Although the Honor 8 was revealed more than a month ago in China, it's just now been introduced to the US. Honor is calling this its first flagship for America, so it had better impress. The company is specifically toting the 8's 12MP dual camera system (no Leica branding?), the snappy fingerprint sensor, and the performance.
SPECS
Display
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5.2" 1080p, IPS, 423 PPI
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Processor
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Kirin 950, octa-core
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RAM
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4GB, DDR4
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Storage
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32GB or 64GB, microSD expansion up to 128GB
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Camera (rear)
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dual 12MP, laser AF, f/2.2, 1080p video
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Camera (front)
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8MP f/2.4, 1080p video
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Battery
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3000mAh w/ fast charging
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Connectivity
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USB Type-C, LTE (T-Mo VoLTE), Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), NFC, IR, OTG, Bluetooth 4.2
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Software
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EMUI 4.1 based on Android 6.0
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On paper, the Honor 8 is similar to its cousin, the Huawei P9. The 5.2-inch 1080p display and the 12MP dual camera system are shared between the Honor 8 and P9. The construction is a bit different, and the P9's Kirin 955 SoC is slightly faster.
The phone features a glass sandwich construction with 2.5D glass all around. Honor is saying that the glass on the back reflects light differently from anything else. The 12MP dual cameras include one regular sensor and one monochrome sensor, which Honor says produce better colors and improved low light images. In addition, the company is claiming a 0.4-second unlock time for the fingerprint sensor, which has several software functions.
The Honor 8 will debut with Huawei's Emotion UI 4.1 skin atop Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It includes all of the functionality that the P9 came with, such as "Knuckle Sense," a way to take screenshots, record video, and draw gestures with your knuckles. You can also use the fingerprint sensor to open an app of your choice, snap a photo, open and clear the notification panel, answer calls, and cancel alarms.
Honor is also including something called Honor's PROMISE, a free one-time screen or rear glass repair that stacks on top of the one-year warranty. It's worth noting that Honor's PROMISE only lasts three months and that you need to register at Honor's site to activate it.
The Honor 8 will come in Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue, and Pearl White. The price is set at $399.99 for the 32GB model and $449.99 for the 64GB model. You'll be able to buy the phone at Amazon, Best Buy (where the Sapphire Blue model will be exclusive for the first 60 days), B&H, Newegg, and Honor's official site. Pre-orders begin August 17th (which, depending on where you are, is today). You'll get a $50 gift card if you buy from Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, or Newegg. There's a bonus at Newegg in addition to the gift card. You also get a free clear case and JBL earbuds. If you buy from Honor directly, you get a $50 rebate. All these promos end September 3rd.
PRESS RELEASE
Smartphone Maker Honor Introduces its First Flagship Model for the US Market
Honor 8 offers a powerful monochrome and color dual-lens camera, unique light-reflecting glass design, and long-lasting battery
Pre-order purchases earn $50 gift card
SAN FRANCISCO, California [August 16, 2016]: Honor, a global smartphone manufacturer, has introduced its latest model for the U.S. market. The Honor 8 Android™ smartphone combines industry-leading technology with a breakthrough design that truly stands out from the crowd. It’s the first flagship device that Honor brings to the U.S. market. Since its founding two years ago, Honor has experienced extraordinary growth by focusing on the online market and giving digital natives the types of devices that fit their lifestyle. Featuring high-quality construction, inspired design and next-generation technology, Honor smartphones are enjoyed by mobile enthusiasts around the globe. With Honor 8, the brand sets a new standard for what U.S. consumers can expect in an unlocked device. “Honor 8 perfectly represents the evolution of our overall product view,” said George Zhao, president of Honor. “It goes against established industry norms and market conventions with a higher aesthetic standard. At the same time, it balances looks with the smarts, speed, and connectivity that today’s millennial consumers demand. Honor 8 reflects our understanding of and commitment to their needs and goals.”
An powerful 12MP dual-lens camera is like eyes focused on the world around you. With one RGB and one monochrome sensor, the Honor 8 captures more light to deliver amazing picture quality, vivid color, and stunning details in daylight or nighttime. The benefit of the RGB sensors is vivid, crisper color, while the monochrome sensor reproduces sharper pictures in more detail. Its hybrid auto-focus captures every moment by taking advantage of laser, contrast, and depth focus to deliver greater speed and accuracy. Exciting new photography modes as well as manual operation capability make the Honor 8 perfect for aspiring photographers. Plus, selfie fans will enjoy its 8MP wide-angle front-facing camera that works well even in low-light.
Sleek, Elegant Appearance
The Honor 8 features a double-sided glass design that results in a sleek, elegant appearance. Beneath it, a 15- layer process is applied with precise craftsmanship to create a unique light-reflecting aurora effect. Compact and artfully curved, the Honor 8 smartphone combines perfect dimensions with a stylish finish for a balanced, comfortable-to-hold mobile device.
Convenient, Smart Fingerprint Access…Instantly
Honor’s dual-purpose fingerprint scanner technology provides instant, secure access to your device. The 3D fingerprint scanner can unlock some of the phone’s most popular functions such as taking pictures, answering calls, or turning off an alarm. Press the smart key on the back of the phone to access more customizable features, for example: Click to capture a screenshot, double-click for the flashlight, or long press to launch your favorite applications—you can even personalize them yourself. Building on Honor’s commitment to security, fingerprint data is encrypted and stored only on the device.
Power to Last and Then Some More
Honor 8 is built to keep up with demands for fast, powerful, and always connected devices. Powered by a GHz octa-core CPU with a 3000 mAh battery and Huawei’s proprietary power saving technologies, users can be confident there will always be power to accommodate their busy life. And if the battery gets low, industry-leading fast-charge technology will recharge the batteries by up to 50% in about 30 minutes.
Peace of Mind – Honor’s PROMISE
Honor is focused on the needs of digital natives, and that includes its customer service. Honor is committed to the quality of every product it manufacturers and each device goes through a rigorous internal testing process before reaching consumers. Purchasers of the new Honor 8 may register the device on HiHonor.com/us/ to qualify for a one-time repair of any accidental screen or back-cover glass damage during the three-month coverage period. This coverage is in addition to the existing 12-month limited warranty that comes with all Honor smartphones.
With its 16 nanometer FinFET Kirin 950 chip and four gigabytes of LPDDR4 RAM, Honor 8 offers smooth and seamless multitasking and gaming experiences. The i5 intelligent co-processor manages the sensors inside the phone efficiently with the Kirin 950 SoC chipset to provide increased processing speeds, response times, and extended battery life. Running Android 6.0 on EMUI 4.1, Honor 8 offers the perfect user experience. Measuring in at 5.7” x 2.8” x 0.3” and weighing just 5.3 ounces (including battery), the Honor 8 smartphone is a slim, powerful package that also features a 5.2 inch LTPS multiple-point touch-sensitive screen with 1920 x 1080 HD resolution, for rich, bright colors. For more detailed information, visit HiHonor.com/us/.
In the United States, the Honor 8 Android smartphone will be available in Sapphire Blue, Pearl White, and Midnight Black. MSRPs begin at $399.99 for the 32GB model and $449.99 for the 64GB model. Pre-ordering will begin August 17 through September 3 at the following retailers: Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo Video, and Newegg as well as on HiHonor.com/us/. For the first 60 days, Best Buy will offer the Sapphire Blue edition exclusively. Customers pre-ordering Honor 8 will also receive a $50 gift card from participating retailers.