A few days ago, Honor launched the second version of its Porsche phone, the Magic 7 RSR. The price of the model starts at 1,799 euros and, overall, it is not much different from the regular Magic 7 Pro. This made me think: Who are these luxury phones for, and why do some companies insist on manufacturing them?
Now, you're probably looking at the headline and thinking, "This spoiled hypocrite is using a Porsche-issued phone and complaining about it?" And you are right. The previous version of the Porsche has been my daily driver for the past year. While this is definitely a perk and advantage of the job (trying to use dozens of phones), it also helps me stay objective about this.
Because as much as I love using this phone, I would never buy one with my own money. This is why.
The case against luxury brand phones
Let's address the obvious elephant in the room here. Let's say you own a 911 or a Taycan Turbo S (which inspired the Honor RSR). Do you really need a phone with the Porsche logo to match your car and enhance your status? No, of course not! The car alone is more than enough.
Imagine someone placing the Honor Magic 7 RSR on a table next to their 911 keys. No one will care about the phone. Most Porsche or Ferrari owners probably have the latest iPhone or Galaxy anyway, because their car, Rolex watch, Armani suit or Prada shoes already speak volumes about their status.
Another key point is that the RSR is still an Honor phone. With all due respect, Honor is a Chinese brand that is not usually associated with prestige or prestige, despite the hefty price tag of its flagship models.
On the other hand, if you don't own a Porsche, buying a Porsche-branded phone is a bit sad. This may give the impression that you are a Porsche fan without actually owning the car. Which brings us to the second big problem with these phones.
Is a design job worth 500 euros ($)?
In the case of the Honor Magic 7 RSR (and other premium phones over the years), the main difference from the regular flagship model is the design. The shape of the back, the camera housing, and the touch of exotic materials — like the titanium frame around the camera and ceramic-tinted glass — set it apart.
Everything else is basically the same, so the huge difference in price boils down to the design and branding. Here's a wild idea: Save yourself €500 by getting the regular product Honor Magic 7 Pro and buy a Porsche-branded case. This will do the trick.
Key differences between the regular Magic 7 Pro version and the RSR version:
Magic 7 Pro
Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design
design
Regular design
Design inspired by the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and camera cover
Same + lidar Matrix autofocus system, featuring a 1,200-point LiDAR array f/1.88 lens aperture in the telephoto camera
RAM and storage
12GB RAM and 512GB base version (up to 16GB RAM and 1TB in China)
24GB RAM and 1TB storage
Retail box
Two chargers and two cables
There is no charger in the box, one cable
battery
5,270 mAh (5,850 mAh in China)
5,850 mAh
price
1299 euros
1799 euros
Is making a luxury phone really a bad thing?
All of the above may sound like obnoxious rant, but my only real criticism is the price. If the Honor Magic 7 RSR were, say, €100 more expensive than the regular model, it would have been a welcome addition in a world full of phones that all look the same.
Conversely, if the phone offers something truly unique — like a different telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom, an exclusive ultra-bright 4K display, or a supercar-inspired feature like an ultra-fast 240Hz refresh rate — a sharp markup could make an impact. It was somewhat justified.
But as it stands, paying a premium for the branding and redesigned back seems a bit lazy.
Would you buy a Porsche-branded phone for around $1,800?
Maybe I've got it all wrong, though. Honor is continuing its collaboration with Porsche, so there may be more to it than what I'm seeing. I couldn't find any sales figures for the previous model, but it's very likely that people bought it in droves.
For a little reality check, I'm including a poll. Would you buy a Porsche (or Ferrari or Lamborghini) branded phone for $1,800? And if so, does the brand really matter to you (think Ferrari iPhone vs. Honor Porsche)? Vote in the poll and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
A few days ago, Honor launched the second version of its Porsche phone, the Magic 7 RSR. The price of the model starts at 1,799 euros and, overall, it is not much different from the regular Magic 7 Pro. This made me think: Who are these luxury phones for, and why do some companies insist on manufacturing them?
Now, you’re probably looking at the headline and thinking, “This spoiled hypocrite is using a Porsche-issued phone and complaining about it?” And you are right. The previous version of the Porsche has been my daily driver for the past year. While this is definitely a perk and advantage of the job (trying to use dozens of phones), it also helps me stay objective about this.
Because as much as I love using this phone, I would never buy one with my own money. This is why.
The case against luxury brand phones
Let’s address the obvious elephant in the room here. Let’s say you own a 911 or a Taycan Turbo S (which inspired the Honor RSR). Do you really need a phone with the Porsche logo to match your car and enhance your status? No, of course not! The car alone is more than enough.
Imagine someone placing the Honor Magic 7 RSR on a table next to their 911 keys. No one will care about the phone. Most Porsche or Ferrari owners probably have the latest iPhone or Galaxy anyway, because their car, Rolex watch, Armani suit or Prada shoes already speak volumes about their status.
Another key point is that the RSR is still an Honor phone. With all due respect, Honor is a Chinese brand that is not usually associated with prestige or prestige, despite the hefty price tag of its flagship models.
On the other hand, if you don’t own a Porsche, buying a Porsche-branded phone is a bit sad. This may give the impression that you are a Porsche fan without actually owning the car. Which brings us to the second big problem with these phones.
Is a design job worth 500 euros ($)?
In the case of the Honor Magic 7 RSR (and other premium phones over the years), the main difference from the regular flagship model is the design. The shape of the back, the camera housing, and the touch of exotic materials — like the titanium frame around the camera and ceramic-tinted glass — set it apart.
Everything else is basically the same, so the huge difference in price boils down to the design and branding. Here’s a wild idea: Save yourself €500 by getting the regular product Honor Magic 7 Pro and buy a Porsche-branded case. This will do the trick.
Key differences between the regular Magic 7 Pro version and the RSR version:
Magic 7 Pro
Honor Magic 7 RSR Porsche Design
design
Regular design
Design inspired by the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and camera cover
Same + lidar Matrix autofocus system, featuring a 1,200-point LiDAR array f/1.88 lens aperture in the telephoto camera
RAM and storage
12GB RAM and 512GB base version (up to 16GB RAM and 1TB in China)
24GB RAM and 1TB storage
Retail box
Two chargers and two cables
There is no charger in the box, one cable
battery
5,270 mAh (5,850 mAh in China)
5,850 mAh
price
1299 euros
1799 euros
Is making a luxury phone really a bad thing?
All of the above may sound like obnoxious rant, but my only real criticism is the price. If the Honor Magic 7 RSR were, say, €100 more expensive than the regular model, it would have been a welcome addition in a world full of phones that all look the same.
Conversely, if the phone offers something truly unique — like a different telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom, an exclusive ultra-bright 4K display, or a supercar-inspired feature like an ultra-fast 240Hz refresh rate — a sharp markup could make an impact. It was somewhat justified.
But as it stands, paying a premium for the branding and redesigned back seems a bit lazy.
Would you buy a Porsche-branded phone for around $1,800?
Maybe I’ve got it all wrong, though. Honor is continuing its collaboration with Porsche, so there may be more to it than what I’m seeing. I couldn’t find any sales figures for the previous model, but it’s very likely that people bought it in droves.
For a little reality check, I’m including a poll. Would you buy a Porsche (or Ferrari or Lamborghini) branded phone for $1,800? And if so, does the brand really matter to you (think Ferrari iPhone vs. Honor Porsche)? Vote in the poll and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
