Galaxy S25 Faces Tough New Rival Ahead Of Launch

Samsung is set to launch its Galaxy S25 series next week, but Honor has taken the lead by announcing the global release of its Magic 7 Pro smartphone, which will replace the Magic 6 Pro for 2024.

Initially introduced in China last year, this smartphone boasts various features that may attract those in search of a new Android device. The announcement was made during an event held in Bled, Slovenia.

The Honor Magic 7 Pro sports a design influenced by Honor’s “Square and Round Universe” concept, highlighted by diamond-cut edges. Its 6.8-inch LTPO OLED panel features a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, promising silky smooth visuals and enhanced energy efficiency. The display also supports HDR10+, ensuring vibrant colors and deep blacks, alongside Dolby Vision and a peak brightness of up to 5,000 nits.

Made from metal and glass, the Magic 7 Pro features a pill-shaped camera cutout on the front that is smaller compared to those found on Apple iPhones. This cutout houses a selfie camera along with a sensor for 3D facial recognition. Additionally, it includes a 3D Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor for enhanced security.

Similar to other high-end models, the Magic 7 Pro is equipped with a triple rear camera arrangement, comprising a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a remarkable 200MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x digital zoom. The camera system also incorporates AI capabilities to enhance photography experiences, featuring options like AI Super Zoom and a new Image Engine.

Powering the device is Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is also found in the new OnePlus 13 and is expected in the forthcoming Galaxy S25 series.

The Magic 7 Pro runs on MagicOS 9, which is built on Android 15. It offers a customized user interface, replete with additional features and optimizations. The device comes preloaded with Google Gemini, along with a unique function called Magic Portal. According to Honor, this feature enables users to circle objects on the display for instant text and image understanding, as well as quick access to app services.

It’s important to note that the international variant of the Magic 7 Pro has a smaller battery than its Chinese counterpart. The international version is equipped with a 5,270mAh battery, while the Chinese model is fitted with a larger 5,850mAh battery.

Preorders for the Honor Magic 7 Pro in the U.K. will commence today, January 15. The smartphone will be available in Lunar Shadow Gray and Black, priced at 1,100 British pounds (approximately $1,351). It features 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, with prices varying by region.