I took this luxury competitor of the iPhone 16 Pro Max with me on my travels.

The Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RSR challenges conventional expectations of special edition devices, which are often seen as impractical and excessively costly. This smartphone moves away from the notion that luxury must sacrifice functionality, offering significant features compared to the Magic 7 Pro, without excessively inflating the price. While it is currently unavailable in the United States and its cost is several hundred euros higher than Honor's flagship model for 2025, many wonder if it is truly worth the investment. After using the device for two weeks, including a trip to London where I took over 1,000 photos and videos, I have gathered insights for those who are fans of Porsche and are looking for a practical luxury phone.

The design of the Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RSR is a standout feature. Its hexagonal camera module presents a bold design with a "four eyes" layout, which includes three camera lenses alongside a graphic element called "Matrix Camera," inspired by the headlights of a sports car. The back showcases a striking line reminiscent of Porsche's aerodynamic designs. Although I used the Agate Grey version, there is also an attractive variant in Provence. Weighing 228 grams, it has a balanced feel that makes it easier to hold compared to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Its dimensions are 162.7 mm in height and 77.1 mm in width, similar to that of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but it feels more comfortable to use with one hand. Equipped with a 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display, it offers an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz and a maximum brightness of 5,000 nits, providing impressive visuals and reduced eye strain due to its advanced flicker rate.

The experience of unboxing the Magic 7 RSR feels as premium as the phone itself. Upon opening the magnetic lid, there is a quote from the founder of Porsche alongside two charging adapters and USB-C cables. Additionally, it comes with a matching case, adding a touch of elegance at no extra cost.

Regarding the camera, the Porsche Design Magic 7 RSR excels with a triple rear camera system. Its 50MP main sensor, a 200MP periscope telephoto, and a 50MP ultrawide allow for capturing sharp images in various conditions. During my outings in London, the camera demonstrated exceptional performance, capturing excellent photos both day and night. The optical zoom capability is impressive, and while video recording doesn't quite reach the level of the best on the market, the photographic quality is outstanding.

In terms of performance, the Magic 7 RSR is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, features 24GB of RAM, and offers up to 1TB of storage, providing a smooth experience during everyday use. Its 5,850mAh battery with fast charging is capable of lasting all day, and the MagicOS operating system, based on Android 15, offers a luxury aesthetic and practical functions, though its performance can vary at times.

The price of 1,799 euros in Europe and 1,799 pounds in the UK may seem high, but for the specifications it offers, it presents itself as a contender against other luxury models in the market. Additionally, it includes commitments for software and operating system updates for five years, which is uncommon in this segment. In summary, the Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RSR demonstrates that elegance does not have to compromise functionality or software support.