On January 19, 2026, Honor made a significant addition to its flagship lineup in China by introducing two uniquely targeted smartphones, the Honor Magic 8 Pro Air and the Honor Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design. Although both models feature Honor’s latest software innovations and state-of-the-art display technology, they are designed for two distinct user groups: one that values sleek minimalism and lightweight efficiency, and the other that serves as an uncompromising mobile imaging powerhouse.
Instead of just making small improvements, Honor’s Magic 8 series makes a strong statement about the design, feel, and performance that future flagship phones should embody.
Honor Magic 8 Pro Air: Where Ultra-Slim Design Meets Flagship Power
The Honor Magic 8 Pro Air is designed with balance in mind; it achieves thinness without being fragile, offers performance without unnecessary weight, and includes premium features without any visual clutter.
At the front, the phone showcases a 6.31-inch flat OLED display with a resolution of 2640 x 1216 pixels. Honor combines this compact panel with LTPO technology, enabling a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz, which guarantees smooth visuals while saving power. The display is HDR compatible, achieves an impressive 6,000 nits of local peak brightness, and employs 4,320Hz PWM dimming for enhanced eye comfort. What really makes an impression, though, are the ultra-slim 1.08mm uniform bezels, providing the phone with an almost borderless look.
The MediaTek Dimensity 9500 powers the Honor Magic 8 Pro Air, paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS storage, providing top-tier speed for multitasking, gaming, and AI tasks. Even with its remarkably slim 6.1mm design, Honor has managed to include a 5,500mAh battery, which is complemented by 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, a remarkable feat of engineering for such a light device.
Photography is just as sophisticated. The front features a 50MP OmiVision OV50M camera, while the rear configuration consists of a 50MP OV50Q main sensor with OIS, a 50MP OV50M ultra-wide macro camera, and a 64MP OV64B periscope telephoto lens that provides 3.2x optical zoom with OIS. This setup guarantees versatility for landscapes, portraits, macros, and zoom photography.
Powered by Android 16 and MagicOS 10, the Honor Magic 8 Pro Air features a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, a reliable AI Key, stereo speakers, an IR blaster, NFC capabilities, and boasts IP68/IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance. With its glass-fibre back and aluminium frame, this phone weighs only 155g, positioning it as one of the lightest genuine flagship devices on the market today.
Honor Magic 8 Pro Air pricing in China:
- 12GB + 256GB – 4,999 CNY (~₹61,800 / $700)
- 12GB + 512GB – 5,299 CNY (~₹65,500 / $740)
- 16GB + 512GB – 5,599 CNY (~₹69,200 / $780)
- 16GB + 1TB – 5,999 CNY (~₹74,200 / $835)
Available colours: Fairy Purple, Light Orange, Feather White, Shadow Black
Honor Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design: A Smartphone Engineering Like a Supercar
At the top of the lineup is the Honor Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design, a device developed in partnership with Porsche Design. This phone goes beyond being just premium; it is boldly extravagant, showcasing exceptional materials and performance.
At the front, the phone showcases a 6.71-inch quad-curved OLED LTPO display boasting a resolution of 2640 x 1216 pixels. It offers an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1 to 120Hz, HDR support, an impressive local peak brightness of 6,000 nits, and 4,320Hz PWM dimming. The display is safeguarded by Giant Rhino Glass, and Circular Polarisation 2.0 enhances visibility and minimises glare, particularly in outdoor settings.
Under the hood, the phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, combined with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS storage, providing top-tier performance for gaming, AI, and professional tasks. At the heart of this setup is a substantial 7,200mAh Qinghai Lake battery, which supports 120W wired and 80W wireless charging, elevating both endurance and charging speed far beyond typical flagship standards.
The camera system is the area where the RSR really distinguishes itself. The rear configuration features a 50MP OmniVision OV50R main sensor equipped with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and an impressive 200MP Samsung S5KHP9 periscope telephoto camera that offers 3.7x optical zoom along with OIS. For selfies, users benefit from a 50MP front camera combined with a 3D depth sensor to enhance facial recognition capabilities.
In terms of software, the phone comes equipped with Android 16 and MagicOS 10, complemented by Unique hardware features like a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, AI Key, dual stereo speakers, C1+ communication chip, and E2 efficiency chip. Other notable features include support for satellite communication, NFC, an IR blaster, and an impressive IP68/IP69/IP69K durability rating.
The device features a ceramic back and an aluminium frame, with a thickness of 8.45mm and a weight of 239g, enhancing its sturdy and professional appearance.
A Smartphone That Becomes a Camera: Professional Grip & Lens System
Honor has also launched a specialised camera grip system designed especially for the Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design. This removable grip includes a wrist strap for added stability, a 67mm adapter ring for attaching lenses, and a 200mm telephoto lens that provides 2.35x optical zoom. The configuration is tailored for long-distance photography and low-light conditions, effectively turning the smartphone into a modular camera system.
Honor Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design pricing in China
- 16GB + 512GB – 7,999 CNY (~₹1,04,300 / $1,150)
- 24GB + 1TB – 8,999 CNY (~₹1,17,350 / $1,290)
Available colours: Moonstone, Slate Grey
Final Thoughts: Two Flagships, Two Philosophies
With the Magic 8 series, Honor has undoubtedly opted for specialisation rather than compromise. The Magic 8 Pro Air is designed for users seeking a sleek, lightweight, and stylish flagship that doesn’t skimp on performance, while the Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design caters to those who expect premium materials, exceptional battery longevity, and top-tier mobile photography.
Instead of trying to compete with the market, Honor seems to be carving out its own niche, and by doing this, it is establishing new standards for what a flagship smartphone can genuinely represent.