Honor has officially introduced the Honor Magic 8 Pro in China, offering a first look at its upgraded camera system. Although the changes are not a complete overhaul, the refinements aim to deliver better low-light capabilities, improved detail and more accurate zoom performance. During an early hands-on session at the Singapore Oceanarium, the updated cameras were briefly tested to assess their performance in challenging lighting conditions.
Updated main and telephoto cameras
The Magic 8 Pro’s main camera continues to use a 50MP 1/1.3-inch sensor, but the lens design has been modified. Instead of last year’s variable aperture of f/1.4 to 2.0, the new lens features a fixed f/1.6 aperture. Honor has also widened the focal length slightly from 24mm to 23mm, which helps capture a broader frame in a single shot.
The telephoto camera sees more significant refinement. It still uses the 200MP 1/1.4-inch Samsung ISOCELL HP9 sensor, also found in the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, but Honor claims improvements to autofocus and overall light-gathering performance. The lens has been upgraded to an actual 85mm focal length. This replaces the Magic 7 Pro’s advertised 72mm lens, which, in practice, offered an effective 60mm view through sensor crop zoom. With the new 85mm optics, users can expect more authentic telephoto imaging without relying heavily on computational cropping.
Real-world testing at the Singapore Oceanarium
To explore how the updated hardware performs outside lab conditions, several test shots were taken at the Singapore Oceanarium. The environment provided a suitable challenge, with its dim, moody lighting and constantly moving subjects.
The first sample gallery featured a black-legged poison tree frog photographed at multiple focal lengths. One shot taken at 230mm zoom showed that the camera could still capture precise details, revealing distinct green spots on the frog’s body even from a significant distance. Exposure settings recorded for one of the images were 23mm, f/1.6, 1/33s and ISO 250.
Another gallery focused on jellyfish, captured under even darker lighting conditions. One sample was taken at 23mm, f/1.6, 1/17s and ISO 3200. Despite the low-light environment, the jellyfish appeared sharp and natural, with no excessive grain or aggressive post-processing.
Early impressions and upcoming launch
While the hands-on session was brief, the initial sample shots suggest that the Magic 8 Pro is capable of strong low-light performance. Details remained visible even at high zoom levels, and the images maintained a natural look without noticeable artefacts. However, with such limited time to test the device, it is still too early to offer a complete verdict on the camera system.
Honor has confirmed that the official launch event for the Magic 8 Pro took place on 28 November, where the company revealed the full specifications. Further testing will continue in the coming days as reviewers spend more time with the device. A complete review of the Honor Magic 8 Pro is expected soon, offering a deeper look at its camera performance, features and overall user experience.
