Honor has officially introduced the Magic 8 Pro Air in China, and it is clearly designed to go head-to-head with Apple’s upcoming iPhone Air. At just 6.1mm thick, the phone is incredibly slim, coming in only half a millimeter thicker than Apple’s 5.6mm iPhone Air. What really stands out, though, is the battery. Honor managed to fit a massive 5,500mAh silicon-carbon battery, which is far larger than the iPhone’s 3,124mAh capacity.
Flagship Performance in a Slim Body
Under the hood, the Magic 8 Pro Air runs on MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 chipset, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and as much as 1TB of storage. This puts it firmly in flagship territory.
The phone features a 6.31-inch QHD+ AMOLED display that can reach an eye-catching 6,000 nits of peak brightness. It also comes with ultra-thin 1.08mm bezels and 4320Hz PWM dimming, making it easier on the eyes during long use. Honor has been steadily pushing display tech forward, and this screen continues that trend.
A Camera Setup That Looks Familiar but Goes Further
On the back, Honor equips the Magic 8 Pro Air with a versatile triple-camera system. It includes a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.3-inch sensor and f/1.6 aperture, a 64MP periscope telephoto camera offering 3.2x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide lens. Around the front, there is a 50MP selfie camera.
The overall camera layout may remind you of Apple’s pill-shaped design, but Honor adds more sensors to expand shooting options.
Design Inspired by the Competition
There is no hiding the inspiration here. The orange color option closely resembles the standout shade expected on the iPhone 17 Pro, while the flat matte sides look very similar to the iPhone 17 series. From the front, the phone actually looks closer to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge than older Honor models.
Premium Features Across the Board
Despite its slim profile, the Magic 8 Pro Air does not compromise on durability or features. It comes with IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, 80W wired charging, and 50W wireless charging. Honor says its silicon-carbon battery technology is what makes this impressive mix of thin design and large battery possible.
Pricing, Availability, and Long-Term Support
In China, the Magic 8 Pro Air starts at around $645 to $717, with prices listed between CNY 4,499 and 4,999. Sales begin on January 23rd. Honor has not shared any details about a global release, continuing its pattern of limited regional launches. Still, the company promises seven years of Android OS and security updates, which is a big plus.
Smart Features and Ecosystem Appeal
Thanks to Honor’s close ties with Google, MagicOS 10 includes Gemini AI integration, Circle to Search, and other cloud-based tools. Honor positions the Magic 8 Pro Air as a strong Android alternative to Apple’s ecosystem, even offering secure 3D face unlock similar to Face ID.
Strong Specs, Familiar Look
Industry experts point out that while Honor continues to borrow heavily from other brands in terms of design, the technical upgrades are hard to ignore. The Magic 8 Pro Air shows Honor’s effort to compete where Apple focuses on thinness, while pushing ahead on battery size and hardware power, even if it comes at the cost of a more original design identity.
ALSO READ: Alibaba’s Qwen AI App Crosses 100 Million Users With Major Upgrade
