Following the launch of the iPhone Air, several companies released ultra-slim smartphones, but Chinese tech giant Honor has now launched the Magic8 Pro Air, a phone that competes directly with iPhone Air while offering several practical advantages.
Unlike many ultra-thin phones that compromise on battery size, camera versatility, and charging speed, the Magic8 Pro Air maintains a slim and lightweight design while providing high-end, practical features for everyday use.
Design and Display
The Magic8 Pro Air features a 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,216 × 2,640 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 6,000 nits local brightness, making it significantly brighter than the iPhone Air — ideal for outdoor use.
Despite being only 6.1mm thick and weighing 155 grams, the phone includes:
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Stereo speakers
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Dual nano SIM slot + eSIM support
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IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance
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Ultrasonic fingerprint scanner
Available colors include Shadow Black, Fairy Purple, Feather White, and Light Orange.
Hardware and Software
Powered by MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 9500 chipset, the Magic8 Pro Air offers up to 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and 1TB UFS 4.1 storage, bringing it close to full flagship performance. In contrast, most ultra-thin phones like the iPhone Air prioritize energy-efficient hardware over performance.
The phone runs MagicOS 10, based on Android 16, ensuring a smooth, modern software experience.
Camera System
The camera setup is where the Magic8 Pro Air stands out:
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Triple rear cameras for flexibility
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50MP main sensor with ƒ/1.6 aperture and OIS
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64MP periscope telephoto camera with 3.2x optical zoom + OIS
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50MP ultra-wide camera with macro support
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50MP front camera for selfies and video calls
Compared to iPhone Air’s single camera, this setup provides better versatility for photography enthusiasts.
Battery and Charging
Despite its slim profile, the phone houses a 5,500mAh battery with silicon-carbon anode technology, much larger than iPhone Air’s battery. It supports 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, allowing fast charging without compromise.
Price and Availability
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12GB RAM / 256GB storage: $717
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16GB RAM / 1TB storage: $860
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For comparison, iPhone Air launched at $999 in the US.
Honor has not yet announced global release details, but the Magic8 Pro Air is currently available in China.
