Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs HONOR Magic 8 Lite

Our Verdict: Start with cost: Magic 8 Lite has the price advantage, undercutting iPhone 16 Plus by a useful margin. In hardware terms, Magic 8 Lite has the higher-resolution 108MP rear camera, while iPhone 16 Plus has the sharper 460 PPI display. For most buyers, Magic 8 Lite is the pragmatic route; iPhone 16 Plus is better suited to shoppers who care most about its particular strengths.

The Magic 8 Lite is the cheaper one to own: around £351 over a typical contract, £445 less than the iPhone 16 Plus.

Expert Rating
4.2
12 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen
6.7" 6.79"
Display
Super Retina XDR OLED AMOLED
Resolution
2796 x 1290 1200 x 2640
Pixels Per Inch
460 427
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 108 Megapixels
Front Camera
12 Megapixels 16 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A18 (3 nm) Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 (4 nm)
Battery
4,674 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/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth
5.3, A2DP, LE 5.2 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions
160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 161.9 x 76.1 x 7.8 mm
Weight
199 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
£32.79/mo (£9.00 upfront) £12.99/mo (£9.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£510.00 £327.00

Prices updated 22 July 2026

Apple iPhone 16 Plus Apple iPhone 16 Plus HONOR Magic 8 Lite HONOR Magic 8 Lite
Expert Rating 4.2
12 reviews
3.8
10 reviews
Screen 6.7" 6.79"
Display Super Retina XDR OLED AMOLED
Resolution 2796 x 1290 1200 x 2640
Pixels Per Inch 460 427
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 108 Megapixels
Front Camera 12 Megapixels 16 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A18 (3 nm) Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 (4 nm)
Battery 4,674 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/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6
Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE 5.2 with A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Dimensions 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.80 mm 161.9 x 76.1 x 7.8 mm
Weight 199 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 £32.79/mo
£9.00 upfront
£12.99/mo
£9.00 upfront
SIM-free £510.00 £327.00
Prices updated 22 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Apple iPhone 16 Plus

24 Months

128GB

Black

Refurbished

10GB

Data

£32.79 per month, £9 upfront.

HONOR Magic 8 Lite
HONOR Magic 8 Lite

24 Months

512GB

Green

150GB

Data

£12.99 per month, £9 upfront.

Use code: CASH2 (£2)

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 16 Plus 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 16 Plus or HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.7", the Apple iPhone 16 Plus has the sharper display at 460 pixels per inch versus 427, and the Apple iPhone 16 Plus uses a Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the HONOR Magic 8 Lite has a AMOLED.

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus features a 48 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 16 Plus or HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The HONOR Magic 8 Lite is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £327.00.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, while the HONOR Magic 8 Lite comes in 512GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 16 Plus and HONOR Magic 8 Lite use?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus is powered by the Apple A18 (3 nm), 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 16 Plus or HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The HONOR Magic 8 Lite is the more portable of the two: it's 10g lighter at 189 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 161.9 x 76.1 x 7.8 mm.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 16 Plus or HONOR Magic 8 Lite?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus 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 16 Plus and HONOR Magic 8 Lite run?

The Apple iPhone 16 Plus 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.