Honor Magic 8 Pro: A Camera That’s Close to the Top But Costs an Arm and a Leg

For the first time in months, I didn’t miss my go-to camera phone — until I remembered it cost $1,500 and looked like a melted LEGO brick.

The Magic 8 Pro’s triple rear camera system features a 50MP main (f/1.6), 50MP ultrawide (f/2.0), and 200MP telephoto (f/2.6, 3.7x). Its 200MP telephoto lens delivers sharp detail and optical zoom advantages over competing flagship zooms, though oversharpening occasionally mars textures.

The dynamic range is excellent, colors are warm and rarely oversaturated — a direct quote from the test period about its natural depth of field.

Despite these strengths, the phone’s plastic back panel and not-quite-circular camera island create a jarring aesthetic. The 6.71-inch 120Hz OLED display and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 hardware feel modern, but the AI button offers minimal customization beyond camera/AI functions. A 7,100mAh battery (global model) supports two-day endurance, though silicon-carbon degradation concerns linger for long-term users.

The phone’s £1,099.99 ($1,500) price competes directly with iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Seven years of software support are promised in Europe, but the 12 mandatory agreements (6 required, 6 optional) before first use feel like a modern smartphone purchase tax.