HONOR Magic8 Pro Review: AI Smarts, Better Everyday Performance, and Serious Night Photography

The smartphone market is often a game of minor iterations, a slightly faster chip here, or a slightly brighter screen there, but HONOR breaks that cycle. It is clear that the HONOR Magic8 Pro is less interested in incremental updates and more focused on solving actual user problems. It positions itself not just as a high-performance device but as an AI powerhouse with a camera system designed to rule the night.

Today, we'll take a look at what makes the Magic8 Pro tick, including its role as the 'Selected Photography Equipment' for the Visit Malaysia 2026 initiative.

Design - Familiar Yet Refined

The HONOR Magic8 Pro keeps a familiar flagship look, but it feels more refined this time around. It has a metal frame and a matte-finish curved back glass, which gives the phone a smoother grip and helps reduce fingerprints, making it easier to maintain a clean look throughout the day.

The Magic8 Pro comes in three colors, each with a distinct personality. Sunrise Gold has a warm, sandy glow reminiscent of a desert at sunrise. Sky Cyan reflects the calm, airy feel of the sky and changes subtly under different lighting. Black is understated and sleek, ideal for users who prefer a professional, minimalistic look.

At about 219g,the Magic8 Pro is actually smaller than its predecessor and lighter than many current flagship phones. It still feels solid in the hand, but the size reduction makes it easier to use one-handed compared to what you might expect. The quad-curved back and edges make the device feel sleek and futuristic, but they can sometimes cause accidental touches. With a case on, the experience feels closer to a flat-screen design, making handling easier and reducing unintentional edge inputs, but the shimmering design at the back would be unnoticeable.

The camera module sits right in the center of the back panel. It’s much more larger than the previous generation, and you will definitely feel the presence of it especially if you’re coming from a phone with a corner layout. There is a bit of adjustment needed, especially when holding the phone horizontally, but it becomes natural after some time.

Durability is another strong point here. The phone is protected with HONOR’s NanoCrystal Shield glass, which improves drop resistance, and the overall body is built to withstand everyday wear and tear. It also comes with IP69K and IP68 ratings, meaning it can handle dust, accidental spills, and even high-pressure water exposure. This is the kind of device that can survive rougher environments without you needing to baby it.

HONOR also includes a solid range of protection benefits out of the box: 365-day front and back crack protection, a 1-year extended warranty, and liquid damage protection. For users who worry about repair costs, this adds extra peace of mind right from the start.

Display - Ultimate Comfort for Your Eyes

The Magic8 Pro comes with a 6.71-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED display, and while its slightly smaller than the 6.8-inch on the Magic7 Pro, there is definitely huge improvement on the viewing experience. With the improved 6000 nits HDR peak brightness and 1800 nits HBM brightness, the screen stays visible even under strong sunlight, which is especially helpful when you’re outdoors navigating or taking photos.

HONOR also puts a big focus on improving eye comfort, including 8 advanced eye comfort technology. The display supports 4320Hz PWM dimming, which helps reduce strain during low-brightness viewing. You also get chip level AI Defocus Display, which helps reduce temporary near-sightedness from long screen sessions. Features like Dynamic Dimming, Natural Tone Display, and Circular Polarized Display 2.0 adjust the screen’s behaviour based on your surroundings, reducing overall eye fatigue during long sessions. Motion Sickness Relief helps minimise discomfort during scrolling, especially if you tend to use your phone in moving vehicles. The screen also produces less blue light thanks to hardware-level low blue light technology, which maintains accurate colours without relying on heavy yellow filters. For night-time use, Circadian Night Display adjusts the colour temperature to support a healthier sleep pattern.

All these improvements come together to create a viewing experience that feels more natural and easier on the eyes. It is also worth mentioning that The Magic8 Pro is the first smartphone to receive the TÜV Rheinland Full Care Display 5.0 certification, which recognises its more complete approach to vision health compared to standard eye comfort modes on typical phones.

Another special feature to highlight is the new Flicker Detection system, which is the first in the industry. It uses the same type of sensor found in professional measuring equipment, and you detect flickering lights in your surroundings to get a healthier viewing experience. So now when someone claim their lights or screens are flicker-free, simply scan it with the HONOR Magic8 Pro and you will see the truth.

Camera - Night and Zoom Excellence

The Magic8 Pro is built around a camera system that focuses heavily on night photography, zoom clarity, and overall stability. It  features a triple-camera system consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 200MP periscope telephoto camera with 3.7x optical zoom, complemented by a 50MP front camera.

As expected the Magic8 Pro still continue to deliver good overall photo quality. Colours look pleasant and balanced, details are well-preserved, and the camera handles different scenes reliably whether you’re shooting outdoors, indoors, or capturing quick moments.

But beyond the hardware, HONOR’s biggest improvements come from its imaging engines and AI tools, which make the camera feel more reliable in different shooting conditions. One of the key upgrades is the Night Engine, which helps the camera maintain natural colours and balanced exposure in low light. It helps to keep the atmosphere intact without over-brightening the scene, and details remain sharp without the usual noise you’d expect from dim environments.

The 200MP Telephoto camera uses an engine called the "Stability Engine" with CIPA 5.5-level stabilization, which is unusually high for a smartphone and is comparable to what you would find on high price DSLR cameras. This is technical jargon, but the benefit is simple. When zooming in, the viewfinder remains steady instead of shaking around, which makes capturing distant subjects much easier.

A new feature called Magic Colour allows you to recreate specific colour styles instantly. It analyses the colour tone of a reference photo and applies it to your own image, giving you a stylised look without needing to edit afterwards.  It essentially lets you steal the "vibe" of professional photos. This is useful if you enjoy a more cinematic or professional aesthetic but don't have enough time for post-processing.

HONOR also added a customisable AI Camera Button on the side of the phone. It's set to launch the camera with double press by default, but you can set it to quickly launch specific AI features as well, enhancing the overall AI experience. More AI features are coming in December, including AI Photo Agent for voice-controlled edits and Magic Pose, which suggests poses for group photos or for anyone who’s not sure how to stand in front of the camera.

Performance - Smooth, Reliable, Connected

The Magic8 Pro is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and as expected from the current top-tier flagship chip, everyday performance is fast and responsive. Apps open quickly, multitasking feels seamless, and heavier tasks like gaming or video editing run smoothly without stutter. HONOR and Qualcomm also worked together on system-level optimisations, so the phone maintains stable performance even during longer sessions.

The device also includes the HONOR C1+ connectivity chip, which plays an important role in overall performance. Instead of your signal dipping or slowing down in places like parking basements, lifts, or crowded areas, the C1+ helps the phone hold on to its connection better. This results in smoother online gaming, faster loading when browsing or scrolling, and fewer interruptions when streaming or making calls. It’s one of those improvements you feel throughout the day without actively noticing it.

In Malaysia, the Magic8 Pro is offered in two memory configurations: 12GB RAM + 512GB storage and 16GB RAM + 1TB storage. The 12GB+512GB model is already more than enough for most users, perfect for social media, gaming, photography, and everyday use. The 16GB+1TB variant is more suitable for power users who record a lot of 4K videos, store large files, or simply want the highest memory option for long-term peace of mind.

Battery - Big Boost Fast Charging

The Magic8 Pro brings a major jump in battery capacity compared to the previous generation. Last year’s model came with a 5850mAh battery, and this time HONOR has pushed it up to a 7100mAh Silicon-Carbon battery, all while keeping the phone’s overall size smaller. Paired with the more efficient chipset, this upgrade is immediately noticeable in daily use. You can go through hours of navigation, photography, and social apps without worrying about running out of power before the end of the day. With lighter usage, it can easily last into a second day.

For charging, HONOR’s official numbers state that the 100W wired HONOR SuperCharge can fully charge the phone in 48 minutes. In my own testing, a full charge took around 57 minutes, which is still fairly quick considering the size of the battery. The phone also supports 80W Wireless HONOR SuperCharge, giving you the option to top up fast even without a cable.

Security: Smarter AI-Driven Protection

HONOR continues to focus heavily on AI-driven safety, and the Magic8 Pro brings a few meaningful upgrades that make everyday usage feel more secure. One of the most notable upgrade is AI Deepfake Detection 2.0, a feature which actively analyzes faces during video calls to detect signs of digital manipulation. Previously, the feature could only be triggered through HONOR Magic Capsule, but now it’s also available from the sidebar and the AI button, making it far easier to activate when you need it.

There’s also Voice Cloning Detection, which will be added through an update in December. This feature is designed to warn users when a caller’s voice appears digitally altered or AI-generated, adding an extra layer of protection against voice-related scams.

For secure unlocking, the Magic8 Pro stands out as the only smartphone that offers dual 3D recognition. You get both 3D Face Unlock and a 3D Ultrasonic Fingerprint scanner, giving you two reliable biometric options depending on the scenario. Face unlock works well in different lighting conditions, while the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor remains consistent even when the phone is lying flat.

Verdict

The HONOR Magic8 Pro isn’t just another flagship phone. It emerges as a thoughtful, user-centric device that excels in almost every area. From its refined design and durable build to its bright, eye-friendly display, HONOR has clearly focused on practical improvements that make a difference in daily use. The camera system impresses with its night photography, telephoto stability, and AI-powered features that make every shot feel professional without needing post-editing.

Battery life and charging are a significant step up, giving you confidence for long days on the go, while performance remains smooth and reliable even under heavy workloads. Security features like dual 3D recognition and AI-powered deepfake and voice cloning detection add an extra layer of reassurance.

Simply said, the Magic8 Pro is more than a flagship. It’s an AI companion built to make life easier, safer, and more creative. If you’re looking for a device that balances cutting-edge tech with real-world usability, the Magic8 Pro delivers on all fronts.