Last week, I took the HONOR Magic8 Pro with me to Bangkok to test out its capabilities. Bangkok is visually intense and unforgiving, with blazing midday sun, crowded streets, constant movement, and neon-lit nights that push smartphone cameras and batteries to their limits. Wanted to see how the Magic8 Pro would hold up when used the way most people actually use their phones while travelling.
Physically, the phone feels solid and premium without being tiring to hold. Walking long stretches through markets and temples, I never felt like the phone was awkward or slippery in my hand. The 6.71-inch OLED display is excellent outdoors. Google Maps, Grab, camera previews, and messages remain clearly visible even under direct sunlight. At night, the display dims comfortably without crushing detail, making late-night scrolling or photo reviews easy on the eyes.
Performance is something I stopped thinking about very quickly, which is usually a good sign. Apps open instantly, switching between camera, navigation, and messaging feels seamless, and there is no lag even when the phone has been warm from prolonged camera use. MagicOS 10 feels clean and fluid, and while it has its own visual style, it stays out of the way during daily use. I never had moments where software got in the way of what I wanted to do.
The camera is where the HONOR Magic8 Pro truly earns its place.
Daytime photography is consistent. Colours look rich but restrained, avoiding the overly saturated look that can sometimes make photos feel artificial. It truly brought out the colours of the murals to life.
Dynamic range holds up well even when shooting against bright skies. The main camera delivers dependable results, while the ultra-wide is sharp enough that it does not feel like a compromise lens.
The telephoto, however, is what changes how you shoot. I found myself using it more than expected, especially in situations where getting physically closer was not possible. The flexibility it offers makes the camera system feel genuinely complete rather than just versatile on paper. The image above is on a 10x zoom! Words in the image were still clear and bright.
Night photography in a city like Bangkok is unforgiving. You are dealing with mixed light sources, constant motion, and moments that disappear quickly. What stood out immediately was the 200MP ultra-night telephoto camera.
Handheld zoom shots and selfies remained surprisingly stable and detailed, even when shooting at night. There is a sense that the phone prioritises clarity and stability first, rather than relying on aggressive software smoothing. Low-light photos keep their atmosphere.
Stability plays a big role in this experience. The Magic8 Pro’s image stabilisation is strong enough that shooting handheld at longer focal lengths feels natural rather than risky. You do not need to brace yourself or take multiple shots just to get one usable image. This is particularly valuable for travel photography, where moments are often spontaneous and fleeting.
AI features are present, but they are applied in a way that feels practical rather than distracting. Object removal and quick edits are useful, especially when you cannot control your environment. Cleaning up busy backgrounds or removing distractions takes seconds and does not require jumping between apps. I got passerbys out of my majestic dragon photo in just a few clicks, and AI kept the edits looking realistic.
The phone also has more creative tools like removing reflections, removing wrinkles from clothes, and even removing moire patterns. I used the AI edit to remove moire patterns and passerbys in the image above. Check out the before (top) and after (bottom) of the little girl singing against a digital backdrop.
Another feature that genuinely adds to the photography experience is Magic Colour, a new AI-powered colour engine. Instead of simply applying generic filters after the shot, Magic Colour lets you recreate cinematic styles, professional film tones, or even build personalised colour templates from reference images and apply them directly in-camera. This changes how you approach shooting, because you are composing with a look in mind rather than fixing everything later. I used AI Magic Colour to add a Golden Autumn colour to the picture, completely changing its vibe.
You see the effect live while framing the shot, which makes it easier to decide whether a scene suits a cinematic look, a softer film tone, or something more neutral. For travel photography, this is valuable because it reduces the need for post-processing and lets you capture the mood of a place as you see it.
Check out a vlog I made using AI Instant Movie above!
Battery life stood out the most during this trip. Bangkok days can be long, especially when you are constantly using maps and taking photos. The Magic8 Pro easily lasted a full day with heavy use. Fast charging also meant that even a short charge was enough to give the phone a top-up.
By the end of the trip, the HONOR Magic8 Pro became a phone I trusted. It handled long days, challenging lighting, and constant movement without fuss. It is not just about having powerful hardware or advanced AI features on paper; it is about how confidently the phone performs when you are actually out there using it.
The HONOR Magic8 Pro retails from SGD1,499; find out more here.
