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| The Honor Magic 8 Pro has made it into the top 5 of DxOMark's ranking of the best camera flagship phones. |
The smartphone camera wars have a new contender on European soil. The highly anticipated Honor Magic8 Pro has begun its rollout in the UK, with a wider European release expected imminently. And it’s arriving with a statement: fresh from the labs of renowned camera evaluators DxOMark, the device has muscled its way into the fiercely competitive top five for overall camera performance.
In a recent evaluation, the Honor Magic8 Pro achieved a commendable overall score of 165 points. This was enough to dislodge the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL from the upper echelons of the ranking, shaking up the hierarchy. For Honor, this fifth-place finish is a respectable showing, though it doesn’t quite match the brand's own pinnacle—the Honor Magic6 Pro, which claimed the top spot in 2024. The immediate predecessor, the Magic7 Pro, now finds itself significantly further down the list.
The 2025 landscape is brutally competitive. The Magic8 Pro finds itself in elite company, with the current DxOMark top five featuring the Vivo X200 Ultra, the Oppo Find X8 Ultra, the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra, and Apple's iPhone 17 Pro. Interestingly, the detailed breakdown reveals Honor’s strategy: the Magic8 Pro doesn’t necessarily dominate any single category but instead delivers strong, consistent performance across almost all photo and video tests, without setting new top scores in any specific area.
A Deep Dive into the DxOMark Camera Test
The full, in-depth analysis, complete with sample photos and videos, is available in the official Honor Magic8 Pro camera test on DxOMark.
Testers highlighted several key strengths that contributed to its high score:
- Reliable Exposure & Dynamic Range: Praise was given for generally good lighting and high dynamic range in both photos and videos across most shooting scenarios.
- Sharp Detail: The camera captures a high level of detail, particularly in bright light and on distant objects.
- Pleasing Color Science: A neutral white balance and good, natural skin tone rendering in photos were noted as positives.
- Portrait Prowess & Clean Images: The bokeh effect in portrait shots was commended, as were the generally low noise levels in its images.
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| Except for video, the Honor Magic8 Pro delivers very good results, but nowhere does it achieve a top score. |
The Video Caveat: Not for Pros on the Move
However, the DxOMark report also comes with a comparatively long list of criticisms, particularly in video performance—an area reflected in a sub-score of 154 points that places it 15th in the dedicated video ranking, a category dominated by the iPhone 17 Pro.
The cons suggest the Magic8 Pro might not be the tool for video professionals or enthusiasts who prioritize moving footage. Key drawbacks include:
- Inconsistent Video Processing: Issues like incorrect colors and unstable lighting (automatic exposure hunting) were observed in video clips.
- Low-Light Video Struggles: In indoor or low-light settings, especially with moving subjects, the camera shows a noticeable loss of detail and an increase in noise.
- Artifacts: Testers reported occasional artifacts in video, such as ghosting and colour fringing.
- Focus Depth in Groups: For photographers, a note of caution was added for group shots: the limited depth of field can sometimes lead to focus issues if subjects aren't on the same plane.
The Verdict
The Honor Magic8 Pro establishes itself as a formidable all-rounder in the camera phone arena, offering a balanced and capable photographic experience that clearly ranks among the best. Its strength lies in consistent still-image quality rather than revolutionary breakthroughs. However, for users whose primary need is top-tier, reliable video recording—particularly in challenging lighting—the test results indicate there are more specialized tools at the top of the market. Its arrival certainly spices up the choice for European consumers looking for premium camera performance.