Honor Magic8 Series: Will you go for a smart budget option or high-end luxury?
It’s 2026 and Honor continues to push the boundaries. Whether you’re looking for a stylish phone that’s easy on the wallet, or a true powerhouse that leaves the competition in its wake, the Magic8 series has it all. With Android 16 as standard and the updated MagicOS 10 interface, you’ll be right up to date. But which model suits your needs? We’ll help you make up your mind.
Which model from the Honor Magic8 series is right for you?
The Magic8 series is Honor’s current generation, and in Europe it mainly consists of two models: the Magic8 Pro as the flagship and the Magic8 Lite as the affordable entry-level model. There’s a big difference in price: the Pro launched at €1,299, whilst the Lite is priced at around €460. You can see which versions are actually available here and what they currently cost in the overview above.
Can’t decide between two models? Compare them side by side in our mobile phone comparison tool.
Magic8 Pro: camera and speed
The Magic8 Pro has a 6.71-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 6,000 nits, ensuring it remains readable even in bright sunlight. Inside is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The camera system comprises a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 200-megapixel telephoto lens with 3.7x optical zoom. Charging is at 100 watts via cable and 80 watts wirelessly. You can read more about this range under the Magic Pro models.
Magic8 Lite: battery life and price
The Magic8 Lite costs around 460 euros and actually has the largest battery in the range: 7,500 mAh. This will get you through well over a day with normal use, often two. You do, however, compromise on speed, as the Lite uses a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 instead of the top-of-the-range chip, and the camera setup is more basic. You’ll hardly notice this when making calls, using messaging apps, watching videos or taking everyday photos; you will, however, notice it when playing demanding games. If you’re looking for more handsets in this price range, check out the Honor N series.
Please note: the European version has a smaller battery
Foreign reviews often get this wrong. The Magic8 Pro has a 6270 mAh battery in Europe, whilst the Chinese version has a 7200 mAh battery. Same name, different hardware. So check the Dutch specifications and don’t draw conclusions from a Chinese review.
Seven years of updates, but the price is falling sharply
Honor promises seven Android versions and seven years of security updates for the Magic8 and Magic8 Pro. That’s well above the European requirement of five years (EU regulation) and ensures the device remains usable for years to come. At the same time, Honor’s flagship models are falling rapidly in price: the previous Magic7 Pro dropped from 1,299 euros to around 699 euros. If you’re not in a hurry, waiting a little while is financially attractive.
Looking for something else?
The Magic8 series isn’t the whole of Honor’s range. These are the logical alternatives.
- Foldable: the Magic V foldables unfold to reveal a screen of almost 8 inches.
- Older generations: the complete Magic series, including discounted previous models.
- All Honor phones: the brand’s full range on a single page.
- Other brands: compare the Magic8 Pro with the top models from Samsung, Apple and Google.
