Would You Ditch Your iPhone for One of These Two Porsche-Designed Honor Smartphones?

Even though Android-powered mobile devices have a tight grip on the global smartphone market with over 70 percent dominance, things are the other way around in the US. Data from several sources say that over 60 percent of phone buyers prefer Apple's mobile devices.

In the UK, things are a little bit more balanced. iPhones and smartphones with Android are constantly trying to capture more of the market, but neither is succeeding in attracting many more customers than the other.

What's well-known is that American teenagers and people who have higher-than-average wages prefer owning an iPhone because iOS feels snappier, apps appear more well-optimized, and the ecosystem comprises many devices that work together very well.

We can't say that's why Porsche decided to work with Honor (owned by Huawei until 2020) to bring two top-notch smartphones to market, but what we know is that Apple hasn't been very fond of putting the names of other brands on its devices. There are custom iPhones out there, but they're not made by or with the Cupertino-based tech giant.

Moreover, Porsche has been working with brands like Huawei and Blackberry over the years to launch various types of limited-edition mobile devices. Aaand… That's a bit weird.

Clearing the air

Our in-house software expert said at the beginning of 2024 that it wouldn't make any sense to own a Porsche and use an Android-powered smartphone, despite the fact that the automaker moved its in-car software to Android Automotive.

Essentially, he argued that Porsche is favoring CarPlay by developing more cool features for iPhone and Apple Watch users. Similarly, the German marque inserted many important settings into CarPlay, which means the driver won't have to exit the dedicated interface to adjust various features such as the A/C temperature, the ambient lighting, or the audio profiles.

However, it's worth noting that Porsche is giving Android smartphone users all the updates iPhone owners get, minus the CarPlay goodies. So, you wouldn't lose much by choosing one of these two fancy and somewhat pricey devices the Stuttgart-based marque helped bring to the world.

But let's get to know them first.

Style and flagship specs come at a cost

The Honor Magic6 RSR, which Porsche cleverly calls the "sports car of smartphones," is, at a glance, nothing more than an Honor Magic6 Pro with some slight exterior changes.

We're essentially presented with a dual SIM smartphone running Android 14 that has a Samsung S24 Ultra-sized 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz and the temporary ability to reach a brightness of 5,000 nits. It's an OLED panel, so the colors should be pretty vivid. The 1280 by 2800 resolution isn't doing it any favors, though. Samsung managed to fit more pixels into its latest screen.

But with over one billion colors, 12 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, IP68 water and dust resistance, four cameras (including a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens) that enable it to shoot videos in 4K, LiDAR, 5G connectivity, and a power adapter (charging brick) included in the box, the absence of a few pixels won't bother you.

However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered Honor Magic6 RSR, a clever designation that's supposed to remind you of the non-street-legal 911 RSR that won for the last time at Le Mans in the GTE class in 2022, has something special going for it: an impressive silicon-carbon 5,600 mAh battery. Few other smartphones in this category come with a bigger energy reserve. The quirky Redmagic 9 Pro comes with a 6500 mAh battery, but not many are going to buy one.

Normally, the Honor Magic6 Pro should set you back around $1,000, which is an ok-ish price for the specs. But put it in Porsche's hands, and you will have to accept a slight markup. In the UK, the Magic6 RSR costs £1,599 ($2,037), which includes the value-added tax of 20 percent. Essentially, its price has doubled.

But you would be the coolest person in your group because the Magic6 RSR comes with the same specs, but it's finished in two different and striking colors. The customer can choose between Frozen Berry Metallic (made widely available with the first iteration of the Taycan) and Agate Grey.

Porsche also adds a color-matching case with contrast stitching, a different charger, and a new USB-C cable in the box. In addition, the camera bump is slightly changed, featuring a more pronounced hexagonal shape. As expected, there's also the Porsche Design etch on the back.

On top of all that, the customer gets to explore a custom theme "imbued with sports car design elements."

If you're already eager to order one, then we're sorry to inform you that, at the time of writing, the phone is out of stock in the US. Bummer.

Good-looking versatility

The other phone is the Honor Magic V2 RSR, which, although cooler, is not as good as the Magic6.

However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered device has the foldable thing going on for it. You can open it and instantly transform the phone into a mini-tablet. It has a similar 120-Hz screen inside and outside, but a battery of 5,000 mAh. The phone is available in only one color: Agate Grey.

Porsche says the Magic V2 RSR is the thinnest and lightest foldable phone in the world, an aspect that is beautifully accentuated by the titanium hinge. It measures 0.38 in (9.9 mm) when folded.
Like with the Magic6 RSR, Porsche included an extra charger and cord in the box, as well as a special pen and pen case. If you can get your hands on one of these costly devices, you'll also find a Porsche Design case inside.

The automaker also promises that the outer 6.4-inch display is protected by a special type of glass that's 10 times stronger. However, it doesn't tell us what it used as a point of reference.

Price-wise, this interesting smartphone with IPX4 water resistance (which means it can only withstand a splash) will set you back £2,349 ($2,992). Yes, that's double the retail price of the non-Porsche-ified version.

These devices may cost a lot, but they have a special appeal. Limited-edition phones have always had their place in our world, and these two are no different. Would I buy a Porsche-designed phone as a Porsche owner? Probably.

However, at the same time, the functionality and dependability of the latest iPhone or Samsung, which doesn't cost twice as much just because it has a special exterior, a downloadable theme, and an etch, are two characteristics the typical Porsche owner might appreciate more. Funky gimmicks seem more suited for Tesla customers, who tend to appreciate intricate software more than other car buyers.

Finally, one reason these two Porsche-designed smartphones are "out of stock" for US buyers and completely unavailable for Canadian shoppers could be that Honor is currently owned by a state-backed Chinese company called Shenzen Zhixin New Information Technology, which hired many former Huawei employees after it acquired Honor from it.

Huawei was completely banned from the US in late 2022, two years after the Federal Communications Commission deemed it a national security threat.