Honor launched the Honor 8 Pro that comes with dual SIM slots with 4G VoLTE support and also comes with dual cameras on the back. But what the company has done now, is they added, the wide aperture mode in videos too and that is something really unique, read this review / watch video to know more.

The Honor 8 Pro is a really good device for those who love to shoot images. This handset bridges the gap between the smartphone and a DSLR camera. Though DSLR cameras have an advantage and cannot be completely replaced, but at times you want to travel light and wish you had a DSLR. That’s where Honor 8 Pro comes into picture.

Overall performance of this handset is pretty good, its powerful, does heat-up when using heavy applications like games but the battery temperature is under control, well under 45 degrees. Battery life is also decent considering a Quad HD display.

Honor 8 Pro review

Honor 8 Pro Specs and Review

Inside the box :  Handset, user manual, data cable, SIM ejector tool and travel charger 9V/2A
SAR Value : Highest SAR value is 1.17W/kg
Body : Metal body, excellent build and finishing. The back does not have a glass like the Honor 8, but comes with a matte finishing (metal).  Handset is comfortable to hold and gives a good grip
SIM Type : Nano + Nano/micro SD (hybrid slot) – both SIM slot support 4G with VoLTE, but JIO SIM can be used on only one SIM slots
Weight and Dimensions :
184 Grams, 7mm thick
Screen  :  5.7 inches, 2.5D curved glass, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, 2560 x 1440 pixels resolution – color reproduction, touch response and viewing angles are very good
Connectivity :  4G, VoLTE (works on both SIM), WiFi (dual band), GPS, USB Type C, NFC, IR blaster and Bluetooth 4.2
Sensors : Accelerometer, Proximity, Light, Step, hall, Gyro and Magnetic
LED Notification : Yes
OTG : Yes supported
RAM : 6GB (about 3GB free on first boot)
ROM : 128GB (about 101GB free on first boot)
OS : EMUI 5.1 based on Android Nougat 7.0

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Honor 8 Pro metal body

Honor 8 Pro Performance

CPU :  HiSilicon 960 2.3GHz octa core, 64 bit, 16nm
GPU :  Mali G71 GPU
Other : Vulkan 3D API
Heating : Medium
Max Battery Temperature : 42 degrees

The 8 Pro performed well, there was no lag and when it comes to gaming it performed exceptionally well considering the display size and resolution (1440p).

Honor 8 Pro 4000 mAh battery

Honor 8 Pro Benchmark

Quadrant : 39397
Antutu :
137994 / 47390
NenaMark2 : 60.6 fps
Multi Touch : 10 points
Disk Speed : 600 MB/s read  and 135 MB/s write

Honor 8 Pro 5.7 inch Quad HD screen

Honor 8 Pro Gaming Review

This handset comes with a 1440p resolution display and both Asphalt 8 in high quality mode as well as Modern Combat 5 (MC5) played well without any issues. Check the video review for gaming action.

Honor 8 Pro dual cameras on back

Honor 8 Pro Camera  Review

Rear Camera : 12MP RGB + 12MP Monochrome, f/2.2, dual LED light
Front Camera : 8MP Fixed focus, f/2.0
Video Recording : Max 4K resolution, Wide Aperture in video

The photos captured with the Honor 8 Pro is awesome, specially the wide aperture mode that does a really awesome job. The major issue with bokeh shots is the segregation of primary subject in focus vs the background, and 8 Pro does exceptionally well in this area. Check the samples you will know what I mean. Since the handset makes use of two cameras a color and a monochrome lens the output is much more sharper and clearer.

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Honor 8 Pro back view

You can record max 4K videos and there are many modes that gives you professional output with ease. Camera performance is slightly better than the OnePlus 5 but in some situations (watch out for my next post on the camera comparison among OP5 and Honor 8 pro).

Camera Rating : 4.8 out of 5

Honor 8 Pro Camera sample, front, rear and Wide Aperture Mode

honor 8 pro camera sample hydrant in Wide aperture mode honor 8 pro camera sample black and white hydrant honor 8 pro camera sample tiny flower wide aperture mode honor 8 pro camera sample Tree wide aperture mode honor 8 pro camera sample Tree bokeh wide aperture mode honor 8 pro camera sample black and white cycle honor 8 pro camera sample black and white branch honor 8 pro camera sample long shot honor 8 pro camera sample night shot using night mode honor 8 pro camera sample front, selfie

Download Original Image files (right click and save) (do not use it for commercial purpose, without permission of gogi.in).

Other features

Loudspeaker  sound  (DTS support) was very loud and clear, no issues with networks, 4G VoLTE worked. Finger Print sensor is on the back and it is very fast, almost as fast as seen on the OP5. There is IR blaster that you can use to control applications like TV, AC etc – use this handset as a remote control. This handset with Quad HD resolution is perfect for VR experience, in fact the honor 8 pro box can be converted to a VR head gear.

Honor 8 Pro side view

Honor 8 Pro Battery Review

Battery capacity : 4000mAh (non-removable)
Charging Time : Full Charge – up to 3 hours using the 9V/2A charger provided
Battery Life : 4 to 6 hours non-stop (moderate to heavy)
Daily usage battery life : Over  one day with mixed moderate usage and up to one day with heavy usage.

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Honor 8 Pro slim

Battery Test Results

Battery Temp at idle : 30 degrees
Running Benchmark app :
 8 minutes / 3% / 37 degrees
Asphalt 8 + MC5 game play : 20 minutes / 6% / 42 degrees
4K video playback with full brightness (WiFi /4G on) :  19 minutes / 5% / 37 degrees

Verdict

The Honor 8 Pro when compared with the OnePlus 5 is a step ahead when it comes to features and a step back when it comes to the Price. There was no competition at the Rs. 30K price level and now there is and customers have an advantage now, they get an option to choose from.

Definitely a very good buy, just go for it.

Rating : 4.8 out of 5

Honor 8 Pro is available for Rs. 29,999 on Amazon.

By Rajeev Rana

Founder and Chief Editor - gogi.in