Honor 9i vs Honor Magic8 Pro Air
The Honor 9i (2018) runs on the HiSilicon Kirin 659, while the Honor Magic8 Pro Air (2026) runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 9500. By overall MobileRank rating, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air leads — 89/100 vs 20/100 (a 69-point difference). Key differences: the Honor Magic8 Pro Air has the bigger battery (5500 mAh vs 3000); the main camera is 13 MP vs 50 MP; the Honor Magic8 Pro Air has NFC for contactless payments, the Honor 9i doesn't; the Honor Magic8 Pro Air is thinner (6.1mm vs 7.7mm).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Honor 9i
Honor Magic8 Pro Air
What makes Honor 9i better?
- Lighter: 152g vs 155g
- Overall rating 20/100
What makes Honor Magic8 Pro Air better?
- Better Geekbench Single: 3352 vs 215
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10402 vs 810
- Bigger battery: 5500 vs 3000 mAh
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 13MP
- Higher performance (97/100 vs 2/100)
- Better camera (87/100 vs 13/100)
- Longer battery life (77/100 vs 15/100)
- Better display (85/100 vs 62/100)
- Better portability (100/100 vs 87/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Honor 9i vs the Honor Magic8 Pro Air, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air scores 69 points higher (89/100 vs 20/100). In the "performance" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air leads (97/100 vs 2/100). In the "camera" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air leads (87/100 vs 13/100). In the "battery" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air leads (77/100 vs 15/100). In the "performance" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air significantly outperforms the Honor 9i (97/100 vs 2/100). In the "display" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air notably outperforms the Honor 9i (85/100 vs 62/100). In the "camera" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air significantly outperforms the Honor 9i (87/100 vs 13/100). In the "battery" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air significantly outperforms the Honor 9i (77/100 vs 15/100). In the "portability" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air is a bit better (100/100 vs 87/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Honor 9i | Honor Magic8 Pro Air | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | HiSilicon Kirin 659 | MediaTek Dimensity 9500 | |
| AnTuTu | — | 4430255 | |
| Geekbench Single | 215 | 3352 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 810 | 10402 | |
| Display | 5.8" IPS LCD | 6.3" LTPO OLED | |
| Resolution | 1080x2280 | 1216x2640 | |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 3000 mAh | 5500 mAh | |
| Charging | — | 80W | |
| Wireless charging | — | 50W | |
| Main camera | 13 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 64 MP | |
| Front camera | 16 MP | 50 MP | |
| RAM | 3GB / 4GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 32GB / 128GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo); EMUI 8 | Android 16 | |
| Brightness (peak) | — | 6000 nits | |
| NFC | no | yes | |
| Protection | — | IP68/IP69 | |
| Dimensions | 149.2×71.8×7.7 mm | 150.5×71.9×6.1 mm | |
| Weight | 152 g | 155 g | |
| Launch price | — | — |
Camera comparison
Honor 9i
- Main: 13MP
- Front: 16MP
Honor Magic8 Pro Air
- Main: 50MP f/1.6
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 64MP
- Front: 50MP
Display comparison
Honor 9i
- 5.8" IPS LCD
- Resolution: 1080x2280
- Refresh rate: —
Honor Magic8 Pro Air
- 6.3" LTPO OLED
- Resolution: 1216x2640
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Honor 9i
- 3000 mAh
- Wireless charging: no data
Honor Magic8 Pro Air
- 5500 mAh
- Wired: 80W
- Wireless: 50W
Benchmarks
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air significantly outperforms the Honor 9i (97/100 vs 2/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air notably outperforms the Honor 9i (85/100 vs 62/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air significantly outperforms the Honor 9i (87/100 vs 13/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air significantly outperforms the Honor 9i (77/100 vs 15/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air is a bit better (100/100 vs 87/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Honor 9i or the Honor Magic8 Pro Air?
The Honor Magic8 Pro Air significantly outperforms the Honor 9i by 69 points (89/100 vs 20/100).
What is the rating of the Honor 9i and the Honor Magic8 Pro Air?
The Honor 9i has a MobileRank rating of 20/100, the Honor Magic8 Pro Air — 89/100.
Which has the better camera: the Honor 9i or the Honor Magic8 Pro Air?
The Honor Magic8 Pro Air leads on camera score (87/100 vs 13/100).
Which is more powerful: the Honor 9i or the Honor Magic8 Pro Air?
The Honor Magic8 Pro Air leads on performance (97/100 vs 2/100).
Should you choose the Honor 9i over the Honor Magic8 Pro Air?
The Honor Magic8 Pro Air is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, those who care about battery life.