Honor X8b Review: Impressive Display and Storage, But Performance Falls Short

The Honor X8b makes a strong impression with its sleek design and standout display, offering a unique combination of features at an attractive price point just under NPR 30,000. This device, positioned as a successor to the well-received X9B, brings several compelling elements to the table, chief among them a massive 512GB storage option, a gorgeous display, and a stylish leather-backed design. However, its performance and camera capabilities leave room for improvement.

Design and Display

The Honor X8b stands out with an elegant leather back finish that resists fingerprints and smudges, available in several color options (though only one retains the leather texture). The phone measures 161.1 x 74.6 x 6.8 mm and weighs 166 grams, making it comfortable to hold despite its sizable screen. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor provides quick and reliable biometric security.

Where the X8b truly shines is its display. The 6.7-inch AMOLED panel boasts a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, an impressive peak brightness of 2000 nits, and TUV Rheinland certification for flicker-free viewing. The screen features hardware-level blue light filtering and vibrant color reproduction, though it is limited to Widevine L3 certification and a single down-firing speaker instead of stereo audio.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the phone relies on the Snapdragon 680 4G chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and that impressive 512GB of internal storage. While it handles everyday tasks adequately and manages most games at low settings, more demanding titles may cause slowdowns. The device runs Magic UI 7.2 based on Android 13, offering a relatively clean interface with some customizable options, though it includes a few uninstallable bloatware apps. Honor's update policy appears to offer approximately two years of software support.

Battery and Charging

A robust 4,500mAh battery ensures solid all-day endurance, even with moderate gaming. The included 35W charger can bring the phone from zero to 50% in about 25 minutes and to a full charge in roughly 70 minutes.

Camera Capabilities

The X8b features a triple rear camera setup led by a 108MP primary sensor, alongside a 5MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro shooter. The phone also includes a 50MP selfie camera. While the main camera produces sharp images with vibrant colors, dynamic range and exposure balance can be inconsistent. Night photography benefits from the larger sensor, yielding cleaner images with less noise. Video recording tops out at FullHD resolution without stabilization, resulting in shaky footage.

Verdict

For its price point, the Honor X8b offers a lot to like, particularly the generous storage space, beautiful display, and long battery life. However, the average performance and merely adequate cameras hold it back from being a top contender. If robust storage and a top-tier display are your priorities, this phone deserves a look, but those needing strong processing power or outstanding photography may want to consider alternatives.