News & Reviews:   Huawei P8

The Huawei TalkBand B2 is set to appear in Malaysia. [Update] Currently available for with a 30% discount voucher as part of a pre-order bundle with the Huawei P8 for RM1799, the new and improved smartband and fitness tracker still transforms into a bluetooth headset just like its earlier predecessor, the TalkBand B1. However, instead of the plastic exterior of the B1, the B2 offers a curved screen and metal body for a tougher and more stylish design. We're quite excited about it finally making its way to Malaysia but for now you can see our live demo hands-on of the Huawei TalkBand B2 in this article.

The Huawei P8 was officially launched today for the South Pacific Region, which also includes Malaysia. The premium flagship smartphone features an all metal frame with curvy corners and equally premium looks. It takes a step further than than the previous Huawei Ascend P7 and Ascend P6. While Huawei have definitely made the design their own, it is difficult not to draw comparisons with the Apple iPhone 6. However, at 6.4mm the Huawei P8 is both thinner and flatter with no protruding rear camera. Featuring a new RGBW 13MP rear sensor with optical image stabilization, the P8 is sensitive and accurate enough to capture light painting, a clear indication of the low-light capabilities that the P8 offers. The Huawei P8 is due for a Malaysia release date in June with a pre-order bundle coming with [Update] a 30% discount voucher for the TalkBand B2 at just RM1799. Check out the other tech specs and our hands-on of the Huawei P8 below:

• 64-bit 2.0GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 930 processor
• 3GB RAM
• 16GB storage
• 5.2-inch display (full HD, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution)
• 13MP rear camera (OIS, RGBW sensor, DSLR-level Image Signal Processor, F2.0, dual color temperature flash) + 8MP front camera
• supports dual SIM 4G LTE, GPS, Bluetooth 4.1+LE, WiFi b/g/n
• features wind-suppression anti-noise mic, dual antenna design
• 2680 mAh battery
• 144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4mm | 144g
• Android 5.0 Lollipop + EMUI 3.1

Featuring a straight and curvy metal frame, the Huawei P8 looks beautiful with chamferred edges, a polished metal frame and super thin profile. First impressions are that it is a beautiful smartphone with a very sturdy frame and light design. In the Q&A sessions, Huawei reiterated their passionate stand on creating useful features for consumers with coming smartphones and devices offering value and innovation in conjunction with their 'Wei To' marketing campaign to pioneer new value for consumers. While we may not see any 16MP or 20MP cameras, Huawei are dedicated to creating a DSLR experience with their smartphone cameras, perhaps by creating sensors that will let in more light in the future. This applies to displays as well, as they are also intent on creating more innovations with full HD displays as according to them, quad HD or 2K displays only suck up battery life and bring no value to the consumers. We'll be looking forward to seeing what else this may bring, like perhaps super resolution or interpolated picture modes and even better battery life but for now, Huawei will also be bringing their Huawei P8lite and TalkBand B2 to Malaysia in June 2015. 

Despite not being mentioned alongside the Huawei P8 and Huawei P8 Max, it turns out that the Huawei P8 Lite is still a very real smartphone. According to one seller in Europe, they have a good amount of stock ready for sale going for 79999HUF (RM1061). Tech specs and features include a 1.2GHz octa-core Kirin 620 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 5-inch display with 720p resolution, 13MP main camera, 5MP front camera and 2200 mAh battery. Unlike the Honor 4C which offers similar specs, the P8 Lite is thinner and comes with a more premium metal frame. Still no exact Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet but according to an anonymous source, Huawei could be bringing in the Huawei P8 Lite for Malaysia soon. This could indicate a launch just for the Huawei P8 Lite here in Malaysia as our other sources have said that there will not be a Malaysia launch for the Huawei P8, which is due for a regional launch in Singapore this June 2015.

Huawei Malaysia recently sent out the invites for the upcoming Huawei P8 smartphone launch for the South Pacific region. Set for after early June 2015, this includes Malaysia so we should see Huawei's latest flagship smartphone here sometime in June 2015 or afterwards. Features for the Huawei P8 include it's new world's first RGBW camera sensor which allows for better low-light performance and light painting. The camera also comes with optical image stabilization. Other new features include an improved Director's mode and much more but the main tech specs include the latest 64-bit 2.0GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 930 processor and Android 5.0 with EMUI 3.1. Maintaining the same thin profile, the P8 goes for a rounded metal frame with chamfered edges and multi-layer back. So far there are no specific Malaysia pricing details yet but the standard version is priced at €499 (RM1975) while the premium version with 64GB storage goes for €599 (RM2371). Check out the full tech specs and features list below:

• 64-bit 2.0GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 930 processor
• 3GB RAM
• 16GB storage
• 5.2-inch display (full HD, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution)
• 13MP rear camera (OIS, RGBW sensor, DSLR-level Image Signal Processor, F2.0, dual color temperature flash) + 8MP front camera
• supports dual SIM 4G LTE, GPS, Bluetooth 4.1+LE, WiFi b/g/n
• features wind-suppression anti-noise mic, dual antenna design
• 2680 mAh battery
• 144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4mm | 144g
• Android 5.0 Lollipop + EMUI 3.1 

The Huawei P8Max was also officially announced alongside the Huawei P8, featuring a 6.8mm thin full metal unibody frame and larger 6.8-inch display. Granted, at 228g, it is quite heavy for a phablet but it features the same fine chamfered edges as the Huawei P8 and most of the tech specs and features as well. However, it bumps up the processor speed to a 64-bit 2.2GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 935 processor and 64GB storage from the get go. It also features the same 13MP rear camera with 4-colour RGBW sensor, OIS and dedicated Image Signal Processing chip. While the 6.8-inch display remains full HD at 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, Huawei say that it is 95.9% more vivid than theApple iPhone 6 Plus. Battery life is expected to last more than 2 days on a single charge and the P8max also features a unique 7-layer heat dispersion technology using DX19 conductive materials. Check out the full tech specs below:

• 64-bit 2.2GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 935 processor
• 3GB RAM
• 64GB storage
• 6.8-inch display (full HD, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution)
• 13MP rear camera (OIS, RGBW sensor, DSLR-level Image Signal Processor, F2.0, dual color temperature flash) + 5MP front camera
• supports 4G LTE, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi b/g/n/ac
• features Smart PA amplifiers with 0.91CC sound chamber
• 4360 mAh battery
• 182.7 x 93 x 6.8mm | 228g
• Android 5.0 Lollipop + EMUI 3.1

Huawei has officially announced their latest flagship smartphone with the Huawei P8 tonight featuring a 6.4mm thin full-metal unibody frame that looks a bit like the Apple iPhone 6 but innovates with finer chamfered edges and a new 4 colour camera that does not stick out. Powered by the latest 64-bit 2.0GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 930 processor and Android 5.0 with EMUI 3.1 it comes in titanium grey and mystic champagne. The other most stand-out feature is it's 13MP RGBW rear camera which according to them is a world's first and comes with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and a DSLR-level Image Signal Processor. This will help the P8 work better and faster under low-light conditions. A dual tone LED flash evens out the skin tones while an 8MP front camera ensures that the selfie crowd are satisfied. The standard version will be priced at €499 (RM1975) and the premium version with 64GB storage for €599 (RM2371). Check out the full tech specs and features list below:

• 64-bit 2.0GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 930 processor
• 3GB RAM
• 16GB storage
• 5.2-inch display (full HD, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution)
• 13MP rear camera (OIS, RGBW sensor, DSLR-level Image Signal Processor, F2.0, dual color temperature flash) + 8MP front camera
• supports dual SIM 4G LTE, GPS, Bluetooth 4.1+LE, WiFi b/g/n
• features wind-suppression anti-noise mic, dual antenna design
• 2680 mAh battery
• 144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4mm | 144g
• Android 5.0 Lollipop + EMUI 3.1

Huawei have upped the teaser ante this time by releasing a video titled "Capture the wonder of light". This obviously refers to the upcoming Huawei P8, widely expected to arrive on 15 April 2015. However, the tech specs that the P8 are expected to come with consist of an octa-core Kirin 935 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, a 5.2-inch display, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera and 3000 mAh battery. Focusing on the teaser, with the megapixels set at probably 13MP we are expecting that the camera sensor will be large or it it has something to do with the lens aperture or a better image signal processing chip, allowing both cameras to capture light in the dark better. This should enable better low-light shots, but nothing has really been confirmed just yet. This includes Malaysia release dates and pricing but we're expecting the Huawei P8 to go for around RM1600 or so. Check out the video for yourself in this article.

It isn't that much of a secret that the Huawei P8 is coming soon, even as soon as 15 April 2015. However, a lower-end version of the smartphone called the Huawei P8 Lite was recently rumoured to be coming along with the Huawei P8 which has in turn been rumoured to come with an updated Kirin 935 processor with better graphics. Recently, the Huawei P8 Lite became a reality with it's TENAA certification in China. Tech specs and features for the Huawei P8 Lite include a 1.2GHz octa-core Kirin 620 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage and 5-inch display with 720 x 1280 pixel resolution. Featuring a 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera it is starting to sound a lot like the Honor 4C but the Huawei P8 Lite measures in at 7.7mm thin and 131g. No news about Malaysia release dates or pricing details yet.

While the Huawei P8 has yet to be revealed officialy, the leaks about this upcoming flagship smartphone just keep on coming. This time around, a factory schematic or blueprint has been leaked by @Onleaks showing the back, sides and top of the upcoming Huawei smartphone. The schematics also reveal measurements which include 144.9 x 71.9 x 6.6mm. Other rumoured tech specs include a Kirin 930 processor, 3GB RAM, 5.2-inch full HD display, 2600 mAh battery and 13MP rear camera. The schematics also reveal dual speakers on the bottom and what appears to be either a touch control or finger print scanner on the back. The drawings make it seem as if it is a swipe type of fingerprint scanner unlike the one-touch scanner on the Huawei Mate 7 but we'll know for sure in the next few weeks.

The upcoming Huawei P8 has been spotted ahead of it's expected announcement on 15 April 2015. While the leaked pic is blurry and unclear, it does reveal a full metal frame, chamfered edges and a more rounded corner bottom. Previously, the Huawei P7 had a curved bottom which according to them was based on a water drop. The leaked pic looks more like that of the Honor series but the back looks like it will retain the same multi-layer glass cover as before. Previous rumours indicated that there could be a layer of cubic zirconia (artificial diamond) in there as well but it was unclear if it is just the back, front or both. Other rumoured tech specs and features include a Kirin 930 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 5.2-inch 1080p display, dual 13MP cameras and a 2600 mAh battery. Official teasers about the P8 have indicated that it could be stronger, more affordable and have better battery life than it's predecessors but still no news on a Malaysia release date or pricing yet.