Honor Magic4 Lite 5G review: Smartphone with big display and strong battery
After the spin-off from Huawei, Honor is hoping to regain a foothold in Europe with the Magic4 series. The Lite device in review competes in the mid-range. This is because, in addition to the Lite 5G, Honor also offers a 4G version with some differences: the display has a refresh rate of 90 instead of 120 Hz and a Snapdragon 680 instead of the 695. In return, the Lite 4G's main camera has a maximum resolution of 64 instead of 48 megapixels. Both smartphones are available in Midnight Black and Ocean Blue, and the Lite 5G also comes in Titanium Silver. Our review device is blue.
Honor never officially introduced the predecessor, the Magic3, to Europe.
Possible Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 % v7 (old) | 08 / 2022 | Honor Magic4 Lite SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 195 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.81" | 2388x1080 | |
| 83.4 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2022 | Samsung Galaxy A53 Exynos 1280, Mali-G68 MP4 | 189 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
| 80.5 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2022 | Realme 9 Pro SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 195 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.60" | 2412x1080 | |
| 80.8 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2022 | OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G SD 695 5G, Adreno 619 | 195 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.59" | 2412x1080 | |
| 80.5 % v7 (old) | 01 / 2022 | Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G Dimensity 810, Mali-G57 MP2 | 195 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.60" | 2400x1080 | |
| 81 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2022 | Motorola Moto G52 SD 680, Adreno 610 | 169 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.60" | 2400x1080 |
Case - Magic4 Lite with plastic back
Honor opts for a middle-class case for the Magic4 Lite 5G. This is evident in the plastic back, for example. The blue color variant offers nice light reflections, but does not feel particularly high-quality. After two weeks of daily use, our review sample shows scratches on the back's lower area and the camera's hump. The metal frame, on the other hand, which is partly matte and partly glossy, is scratch-resistant. The general workmanship leaves no room for criticism. The device cannot be twisted and does not make any noise when subject to torsional stress. The back cannot be dented, but is particularly susceptible to fingerprints. The SIM card port has a rubber seal, which suggests that the model may be water resistant, but the Magic4 Lite 5G does not have IP certification.
Honor equips the smartphone with an appropriately-sized screen protector ex-works. However, the film proved susceptible to scratches under testing. The device does not wobble during use on a flat surface due to the camera's central position.
Equipment - Honor with dual 5G, but without microSD
The Magic4 Lite 5G does not have a notification LED. This is annoying because the LC display does not support an Always On function. Waking up the display by touching or tapping it is also not possible, so the power button always has to be clicked or the device turned upright for activation.
Memory expansion via SD card is not available for the Magic4 Lite 5G. On the other hand, the card slot can accommodate two SIM cards. Dual SIM is therefore possible, but eSIM is not supported. An audio jack is also missing. Honor only offers the smartphone in one configuration: 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. In addition, the manufacturer advertises a virtual RAM turbo of 2 GB.
The opening on the top of the device looks like a speaker, but turns out to be the phone's earpiece. No media is output here; the Magic4 Lite 5G only has a mono speaker.
Software - Magic UI 4.2 based on Android 11
The Honor Magic4 Lite 5G uses the Magic UI 4.2 interface, which is based on Android 11. The interface is strongly reminiscent of Huawei's EMUI and does not require an app launcher. Some third-party apps such as booking.com, Netflix, TikTok, Lords mobile, trainpal, trip.com and WPS Office are preinstalled, but they can all be uninstalled quite easily. The system ran smoothly in all areas under testing and there were no errors or bugs.
If the smartphone is connected to a computer via cable, pictures, contacts and messages can be synchronized via the Honor Suite program. Updates can also be controlled via the software. Honor has not provided any information about upcoming updates, and it is still unclear if and when Android 12 will be delivered. During the review process, the smartphone received a security update at the beginning of July and updated the patch from April to June. Based on this, it can be assumed that the device will get a security update every three months.
Communications & GNSS - Moderate speed and off the beaten track
The Honor Magic4 Lite 5G supports all frequency bands in LTE and 5G mobile communications that are important for Europe. Signal strength proves to be inconspicuous under testing, and 5G is supported on both SIM cards. However, frequencies used in other parts of the world are partly missing and mmWave is not supported either.
The Honor does not support Wi-Fi 6. In general, the Wi-Fi transmission rates under testing with our Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 reference router are not outstandingly fast, but the smartphone still takes the lead in terms of reception compared with the comparison devices and, above all, impresses with very stable transmission rates.
The Honor Magic4 Lite 5G succeeds in quick localization both indoors and outdoors, but takes a little longer in determining its exact position. The accuracy of the review sample is not very convincing, as a comparison with the Garmin Venu 2 during a bike ride shows. Although the recorded total length is almost identical, data shows that the Honor is often displayed not on the roads, but on the adjacent green areas. The smartphone also only supports one band at a time in GNSS-based navigation. On the other hand, we did not experience any problems during everyday navigation, for example with Google Maps. Geocachers, however, should look for another device.
Telephony & Voice Quality
The voice quality of the Magic4 Lite 5G is good, especially for the smartphone user. The voice of the other party is clear and free of distortion, and the speaker is quite loud. The user of the Honor can be understood well by the other party, but background noise is only weakly filtered out. Telephony via the hands-free function is also possible. The loudspeaker is loud enough and communication is possible in both directions without interference.
The Honor Magic4 Lite 5G can house two nano SIM cards, but eSim is not supported. 5G reception is possible with both SIM cards. The Honor smartphone also offers VoLTE and calls via WLAN.
Cameras - Only one usable lens in the Honor camera setup
The front-facing camera of the Honor Magic4 Lite 5G has a resolution of 16 MP. Videos are possible at a maximum of 1080p at 30fps. The camera app offers a beauty mode at different levels. Photos are sufficiently sharp, and portrait mode works convincingly in most cases.
Honors' decision to forgo both a zoom and a wide-angle lens is surprising for this price range. Although the Magic4 Lite 5G has a triple camera system, the 48 MP main camera is accompanied only by a macro lens and a depth information lens with 2 MP each. Photos from the main camera are acceptable, but they are very bright, especially when the AI function is active. Photos with the macro camera only succeed in very good lighting conditions, but are never really sharp. The digital zoom is useful in an emergency, but cannot replace a zoom lens. The smartphone's low-light performance also has room for improvement: individual elements are recognizable in the dark, but details and contours blur.
The main camera only supports video recordings up to 1080p at 30fps, which is disappointing for this price segment. The autofocus reacts very quickly, but you should ignore the digital zoom when filming because it causes stuttering in videos.
A special feature is the dual-image mode, which allows for video recording as well as photo shooting simultaneously with the front and main camera. In a manual mode, users can set the aperture manually, but setting the exposure time or the ISO value is not possible.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main cameraMain camera5x zoomLow light
Honor has done a good job with the color accuracy of the Magic4 Lite 5G. Tones are rendered very realistically and images look natural as a result. A simulated display with an illumination of only one lux clearly shows that the Magic4 Lite 5G's camera is overwhelmed in such low light.
The sharpness of the pictures is okay, but it becomes apparent that they are grainy in detail, especially in comparison to flagship smartphones.
Accessories & Warranty - Honor SuperCharger included
Honor includes the SuperCharge 66-watt fast charger and a USB cable in the scope of delivery. A sim card tool and a quick start guide are also included. However, the Magic4 Lite 5G does not come with a protective case. A 24-month warranty is offered in Germany, which may differ in other locations, so be sure to check with your supplier before buying.
Input Devices & Operation - Honor integrates fingerprint reader into the power button
Microsoft's SwiftKey is installed as the standard keyboard on the smartphone, which performs well in both portrait and landscape mode with few erroneous inputs. The capacitive touchscreen of the Honor Magic4 Lite 5G recognizes up to ten simultaneous touches and functions at a sampling rate of 240 Hz. A protective film is applied in the state of delivery, which does not interfere with inputs; it is only noticeable at the edges where the frame transitions to glass.
The fingerprint sensor has been integrated into the power button and works quickly and reliably. In addition, a fast but unsecure 2D facial recognition is available.
Honor also offers a one-handed operation for the Magic4 Lite 5G that is managed via swipe gestures. However, the displayed image is so large that reaching all areas with one hand is difficult. The smartphone also supports some gestures that can be performed with knuckles. Double-click with a knuckle takes a screenshot, while a double-click with two knuckles starts the screen capture. The commands can be changed in the corresponding submenu.
Display - Honor only with LCD on the Magic4 Lite 5G
The Honor Magic4 Lite 5G features a 6.81-inch (17.3 cm) LC display, which works at a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Dynamic rate control is also possible, which adapts to the displayed content. The panel offers three levels: 60, an unusual 80 and 120 Hz. A fixation at 60 or 120 Hz is also possible in the menu.
The brightness of the panel is usually adequate for everyday use, but the preference for more brightness arises in outdoor use when screen details become less legible. The device supports HDR content, but greater levels of brightness would have done this function more justice. The measurements show that the panel is not quite as bright in the lower area as above, but this is not noticeable in everyday use. However, the review device has a slight shadow between the front camera and the edge of the display.
On a positive note: We could not determine any PWM flickering in the review device.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 552 cd/m²
Contrast: 673:1 (Black: 0.82 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.2 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.86
ΔE Greyscale 3.5 | 0.09-98 Ø5.1
94.5% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.14
| Honor Magic4 Lite TFT-LCD, 2388x1080, 6.8" | Samsung Galaxy A53 AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.5" | Realme 9 Pro IPS, 2412x1080, 6.6" | OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G IPS, 2412x1080, 6.6" | Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G TFT-LCD, 2400x1080, 6.6" | Motorola Moto G52 AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.6" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 30% | -9% | -12% | -7% | 36% | |
| Brightness middle | 552 | 718 30% | 541 -2% | 590 7% | 504 -9% | 655 19% |
| Brightness | 512 | 730 43% | 541 6% | 561 10% | 499 -3% | 649 27% |
| Brightness Distribution | 84 | 92 10% | 96 14% | 92 10% | 91 8% | 95 13% |
| Black Level * | 0.82 | 0.44 46% | 0.38 54% | 0.72 12% | ||
| Contrast | 673 | 1230 83% | 1553 131% | 700 4% | ||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.2 | 1.62 26% | 4.42 -101% | 5.15 -134% | 3.3 -50% | 1.1 50% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6 | 4.21 30% | 8.77 -46% | 10.35 -73% | 6 -0% | 2.58 57% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 3.5 | 2 43% | 6 -71% | 7.1 -103% | 4.1 -17% | 1.7 51% |
| Gamma | 2.14 103% | 2.156 102% | 2.074 106% | 2.143 103% | 2.28 96% | 2.212 99% |
| CCT | 6410 101% | 6545 99% | 8049 81% | 8540 76% | 7041 92% | 6557 99% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8437 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Overall, the display of the Honor Magic4 Lite 5G shows a balanced color reproduction. The display only shows deviations in yellow and yellow-orange colors. The 2D CalMAN test results in sRGB color space coverage of up to 94.5%. However, the panel suffers in terms of black value and thus contrast. The contrast ratio is only 673:1, so the display always looks a bit pale.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14.99 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 5.441 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 9.547 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 33 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.7 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 31.23 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 14.33 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 16.9 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 39 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (32.3 ms). | ||
The screen of the Honor Magic4 Lite 5G is also legible outdoors and in sunlight. More brightness reserves would have been desirable for media consumption in the sun, but the Honor is within the class average. Only the Samsung Galaxy A53 is significantly brighter.
The viewing angle stability of the LCD panel is good. Although the screen becomes darker when viewed from the side, there are no color distortions. The automatic brightness control works reliably and adjusts the illumination quickly and accurately.
Performance - Snapdragon 695 5G with adequate power
The Honor Magic4 Lite 5G houses a Snapdragon 695 5G that is combined with an Adreno 619, 6 GB of RAM as well as 2 GB of HONOR RAM Turbo. The Realme 9 Pro and OnePlus' Nord CE 2 Lite 5G also offer this combination. Both beat the Honor in the Geekbench 5.4 multi-score test, whereas the Magic4 Lite 5G is ahead in BaseMark OS II. Overall, performance rates are at a solid level. An interesting observation: In performance mode, our review device achieved slightly worse scores in Geekbench 5.4 than in normal mode.
In everyday use, the Magic4 Lite 5G impressed with smooth operation and quick opening of various apps. There were neither stutters nor noticeable waiting times when opening apps.
| AImark - Score v2.x | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (4924 - 5839, n=10) | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7: T-Rex Onscreen | 1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
GFXBench 3.0: on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL | 1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
GFXBench 3.1: on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | 1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
GFXBench: on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Extreme | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Unlimited Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Wild Life Score | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited Physics | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited Graphics | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (Vulkan) Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Graphics | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| 3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Physics | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 / T-Rex Offscreen | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / Manhattan Onscreen OGL | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench 3.0 / 1080p Manhattan Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench 3.1 / Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Realme 9 Pro | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
There were no surprises in the browser benchmarks. Our review device always falls in the midfield of the comparison devices. It is never first, but also never last, thus maintaining our impression from previous benchmarks.
| Jetstream 2 - 2.0 Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=165, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (48.6 - 105.3, n=19) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Chrome 103.0.5060.129) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 (Chrome 101) | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite (Chrome 103) | |
| Realme 9 Pro (Chrome 99) | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G (Chrome 96) | |
| Motorola Moto G52 (Chrome 103) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=147, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (38.7 - 80.1, n=16) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 (Chome 101) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Chrome 103.0.5060.129) | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite (Chrome 103) | |
| Realme 9 Pro (Chome 99) | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G (Chrome 96) | |
| Motorola Moto G52 (Chrome 103) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (38 - 347, n=68, last 2 years) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (75 - 156, n=12) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Chrome 103.0.5060.129) | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite (Chrome 102) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 (Chrome 101) | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G (Chrome 96) | |
| Motorola Moto G52 (Chrome 103) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=207, last 2 years) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 (Chrome 101) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (17849 - 31647, n=21) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Chrome 103.0.5060.129) | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite (Chrome 102) | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G (Chrome 96) | |
| Motorola Moto G52 (Chrome 103) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Motorola Moto G52 (Chrome 103) | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G (Chrome 96) | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite (Chrome 102) | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Chrome 103.0.5060.129) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 (Chrome 101) | |
| Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (1298 - 2501, n=18) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=166, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
The Honor smartphone has a storage size of 128 GB, of which 17.06 GB is already occupied in the state of delivery. Honor does not offer any other storage variants or expansion possibilities via memory cards.
In terms of memory speed, the Honor Magic4 Lite 5G falls behind the competition. Only the Realme 9 Pro is even slower in three of the four test categories. All other comparison devices are faster, and Samsung's Galaxy A 53 is significantly faster. Overall, the Magic4 Lite 5G remains below the class average, and the deficit in sequential reading is particularly large.
| Honor Magic4 Lite | Samsung Galaxy A53 | Realme 9 Pro | OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | Motorola Moto G52 | Average 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 31% | -23% | 12% | 34% | 26% | 34% | 215% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 488.66 | 510.1 4% | 494 1% | 509.21 4% | 964 97% | 893.44 83% | 728 ? 49% | 2043 ? 318% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 385.52 | 486.7 26% | 105.3 -73% | 482.15 25% | 471 22% | 503.56 31% | 526 ? 36% | 1659 ? 330% |
| Random Read 4KB | 155.16 | 229.9 48% | 148.3 -4% | 179.02 15% | 148.8 -4% | 98.99 -36% | 192.1 ? 24% | 285 ? 84% |
| Random Write 4KB | 143.61 | 210.8 47% | 120.4 -16% | 147.46 3% | 171.8 20% | 182.92 27% | 184.5 ? 28% | 327 ? 128% |
Gaming - Magic4 Lite 5G stable but with few fps
The gaming performance of the Honor Magic4 Lite 5G could be described as solid. Current titles such as PUBG Mobile or League of Legends: Wild Rift run smoothly on the device. Only very sporadic frame drops occur, as shown by the measurements with GameBench. However, only low frame rates and detail levels can be selected on the device. The large display is a lot of fun for gaming, and the mono speaker on the bottom is partially covered by a finger.
Emissions - The Magic4 Lite 5G stays cool
Temperature
The Honor Magic4 Lite 5G never becomes unusually warm during daily use. Even on hot summer days, use is possible without restrictions. During heavy load, such as when gaming, temperatures only rise in individual areas of the device, especially around the cameras.
The Honor smartphone was unimpressive in the 3DMark stress test. Performance remains at a constant level over the entire course of the test. However, this is not unusual in this performance class, as a comparison with the competing devices shows, which all survive the test without fluctuations.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.9 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 34.3 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31.6 °C / 89 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life Stress Test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite | |
| OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A53 | |
| Motorola Moto G52 | |
Speakers
The Honor Magic4 Lite 5G only has a mono speaker on the bottom of the device. There is an element on the top that looks like a speaker, but this is only the earpiece that is not used for media playback. The installed speaker is loud, but lacks any bass or lower frequencies, and sounds thin overall, especially at high volumes.
The sound output via Bluetooth worked flawlessly under testing. However, the selection of audio codecs offered is not large at all (SBC, AAC, aptX and LDAC). The Magic4 Lite 5G does not offer a jack output, but wired headphones can be connected via the USB port.
Honor Magic4 Lite audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (89.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 31.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.2% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 36% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 56% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 55% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 37% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 30.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 54% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 38% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 71% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 23% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery Life - Long runtimes, faster Honor SuperCharger
Power Consumption
The power consumption of the Honor smartphone gives a mixed picture. When no load is required, the Magic4 Lite 5G achieves very good values and performs better than the OnePlus CE 2 Lite G5 with the same chipset. However, the smartphone's power consumption increases more under load than the competitors in this class. OnePlus and Realme show that there is still potential for optimization in the software. All benchmarks were run in performance mode.
A big plus is the included 66-watt power supply, which allows the Magic4 Lite 5G to charge from 5 to 100 percent in 53 minutes and does not even become lukewarm. Wireless charging is not supported.
| Off / Standby |   0.07 / 0.16 Watt |
| Idle |  0.56 / 2.47 / 2.52 Watt |
| Load |
4.83 / 5.68 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Honor Magic4 Lite 4800 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A53 5000 mAh | OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G 5000 mAh | Motorola Moto G52 5000 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -5% | 26% | 14% | 21% | 4% | -22% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.56 | 0.9 -61% | 0.8 -43% | 0.51 9% | 0.8 -43% | 0.886 ? -58% | 0.872 ? -56% |
| Idle Average * | 2.47 | 1.3 47% | 1 60% | 1.96 21% | 1.1 55% | 1.76 ? 29% | 1.415 ? 43% |
| Idle Maximum * | 2.52 | 1.6 37% | 1.4 44% | 2.01 20% | 1.5 40% | 1.92 ? 24% | 1.556 ? 38% |
| Load Average * | 4.83 | 5.7 -18% | 2.4 50% | 3.86 20% | 2.9 40% | 3.86 ? 20% | 7.04 ? -46% |
| Load Maximum * | 5.68 | 7.3 -29% | 4.6 19% | 5.62 1% | 5 12% | 5.45 ? 4% | 10.6 ? -87% |
* ... smaller is better
Power Consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Power Consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery Life
Honor installs a 4,800 mAh battery in the Magic4 Lite 5G, which is slightly smaller than in the comparison devices equipped with 5,000 mAh batteries. Accordingly, competing devices have better performance values in most scenarios. Nevertheless, the Honor convinces with good runtimes, especially in everyday use.
The battery runtime is particularly pleasing in scenarios where the device is not under much load because Honor can keep the power consumption low. In combination with the fast charger, this ensures that the Magic4 Lite 5G only has to be plugged in rarely and for short periods of time.
| Honor Magic4 Lite 4800 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A53 5000 mAh | Realme 9 Pro 5000 mAh | OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G 5000 mAh | Motorola Moto G52 5000 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 15% | 38% | 19% | 24% | 33% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1645 | 2431 48% | 1985 21% | 2722 65% | 2183 33% | |
| H.264 | 986 | 1146 16% | 1255 27% | 1008 2% | 1274 29% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 760 | 886 17% | 1047 38% | 1064 40% | 966 27% | 1102 45% |
| Load | 317 | 246 -22% | 277 -13% | 322 2% | 398 26% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict: Good Honor smartphone without special features
The Honor Magic4 Lite 5G is a good mid-range smartphone. However, this review shows that it shares no more than the name with the manufacturer's flagships. If we adjust our expectations accordingly, the Magic4 Lite 5G is particularly pleasing with its large 120 Hz display. The Snapdragon 695 5G works smoothly, is sufficient for gaming and does not get hot. The battery is long-lasting and recharges quickly, and a suitable fast charger is even included in the scope of delivery.
The verdict on the cameras is divided. Two of the three lenses on the back are more for advertising purposes; only the main camera is usable, while wide-angle and zoom lenses are completely missing. On the other hand, selfies can be taken reliably with the Magic4 Lite 5G. The smartphone's mono speaker gets loud, but it clearly lacks volume. The installed GNSS solution also works in everyday use, but is not suitable for tasks that require precision.
Overall, the Magic4 Lite 5G is a good smartphone, but does not stand out from the competition.
The battery is slightly smaller than in most competitors, and the screen uses LCD technology instead of OLED. The smartphone does not have any real flaws, but it does not offer many good reasons for purchase at an RRP of around US$ 349. The Samsung Galaxy A53 is available for the same price and scores better in almost all categories. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite with the same processor and a slightly bigger battery is even available for around US$ 275.
Price and Availability
The Honor Magic4 Lite 5G is sold directly via the manufacturer's online store, sometimes also with free accessories such as a matching protective cover case. However, availability seems to be currently restricted to the European continent in countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Hungary and Romania (this list is not exhaustive).
Other retailers such as Amazon may have the smartphone in stock, such as Amazon UK for £273.48 (price as of 14.08.2022).
Honor Magic4 Lite
- 08/08/2022 v7 (old)
Benedikt Winkel
Price comparison
