In the recent past, if there is one category of smartphones where users have an amazing array of options, it has to be the price point of just around Rs 15,000. With virtually every big brand trying to make its presence felt in this largest segment of the market, getting it right here is critical. Honor, the biggest challenger to the leaders in the past year or more, has launched the 8X, a phone that really lets its features, and looks talk for it. Starting at just Rs14,999 for the 4GB/64GB version, the Honor 8X is more than just a feature packed phone, as you will see.
Design –The 8X comes in a 2.5 D aurora glass body and thin bottom border using innovative chip-on-film technology.With a metal middle frame to complete the look, the phone delivers a stunning look that stands out from competition in the segment.
You know the new design was needed when you realize it encases a 6.5-inch FullView notch display with a 91% screen-to-body ratio. For the 8X, Honor has used its advanced chip-on-film (COF) technology and a patented Antenna design to narrow the width of the bottom border to 4.25mm and achieve 91% screen-to-body ratio. Delivering a sharp 2340 X1080 Resolution at a dpi of 397, the display will never let you feel you have brought yourself a phone at a budget. Especially when you experience its lightning quick face unlock!
Performance –The Honor 8X is the first Honor smartphone to offer powerful octa-core Kirin 710 chipsets. The CPU’s single-core performance represents an increase of 75% compared to the previous generation. The chipsets come from the advanced 12nm process technology with 4 x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4 x 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 cores.
Complimenting the high class Chipset is the by now familiar GPU Turbo, the Proprietary Honor tech that ensures that the hardware and software work together to deliver an enhanced mobile gaming experience, while optimizing power usage.
Besides the option at 4GB/64GB, all the way to 6GB/128GB, the Honor 8X also retains the 3.5mm Headphone jack, which should be a relief for those of you not particularly keen on buying a Bluetooth headphone.
And then we have the cameras. For long considered an Honor focus area, in recent times, a lot of handsets have done a good job of catching up, with a dual camera set up almost a given in this segment too, now. So the 8Xsimply raises the bar.
The 8X comes with a high-definition dual 20-megapixel and 2-megapixel rear and 16-megapixel front facing cameras. Taking the battle beyond Megapixel count, it’s AI camera can recognize over 500 scenarios in 22 categories, and optimize settings and enhance photo quality based on what users are shooting – ensuring amazing photos. The AI steps in to help in the night too, by using multi-frame stabilization technology based on machine learning. So, expect the professional look by using enhanced Portrait mode which provides natural bokeh effect and true skin tone. For the perfect selfie, the new 4 Cell fusion is incorporated in the 16MP front camera which is 4 times bigger than before and the aggregated pixel allows 2 times more light to go through. The Honor 8X’s super slow-motion feature can record videos at 16x slow motion (480fps) and with augmented reality (AR) effect, the camera can produce interesting group photos, creating an AR mask and background changes. There is even an AI sports shot mode, that slows you to capture that perfect action shot with reduced shutter speed and notion detection. Keep in mind that these are features you would have been lucky to see in the top end phones less than 2 years back!
Battery If it’s a smartphone, can the battery ever be ignored? Never. And the 8X takes care to pack in the biggest battery it can, with a 3750 mAh powerhouse, which benefits both from its capacity and the battery optimization support of the GPU Turbo and the upgraded Honor EMUI 2.0 interface. What that does is deliver performance that comfortably lasts a day and more, if you are not a heavy user.
So there you have it. A cracking new phone that future proofs any new phone requirement for a long time, thanks to some really amazing features. And that’s not all. It gets even better if you buy the phone while it has a special 10% cashback offer on the 4GB + 64 GB storage version, which is listed at Rs 14,999 on Amazon India, and goes on sale on October 24.