Why the Honor Magic8 Pro Is Turning Heads in 2026

The Honor Magic8 Pro arrives as a “robust” flagship that punches above its price. Its screen, battery life and camera are now on par with Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, while the design stays familiar enough for Magic 7 Pro owners to feel at home.

Major Upgrades Over the Magic 7 Pro

  • Battery: 6 270 mAh (up from 5 270 mAh) delivers 27 h 44 min of video playback – a full 8 hours longer than the S25 Ultra’s 19 h 04 min test result [teknokratiet.no].
  • Charging: 100 W wired fast‑charge (0‑100 % in 40 minutes) and 80 W wireless charging.
  • Display: Peak brightness jumps to 6 000 nits (from 5 000 nits a year ago) and a 4 320 Hz back‑light flicker‑free dimming that eases eye strain.
  • Camera: New 200 MP periscope telephoto with 3.7× optical zoom, AI‑enhanced Super‑Zoom and Magic Color processing for more natural colours.

What Was Left Behind?

  • Slightly smaller front screen and overall weight compared with the Magic 7 Pro – a “welcome” change for those who prefer a more compact handset.
  • Back panel switched from glass to plastic, which some users miss from the previous model.
  • Extra pre‑installed apps and permission prompts that can feel “bloat‑y” until manually disabled.
  • AI button is present but not deeply customizable.

Battery Technology – Silicon‑Carbon (Si‑C)

Honor introduced a Si‑C anode that replaces graphite with silicon, promising a 10‑15 % efficiency gain. The result is a longer‑lasting battery without a bulkier chassis. The Chinese market even ships a 7 200 mAh version, but EU regulations keep the official model at 6 270 mAh.

Display Details That Matter

The 6.7‑inch panel hits 6 000 nits, is TÜV Rheinland certified for eye‑health, and offers a “night mode” that tames blue light and automatically dims the screen as evening approaches. The 4 320 Hz dimming frequency is higher than the iPhone 17 series’ 480 Hz, making it a strong choice for users sensitive to screen flicker.

Camera System – A Direct Challenge to Samsung

Honor’s triple‑camera stack consists of:

  • 50 MP main sensor (f/1.6, 1/1.3″) – comparable to the S25 Ultra’s 200 MP main unit (f/1.7) [phonearena.com].
  • 50 MP ultra‑wide (f/2.0, 12 mm).
  • 200 MP periscope telephoto (f/2.6, 85 mm) with 3.7× optical zoom; the S25 Ultra uses a 10 MP 3× telephoto (f/2.0) [phonearena.com].

In side‑by‑side tests, the Magic8 Pro’s images appear brighter, especially in low‑light scenes, while the S25 Ultra delivers a flatter, more “true‑to‑life” look [androidfaithful.com].

Performance Powerhouse: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

The Magic8 Pro runs Qualcomm’s newest 3 nm “all‑big‑core” chipset. All eight cores are performance cores (2 × 4.61 GHz, 6 × 3.63 GHz), delivering smoother multitasking and AI workloads while being 42 % more power‑efficient than Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 [trustedreviews.com]. The same chip powers the latest OnePlus 15, confirming its real‑world speed.

AI Features – More Than Just a Buzzword

Honor bundles its hardware with software tricks:

  • AI Super Zoom – refined algorithms for clean 50×/100× digital zoom.
  • AI Magic Color – real‑time scene analysis that applies professional‑grade colour grading.
  • On‑device AI processing for 4 K 120 fps video, eliminating the demand for cloud rendering.
  • Dedicated AI button (hardware shortcut) that launches preset AI tools, though customization options remain limited.

Security & Privacy – 3D Face Unlock

The front‑facing TOF sensor creates a depth map for certified 3D face authentication, usable for banking apps and payment services. This rivals Apple’s Face ID and Google’s Pixel facial unlock.

Durability & Longevity

Both the Pro and Lite variants carry IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings, with the Lite boasting SGS Triple‑Resistant certification. Honor promises seven years of OS updates, positioning the Magic8 Pro as a long‑term investment.

Pricing Landscape

  • Honor Magic8 Pro 12 GB + 512 GB – 13 678 NOK (≈ £1 099.99).
  • Honor Magic8 Lite 8 GB + 256 GB – 4 715 NOK (≈ £380).

Compared with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra’s launch price of £1 249 (≈ 14 500 NOK) and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the Magic8 Pro offers a “new sheriff in town” value proposition.

Did You Know?

The Magic8 Pro’s 200 MP telephoto sensor can capture 100× digital zoom that equates to a 2 300‑2 400 mm focal length on a full‑frame camera – a feat almost impossible to achieve handheld without a tripod.

Pro Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Magic8 Pro

  • Disable unused pre‑installed apps early to preserve battery and protect privacy.
  • Activate the “Night‑Mode” colour‑temperature schedule to reduce blue‑light exposure after sunset.
  • Use Pro mode’s 50 MP JPG‑L setting for low‑compression RAW‑like shots.
  • Experiment with AI Super Zoom on static subjects to witness the cleanest results.

FAQ

Is the Honor Magic8 Pro’s battery really better than the S25 Ultra’s?
Yes – independent testing shows 27 h 44 min of video playback versus 19 h 04 min on the S25 Ultra.
Can I use the Magic8 Pro’s 100 W charger with any USB‑C cable?
Only the supplied 100 W USB‑C cable is guaranteed to deliver full speed; third‑party cables may charge slower.
Does the AI button let me launch any app?
It can launch a set of predefined AI tools, but full customisation is not currently supported.
Will the plastic back affect durability?
The phone still meets IP68/69K water and dust standards and has SGS durability certifications, so it remains highly robust.
How does the Magic8 Pro’s camera compare to Samsung’s flagship?
Both deliver excellent results; Honor tends to produce brighter images, while Samsung’s S25 Ultra offers a flatter, more natural colour tone.

What’s Next for Flagship Phones?

Looking ahead, we can expect three trends to dominate the high‑end market:

  1. All‑big‑core CPUs – More manufacturers will adopt Qualcomm’s “no efficiency cores” design for smoother performance.
  2. Si‑C batteries – As silicon‑carbon tech matures, larger capacities will become the norm without increasing size.
  3. AI‑first photography – Software will keep pushing the limits of zoom, colour grading and low‑light processing, making hardware differences less noticeable.

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