Apple iPhone 13 vs HONOR Magic 8 Lite

Our Verdict: The HONOR Magic 8 Lite and Apple iPhone 13 are aimed at different priorities, with a larger 6.8-inch display on one side and a lower current starting price, about £200 versus £327 on the other. Apple iPhone 13 is currently cheaper to buy outright by roughly £127; the screen sizes are 6.1 inches for Apple iPhone 13 and 6.8 inches for HONOR Magic 8 Lite. Put the Apple iPhone 13 first for keeping the upfront or SIM-free spend lower, and put the HONOR Magic 8 Lite first if its extra hardware advantages line up with how you use your phone.

The Magic 8 Lite is the cheaper one to own: around £351 over a typical contract, £36 less than the iPhone 13.

Expert Rating
4.6
10 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen
6.1" 6.79"
Display
OLED AMOLED
Resolution
2532 x 1170 1200 x 2640
Pixels Per Inch
457 427
Rear Camera
12 Megapixels 108 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 16 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A15 Bionic Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 (4 nm)
Battery
3,227 mAh 7,500 mAh
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB 512GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e- SIM Nano SIM + Nano SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth
5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.2 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm 161.9 x 76.1 x 7.8 mm
Weight
173 grams 189 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP65/68 - Dust and water proof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes
Contracts
£13.99/mo (£29.00 upfront) £12.99/mo (£9.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£189.00 £327.00

Prices updated 24 July 2026

Apple iPhone 13 Apple iPhone 13 HONOR Magic 8 Lite HONOR Magic 8 Lite
Expert Rating 4.6
10 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen 6.1" 6.79"
Display OLED AMOLED
Resolution 2532 x 1170 1200 x 2640
Pixels Per Inch 457 427
Rear Camera 12 Megapixels 108 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 16 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A15 Bionic Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 (4 nm)
Battery 3,227 mAh 7,500 mAh
Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 512GB
OS Apple iOS Android 15
SIM Type nano-SIM and e- SIM Nano SIM + Nano SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, LE 5.2 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm 161.9 x 76.1 x 7.8 mm
Weight 173 grams 189 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP65/68 - Dust and water proof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes
Contracts £13.99/mo
£29.00 upfront
£12.99/mo
£9.00 upfront
SIM-free £189.00 £327.00
Prices updated 24 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 13
Apple iPhone 13

24 Months

128GB

Midnight

Refurbished

50GB

Data

£13.99 per month, £29 upfront.

Use code: SAVING10 (£10)

HONOR Magic 8 Lite
HONOR Magic 8 Lite

24 Months

512GB

Red

200GB

Data

£12.99 per month, £9 upfront.

Use code: CASH2 (£2)

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 13 or HONOR Magic 8 Lite cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the HONOR Magic 8 Lite is cheaper on contract at £351.16 over the life of the deal from £12.99 per month with £9.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 13 or HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The HONOR Magic 8 Lite has the bigger screen at 6.8" compared to the Apple iPhone 13's 6.1", the Apple iPhone 13 has the sharper display at 457 pixels per inch versus 427, and the Apple iPhone 13 uses a OLED panel while the HONOR Magic 8 Lite has a AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 13 or HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The Apple iPhone 13 features a 12 Megapixels rear camera, while the HONOR Magic 8 Lite has a 108 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 13 or HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The Apple iPhone 13 is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £189.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 13 and HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The Apple iPhone 13 is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the HONOR Magic 8 Lite comes in 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 13 and HONOR Magic 8 Lite use?

The Apple iPhone 13 is powered by the Apple A15 Bionic, while the HONOR Magic 8 Lite uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 (4 nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 13 or HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The Apple iPhone 13 is the more portable of the two: it's 16g lighter at 173 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.65 mm.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 13 or HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The Apple iPhone 13 is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the HONOR Magic 8 Lite is rated IP65/68 - Dust and water proof up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 13 and HONOR Magic 8 Lite run?

The Apple iPhone 13 runs Apple iOS and the HONOR Magic 8 Lite runs Android 15. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.