Honor Magic8 Pro Camera test

We put the Honor Magic8 Pro through our rigorous DXOMARK Camera test suite to measure its performance in photo, video, and zoom quality from an end-user perspective. This article breaks down how the device fared in a variety of tests and several common use cases and is intended to highlight the most important results of our testing with an extract of the captured data.

Overview

Key camera specifications:

Primary: 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3″, 1.2µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
Ultra-wide: 50 MP, f/2.0, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88″, 0.61µm, dual pixel PDAF
Tele: 200 MP, f/2.6, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.4″, 0.56µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom

Scoring

*Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score...

Overview

Key camera specifications:

Primary: 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3″, 1.2µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
Ultra-wide: 50 MP, f/2.0, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.88″, 0.61µm, dual pixel PDAF
Tele: 200 MP, f/2.6, 85mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.4″, 0.56µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom

Scoring

Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.

Honor Magic8 Pro

165

camera

171

184

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra

Best: Huawei Pura 80 Ultra (184)

165

175

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra

Best: Huawei Pura 80 Ultra (175)

167

169

Vivo X200 Ultra

Best: Vivo X200 Ultra (169)

168

169

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra

Best: Huawei Pura 80 Ultra (169)

161

186

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Best: Apple iPhone 17 Pro (186)

145

148

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Best: Apple iPhone 17 Pro (148)

126

140

Vivo X200 Ultra

Best: Vivo X200 Ultra (140)

Use cases & Conditions

Use case scores indicate the product performance in specific situations. They are not included in the overall score calculations.

BEST 169

Portrait

Portrait photos of either one person or a group of people

BEST 185

Outdoor

Photos & videos shot in bright light conditions (≥1000 lux)

BEST 180

Indoor

Photos & videos shot in good lighting conditions (≥100lux)

BEST 147

Lowlight

Photos & videos shot in low lighting conditions (<100 lux)

BEST 159

Zoom

Photos and videos captured using zoom (more than 1x)

Pros

Target exposure is accurate with wide dynamic range in most conditions in photo and video.
Good level of detail in bright light conditions in photo, video and long tele range.
In Bokeh, level of detail is pretty high with a good segmentation.
White balance is often neutral with pleasant skin tone renderings in photo.
Level of noise is low on most conditions in photo.

Cons

Exposure instabilities are sometimes visible in video and consecutive shots.
Color rendering is sometimes inaccurate in video.
Noise is visible in indoor and lowlight conditions, especially when there is movement in the scene in video.
Limited level of detail in challenging light conditions in video.
Depth of field can be a bit limited, especially on group portraits with autofocus target is sometimes done on the wrong face on group pictures in photo.
Artifacts such as ghosting, quantization and color fringing are sometimes visible in video.

Overall, the Honor Magic 8 Pro offers a well-rounded camera experience, with strong exposure performance, pleasant color rendering in photo, and good detail in bright light. While it shows some limitations in video consistency, low-light performance, and autofocus reliability in more complex scenes, it remains a capable and versatile camera solution for most users.

In detail, the Honor Magic 8 Pro delivers a solid overall camera performance, providing reliable results across a wide range of common shooting scenarios. Target exposure is generally accurate, supported by a wide dynamic range in both photo and video, allowing for effective preservation of details in highlights and shadows in most conditions. In bright light, the camera achieves a good level of detail in photo, video, and long tele zoom, offering a satisfying experience for everyday use.

Color rendering is a strength in photo, with a mostly neutral white balance and pleasant skin tone reproduction. Noise is also well controlled in still images under most lighting conditions, contributing to clean and detailed results. In video, however, some limitations are noticeable. Exposure instabilities can occur, both during recording and between consecutive clips, which can affect overall consistency. Color rendering is sometimes inaccurate, and noise becomes visible in indoor and low-light environments, particularly when there is movement in the scene. In challenging lighting conditions, the level of detail in video can also be limited.

Some additional weaknesses can be observed in specific situations. In photo, the depth of field can be relatively limited, especially in group portraits, where autofocus may occasionally lock onto the wrong subject. In video, several artifacts may appear in certain conditions, including ghosting, quantization, and color fringing. On a more positive note, bokeh mode delivers a high level of detail with generally accurate subject segmentation, resulting in a pleasing and natural-looking portrait rendering.

Honor Magic 8 Pro – Accurate target exposure, pleasant skin tone rendering

BEST 147

Lowlight

Honor Magic 8 Pro photos show accurate target exposure with a good level of detail in most conditions, including low light. The extended dynamic range allows the camera to preserve details in both bright and dark areas, resulting in generally bright and well-balanced images. Noise is well managed overall, contributing to clean image rendering. Some minor limitations can nevertheless be observed. In warm lighting conditions, slight color casts may appear, and small color inaccuracies can occasionally be noticeable. Despite these issues, color rendering remains generally well controlled, and image quality stays consistent across most shooting situations.

Honor promotes the Magic 8 Pro as a flagship device with its “Ultra Night Engine” and AI-powered zoom, claiming to deliver perfect night photography and a natural, eye-like view of night scenes. Our in-depth testing shows that while the Magic 8 Pro produces bright images with wide dynamic range and good detail in low light, HDR processing often makes night scenes appear too bright, reducing naturalness compared to user preferences. Noise control is strong in photos, but video performance under low light falls short, with visible noise and reduced detail, especially during motion. Autofocus is generally reliable for single subjects but struggles in complex scenes. Overall, the device offers solid night photo capabilities but does not fully deliver the natural rendering and flawless night experience suggested by its marketing claims, particularly for video and realistic night aesthetics.

Honor Magic 8 Pro – Very bright HDR rendering with some clipping around light sources, neutral colors and skin tones

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra – Accurate target exposure and extended dynamic, warm and saturated colors

BEST 169

Portrait

In portrait scenarios, the Honor Magic 8 Pro delivers generally pleasing results, with accurate skin tone rendering and a good level of facial detail in most conditions. Combined with accurate target exposure and low noise levels, this results in a reliable portrait experience. Bokeh mode is also effective, offering natural subject segmentation and good detail preservation, which contributes to a convincing portrait rendering. The tele module further complements portrait shooting, maintaining similar strengths to the main camera, particularly at longer distances, where detail and exposure remain well controlled.

Honor Magic 8 Pro – Slight green cast but pleasant colors, sharp details, slight clipping on face

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra – Honor Magic 8 Pro – Pleasant colors, sharp details

Apple iPhone 17 Pro – Pleasant colors, sharp details

BEST 159

Zoom

In zoom use cases, the 200 MP tele module delivers strong performance, maintaining a good level of detail even at long range. Rendering remains natural, without excessive sharpening, and detail levels stay high at close and medium zoom ranges. The ultra-wide module also provides good image quality overall, contributing to a consistent zoom experience across focal lengths.

Honor Magic 8 Pro – Medium range, pleasant colors, sharp details

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra – Medium range, pleasant colors, sharp details

Apple iPhone 17 Pro – Medium range, pleasant colors, slight loss of details

Test summary

About DXOMARK Camera tests: DXOMARK’s camera evaluations take place in laboratories and real-world situations using a wide variety of use-cases. The scores rely on objective tests for which the results are calculated directly using measurement software in our laboratory setups, and on perceptual tests where a sophisticated set of metrics allow a panel of image experts to compare aspects of image quality that require human judgment. Testing a smartphone involves a team of engineers and technicians for about a week. Photo and Video quality are scored separately and then combined into an overall score for comparison among the cameras in different devices. For more information about the DXOMARK Camera protocol, click here. More details on smartphone camera scores are available here. The following section gathers key elements of DXOMARK’s exhaustive tests and analyses. Full performance evaluations are available upon request. Please contact us on how to receive a full report.

Honor Magic8 Pro Camera Scores

This graph compares DXOMARK photo and video scores between the tested device and references. Average and maximum scores of the price segment are also indicated. Average and maximum scores for each price segment are computed based on the DXOMARK database of devices tested.

Photo

170

Honor Magic8 Pro

180

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra

About DXOMARK Camera Photo tests

For scoring and analysis, DXOMARK engineers capture and evaluate more than 3,800 test images in controlled lab environments as well as outdoor, indoor and low-light natural scenes, using the camera’s default settings. The photo protocol is designed to take into account the main use cases and is based on typical shooting scenarios, such as portraits, landscape and zoom photography. The evaluation is performed by visually inspecting images against a reference of natural scenes, and by running objective measurements on images of charts captured in the lab under different lighting conditions from 0.1 to 10,000+ lux and color temperatures from 2,300K to 6,500K.

The Honor Magic 8 Pro delivers solid photo performance across its different camera modules, offering reliable results in a wide range of shooting scenarios. A good compromise between texture preservation and noise reduction, combined with a wide dynamic range, allows the camera to perform well in challenging conditions.

Some limitations can nevertheless be observed when compared to the top devices in our database, with occasional failures or minor inconsistencies in certain situations. Despite these areas for improvement, the camera remains versatile and dependable, maintaining fairly good image quality even in demanding scenarios such as night photography or long-range shooting.

Main

171

Honor Magic8 Pro

184

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra

Honor Magic8 Pro Photo scores

The photo Main tests analyze image quality attributes such as exposure, color, texture, and noise in various light conditions. Autofocus performances and the presence of artifacts on all images captured in controlled lab conditions and in real-life images are also evaluated. All these attributes have a significant impact on the final quality of the images captured with the tested device and can help to understand the camera’s main strengths and weaknesses at 1x.

The Honor Magic 8 Pro delivers solid photo performance across a wide range of shooting conditions. Target exposure on faces is generally accurate, supported by a wide dynamic range that allows good preservation of detail in both highlights and shadows in most situations. A high level of detail is maintained, including in long tele zoom shots, and combined with pleasant color rendering, the camera usually produces appealing photos and portraits.

Color is a strength in photo, with a mostly neutral white balance and natural skin tone reproduction. Noise is well controlled under most lighting conditions, contributing to clean and natural-looking images. Some limitations can nevertheless be observed. Occasional exposure or white balance instabilities may appear between consecutive shots. In addition, the depth of field remains relatively limited in group portraits, and autofocus can show some inconsistencies, occasionally prioritizing the wrong subject.

Close-Up

In close-up shooting scenarios, the Honor Magic 8 Pro delivers good image quality, with a generally high level of detail, pleasant color rendering, and accurate target exposure. While it does not allow the same close focusing distance as the Apple iPhone 17 Pro, performance remains solid overall for this use case.

Honor Magic 8 Pro – High detail preservation, slight loss of acutance in the field, pleasant colors, lower level of magnification available

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra – Good detail preservation, visible loss of acutance in the field, visible color cast

Apple iPhone 17 Pro – High detail preservation, slight loss of acutance in the field, pleasant colors

Exposure

131

Honor Magic8 Pro

134

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra

Exposure is one of the key attributes for technically good pictures. The main attribute evaluated is the brightness level of the main subject through various use cases such as landscape, portrait, or still life. Other factors evaluated are the global contrast and the ability to render the dynamic range of the scene (ability to render visible details in both bright and dark areas). When the camera provides Photo HDR format, the images are analyzed with a visualization on an HDR reference monitor, under reference conditions specified in the ISO-22028-5 standard. Repeatability is also important because it demonstrates the camera’s ability to provide the same rendering when shooting several images of the same scene.

Like many high-end devices, the Honor Magic 8 Pro performs very well in capturing well-exposed photos and portraits. Its HDR processing provides a wide dynamic range, allowing the camera to preserve details in both bright and dark areas of the scene. Target exposure is generally very accurate, with very few failures observed.

Some minor limitations can nevertheless be noticed. Slight exposure instabilities may occur between consecutive shots, and in strong backlit HDR conditions, target exposure on the subject can be slightly low. However, highlight clipping is generally well avoided. Contrast rendering is often flattering, but in certain backlit scenes, especially with darker skin tones, it can appear slightly too strong.

Honor Magic 8 Pro – Accurate target exposure, wide dynamic range, slightly high contrast especially in the darks

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra – Accurate target exposure, wide dynamic range, good contrast

Apple iPhone 17 Pro – Accurate target exposure, wide dynamic range, good contrast

Color

132

Honor Magic8 Pro

133

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra

Color is one of the key attributes for technically good pictures. The image quality attributes analyzed are skin-tone rendering, white balance, color shading, and repeatability. For color and skin tone rendering, we penalize unnatural colors according to results gathered in various studies and consumer insights while respecting the manufacturer’s choice of color signature.

Color is a clear strength of the Honor Magic 8 Pro, particularly in skin tone rendering. While it may show a subtle green cast compared to the more neutral rendering of the Huawei, it generally delivers pleasant skin tones across a wide range of lighting conditions. Some minor limitations can nevertheless be observed. White balance is not always fully repeatable between consecutive shots, and color casts can occasionally become noticeable in indoor or low-light conditions. Slight desaturation is also sometimes present, which can be flattering for certain skin tones but may slightly impact overall scene colors.

Honor Magic 8 Pro – Pleasant skin tone rendering, warm color cast

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra – Warm skin tone, visible color cast

Apple iPhone 17 Pro – Pleasant skin tone, visible color cast

Sharpness & Timing

115

Honor Magic8 Pro

135

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra

Autofocus tests concentrate on focus accuracy, focus repeatability, shooting time delay, and depth of field. Shooting delay is the difference between the time the user presses the capture button and the time the image is actually taken. It includes focusing speed and the capability of the device to capture images at the right time, what is called ‘zero shutter lag’ capability. Even if a shallow depth of field can be pleasant for a single subject portrait or close-up shot, it can also be a problem in some specific conditions such as group portraits; Both situations are tested. Focus accuracy is also evaluated in all the real-life images taken, from infinity to close-up objects and in low light to outdoor conditions.

Autofocus irregularity and speed: 1000Lux Δ0EV Daylight Handheld

This graph illustrates focus accuracy and speed as well as zero shutter lag capability by showing the edge acutance versus the shooting time measured on the AFHDR setup on a series of pictures. All pictures were taken in one light condition and indicated illuminant, 500ms after the defocus. The edge acutance is measured on the four edges of the Dead Leaves chart, and the shooting time is measured on the LED Universal Timer.

Autofocus irregularity and speed on AFHDR Portrait Diana setup: 100Lux Δ7EV 4000K Handheld

This graph illustrates focus accuracy and zero shutter lag capability by showing the level of details on the face versus the shooting time measured on the AFHDR Portrait setup on a series of pictures. All pictures were taken at 100 Lux with LED 4000K illuminant, 500 ms after the defocus. On this scenario, the backlit panels in the scene are set up to simulate a fairly high dynamic range: the luminance ratio between the brightest point and a 18% reflective gray patch is 7, which we denote by a Exposure Value difference of 7. The level of details on the face is measured using DXOMARK Detail Preservation Metric on the Realistic Mannequin, and the shooting time is measured on the LED Universal Timer.

Autofocus irregularity and speed on AFHDR Portrait Eugene setup: 5Lux Δ0EV 2700K Handheld

Autofocus remains an area for improvement on the Honor Magic 8 Pro. While focus is generally fast and accurate for portraits and landscapes, it can struggle in group shots. The camera occasionally prioritizes subjects in the background rather than the intended foreground subject, which can result in the first person appearing slightly out of focus. Autofocus speed can also be slower in certain situations, particularly under HDR conditions.

DuoTable

Honor Magic 8 Pro - Autofocus done on the second model

DuoTable

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra - Autofocus done on the first model

DuoTable

Apple iPhone 17 Pro - Autofocus done on the first model

Texture

122

Honor Magic8 Pro

132

Vivo X200 Ultra

Texture tests analyze the level of details and the texture of subjects in the images taken in the lab as well as in real-life scenarios. For natural shots, particular attention is paid to the level of details in the bright and dark areas of the image. Objective measurements are performed on chart images taken in various lighting conditions from 0.1 to 10,000+ lux and different kinds of dynamic range conditions. The charts used are the proprietary DXOMARK chart (DMC), and the Dead Leaves chart. We also have an AI based metric for the level of details on our realistic mannequins Eugene and Diana.

DXOMARK CHART (DMC) detail preservation score vs lux levels for handheld conditions

This graph shows the evolution of the DMC detail preservation score with the level of lux, for two holding conditions. DMC detail preservation score is derived from an AI-based metric trained to evaluate texture and details rendering on a selection of crops of our DXOMARK chart.

As noted in previous sections, the Honor Magic 8 Pro delivers strong detail preservation across most conditions. Performance in low-light is particularly notable, maintaining fine details but some over sharpening and unnatural texture can be spotted in challenging conditions. Facial hairs and skin texture are often slightly too enhanced leading to over-processed rendering. In bright light, detail retention does not always reach the level of the Pura or iPhone, but the camera still performs reliably.

Backlit Table

Honor Magic 8 Pro - Good level of details preservation and over sharpening visible

BacklitTable

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra - Good level of details, fine details are lost

BacklitTable

Apple iPhone 17 Pro - Slight loss of details

Noise

128

Honor Magic8 Pro

129

Oppo Find X8 Ultra

Noise tests analyze various attributes of noise such as intensity, chromaticity, grain, structure on real-life images as well as images of charts taken in the lab. For natural images, particular attention is paid to the noise on faces, landscapes, but also on dark areas and high dynamic range conditions. Noise on moving objects is also evaluated on natural images. Objective measurements are performed on images of charts taken in various conditions from 0.1 to 10000 lux and different kinds of dynamic range conditions. The chart used is the Dead Leaves chart and the standardized measurement such as Visual Noise derived from ISO 15739.

Visual noise evolution with illuminance levels in handheld condition

This graph shows the evolution of visual noise metric with the level of lux in handheld condition. The visual noise metric is the mean of visual noise measurement on all patches of the Dead Leaves chart in the AFHDR setup. DXOMARK visual noise measurement is derived from ISO15739 standard.

While the Honor Magic 8 Pro maintains a high level of detail in most conditions, it also manages to keep noise nearly invisible, even in low-light situations, offering an impressive texture-to-noise balance. Very slight noise may be noticeable in extreme low-light conditions, but overall, noise management remains better than that of many competitors.

ArtonTablet

Honor Magic 8 Pro - Low level of noise

ArtonTablet

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra - Low level of noise

ArtonTablet

Apple iPhone 17 Pro - Slight noise

Artifacts

Honor Magic8 Pro

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

The artifacts evaluation looks at flare, lens shading, chromatic aberrations, geometrical distortion, edges ringing, halos, ghosting, quantization, unexpected color hue shifts, among others type of possible unnatural effects on photos. The more severe and the more frequent the artifact, the higher the point deduction on the score. The main artifacts observed and corresponding point loss are listed below.

Main photo artifacts penalties

Bokeh

165

Honor Magic8 Pro

175

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra

Bokeh is tested in one dedicated mode, usually portrait or aperture mode, and analyzed by visually inspecting all the images captured in the lab and in natural conditions. The goal is to reproduce portrait photography comparable to one taken with a DLSR and a wide aperture. The main image quality attributes paid attention to are depth estimation, artifacts, blur gradient, and the shape of the bokeh blur spotlights. Portrait image quality attributes (exposure, color, texture) are also taken into account.

The Bokeh mode of the Honor Magic 8 Pro delivers generally pleasing results, with accurate depth estimation and a good level of detail. Some minor instabilities can occur between consecutive shots, similar to the main camera module, but overall the mode performs well and remains competitive compared to other devices in this category.

CafetShrub

Honor Magic 8 Pro - Good depth estimation

CafetShrub

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra - Good depth estimation

CafetShrub

Apple iPhone 17 Pro - Good depth estimation

Tele

168

Honor Magic8 Pro

169

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra

All image quality attributes are evaluated at focal lengths from approximately 40 mm to 300 mm, with particular attention paid to texture and detail. The score is derived from a number of objective measurements in the lab and perceptual analysis of real-life images.

Honor Magic8 Pro Telephoto Scores

*This graph illustrates the relative scores for the different zoom ranges evaluated. The abscissa is expressed in 35mm equivalent focal length. *

Thanks to its 200 MP tele module, the Honor Magic 8 Pro captures long-range images with a high level of detail, delivering performance that is impressive compared to many competitors. It ranks among the top devices in our database for tele photography. Rendering is generally natural, with soft contrast and textures that preserve fine details without oversharpening, making it comparable—and in some cases superior—to the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra. Some limitations can appear at extreme long range, where texture rendering may occasionally look slightly unnatural.

5 lux
20 lux
100 lux
1000 lux

DXOMARK CHART (DMC) detail preservation score per focal length

This graph shows the evolution of the DMC detail preservation score with respect to the full-frame equivalent focal length for different light conditions. The x-axis represents the equivalent focal length measured for each corresponding shooting distance and the y-axis represents the maximum details preservation metric score: higher value means better quality. Large dots correspond to zoom ratio available in the user interface of the camera application.

DXOMARK CHART (DMC) detail preservation score per focal length

350mm SeineMuseum

Honor Magic 8 Pro - High level of details preservation, soft rendering, unnatural texture

350mm SeineMuseum

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra - High level of details, some fine details are lost, unnatural texture rendering

350mm SeineMuseum

Apple iPhone 17 Pro - Loss of details

UltraWide

167

Honor Magic8 Pro

169

Vivo X200 Ultra

These tests analyze the performance of the ultra-wide camera at several focal lengths from 12 mm to 20 mm. All image quality attributes are evaluated, with particular attention paid to such artifacts as chromatic aberrations, lens softness, and distortion. Pictures below are an extract of tested scenes.

Honor Magic8 Pro Ultra-Wide Scores

*This graph illustrates the relative scores for the different zoom ranges evaluated. The abscissa is expressed in 35mm equivalent focal length. *

The ultra-wide module of the Honor Magic 8 Pro delivers good image quality with solid detail preservation. Color rendering remains generally pleasant, resulting in reliable performance for ultra-wide photography.

5 lux
20 lux
100 lux
1000 lux

DXOMARK CHART (DMC) detail preservation score per focal length

Honor Magic 8 Pro – Good level of details pleasant color rendering

Huawei Pura 80 Ultra – Good level of details pleasant color rendering

Apple iPhone 17 Pro – Slight loss of details, pleasant color rendering

Video

154

Honor Magic8 Pro

172

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

About DXOMARK Camera Video tests

DXOMARK engineers capture and evaluate almost 3 hours of video in controlled lab environments and in natural low-light, indoor and outdoor scenes, using the camera’s default settings. The evaluation consists of visually inspecting natural videos taken in various conditions and running objective measurements on videos of charts recorded in the lab under different conditions from 0.1 to 10000+ lux and color temperatures from 2,300K to 6,500K.

In video, the Honor Magic 8 Pro was tested in 4K 30 fps HDR mode. Overall, it delivers a good recording experience, though it struggles to match some high-end competitors in challenging lighting conditions. Exposure is generally accurate, supported by a fairly wide dynamic range, but slight instabilities can occasionally be observed. Color rendering is mostly accurate, though minor white balance shifts and variations may appear in certain scenes.

Detail levels are generally high, but noise becomes noticeable in more demanding situations, particularly when there is motion. Autofocus is fast and reliable in most conditions, effectively tracking subjects even in dynamic scenes. Stabilization performs well overall, though some residual motion, sharpness fluctuations between frames, and occasional frame shifts can be seen under more challenging conditions.

Main

161

Honor Magic8 Pro

186

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Honor Magic8 Pro Video scores

Video Main tests analyze the same image quality attributes as for still images, such as exposure, color, texture, or noise, in addition to temporal aspects such as speed, and smoothness and stability of exposure, white balance, and autofocus transitions.*