Honor Magic 8 Pro review: Premium Powerhouse

Greatest Costs At this time: Honor Magic 8 Professional

The Honor Magic 8 Professional picks up the place the Magic 7 Professional left off, with a lot the identical design and positioning. It’s a high-end telephone full of a giant digital camera, oodles of AI and ambitions to develop Honor’s place because it competes with large manufacturers like Samsung.

And it appears to be working. In keeping with knowledge from Searchabull, Honor’s search profile was up by almost 40% year-on-year in Q2 of 2025. Honor additionally says that new prospects aren’t simply shifting from different Android manufacturers, but in addition ex-iPhone customers.

So there’s one thing of a buzz across the model, which, since its separation from Huawei, has proven no lack of ambition. The Honor Magic 8 Professional continues that pattern, pushing the digital camera expertise to the following stage and including an AI button that feels rather a lot like Apple’s Digicam Management.

I’ve been utilizing the Honor Magic 8 Professional for a month to get a really feel for this new telephone. Listed here are my in-depth ideas.

Design & Construct

• 161.15 x 75 x 8.4 mm, 213g
• As much as IP69K ingress safety
• Large rear digital camera

There’s no avoiding the truth that the Magic 8 Professional seems and feels identical to the Magic 7 Professional, with an enormous digital camera on the again of the telephone. It’s designed to face out and almost doubles the thickness of the telephone in that space, so it positively gained’t be for everybody.

The remainder of the physique is 8.4mm thick, and it weighs 213g, which is about the identical because the Galaxy S25 Extremely, though Samsung’s digital camera doesn’t stick out almost as a lot. Whereas the perimeters of the aluminium body are flat, it’s not as sq. as some rivals, with curves across the fringe of the show. I truly desire this – it makes the telephone simpler to carry and use this bigger telephone one-handed.

New to the design is an AI button, which is positioned in the identical location as Apple’s Digicam Management on current iPhone fashions. This supplies new app launch alternatives, alongside the facility button, which presents entry to Gemini on a double press.

The AI button presents quick, lengthy and double press choices, protecting digital camera launch, AI display screen recommendations, AI settings agent, AI pictures agent, Honor AI, AI recollections and Google Lens.

Chris Corridor / Foundry

There’s a heavy leaning in the direction of Honor’s AI choices, however in actuality, there’s no good purpose to assign a few of these issues to a fast launch button. It will be nice if Honor expanded the choices to launch something, including extra versatility.

I settled on Google Lens and Digicam Launch, partly as a result of Honor’s digital camera doesn’t robotically learn QR codes, so having quick entry to Google Lens is helpful.

The standard of the construct is excessive, with IP69K safety that sees this telephone capable of face up to high-power water jets and full submersion. It additionally comes with a factory-fitted display screen protector, which I’ve left in place and haven’t discovered to hinder use.

Display & Audio system

• 6.71in 120Hz LTPO OLED show
• 6000 nits brightness
• Stereo audio system

There’s just one factor that I don’t like in regards to the show, and that’s the massive cutout for the entrance cameras. It apes the iPhone expertise (with related Dynamic Island-style options) as a result of it homes not only a digital camera, however a 3D depth sensor too. Which means it presents nice face unlocking, however it does take a piece out of the display screen that I’d quite not lose.

As I discussed within the design part, there are delicate curves to the sting of the show – not like the large curves of yesteryear, however simply sufficient to melt the influence of the sq. edges.

The show is 6.71 inches with a 2808 x 1256 pixel decision, leading to 458ppi, which means it’s good and detailed. There are additionally oodles of correct colors and nice vibrancy. I’ve discovered the auto brightness to be glorious, whereas this show is rated to 6000 nits at peak brightness, which is spectacular.

Chris Corridor / Foundry

That doesn’t imply that the show hits these highs in common use (the place 1800 nits is the worldwide excessive), however that peak brightness is reserved for delivering HDR punch when referred to as upon. I’ve discovered this to be simplest whereas viewing pictures, with each Google Pictures and Honor’s personal Gallery supporting Google’s Extremely HDR, the place photographs get a lift, with brighter highlights coming by for extra influence. That additionally extends to nice efficiency when streaming video content material, for instance, with Dolby Imaginative and prescient on Netflix.

The wonderful show can be backed by very good stereo audio system. There are sound choices to spice up the bass or have enhanced immersive listening by the audio system. These are positively price utilizing, with the “premium bass” providing the richest efficiency in my expertise.

There’s additionally help for spatial audio by headphones or simply fundamental stereo – however once more, it’s price testing to see what you like the sound of. The stereo and spatial audio choices do sound fairly completely different.

There’s additionally a fingerprint sensor beneath the show, which is quick to unlock the telephone if that entrance digital camera hasn’t already noticed you.

Specs & Efficiency

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
• 12GB RAM and 512GB storage

Powering the Honor Magic 8 Professional is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the newest {hardware} from Qualcomm and marking this out as a real flagship telephone. That’s supported by 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. There’s no lack of energy on supply right here.

The result’s a first-class expertise, a telephone that’s easy and responsive in all conditions. I used the telephone in demanding situations whereas at CES 2026, pushing the gadget on multi-tasking, utilizing it for lengthy intervals of hotspotting, and located that it carried out exceptionally.

I additionally famous that app set up and knowledge downloading had been good and quick, so putting in large video games was much less of a chore than on different gadgets. I put numerous time into Name of Responsibility: Cellular on this telephone and located it ran very well, permitting me to constantly dominate the video games I used to be enjoying, selecting up loads of MVP accolades.

There are a few issues on the software program aspect that seem like they’re efficiency issues – unresponsive swipe actions or gradual animations. However I consider these to be a part of MagicOS 10 quite than because of the telephone’s {hardware}.

Chris Corridor / Foundry

Cameras

• 50Mp most important, 200Mp 3.7x telephoto, 50Mp ultrawide
• 50Mp selfie digital camera

Honor’s focus for the Magic 8 Professional may be very a lot on the digital camera. I’ve talked about that it’s bodily large, however it’s large in specs too. A pair of 50Mp sensors for the primary and ultrawide cameras are joined by the 200Mp 3.7x telephoto, which continues to supply digital zoom out to 100x.

Enhancements to the digital camera over the Magic 7 Professional embody elevated stabilisation, whereas there are new sensors to spice up low-light efficiency and new picture processing. Video is obtainable as much as 4K 120fps, too.

The efficiency of the Magic 8 Professional’s cameras is usually superb. It can take some distinctive daylight pictures full of element and dealing with HDR properly. The low-light efficiency is usually nice, too, though it begins to indicate some flaws in Honor’s setup. Most noticeable was the dealing with of white stability beneath synthetic lighting, the place I took numerous photographs with a yellow forged.

Lightening of darkish scenes can result in barely blotchy outcomes, with an inclination to brighten an excessive amount of. Usually I needed to manually pull down the publicity to get the consequence I wished and protect the stability of darkish and light-weight. At different instances, I discovered it to provide nice outcomes straight out of the digital camera.

The zoom is usually good, and the influence of the stabilisation on supply is immediately felt. I examined it alongside the Pixel 10 Professional and located it a lot simpler to line up pictures at 100x as a result of the stabilisation was so significantly better. Nonetheless, each programs now use AI at lengthy vary so as to add textures again in – and each telephones lose numerous element on the far finish of the zoom.

I discovered good color consistency throughout lenses, nonetheless. Usually, there’s a color distinction between the ultrawide and most important cameras, however that’s not the case on the Magic 8 Professional. The transition between lenses is sweet and easy, with choices for 0.5x,1x, 2x, 3.7x, 10x and the free digital zoom as much as 100x.

Every of the steps produces good outcomes – together with the 10x – so this can be a versatile setup. I additionally discovered that 10x zoom in indoor situations may get some good outcomes too, serving to me get nearer to the motion for some pictures whereas working the present flooring at CES 2026.

The AI Button doubles as a digital camera management button, permitting you to launch the digital camera after which scroll by completely different zoom ranges as soon as the digital camera is open, whereas a press will take the photograph. It is a helpful addition, however I discovered the placement slightly awkward to easily scroll, whereas so many individuals are used to pinch zooming and tapping an on-screen button to seize. It’s combating muscle reminiscence, and doesn’t truly supply something new, which is a little bit of an issue.

On the AI entrance, there are modifying choices from Google Pictures as normal, however a complete choice within the Honor Gallery app, too. My favorite is the choice to take away reflections from pictures by glass. It’s fairly good, cleansing up photographs properly, as seen beneath.

Whereas that’s all constructive, I really feel that Honor’s digital camera strategy is a bit excessive – and the weak spot appears to be in processing. In comparison with the Pixel 10 Professional (which provides rather a lot much less bodily area to the digital camera), I’d nonetheless take the Google telephone – it’s extra constant, higher in low mild and provides extra pure pictures. We’ve a full comparability of the Pixel 10 Professional versus Magic 8 Professional cameras for those who’d prefer to study extra.

Battery Life & Charging

• 6270mAh battery
• 100W wired charging
• 80W wi-fi charging

The 6270mAh battery within the Magic 8 Professional sounds capacious, and it’s: in comparison with a few years in the past, it’s colossal. It’s not rated fairly as excessive because the OnePlus 15 with a 7300mAh battery, although, so it will be simple to spotlight this as a detrimental.

The Magic 8 Professional has a silicon-carbon battery, providing 100W wired charging and 80W wi-fi charging with the precise adapters. There isn’t one within the field (which is normal for European markets), however most individuals may have a high-power charger already. I discovered the charger for my Lenovo laptop computer was comfortable to produce the facility, permitting for actually quick recharging.

Chris Corridor / Foundry

I discovered the battery life itself to be nice, too. I used it for actually lengthy days and ceaselessly didn’t cost it in a single day – and there was nonetheless life in it. Beneath heavy situations, nonetheless getting by the day is a credit score to this telephone. Positive, it’s not as capacious as some, however the Magic 8 Professional nonetheless comfortably beats Apple and Samsung on battery capability, charging pace and endurance – and that’s to not be sniffed at.

Definitely, from my standpoint, the battery efficiency is nice.

Software program & AI

• MagicOS 10 with Android 16
• 7 years of OS and safety updates
• Loads of bloat

If there’s one space that I’d count on the Magic 8 Professional to wrestle with, it’s the software program. Honor has all the time been a ways from a clear Android expertise, with numerous additions and modifications, in addition to duplication by the addition of its personal companies. In lots of circumstances, it’s high quality to disregard Honor’s choices and keep on with Google – in reality, I’d argue it’s advantageous to take action.

Duplication of instruments comparable to a calendar, clock, e-mail, information, paperwork and extra looks like a nod to the world the place Honor exists with out Google (in China), with these apps bundled in for no good purpose. A lot of the bloatware could be uninstalled, so it’s annoying quite than finally compromised.

Chris Corridor / Foundry

Honor additionally makes wide-ranging modifications to the way in which Android works, with numerous choices for customisation and different tweaks. That permits you to undo among the stuff that Honor has modified and just remember to’re getting the telephone expertise that you really want.

Over the time I’ve been utilizing this telephone, I’ve been capable of get away from the handful of issues which aggravated me, however it appears unnecessarily fiddly at instances, with a lot of choices and interruptions that most individuals don’t want. Little particulars, like “Do Not Disturb” not being within the Fast Settings, are simply irritating to must go and repair.

Then we come to AI, one thing that each model is eager to place into its telephones nowadays. Google’s Gemini is current and proper, as is Circle to Search and people photograph AI options in Google Pictures that I discussed. Honor then provides Honor AI, which comes with a “Pictures Agent” to edit and manipulate photographs, together with reworking right into a cartoon type or watercolour, for instance. It’s a little bit of enjoyable, however not one thing I can see myself utilizing a lot.

Chris Corridor / Foundry

Honor AI additionally presents the now necessary “AI recollections” space, which you would possibly discover chock-full of information that had been shared with you. I discovered it wished to save lots of information shared on WhatsApp, whereas it should additionally collate stuff that you simply seize utilizing the AI Button – which is principally screenshots. It’s bought potential, however feels restricted to now.

Then there’s an AI settings agent that principally makes use of AI that can assist you with settings in your telephone. This may automate some options or take you to the precise a part of the settings menu, however typically, it should simply bow out and inform you to do it manually if it doesn’t know what you’re speaking about.

So there are modifications for the higher and modifications for the more severe on the Magic 8 Professional, however Honor has stepped up the software program help to seven years of OS and safety updates. This matches flagships from Samsung and Google, which is an effective transfer.

Worth & Availability

At launch, the Magic 8 Professional prices £1,099.99, making it cheaper than the £1,249 Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely, however costlier than the £979 OnePlus 15 or £999 Pixel 10 Professional. That makes it look slightly costly.

Nonetheless, Honor has launched the telephone with a “coupon” so it’s accessible for £899 from Honor direct on the time of writing, together with a complete number of items, together with a 100W charger. These are restricted, however price leaping at for these on this mannequin. It’s additionally accessible at Amazon UK.

As common, the telephone isn’t accessible within the US. See extra options in our full information to the most effective telephones you should buy proper now.

Chris Corridor / Foundry

Do you have to purchase the Honor Magic 8 Professional?

Most likely not, given the power of the competitors.

The Magic 8 Professional presents a complete flagship telephone expertise, full with intensive software program customisation, a flexible digital camera system, an important show, good battery efficiency (with sooner than common charging) and a protracted replace dedication.

Nonetheless, the likes of the OnePlus 15 and Google Pixel 10 Professional/Professional XL shall be higher all-around selections for most individuals. And naturally, the Galaxy S26 Extremely is more likely to be simply across the nook.

Specs

• MagicOS 10, primarily based on Android 16
• 6.71-inch, 1256 x 2808 AMOLED, 120Hz  
• Optical fingerprint scanner  
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset
• 12 GB RAM  
• 512 GB storage 
• 50Mp, f/1.6 most important digital camera
• 200Mp, f/2.6 telephoto digital camera. 3.7x 
• 50Mp, f/2.0 ultrawide  
• 50Mp, f/2.0 selfie  
• As much as 4K @ 120fps rear video  
• Stereo audio system
• Wi-Fi 7
• Bluetooth 6.0
• 6270mAh battery  
• 100W wired charging  
• 80W wi-fi charging  
• 161.15 x 75 x 8.4 mm
• IP68/IP69K licensed  
• 213g
• Colors: Dawn Gold, Sky Cyan, Black