Honor Magic 8 Pro Review: A Threat to the Pixel 10 Pro

Honor has emerged as a captivating smartphone brand in the market today. Initially an affordable subsidiary of Huawei, it has now established itself as a prominent manufacturer in its own right by severing many ties with its parent company.

This strategic shift has proven to be successful, with data from Searchabull indicating that Honor is experiencing a surge in momentum. Additionally, Honor reports that new customers are not only transitioning from the Android ecosystem but also migrating from older iPhone models.

The brand’s focus on providing value for money, increasing visibility, and equipping its phones with top-notch features is evidently paying off. The remarkably slim Honor Magic V5 has garnered acclaim, while the high-performance Honor Magic 7 Pro has further solidified the brand’s reputation.

Currently, I have had the opportunity to test the Honor Magic 8 Pro, which is amidst a complex launch process. Initially unveiled as one of the first smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the global availability of the device, particularly in Europe (including the UK), remains uncertain. Consequently, the pricing and availability details are yet to be confirmed.

Unfortunately, the Honor Magic 8 Pro will not be released in the US, which is disappointing considering the promising features it offers.

A Focus on Battery Performance

Upon handling the Magic 8 Pro, I couldn’t help but notice its striking resemblance to the Magic 7 Pro. The device boasts a robust build, with the Sunrise Gold and Sky Cyan color variants featuring a captivating color depth on the rear panel. The camera module, reminiscent of the one on the Magic 7 Pro, remains prominently large, and a notable addition is the customizable AI button on the phone’s side.

However, the key talking point surrounding the Magic 8 Pro revolves around its battery capabilities. While the Chinese variant of the device boasts a substantial 7100mAh battery, the global version is equipped with a slightly smaller 6270mAh battery. Despite the slight reduction, it’s essential to contextualize this change.

Comparatively, flagship devices like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL feature 5000mAh and 5200mAh batteries, respectively. Hence, the Magic 8 Pro’s battery capacity remains impressive, especially in the flagship segment. Notably, Honor emphasizes large battery capacities, as seen in the 7,500mAh cell of the Magic 8 Lite.

Although the Magic 8 Pro may not offer the largest battery capacity in Honor’s lineup, it still provides ample power. With support for 100W Honor SuperCharge and 80W wireless charging, the device underscores Honor’s commitment to fast charging technology. While I haven’t conducted a comprehensive battery performance test yet (and performance details are embargoed), my initial impressions are highly optimistic.

This battery prowess is likely to attract users to Honor’s offerings, especially considering the prevailing trend of slim smartphones that often compromise on battery capacity.

Exploring Camera Capabilities

Beyond its battery prowess, the Honor Magic 8 Pro continues to excel in the camera department.

My experience with the Magic 7 Pro highlighted that the AI zoom feature tended to overly enhance images, resulting in unrealistic long-range photos. While I’ll reserve my final judgment for the upcoming review, let’s delve into the camera hardware.

The focal point of the Magic 8 Pro remains its telephoto lens and low-light performance. Given that most smartphones can capture decent daylight shots, Honor’s emphasis on challenging areas like low-light photography is commendable.

The camera setup is undeniably impressive, a trait inherited from its predecessor. The device features a 50MP main camera with an f/1.6 aperture, accompanied by a 50MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.0 aperture and a 200MP telephoto lens. Honor highlights the telephoto lens as “Ultra Night Telephoto”, offering a 3.7x optical zoom capability.

Compared to the previous model’s 3.0x optical zoom, this 0.7x increase significantly enhances the device’s zoom capabilities, bringing users closer to the subject. With an f/2.6 aperture, the camera facilitates extended zoom capabilities (up to 100x digital) without compromising on light intake. Initial test shots indicate the camera’s impressive performance, particularly in low-light conditions.

The stabilization features are notably effective, delivering excellent results in low-light photography. While I can’t share these preliminary shots (taken on non-final software), they underscore Honor’s commitment to delivering top-tier camera experiences.

Closing Thoughts

The Honor Magic 8 Pro is slated to launch with Android 16, and based on previous announcements, users can expect up to seven years of software updates. The device boasts IP69K protection, ensuring resistance to hot water jets for enhanced durability.

Within the MagicOS 10 software skin, users can access a plethora of AI features, including the customizable side button for AI functionalities. Features like Gemini, Circle to Search, and various Honor-specific AI enhancements in the camera module, settings, sidebar, and photos further enhance the user experience.

With more exploration pending before the device’s official unveiling in early January 2026, the Honor Magic 8 Pro appears to be a formidable smartphone and a strong contender for one of the best devices of 2026. However, the pricing details remain undisclosed, leaving enthusiasts eager to learn more.