After the HONOR X9b 5G, we didn't expect any new phone launches before the end of 2023. Well, surprise surprise, the HONOR X8b came out of the blue. Unlike its other siblings, the X8b has a special green back cover leather that's very unique. It's priced at RM999, so if you're considering getting one, read on to find out more.
Design - Glamorous in green
The design of the X8b is basically a continuation of the X8a and X6a. At the back, you can see the triple-rear square-lish camera module (3 lenses + 1 flash) and a back cover sporting lychee grain leather. It's not real leather but is as close as to the real thing. At the same time, the back cover has a nice quilt pattern, which is a plus point if aesthetics are what you care about.
The front look of the HONOR X8b
Glamorous Green looks great. But there's also Titanium Silver without the leather-like back cover
A closer look at the back cover
The usual volume rockers and power button (left) and SIM card tray (right)
The top and bottom view
In addition to the back cover, the body frame uses a similar metal-like build. There is a slight colour difference between the frame and the body, but it still looks like a unibody phone. You might be surprised that this is an RM1000 device because it looks quite good. Also, the back cover greatly repels fingerprint smudges.
Tech specs and features - Enough for everyday usage
Here are the specifications of the HONOR X8b:
- Snapdragon 680 chipset
- 8GB of RAM + 512GB of storage
- Measures 161.05 x 74.55 x 6.78mm, weighs 166g
- 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED display (2000nits brightness, 90Hz refresh rate)
- Triple rear camera: 108MP (main) + 5MP (ultrawide & depth) + 2MP (macro)
- 50MP selfie snapper
- Features +8GB RAM Turbo, 3249Hz PWM dimming, Magic Capsule
- Supports WiFi 2.4GHz and 5GHz, Bluetooth v5, OTG
- 4500mAh battery with 35W HONOR SuperCharge
- MagicOS 7.2 based on Android 13
Based on the tech specs above, the X8b is just a humble mid-range phone. The Snapdragon 680 chipset isn't all that powerful but can perform well enough for daily usage. There's also only one memory variant - 8GB + 512GB. However, you can boost the RAM to 16GB in total thanks to the 8GB RAM Turbo. It's a nice feature for those looking to enjoy some light mobile gaming.
Another highlight is the Magic Capsule, which is obviously inspired by Apple's Dynamic Island. Similarly, the feature will show you the notifications and provide real-time app information. Other than that, the phone's AMOLED 90Hz display offers a visually pleasing experience. Its 2000nits peak brightness is also strong enough for reading or viewing under direct sunlight, and the Always-On Display is convenient for checking out information without unlocking the phone.
The Magic Capsule
Screen settings
MagicOS 7.2 has some iOS-inspired elements but includes more customisation
Running on MagicOS 7.2 based on Android 13, the Honor X8b's operating system is easy to use. It supports a variety of desktop cards on the main interface and offers folder customisation, such as controlling the size of folders to your preference. The bad news is: There are quite a few pre-installed apps, like Facebook, TikTok, Netflix, Booking.com and others. Fortunately, they can be uninstalled.
Performance - Just decent enough
As a heads-up, don't expect too much from the X8b in chipset performance. As we've mentioned, the Snapdragon 680 chipset is enough to get you through daily tasks and social apps. But it doesn't support 5G connectivity, so you should not expect much with online mobile gaming.
Although it can run graphically intensive games like Asphalt 9 and Genshin Impact, the default setting is medium. For the latter, you will need to lower the settings just to run the game smoothly. Despite that, you will still occasionally experience stutters and game crashes. Other popular games like PUGB Mobile also require medium settings.
Geekbench 6 score, nothing much to look at
The HONOR X8b is not made for mobile gaming
But the battery charging speed is awesome
If you don't play mobile games or take photos, the X8b can easily last a day with its 4500mAh battery. The 35W fast charging speed is commendable too, as it can charge from 10% to 56% in 30 minutes and 100% in an hour plus. Since we don't recommend using this phone intensely, battery heating won't be a problem.
Next, the camera configurations on the X8b are quite good for its price range. There are a few camera feature modes like AI portrait and night modes, and the phone takes quite good photos overall. It even performs decently in low-light conditions, albeit with a bit of noise here and there. There's no telephoto lens, but you do get 8x digital zoom. Take a look at the photos we've taken below.
Ultrawide mode
Normal mode
HIGH-RES mode. Honestly, it's hard to tell the difference between the normal and HDR modes
Normal selfie (left) vs Portrait mode (right)
Rear portrait mode
Night mode
The dual-view video mode
It's worth noting that the X8b's 50MP front camera and 108MP primary camera support HIGH-RES and HDR mode, with the former reaching up to 12000x9000 resolution. A watermark is automatically added, but HIGH-RES mode doesn't add one, perhaps to facilitate subsequent editing. Recording quality is average, but you can take advantage of the dual-view video mode, which is nice for vlogging.
Conclusion - The most affordable plain leather mobile phone of 2023
Overall, the HONOR X8b is a pretty decent phone for RM1000. The sleek plain leather back cover design is indeed one of the highlights and is usually only available on flagships. While granted its tech specs are just mid-range, that's what you're supposed to get in this price range. At least the display features are pretty good for video streaming, and the camera does a decent job. It's also enough to do your normal social media stuff.
The HONOR X8b is in the same price range as the OPPO A79 (RM1199) and realme 10 (RM899). While the former has a 5000mAh battery with a faster 67W fast charging, the latter is equipped with a Helio G99 chipset and the same 90Hz Super AMOLED display. Each phone has its unique operating system, so we guess it's up to you which one you prefer.
So that's our review! What do you think of the HONOR X8b? Let us know in the comments below and do stay tuned for more tech gadget reviews at TechNave.com.
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