Just when you thought HONOR couldn’t make any more splash, they prove you wrong by literally doing so during the grand launch of the HONOR X8a. How about a 2-hour cruise to have incredible views, catch the sunset, and sip wine? Not to mention, the said device is in-theme, featuring a nautical design.
As appealing as all these sounds, what else does the device have to offer?
Design and build
HONOR has been consistently putting out stylish designs for the X Series lineup. It caters to young consumers, but I’d say it’s easily likeable across generations.
I felt pretty much inclined to the design language of the HONOR X8a given that it’s nature-inspired. It comes in three colorways: Cyan Lake, Titanium Silver, and Midnight Black. You get a shimmering back panel with a matte finish. Some designs can be striking yet blinding, but the one we tested (Cyan Lake) just hits the right spot.
It captures your attention with its elegance and premium look. You’d be surprised to learn that its price point leans more on the affordable side.
Ergonomics-wise, it feels lightweight and comfortable to hold, weighing only 179g and measuring 7.48mm. You get a better grip with its fashionable boxy frame too.
Display
The front panel features a large 6.7-inch IPS LCD FullView display with 90Hz refresh rate. I can commend the color accuracy, but it does lack some vividness. Since it’s a budget phone, you’ll still be grateful because the quality isn’t bad though, giving you a fun binge-watch experience. At the same time, you can take delight in the almost bezel-free screen (93.6% screen-to-body ratio).
Camera
For the main event, we make our way to the rear that houses the 100MP main camera. Other sensors include the 5MP ultra-wide camera, and 2MP macro camera. Flipping the phone, you’ll find the 16MP front camera.
So how does the 100MP Ultra Clear Camera that HONOR’s very much proud of fare beyond paper? For the most part, it delivered. Just make sure you have good lighting. Post-processed images were decent enough to upload on your socials right away. It exhibits the right amount of vibrance; hence, it’s far away from looking unnatural.
As expected from a large megapixel camera, zooming in left the photo quality uncompromised.
I wish it was more competent at night photography. Perhaps you can’t have it all for this price point.
Performance
You can trust the device to carry out simple day-to-day tasks smoothly as it runs on MediaTek Helio G88 processor and 8GB of RAM. There were no pesky lags while running multiple apps and browsing the internet.
As for handling titles like Mobile Legends and Asphalt 9, it’s capable of providing users with a decent experience. You might encounter a few stutters after sustained hours of use, but it’s not very substantial to the point that it’ll affect your gameplay.
It comes with 128GB storage, large enough to accommodate your growing gallery and app downloads.
Battery
Equipped with a 4500mAh battery, the smartphone can keep you company throughout a busy day. You can take calls and reply to messages, edit photos and videos, go through social media, and still have room to entertain yourself during breaks and after work hours.
Charging can take a while — over an hour with the 22.5W charger.
Verdict
Props to HONOR for continuously proving that affordability doesn’t mean a heavy compromise in quality. The HONOR X8a is a living proof of that. While it’s not exactly tailored for heavy and competitive gamers, it excels in everyday reliability especially for typical users.
But everything considered, you get more than your money’s worth. For the price of PHP10,990, you get a capable camera setup, premium-looking design, and a decent front panel.
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