Honor 8X overview: Has the X-factor

If there’s one model that has been in an overdrive relating to launching smartphones, then it’s Honor. A lot in order that Huawei’s sub-brand has achieved a very good quantity of traction within the Indian smartphone market over final one 12 months. The agency is giving a stiff competitors to Xiaomi and Samsung within the finances and mid-range segments. Out of all of the Honor smartphone collection that exist within the nation, the Honor ‘X’ collection has most likely been some of the widespread ones out there and with the new-launched Honor 8X, it’s fairly clear that the agency desires to proceed the streak.

Honor 8X is the newest within the ‘X’ line of smartphone that has all the time been catering to the sub-Rs 20,000 market. With the rising competitors within the explicit bracket, it was solely anticipated from Honor to launch the 8X that has some new options and a extra highly effective set of specs beneath the hood as in comparison with some Chinese language gamers. Launched final week, you will get the Honor 8X in three variants based mostly on storage and RAM and two variants based mostly on the color.
These are the variants and their costs:

-4GB RAM+64GB storage (Rs 14,999)
-6GB RAM+64GB storage (Rs 16,999)
-6GB RAM+128GB storage (Rs 18,999)

We used the bottom mannequin (4GB RAM + 64GB storage) as that is probably the most inexpensive within the 8X lineup and more than likely to get patrons given the shopping for behaviour within the Indian smartphone market The smartphone additionally is available in Blue and Black color variations. There’s additionally a Crimson color variant that can arrive later

So what’s the take care of Honor 8X? At a base value of Rs 14,999 is it a worthy competitor to the likes of Xiaomi Mi A2, Nokia 6.1 Plus or different such handsets? We used it for some time and right here’s what it boils right down to.

Honor 8X Design

Honor 8X is a refreshing change from the earlier X-series smartphones from the model. This time it’s extra premium-looking utilizing the identical steel and glass construct. What’s the primary change you might even see is the dual-tone have a look at the again. Each the design tones are shiny however with a distinct shade that appears good for a smartphone priced at Rs 14,999. Honor says it has achieved this look utilizing a number of layers of glass. Nonetheless, for the reason that whole again is glass coated, it attracts fingerprints and could also be broken as properly if dropped from a peak. Nonetheless, the general construct appears sturdy.

What provides to the look is the entrance aspect that now has a bigger display property. The edges have brushed steel look with quantity and energy buttons on the best aspect and the SIM card supporting slot on the left. On the backside you will have a 3.5mm headphone jack and a speaker grille together with a micro-USB port within the center. You can too see the antenna strips on the backside and in direction of the highest on proper and left aspect.

The corporate stated that it went for the older micro-USB port because it needed to maintain the worth of the handset down. Together with a Sort-C port may’ve resulted in a slight improve in Honor 8X’s value.
There’s no Honor brand on the entrance although. It has been moved to the decrease again aspect in direction of the left together with ‘AI digital camera’ written beneath the vertically positioned twin cameras on the top-left aspect are all from the panorama standpoint, one thing much like what we have now seen in flagship Huawei smartphones. The system can be being touted for the digital camera amongst different options and this design emphasises on it much more. Additionally, each the cameras have particular person bumps however is just not wobbly to function when stored flat on a tough floor.

Honor 8X nonetheless, is just not made for single-handed utilization as it’s broader than others within the phase. However the seems to be will more than likely make you neglect about it.

Honor 8X Show

Honor 8X’s show is just not the very best however it’s nonetheless well worth the appreciation. At Rs 14,999 you’re getting a 6.5-inch FullView IPS LCD show with FHD+ (1080×2340 pixels) decision, giving a 91% display to physique ratio, which is troublesome to search out in smartphones coming at this value vary. The display is immersive sufficient and happily the notch is just not a distraction right here.

The notch is without doubt one of the most compact ones we have now seen these days. Like others, it contains of the ambient and proximity sensor, a round speaker grille and a front-facing digital camera. It’s brief in each size and width, giving extra space for the system and app icons on both aspect of the display. All this comes along with a thinner chin on the backside of the display. It nonetheless exists although and you may clearly see it however it’s once more one of many slimmest ones within the phase. So, thumbs up on that entrance.

Naturally, you can not count on an AMOLED-grade saturation and general high quality right here however it nonetheless is sweet to have a look at. It will get shiny sufficient so that you don’t should battle or change angles to view the content material on the display in shiny daylight situations. The colors are vibrant and have a specific amount of ‘punchiness’ to them. Streaming reveals in Netflix shouldn’t be a difficulty with this one or taking part in video games for that matter. The panel additionally performs properly with the color tones when considered from completely different angles. There’s hardly a noticeable change there.

On the software program aspect of issues, you get a bunch of options together with the power to customize the color tone and the temperature of the show, Blue mild filter and permitting apps to indicate content material in full view (together with the world lined by the notch).

Honor 8X Efficiency

In our day by day utilization, the Honor 8X hardly gave us an opportunity to complain about its efficiency. The smartphone affords fluid efficiency and a significant a part of the credit score goes to the HiSilicon 710 processor. The animation rendering and working on a number of apps shouldn’t be a difficulty with the handset. The processor is claimed to compete with the likes of Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 and the Snapdragon 636, that are additionally fairly good chipsets for finances or mid-range handsets.

Though the unit we obtained consists of 4GB RAM, having a 6GB RAM received’t carry a significant change upfront although however it certain is highly effective sufficient to deal with extra apps simply. Common utilization together with mild multi-tasking is dealt with properly and the UI is straightforward to get used to.

Honor’s EMUI has seen refined adjustments over previous couple of years and has the one operating in Honor 8X (EMUI 8.2 based mostly on Android 8.1 Oreo) is as refined because it will get for now. You get a number of customisation choices beneath the ‘Settings’ app and the whole interface is fairly simple with out a lot undesirable cramped options.

Total, it was a nice expertise for us with the Honor 8X. It could possibly deal with a lot of the duties that you simply do on a day after day foundation and is litter free. It’s not as clear because the one present in Nokia smartphones, which basically is inventory Android. As for the OS updates, Honor is but to succeed in a stage the place it will get OS upgrades as shortly as those operating inventory Android. Nonetheless, the unit we reviewed runs September safety patch.

What provides to it’s the GPU Turbo tech that basically boosts the efficiency of the video games on the smartphone. This works in tandem with the highly effective but much less energy consuming HiSilicon 710 processor.

The 64GB inbuilt storage is probably not sufficient for many of us however happily, Honor is giving the power to broaden the inbuilt storage as much as 400GB through microSD card, which takes a separate, third slot in the identical twin SIM card tray.

Honor 8X Digicam

Digicam is without doubt one of the highlights of the Honor 8X smartphone. The agency is touting the twin rear cameras of the system that include highly effective specs and ship an honest picture and video efficiency. In our day by day utilization we discovered the evening pictures particularly higher than others. What powers the system’s digital camera part are two rear cameras with a devoted 2MP depth sensor together with a 20MP main sensor. Each are stated to sport f/1.8 aperture together with a bunch of modes which might be powered by the AI prowess labored upon by the agency to carry out the very best shot.

The AI function is just not switched on by default however the choice is true there on the principle digital camera display on the high. In daylight utilization, the function basically boosts the colors of the topic a lot of the occasions and makes the general shot tad bit sharper. In low-light it optimises a lot of the pictures closest to what it seems to be like in actual life. As in comparison with a regular-clicked shot, the AI-based one loses a little bit of brightness however tries to retain the near-original color. Additionally, the shutter takes a second after the shot is taken, notably to sharpen the picture. This might be annoying at occasions however the finish outcomes do look good.

Honor claims that the AI tech in digital camera can optimise the picture based mostly on 22 shot classes, which incorporates practically every part from a devoted mode to click on pets, portraits, nature, seashores, structure and extra. For low mild pictures you can too go for the devoted Evening mode, which takes much more time to click on a shot and in a decrease decision however eliminates shaky pictures, delivering a steady shot as the top consequence. Nonetheless, customisation choices are ample.

The general digital camera high quality nonetheless, is sweet prefer it has been for all of the current Honor smartphones which have launched within the explicit phase. The video taking pictures high quality can be first rate and will work for many of us. You can not shoot 4K movies with this one however you continue to get the subsequent most suitable choice – full HD at 60fps. You additionally get to selected the video format between H.265 (that takes much less area) or H.264. Sluggish movement video recording can be workable.

The front-facing digital camera of the Honor 8X boasts of a 16MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture, which isn’t dangerous but in addition not finest relating to taking natural-looking selfies. The bokeh mode nonetheless wants lots of work. It nonetheless, does recognise the topic spot-on. Quite a lot of this has to do with the put up processing and we hope Honor will get it proper on the subsequent try.

You additionally get backlight portrait selfie function, one thing that’s related to what’s there within the iPhones. It’s good for individuals who need to go inventive of their selfie pictures however is but to succeed in there. Nonetheless, the 16MP digital camera does seize particulars and colors, making the shot look vivid.

Honor 8X Battery

Honor 8X will get a thumbs up from our aspect within the battery division. The smartphone runs for nearly 8-9 hours on common utilization. This consists of every part from taking part in for an hour to streaming music, utilizing the digital camera for a while and even modifying paperwork, all which staying linked to Wi-Fi or 4G community.

It’s price including right here that Honor smartphones, though not likely recognized for his or her battery efficiency, have all the time proved to be price it handsets. The Honor 8X has a 3750mAh battery, which isn’t traditional in smartphone within the explicit value phase. The ample battery, though makes it barely heavy, it does ensure you get lengthy hours of utilization. That is after the smartphone powering a 6.5-inch display with round 400ppi and FHD+ decision.

The 3750mAh battery when clubbed with a 6.5-inch show and a HiSilicon 710 processor ought to ship round 5 hours of display on time. What’s excellent news right here is that the system comes with a bundled 10W charger (5V/2A). You additionally get the standard software-based options to save lots of battery. This consists of the Energy Saving mode and the Extremely Energy Saving mode, each of which basically restricts background app processing together with animations and even drops the brightness of the display with a monochrome interface.

Verdict

Honor 8X has its personal set of execs and cons like another handset however for those who have a look at the general set of specs and the efficiency it delivers in numerous departments, it is without doubt one of the best handsets out there. It has a very good show that’s immersive and a few nifty options comparable to triple card slot additionally comes as an addition if nothing else. The battery efficiency can be good. As for the design, it is without doubt one of the most handsome units within the sub-Rs 20,000 phase.

If you need a inventory Android handset, that is nowhere within the checklist however it manages to outshine others in numerous departments. Its observe report by way of OS updates can be not a very good one. But when these elements are one thing you’ll be able to ignore, the handset positively ups the bar for different units coming from Nokia and Xiaomi.

FbTwitterLinkedin

finish of article