Honor has launched its new premium smartphone, the Honor Magic 8 Pro Air, in China, and the device is already sparking debate for its strong resemblance to Apple’s iPhone Air. Introduced on January 19, the phone focuses on a slim profile, powerful hardware and fast charging, but critics say it lacks design originality.
At first glance, the Magic 8 Pro Air looks very familiar. Its flat edges, clean frame and wide camera strip closely mirror recent iPhone designs. While the finish feels premium, many users believe Honor has played it safe instead of offering a fresh visual identity.
The smartphone measures around 6.1mm in thickness and weighs about 155 grams. Although slim and lightweight, it is still thicker than Apple’s iPhone Air, which is reportedly 5.6mm thick. Honor appears to have prioritised usability over extreme thinness by including a larger battery.
One of the device’s biggest strengths is its 5,500mAh silicon-carbon battery, which is larger than what Apple offers in a similar category. It supports 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, giving it a clear advantage for users who value fast top-ups and longer daily usage.
The Magic 8 Pro Air features a 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of up to 6,000 nits, ensuring smooth performance and excellent outdoor visibility.
In the camera department, Honor offers a triple rear setup with a 50MP main camera, 50MP ultra-wide lens and a 64MP periscope telephoto camera, providing more versatility than single-camera rivals. The phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset, paired with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, and runs MagicOS 10 based on Android 16.
Priced from CNY 4,999 (around Rs. 58,000), the Honor Magic 8 Pro Air offers strong value, though its iPhone-inspired design continues to divide opinion.
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