Honor did not rush to release its thin smartphone. Did they make it better than the rest? Let’s find out.
While most brands are scaling back on “Air” models due to low demand, Honor has released the Magic 8 Pro Air. It seems they took their time to create a device that actually competes with the iPhone Air by offering better features in a smaller body.
Technical Specifications:
Dimensions: 150.5 x 71.9 x 6.1 mm, 155 grams
Display: 6.31 inch, LTPO OLED, 1-120 Hz, up to 6000 nits peak
Processor: 8-core MediaTek Dimensity 9500, up to 4.21 GHz
Memory: 12/16 GB RAM + up to 1024 GB Storage (UFS 4.1)
Cameras: 50 MP main + 64 MP periscope (3.2x zoom) + 50 MP ultra-wide
Battery: 5500 mAh, 80W wired charging, 50W wireless charging
OS: MagicOS 10 (Android 16)
The Smallest Air on the Market:
The Magic 8 Pro Air is a true compact. With a 6.31-inch screen, it is much smaller and lighter (155g) than its competitors. Unlike the one-camera iPhone Air, Honor managed to fit three high-quality cameras into the back panel. However, the build uses aluminum and glass-fiber instead of titanium, making it potentially less durable.
Display and Hardware:
The screen is excellent, featuring thin bezels and a flat surface which is very practical. It also uses a fast ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanner. Inside, however, the Dimensity 9500 chip struggles with heat in such a small chassis. During stress tests, the phone often overheats and shuts down applications, though it performs better during actual gaming.
Battery and Camera:
The 5500 mAh battery is impressive for a 6.1mm phone, lasting about a day and a half under normal use. The triple camera setup is a massive advantage over other thin phones, offering a periscope zoom and 4K video recording across all modules. It even features a gesture-based physical button similar to Apple’s Camera Control.
Pricing:
In China, the phone starts at 4,999 yuan (about 54,800 rubles or 645 euros).
Conclusion:
Honor succeeded in making a thin phone without the typical compromises. If you want a tiny, lightweight smartphone that still has a great camera and a big battery, the Magic 8 Pro Air is currently the best option on the market, provided you aren’t doing heavy video rendering that triggers overheating.
