robust and premium feel, despite being slightly heavier than some competitors. Its matte-textured glass back resists fingerprints and provides a secure grip. While the reviewer favored the more distinctive Lunar Shadow Grey and Breeze Blue color options over the standard black, the phone’s overall build quality impressed, surviving accidental drops and resisting scratches. The 6.8-inch display is both vibrant and bright, further enhancing the user experience.
Performance-wise, the Magic7 Pro is powered by the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12GB of RAM, ensuring smooth operation even with demanding tasks like gaming. The ample 512GB of storage provides generous space for apps, photos, and videos. Running on Android 15 with Honor’s MagicOS 9 overlay, the phone offers a largely Android-true experience. However, the presence of pre-installed apps, a common point of contention for purists, slightly detracts from the overall software experience. While Honor’s commitment to five years of OS and security updates is commendable, it falls short of the longer update cycles offered by some competitors like Samsung and Google.
One of the Magic7 Pro’s standout features is its exceptional battery life. Optimized power management and the efficient Snapdragon chip enable the phone to easily last well into a second day on a single charge, even with heavy usage involving photography, video recording, browsing, messaging, streaming, and gaming. The phone’s 100W wired charging capability further enhances its appeal, allowing for a full charge in approximately 35 minutes. However, the absence of a charger in the box necessitates a separate purchase to achieve these rapid charging speeds.
The Honor Magic7 Pro’s camera is undoubtedly its central selling point. The array of camera options and AI-driven enhancements contribute to its impressive image quality. The 50-megapixel main camera, complemented by a 200-megapixel 3x telephoto camera and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, provides versatility for various shooting scenarios. Honor’s AI SuperZoom technology aims to maintain image quality at higher zoom levels, although its effectiveness remained somewhat ambiguous to the reviewer, given the potential for AI-generated artifacts.
Despite the Magic7 Pro’s undeniable strengths, its £1099 price point raises questions about its value proposition, particularly given Honor’s status as a growing brand. While early bird discounts and trade-in offers can mitigate the cost, the initial price tag remains a significant investment. Overall, the Honor Magic7 Pro presents a compelling package of performance, battery life, and cutting-edge camera technology, albeit with some caveats regarding its AI-powered photography and price point. It earned a respectable 4 out of 5 rating, representing a solid offering in the competitive Android smartphone market. However, potential buyers are advised to consider their priorities and budget carefully before making a purchase.
