Huawei has introduced a new smartphone subsidiary brand Honor 8C. The novelty is a logical continuation and is focused on the budget segment of the market. The characteristics correspond to the positioning and the price. The phone is built on an inexpensive but strong hardware platform Snapdragon 632. The camera is double, but the sensors are modest. The screen is large, but with HD resolution. Noteworthy is the battery capacity - 4000 mAh. And the price, which can be called very attractive.

Honor 8C: characteristics in one line

Let's start to get acquainted with the new product in the usual format of the characteristics in one line. The impatient reader will find all the key specs of the Honor 8C here. For those who want to know more, we invite you to read the following sections of the publication.

• Snapdragon 632 processor, 14nm, Adreno 506.
• RAM: 4 GB.
• Internal memory: 32 GB and 64 GB, there is a microSD slot.
• Battery 4000mAh.
• Screen 6.26 inches, IPS LCD, 1520 by 720 pixels (19: 9).
• Dual camera: 13 MP + 2 MP.
• Operating system Android 8.1 Oreo + EMUI 8.2.

Let's highlight a powerful battery, which, with an economical processor and HD + screen, can provide excellent battery life. Of interest is the new Snapdragon 632 chip. If memory serves us, this is the first time we see this processor in commercial smartphones. Introduced Snapdragon 632 in Summer 2018 along with Snapdragon 439 and S429 you can read about the new Qualcomm chipsets.

Honor 8C: hardware specifications

How developers choose processors for is unknown. Some models receive, others -. Apparently, the choice is dictated by the production capacity. If home chips are not enough, the model is released on Snapdragon. In the case of the Honor 8C, the logic could have been different. it budget phone, the main advantage of which is its affordable cost. Accordingly, it immediately disappears, it remains to choose between Snapdragon chips.

The Snapdragon 632 is a good choice. The chipset is the successor to the famous six hundredth series, the successor to the Snapdragon 625. It is built on Kryo 250 CPU cores. The Kryo 250 is a simplified version of the Kryo 260 seen in the S636 and S660. The cores in the S632 processor operate at 1.8 GHz, but are divided into two clusters - powerful and efficient. Graphics accelerator - Adreno 506, as in Snapdragon 625.

With the speed of work, Honor 8C will be in complete order, and games can also be played comfortably. The choice of the amount of RAM is correct - 4 GB. Internal memory - 32 GB or 64 GB. We decided not to bet anymore, so as not to go out of the price range. There is a slot for expanding memory.

Honor 8C: camera, battery, screen

Camera... The Honor 8C smartphone has a dual rear camera. Main sensor resolution 13 megapixels, but I would like to highlight bright optics with aperture F / 1.8... The second module is used to analyze the depth of the scene and defocus the background in portrait mode. The resolution here is modest (2 Mp), the aperture is F / 2.4.

Screen... The main disadvantage of the Honor 8C smartphone is the screen. The diagonal is large, 6.26 inches, but the resolution is 1520 by 720 pixels. Obviously, the choice in favor of the HD screen is dictated by the need to reduce the price of the phone and give it something else. competitive advantage- attractive cost.

Battery... The disadvantage in the form of an HD screen is partially compensated by another characteristic of the Honor 8C - a powerful battery on 4000 mAh... Combined with the efficient Snapdragon 632 chipset and HD display, such a battery could make the novelty one of the leaders in battery life ratings.

All the characteristics of Honor 8C can be found in the table, after which we talk about the price and release date of the new item.

Honor 8C: specifications

	Honor 8C
Iron	SoC Snapdragon 632, 14nm 8x Kryo 250 CPU, 1.8GHz Adreno 506 4/32 GB, 4/64 GB microSD slot (up to 256 GB)
Screen	6.26, 19: 9, IPS LCD IPS, 1520 × 720, 268 ppi 97.8 cm 2, 76.3%
Battery	4000 mAh
Camera	Double module: 13 Mp + 2 Mp, PDAF Base: 13 MP, F / 1.8 Add .: 2 Mp, F / 2.4 1080p [email protected]
Frontalka	8 MP, f / 2.0
Frame	plastic
Other	Android 8.1 Oreo + EMUI 8.2 microUSB 2.0 Bluetooth 4.2 Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n 3.5mm audio jack
Dimensions, weight	158.7 x 75.9 x 8 mm 167 g
Colors	Black Blue Gold Lilac

Honor 8C: price and release date

In China, the Honor 8C smartphone is already available for pre-order. Sales start on October 16th. Honor 8C price included 4/32 GB - $ 158, price of Honor 8C included 4/64 GB - $ 201.

Another flagship of the premium mobile family Huawei devices, a smartphone called Huawei P8, presented at the end of last spring in London, has finally made it to Russia. Compared to its predecessor, the P7 model, a lot has changed in the new flagship: more practical body materials were used, a more powerful hardware platform was installed, the amount of RAM was increased, and the communication part was redesigned. Of course, the developers did not ignore the issue of shooting on the camera: the latest module from Sony was installed in the Huawei P8, and the software for working with the camera was even more improved, and new shooting modes were added. At the same time, the main thing has been preserved: the flagships of the Huawei P series have always been and remain one of the most compact, thin and light expensive fashion models on the market among the top smartphones of our time. The new flagship Huawei looks to be a very balanced device in most aspects, and we will analyze more specific details in this review.

First, let's take a look at the specs of the smartphone, the hardware is impressive.

Main features of Huawei P8 (UL00)

	Huawei p8	Lg g4	HTC One M9	Samsung Galaxy S6	Meizu MX5
Screen	5.2 ″, IPS	5.5 ″, IPS	5 ″, S-LCD 3	5.1 ″, Super AMOLED	5.5 ″, Super AMOLED
Permission	1920 × 1080, 424 ppi	2560 × 1440, 538 ppi	1920 × 1080, 441 ppi	2560 × 1440, 577 ppi	1920 × 1080, 401 ppi
SoC	HiSilicon Kirin 930 (8 cores ARM Cortex-A53) @ 2 + 1.5 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 (2 cores Cortex-A57 @ 1.8 GHz + 4 cores [email protected], 5 GHz)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (4x Cortex-A57 @ 2.0GHz + 4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.5GHz)	Exynos 7420 (4x Cortex-A57 @ 2.1GHz & 4x Cortex-A53 @ 1.5GHz)	Mediatek MT6795T Octa-core (8 cores Cortex-A53 @ 2.2GHz)
GPU	Mali-T624	Adreno 418	Adreno 430	Mali-T760	PowerVR G6200
RAM	3 GB	3 GB	3 GB	3 GB	3 GB
Flash memory	16 GB	32 GB	32 GB	32/64/128 GB	16/32/64 GB
Memory card support	microSD	microSD	microSD	—	—
Operating system	Google android 5.0	Google Android 5.1	Google Android 5.0	Google Android 5.0	Google Android 5.0
Battery	non-removable, 2680 mAh	removable, 3000 mAh	non-removable, 2840 mAh	non-removable, 2550 mAh	non-removable, 3150 mAh
Cameras	main (13 Mp; video 1080p), front (8 Mp)	main (16 MP; 4K video), front (8 MP)	main (20.7 MP; 4K video), front (4 MP)	main (16 Mp; video 4K), front (5 Mp)	main (20.7 Mp; video 4K), front (5 Mp)
Dimensions and weight	145 x 72 x 6.4 mm, 145 g	149 x 76 x 9.8mm, 155g	145 x 70 x 9.6 mm, 157 g	143 x 70 x 6.8mm, 138g	150 x 75 x 7.6 mm, 149 g
average price	T-12435227	T-12466715	T-12259334	T-12259333	T-12675734
Huawei P8 offers	L-12435227-10

• SoC HiSilicon Kirin 930, 1.5 + 2.0 GHz, 8 cores ARM Cortex-A53
• GPU Mali-T624
• Operating system Android 5.0, EMUI 3.1
• Touch display IPS, 5.2 ″, 1920 × 1080, 424 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 3 GB, internal memory 16 GB
• MicroSD card support
• Nano-SIM support (2 pcs.)
• 2G communication: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• 3G connection: WCDMA
• Data transmission FDD LTE (Cat4, up to 150 Mbit / s) Band 1, 3, 4, 7
• Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n (2.4 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct
• Bluetooth 4.1
• USB 2.0, OTG
• GPS (A-GPS), Glonass
• 13 megapixel camera, autofocus, optical stabilizer, LED flash
• Camera 8 MP (front), fixed. focus
• Proximity sensor, direction, lighting, accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass
• Non-removable battery 2680 mAh
• Dimensions 145 x 72 x 6.4 mm
• Weight 145 g

Contents of delivery

Huawei P8 comes on sale in a box that is completely unusual in appearance and unusual in structure. It is immediately clear that the designers have worked hard on this topic, completely revising their vision of what should be the packaging of an image model of a modern smartphone. In it, all the accessories, laid out in boxes, along with the smartphone itself, are inserted vertically, like books on a bookshelf (if you put it on one side). The outside is still covered with a lacquered plastic panel with gold lettering on a black background, and the assembled box looks fresh and incredibly stylish, immediately setting you up for further acquaintance with the contents.

The package contents are standard: the smartphone comes with a not very powerful charger (output current 5 V 1 A), a Micro-USB connection cable, wired headphones, as well as a metal key for ejecting SIM cards and thin paper instructions.

Appearance and usability

The company's developers have always paid maximum attention to the appearance of the flagship line of Huawei P smartphones, because from the first days this line was positioned primarily as an image line. Some of the previous representatives of the series (P1 and P6) generally held the record for the [minimum] thickness, and even now the novelties of this family remain among the thinnest fashion models on the mobile device market. The new Huawei P8 also did not disappoint in this regard: the thickness of its all-metal body is only 6.4 mm, which makes the smartphone one of the thinnest modern flagships.

As for the design itself, there is nothing to admire especially: we have in front of us a completely ordinary rectangular bar with no frills. The corners are perhaps too sharp, and the side edges themselves are neither one nor the other. That is, either they had to be made completely straight, or they had to be fully rounded, like in the same iPhone 6. Here, there is some kind of incompleteness: the edges were rounded off quite a bit, and then for some reason they additionally removed the chamfer from them. As a result, the case looks peculiar, and this rather wide, heavy and very thin metal plate constantly tries to slip out of the hands. This, by the way, oddly enough, is facilitated by the fact that the metal surfaces here have been given a dullness and slight roughness - an ordinary smooth metal would be held in hands even more reliably.

The smartphone has no detachable parts, the case is non-separable, therefore the appropriate method of installing the cards is applied. In the side face on the right, there are two slot-like connectors, into which metal skids with cards are inserted, and they are removed using a complete key-clip. It should be noted that one of the slots can be used either for a memory card or for a second SIM card, but not at the same time, which is depressing: the smartphone does not have so much of its own built-in memory so that you can easily refuse to use a memory card. As a result, the user is faced with a dilemma - after all, it would be nice to have both.

The camera module on the back of the smartphone does not stick out at all beyond the back surface. It is combined in a single unit with a two-section multi-colored LED flash, fixed in a mirrored non-metallic bar embedded in the body. If necessary, the flash can be used as a flashlight, the quick activation of which is carried out from the panel sliding out from the bottom of the screen, at one time borrowed by Huawei from Apple iPhone.

The same iPhone eventually contributed to the fact that most self-respecting manufacturers finally stopped bringing the speaker to the back of the smartphone - where the sound coming out is constantly covered by the table surface and directed in the direction opposite to the user - and finally moved the speakers to the lower end. The same is the case in the case of Huawei P8: two rows of holes are made in the lower end of the metal case, but the sound, as usual, comes out only through one grill, the second is set only for symmetry. Perhaps, behind it is a spoken microphone, but the sound of the speaker does not pass through it for sure (you can easily verify this by alternately covering the holes with your finger).

In the middle, between the two grilles, there is a Micro-USB connector, which, unlike the same grilles, for some reason was not centered relative to the central axis. It looks a little annoying: it is not clear why designers overlook such trifles in their work. It is enough to look at the same iPhone: you will not find a single element there that is placed crookedly; everything is thought out to the smallest detail, and this captivates.

The same can be said for mechanical buttons - more precisely, one button, the main one, used for locking. It is clear that it was copied from Sony Z series smartphones, but even there this “find” looks, to put it mildly, not very organic. And so all the elements placed on the edges, including the covers for the connectors for the cards and the volume control button, have a uniform look here, and only this button is for some reason made almost square, and even recessed into some shapeless recess cut in the metal, which no other elements. All this looks absolutely out of place and stands out from the general style. The buttons themselves have a springy, but too short stroke, they are not ideal, but you can get used to them.

On the upper end, the same picture is observed: the evenly cut hole for the audio jack looks quite organic, but right there next to it they again missed the hole in the second, auxiliary microphone relative to the central axis. Apparently, the designer in his work was guided by something else, but not by the concept of symmetry.

The front panel is completely covered with a flat, rimless protective glass. In its upper part, in addition to sensors and a front camera, there is such a useful element as an LED event indicator. The flashing function of this small glowing dot in the right corner when receiving new notifications can be turned off on your own in the menu section of the screen settings.

There are no hardware buttons in the lower part under the screen, all buttons are virtual, so their set and mutual arrangement can be changed to your taste in the corresponding section of the settings menu.

According to information obtained from Huawei's online store, the Russian retail smartphone will be presented in two colors: dark gray, as we have in the photos, and champagne with a white front panel, although the company photos contain images of Huawei P8 , in which the front panel is painted in this very light brown shade. Obviously, such a modification will either not go to the Russian market, or will become available later.

Screen

The Huawei P8 smartphone is equipped with an in-cell IPS sensor matrix. The screen dimensions are 65 × 115 mm, the diagonal is 5.2 inches, the resolution is 1920 × 1080 pixels. The pixel density is 424 ppi. The width of the bezel from the edge of the screen to the edge of the case from the sides is about 3.5 mm, and from the top and bottom - about 15 mm.

The brightness of the display can be adjusted manually, you can also enable automatic adjustment based on the operation of the light sensor. Multi-touch technology allows you to handle 10 simultaneous touches. The smartphone also has a proximity sensor that locks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. Gloved screen work is supported, but double tapping in this case does not activate the screen, although this functionality was previously encountered in Huawei smartphones. Perhaps it's all about the firmware of the test sample.

Alexey Kudryavtsev, editor of the "Monitors" and "Projectors and TV" sections, carried out a detailed examination using measuring instruments. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the test sample.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are no worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected in the turned off screens (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - Huawei P8, then they can be distinguished by their size):

The screen of the Huawei P8 is even slightly darker (the brightness in the photos is 105 versus 112 for the Nexus 7). The doubling of reflected objects in the Huawei P8 screen is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen (more specifically, between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix) (OGS-type screen - One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of boundaries (such as glass / air) with strongly differing refractive indices, such screens look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked outer glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be changed. On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (slightly worse in efficiency than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are easier to remove, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.

With manual brightness control and with the display of the white field on the whole screen, the maximum brightness value was about 440 cd / m², the minimum - 10 cd / m². The maximum brightness is quite high, which means, given the excellent anti-glare properties, readability even on a sunny day outdoors should be at a good level. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable value. In the presence of automatic brightness control by the light sensor (it is located to the left of the front speaker slot). In automatic mode, when the ambient light conditions change, the screen brightness both increases and decreases. This function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider. If it is 100%, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 120 cd / m2 (a bit too much), in an office illuminated with artificial light (about 400 lux) it sets to 300 cd / m2 (it could have been less), in a very bright environment (corresponds to illumination on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more), the brightness rises to 440 cd / m² (to the maximum - this is what you need); if the adjustment is about 50%, then the values ​​are as follows: 10, 115 and 440 cd / m² (ideal combination), the regulator at 0% - 10, 30 and 220 cd / m² (the last two values ​​are slightly underestimated, which is logical). It turns out that the automatic brightness control function works absolutely adequately and allows the user to customize his work for individual requirements. At any brightness level, there is practically no backlight modulation, so there is no screen flickering either.

V this smartphone matrix used IPS type... The micrographs show the typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of photomicrographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even with large gaze deviations from perpendicular to the screen and without tint inversion. For comparison, we present photographs in which the screens of Huawei P8 and Nexus 7 display the same images, while the brightness of the screens was initially set to about 200 cd / m2, and the color balance on the camera was forcibly switched to 6500 K. The white field is perpendicular to the screens:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And the test picture:

The colors on the screen of the Huawei P8 are oversaturated and the color balance is slightly different. Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors did not change much on both screens, but on the Huawei P8 the contrast decreased to a large extent due to the strong black highlighting. And white box:

The brightness at an angle of the screens has decreased (at least 5 times, based on the difference in exposure), but the Huawei P8 has a lighter screen (brightness in the photos is 240 versus 235 for the Nexus 7). When deviated diagonally, the black field is lightened strongly and acquires a reddish tint. The photos below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same!):

And from a different angle:

With a perpendicular view, the uniformity of the black field is imperfect, since closer to the edge, the black is highlighted in places:

And with a different arrangement of on-screen buttons:

The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is high - about 1400: 1. The response time for the transition black-white-black is 22 ms (12 ms on + 10 ms off). The transition between gray tones of 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes 34 ms in total. The gamma curve, plotted using 32 points at equal intervals in terms of the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal a blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. Indicator approximating power function is 2.17, which is close to the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve almost does not deviate from the power dependence:

This device has some kind of dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness in accordance with the nature of the displayed image. As a result, the obtained dependence of brightness on the hue (gamma curve) may not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of gray shades on almost the entire screen. For this reason, we carried out a number of tests - determining the contrast and response time, comparing the black illumination at angles - we carried out (however, as always) when displaying special templates with a constant average brightness, and not monochromatic fields across the entire screen. It should be noted that in this case the brightness correction is poorly expressed and does not have an obvious dependence on the image, but it would be better if it did not exist at all.

The color gamut is noticeably wider than sRGB:

We look at the spectra:

They are atypical, but we have already seen them in the case of, for example, the Sony Xperia Z2. Sony indicates that these screens use LEDs with a blue emitter and a green and red phosphor (usually a blue emitter and a yellow phosphor), which, in combination with special matrix light filters, allows you to obtain a wide color gamut... Most likely, this statement is also true in the case of the Huawei P8. For a consumer device, a wide color gamut is not an advantage, but a significant disadvantage, since as a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and there are the overwhelming majority of them) have an unnatural saturation. This is especially noticeable on recognizable shades, such as skin tones. The result is shown in the photo above.

The balance of shades on the gray scale is good, since the color temperature is not much higher than the standard 6500 K, and the deviation from the spectrum of the absolute black body (ΔE) is below 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, the color temperature and ΔE vary little from shade to shade - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of the color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since the color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

This device has the ability to correct the color balance by adjusting the hue warmer-colder.

In the graphs above, the curves Without corr. correspond to the results without any color balance correction, and the curves Corr.- data obtained after shifting the correction slider to the "warm" side until it stops. It can be seen that the change in balance corresponds to the expected result, since the color temperature approached the standard value, but ΔE, unfortunately, increased significantly and reached a critical value of 10 units. Perhaps it doesn't make much sense to perform the correction.

To summarize: the screen has a fairly high maximum brightness and has good anti-reflective properties, so the device can be used outdoors without any problems even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. It is also acceptable to use the mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works adequately. Also, the advantages of the screen include the presence of an oleophobic coating, no flickering and no air gap in the layers of the screen, high contrast, as well as a color balance close to standard. The disadvantages are low stability of black to deviation of the gaze from the perpendicular to the plane of the screen and an excessively wide color gamut. Nevertheless, taking into account the importance of characteristics for this particular class of devices, the screen quality can be considered high, although it is worth preparing for strange and not entirely natural shades.

Sound

Sounds Huawei P8, despite the extremely slim body, very high quality. There is only one external speaker, but the device produces high quality sound both through it and through the headphones for comfortable listening. This is not the level of Oppo or HTC, the smartphone does not abound in deep bass, but in terms of loudness, the Huawei P8 will definitely not yield to anyone. The sound is very loud, while the sound is clear, without wheezing and distortion, bright, rich, low frequencies are also partly present, although not fully. In conversational dynamics, the interlocutor's speech, timbre and intonation remain recognizable. There are no manual settings to control the sound quality in the proprietary player, there is only the ability to turn on or off the DTS sound enhancement technology, and then only for headphones.

There is an FM radio in the smartphone, it works only with connected headphones.

Camera

Huawei P8 is equipped with two digital camera modules with a resolution of 13 and 8 megapixels. For front-facing shooting, an 8-megapixel module with an f / 2.4 aperture lens is used, without autofocus and its own flash. Among the settings there is the ability to track a smile, as well as shooting using the hardware volume key, including when the screen is locked (for this, you need to double-click to decrease the volume, but the shooting will be carried out on the main camera located at the back of the smartphone). For the front camera, there are also manual settings, in which you can independently set exposure, contrast, brightness. Also here we can mention a special mode "Perfect selfie" with the ability to save personal data in memory, in which you can apply additional effects to photographs (enlarge the eyes, whiten the skin, etc.).

The main camera uses Sony's new 13MP 4-color RGBW sensor and its own image processor. According to the developers, the RGBW sensor reduces brightness by 32% in high contrast lighting and increases by 78% in low light levels, while the independent image processor of the DSLR camera allows you to suppress noise and evaluate shooting conditions, identifying high-contrast and low-light parts of the frame. The camera also features an f / 2.0 lens with improved OIS technology (compensating for shifts up to 1.2 °) and AF tracking. The LED flash has two multi-colored sectors.

The proprietary camera settings menu is the same as in previous models of the series, but several additional shooting modes have been added. Most of the menu functions are collected in a single vertical scroll, and additional shooting modes are selected by pressing the button in the upper right corner. In addition to the automatic shooting mode, there are several specific modes, such as Successful Photos, Decoration, Panorama, HDR and others. With the help of a separate mode, you can play around and adjust the focus on different areas of an already captured photograph. Also, some may find the new entertainment mode curious. Drawing with light... This mode uses manual control of the camera shutter to capture various lighting effects. The developers suggest using this mode when shooting at night in order to capture the light pattern created by moving flashlights. According to their idea, users can create their own light pictures using a smartphone as a light source in the dark.

The camera can shoot video with a resolution of up to 1080p, while shooting, you can use the tracking autofocus, it is also possible to use optical and electronic stabilization, and at the same time. As a result, the shooting is really very smooth, but the image quality itself leaves much to be desired. It is a pity that there is no shooting mode at 60 fps or at least in 4K resolution. An example of a test video is shown below.

• Movie # 1 (19 MB, 1920 × 1080, 30 fps)

	The camera copes well with shooting indoors.
	At times, the work of the shumodav looks really subtle and pleasant.
	The camera is not afraid of long exposures: apparently, the stabilizer helps out.
	Quite good sharpness almost over the entire field of the frame.
	With the removal of the plan, the image becomes soapy.
	An example of a very good sharpness according to the plans.
	On the middle and long-range shots, soapiness is again felt.
	The numbers of the nearest cars are distinguishable.
	Good sharpness across the field and across plans.
	The camera copes well with macro photography.
	With the removal of the plan, the foliage merges quite smoothly.

It should be noted right away that the camera copes well with shooting in low light, much better than most smartphones. The remaining minority quite achieves this level, but the good coordinated work of the stabilizer and noise reduction is really felt here. Otherwise, the camera has no superpowers. She works out the details well, but she often lathers. There are also small areas of blur, sharpness is not always uniform across the field of the frame and across the plans. Nevertheless, the camera is well suited for documentary and sometimes artistic photography.

Telephone part and communications

The smartphone operates in modern 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA networks, and there is also support for networks fourth generation LTE Cat4, up to 150 Mbps (FDD LTE Band 1, 3, 4, 7). The frequency 2600 MHz most often used in Russia is also supported. In practice, with SIM-cards of domestic operators Megafon and Beeline, a smartphone is registered and works in LTE networks.

The rest of the network capabilities of the smartphone are as follows: there is support for Bluetooth 4.1, but only one Wi-Fi range (2.4 GHz) is supported and there is no NFC. There is Wi-Fi Direct, you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. Micro-USB 2.0 connector supports connecting external devices in USB OTG mode. Also, the developers claim that the smartphone has been used a dual antenna of a new design. self-developed Signal +, which, in combination with fast switching technology, allows the smartphone to select the optimal communication mode and improves the quality of the connection even while driving at high speeds, for example, when the user is talking while on a high-speed train.

The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, when dialing a phone number, a search is immediately carried out by contacts. The settings provide a continuous way of entering the Swype type. For the convenience of one-handed operation, it is possible to change the size of virtual keyboards or even the entire working area of ​​the screen.

The smartphone supports work with two SIM-cards. All work with them in the menu is conveniently organized on one page, the settings are conveniently combined into groups, you just need to put a couple of checkmarks and the choice is made. Everything is clear and intuitive. Perhaps, this menu for managing work with two SIM-cards is the most convenient of all the options we have previously encountered.

Any of the SIM cards can be assigned as the main one for organizing voice calls, data transfer and sending SMS messages; when dialing a number, you can also select the desired card using the corresponding buttons. A SIM card in any slot can work with 3G / 4G networks, however, only one of them can function at the same time in this mode. To change the assignments of the card slots, you do not need to change places - this can be done directly from the phone menu. Working with two SIM-cards is organized according to the Dual standard SIM Dual Active, when both cards can work in parallel and at the same time, that is, the smartphone uses two separate radio modules - this is a very rare and, of course, very user-friendly option.

The proprietary interface traditionally alters the design and all the internal arrangement of the standard system so much that little is left of the original Android design. There is no separate application menu here, the original notification curtain with a timeline and the own menu of the latest open programs look completely different, and indeed traces of Material Design are almost invisible here. There is not too wide support for elementary gestures, and a special soft control button that brings up a pop-up shortcut menu to some frequently used applications has not gone anywhere. The bottom row of virtual control buttons can be reassigned at your discretion, it is also possible to reduce the entire working area of ​​the screen entirely.

There are not so many additional preinstalled programs; from the useful ones, one can single out a file manager, as well as a set system utilities, including the "Dispatcher" program, which includes the functions of energy saving, memory cleaning, protection against virus threats and traffic monitoring.

Performance

The hardware platform of Huawei P8 is based on the eight-core HiSilicon Kirin 930 single-chip system (SoC), which, along with Kirin 935, is currently one of the most powerful 64-bit platforms used by Huawei in its serial products. The configuration of this solution includes two clusters of four Cortex-A53 processor cores with a frequency of 1.5 to 2.0 GHz and a Mali-T624 GPU. That is, the Kirin 930 competes with top-tier SoCs such as Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 and MediaTek MT6795.

The amount of RAM of the smartphone is 3 GB. The device has 16 GB of flash memory, of which 10.5 GB is available for the needs of the user himself. The amount of memory can be increased by using microSD cards, but then, according to the established bad tradition, you will have to remove the second SIM card, which is extremely inconvenient. There are many solutions on the market that perfectly combine support for two SIM-cards and a memory card at the same time, there is nothing supernatural in this. Why Huawei decided to stick with the reduced functionality option is unclear.

According to the test results, the Kirin 930 platform proved to be quite worthy of the title of a top-end SoC platform of the highest level. More specifically, in complex benchmarks, its performance is equivalent to that of competing platforms Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 and MediaTek MT6795 (in AnTuTu it is more than 45K in 32-bit and about 50K in 64-bit testing modes).

As for specialized tests, both in graphical and even in browser benchmarks, the platform is noticeably inferior to its competitors, and of course, far in all respects from the currently leading Exynos 7420 used in the most powerful modern devices Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge ...

In any case, Huawei P8 is currently among the most powerful and advanced modern smartphones in terms of performance, its hardware capabilities will be enough for a long time to complete any task.

Testing with the latest AnTuTu and GeekBench 3 Benchmarks:

All the results obtained by us when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks, we have summarized in tables for convenience. Several other devices from different segments are usually added to the table, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry numbers). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison, it is impossible to present the results from different versions benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain "behind the scenes" - due to the fact that they once passed the "obstacle course" on previous versions of test programs.

Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark,GFXBenchmark, and Bonsai Benchmark:

When testing in 3DMark for the highest performing smartphones, it is now possible to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).

	Huawei p8 (Hisilicon Kirin 930)	Lg g4 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 808)	HTC One M9 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 810)	Samsung Galaxy S6 (Exynos 7420)	Meizu MX5 (Mediatek MT6795T)
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme (more is better)	6556	Maxed out!	Maxed out!	Maxed out!	Maxed out!
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited (more is better)	11909	18372	20538	21204	16390
GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Onscreen)	18 fps	25 fps	37 fps	30 fps	27 fps
GFXBenchmark T-Rex HD (C24Z16 Offscreen)	13 fps	35 fps	36 fps	46 fps	27 fps
Bonsai benchmark	3333 (48 fps)	3340 (48 fps)	4092 (58 fps)	4185 (60 fps)	3966 (57 fps)

Browser cross-platform tests:

As for benchmarks for evaluating the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowances for the fact that the results in them significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so that the comparison can be truly correct only on the same OS and browsers, and this possibility is available when testing not always. In the case of Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.

Heat images

Below is a thermal image of the rear surface (top in the photo - right), obtained after 10 minutes of running the battery test in the GFXBenchmark program:

It can be seen that the heating is a little more localized approximately at the center and closer to the right edge of the device, which, apparently, corresponds to the location of the SoC microcircuit. According to the heat chamber, the maximum heating was 35 degrees, which is relatively little. Apparently, the metal body of the device contributes to the delocalization of the heating region.

Video playback

To test the "omnivorous" video playback (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats that make up the bulk of the content available on the Web. Note that it is important for mobile devices to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is often impossible to process modern versions using processor cores alone. Also, do not expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it. All results are summarized in a single table.

According to the test results, the subject was not equipped with all the necessary decoders, which are necessary for full playback of most of the most common multimedia files on the network. To play them successfully, you will have to resort to using a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, it is also necessary to change the settings in it and manually install additional custom codecs, because now this player does not officially support the AC3 audio format.

Format	Container, video, sound	MX Video Player	Native video player
DVDRip	AVI, XviD 720 × 400 2200 Kbps, MP3 + AC3	reproduced normally	reproduced normally
Web-DL SD	AVI, XviD 720 × 400 1400 Kbps, MP3 + AC3	reproduced normally	reproduced normally
Web-DL HD	MKV, H.264 1280 × 720 3000Kbps, AC3		video plays fine, no sound¹
BDRip 720p	MKV, H.264 1280 × 720 4000 Kbps, AC3	video plays fine, no sound¹	video plays fine, no sound¹
BDRip 1080p	MKV, H.264 1920 × 1080 8000Kbps, AC3	video plays fine, no sound¹	video plays fine, no sound¹

¹ sound in MX Video Player was played only after installing an alternative custom audio codec; the standard player does not have such a setting

Testing of video output features was carried out by Alexey Kudryavtsev.

We did not find the MHL interface, as well as Mobility DisplayPort, in this smartphone, so we had to limit ourselves to testing the display of video files on the screen of the device itself. To do this, we used a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see "Testing techniques for video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)"). Screenshots with an exposure of 1 s helped to determine the nature of the frame output of video files with different parameters: the resolution varied (1280 by 720 (720p) and 1920 by 1080 (1080p) pixels) and the frame rate (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 frames / with). In our tests, we used the MX Player video player in the "Hardware" mode. The test results are summarized in the table:

720 / 30p Great No 720 / 25p Great No 720 / 24p Great No

Note: If both columns Uniformity and Skips green ratings are set, this means that, most likely, when watching movies, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and skipping of frames will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with the playback of the respective files.

According to the criterion for outputting frames, the quality of video playback on the screen of the smartphone itself is very good, since frames (or groups of frames) can (but are not required) to be displayed with a more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without frame drops. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the edge of the screen, one to one pixel by pixel, that is, in its original resolution. The brightness range displayed on the screen corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 - in the shadows only a couple of shades of gray do not differ in brightness from black, but in the highlights all gradations of shades are displayed.

Battery life

Huawei P8 has a non-removable battery that is far from the maximum capacity for modern smartphones at 2680 mAh. As a result, the smartphone did not show any records for battery life, everything is within the normal range for flagships with a large display.

It is also worth noting that the testing was carried out without using any energy-saving functions, and with them the smartphone is obviously able to last longer. As usual, in the settings of the proprietary energy-saving mode, Huawei smartphones have three different levels, from normal to the most economical.

	Battery capacity	Reading mode	Video mode	3D Game Mode
Huawei p8	2680 mAh	13h 00m	9h 00m	3h 10m
Lg g4	3000 mAh	17h 00m	9h 00m	3h 00m
Nexus 6	3220 mAh	18h 00m	10h 30m	3h 40m
HTC One M9	2840 mAh	11h 00m	8h 20m	3h 50m
Samsung Galaxy S6	2550 mAh	20 h 00 m	12h 00m	4h 00m
Meizu MX5	3150 mAh	15h 00m	11h 00m	4h 10m
LeTV One	3000 mAh	10h 30m	8h 20m	3h 50m
Lenovo Vibe X2	2300 mAh	13h 00m	6h 00m	3h 15m
Meizu MX4	3100 mAh	12h 00m	8h 40m	3h 45m

Continuous reading in FBReader(with a standard, light theme, without auto-scrolling) at the minimum comfortable brightness level (the brightness at the beginning of the test was set to 100 cd / m2) lasted 13 hours until the battery was fully discharged, and with continuous video playback in high quality(720p) with the same brightness level through home network The Wi-Fi device lasted 9 hours. V game mode the smartphone operated for just over 3 hours. The full charging time is just under 3 hours.

Outcome

Huawei has already announced the imminent start of sales of Huawei P8 in Russia, the official price of the certified device will be almost 30 thousand rubles, the start of online sales is scheduled for July 24. An uncertified device can already be purchased in online stores at a price of 27 thousand rubles. Given the current realities of the market, this is quite acceptable price for image flagship smartphone with a metal body, a high-quality large screen, excellent sound, a powerful hardware platform, a decent camera and decent battery life.

Specifications

• Body materials: metal, plastic, glass
• Operating system: Android 5.0, Huawei EMUI 3.1
• Network: GSM / EDGE, WCDMA, LTE (two slots for SIM cards and a combined microSD slot)
• Platform: HiSilicon Kirin 930/935
• Processor: Quad-core 2 GHz (Cortex-A53) and Quad-core 1.5 GHz (Cortex-A53)
• Graphics: Mali-T628 MP4
• RAM: 3 GB
• Memory for data storage: 16/64 GB, slot for a microSD memory card (128 GB cards are supported)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a / b / g / n), Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP, LE), microUSB connector (USB 2.0, USB-Host) for charging / synchronization, 3.5 mm for a headset, DLNA, NFC, IrDA
• Screen: IPS LCD, 5.2 ", 1920x1080 pixels (FullHD), automatic backlight level control, Gorilla Glass 3
• Main camera: 13 MP, dual LED flash (works as a flashlight), optical image stabilization (OIS)
• Front camera: 8 MP fixed focal length
• Navigation: GPS / Glonass (A-GPS support)
• Sensors: accelerometer, position sensor, light sensor, gyroscope, barometer
• Battery: non-removable, Li-Pol, 2680 mAh
• Dimensions: 144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4mm
• Weight: 144 grams

Positioning

The line of P-series smartphones from Huawei has been developing since 2012, and even then, at the start, the P1 was a successful and interesting smartphone, whose features and ideas formed the basis for the development of this series. Huawei Ascend P1 could not be called an unconditional flagship at the time of its release, but this device looked balanced and moderate in everything - in characteristics, in usability, and finally in cost. Three years later and several models in this line, Huawei presented the P8 - another smartphone from the category of balanced devices: not too large, but not small, moderately productive and with the necessary set of capabilities, as well as characteristics close to flagships. In this review, I will try to tell you about all the features of the new device from Huawei - P8.

Design, body materials

From a design point of view, I cannot call the P8 any interesting and bright device, these are a typical thin bar of metal without any distinctive features... At the same time, the smartphone looks high quality and dignified, and it cannot be said that it is ugly. It turned out to be moderately simple, albeit without recognizable details, but a universal device.

The main feature of the case in the Huawei Ascend P7 was the combination of a metal frame and glass panels on the front and back sides. Yes, it is effective, but from a practical point of view, such a solution has problems. The first is that the glass gets dirty, and this is noticeable. The second - when the smartphone falls on any hard surface (asphalt, tiles, etc.), there is a great chance of getting a cracked front or back case, that is, glass. In Huawei P8, the company changed the materials used, here we see an all-aluminum body, with the exception of the panel in the upper area near the camera, where the antennas are located, as well as the screen. The P8 may not look so impressive on a shelf in a store or in hand, but otherwise the solution with a metal case is better. The device still looks impressive, while it has become more practical than the previous model: traces and prints on the "back" made of metal are almost invisible, and the chances of damaging the smartphone when dropped are less. In my opinion, in terms of the materials used, the new P8 is a step forward.

Only the front panel can be called a brand, and even then at a stretch. Traces and prints on it remain subtle and can be easily removed.

In Russia, the smartphone will go on sale in three colors: silver, gold and black.

Assembly

The build quality is excellent, and I draw this conclusion not from one sample, but from several devices: I looked at the first P8 in the company's office, then studied it again at the presentation, and finally, for the preparation of the review, I used the P8 as my main phone for more than two weeks.

Trays for SIM-cards fit as closely as possible to the plane of the rib, slide your finger and feel the flat surface, the buttons sit securely in their places, nothing loose or loose. During use, my smartphone fell to the floor (at home) several times from a height of about one and a half meters, no damage appeared on the body of the device.

Dimensions (edit)

Small bezels to the left and right of the screen, minimal body thickness and reasonable top and bottom margins with a 5.2 "screen diagonal make Huawei P8 quite a compact smartphone even in the 5-inch category, not to mention devices with a 5.2" diagonal. It is also important that the P8 is not just compact, but also ergonomic - due to the small bevels of the case at the transition points of the planes, the smartphone does not cut into the palm, but fits comfortably into it. It is a pleasure to hold and use the device. After models with 5.5 "" or larger screens, the device from Huawei seems incredibly convenient, and against the background of many phones with a 5 "" display, the P8 turns out to be more compact.

In terms of usability, the Huawei P8 can even be compared with the Xiaomi Mi4, and this is one of the most balanced five-inch devices on a par with the P7. It is not for nothing that I pay such close attention to the dimensions of the device at first glance. It seems to me that balanced dimensions in 2015-2016 will become one of the most important advantages of smartphones. When every second device is equipped with 3-4 GB of RAM, a high-quality FullHD screen has become the norm, and chipset manufacturers are competing in the frequency of eight-core processors, the overall usability of the smartphone comes to the fore. And in this respect, the new P8 looks very advantageous.

I will give a comparison of the dimensions of the Huawei P8 with some popular models:

• Apple iPhone 6(4.7 ”) - 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm, 129 grams
• HTC One M9(5 ") - 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157 grams
• (5.2 ”) - 144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4 mm, 144 grams
• Samsung Galaxy S6(5.1 ”) - 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138 grams
• Xiaomi Mi4(5 ") - 139.2 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm, 149 grams

Compared to HTC One M8

Compared to Meizu MX4 Pro

Compared to Nokia 3310

Compared to YotaPhone 2

Despite the quite compact dimensions of the Huawei P8, the smartphone settings have several options to simplify the operation of the device with one hand, as well as various functions related to gestures and movements - mute when the screen is flipped, and so on.

Control elements

In terms of controls, the Huawei P8 is a typical Android smartphone with a pair of hardware keys and touch-sensitive on-screen buttons. The hardware buttons are located on the right edge: on top is the volume key, below is the power button. Even below there are two slots for a SIM card and a memory card. One of these slots is combined with microSD, so you can choose what to use this slot for - to install a second SIM card or for a memory card. The left edge of the smartphone is blank.

At the top there is an additional microphone (noise reduction) and a 3.5 mm mini-jack. At the bottom is the main microphone, a microUSB connector and a grill for two speakers.

The on-screen key bar includes three buttons: "Back", "Home" and a call to the manager of running programs.

If desired, the location of the buttons can be changed, and a button for calling the notification curtain and a button for hiding the navigation bar itself are added here. It is very convenient!

When you touch any of the on-screen buttons, the device vibrates slightly.

Unfortunately, you cannot unlock the smartphone by double-tapping the screen. Perhaps this feature will appear with new firmware, because in the previous Huawei smartphone that I tested, Honor 6 Plus, I did not have it either. At the same time, several readers immediately after the review sent screenshots of their devices, purchased not in Russia, where the possibility of unlocking with a double tap is present.

On the top of the front side there is an earpiece, an 8 MP camera peephole and sensors.

A factory thin protective film is glued to the front panel, the quality of the film is such that it is difficult to see it the first time without peering. I did not shoot it for this very reason, the film is virtually invisible.

Screen

Huawei P8 uses a high-quality IPS LCD matrix with a diagonal of 5.2 "" and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Screen with maximum viewing angles. No matter what angle you deflect it, diagonally, edges or ends, the picture is not distorted. There is a good margin of brightness. The color reproduction of the display is close to natural, while in the settings you can always adjust the color temperature, making the picture on the screen warmer or colder. Personally, I preferred to slightly "tweak" the temperature on my P8 towards colder shades.

The automatic brightness control works very well, as with the Honor 6 Plus. Having enabled this option, I forgot that sometimes on other smartphones I set the brightness manually depending on the conditions (during the day - one brightness, in the late afternoon at home - another).

An important point, connected with screen Huawei P8 - standard skins. Below in the text I will return to the "themes", but now I want to note one important feature. If we take all the well-known Chinese brands: Lenovo, Huawei, ZTE, Xiaomi, Meizu and even some smaller ones, then the proprietary shell from Huawei in terms of design will probably be the most unsightly. It's about the design, not about its capabilities. How does this relate to the screen and its perception? Very strong, in fact. When you take Huawei P8 for the first time, turn it on and see a scary basic theme with icons of protective colors, it seems as if the device's screen is at least dim or dim. Change the theme to a juicier one, or just fill the start screen with app icons instead of the basic ones and change the picture, and now you see a good display. In the end, I remained on the basic design theme, because, having shoveled about 4 GB of themes for EMUI, I did not find anything worthy, but take this point into account. The display itself in the P8 is excellent, but its perception when first turned on may be slightly spoiled by not the most successful "themes".

There is a "smart film" item in the P8 settings. By turning on this mode, judging by the description, you can transfer the functions of the on-screen keys to the area under the display, as well as assign the selected actions to touching the corners of the case from the top left and right of the screen, provided there is a special film on the glass. This mode does not work with factory film.

Camera

Probably half of the entire presentation time of Huawei P8 was devoted to the device's camera. Key features: Sony's new 13MP 4-color RGBW sensor, OIS and dedicated ISP. In theory, the camera should be one of the best among all smartphones on the market in any shooting conditions: day, evening, night, and also with a lack of light (f / 2.0 will come in handy here).

The camera interface is simple and straightforward, switching modes, enabling HDR and other essential settings are collected on one screen, it is called by clicking on the parameters key, more detailed settings can also be opened by clicking on the parameters button already in this window.

Continuous shooting modes are available, after which you can choose the best shot, as well as the usual mode for all top-end devices with a choice of the focusing point in the final shot (the camera takes several shots with different focal lengths and glues them into one). There is a "decoration" mode, both for the front and for the main camera, in which the effect of retouching is applied to the skin, wrinkles, pimples and so on are smoothed out.

An interesting mode "light", it was also given a lot of attention at the presentation. The bottom line is this: you press the "capture" button, and the camera starts photographing one frame, while the picture is in such a mode, as if you chose a shutter speed in the region of a minute, conventionally. But in reality, you do not choose a shutter speed before shooting, but simply stop photographing after as many seconds as you need. The result is shooting with a shutter speed set at the end of the photographing process. The mode is interesting, and with the help of it, together with the tripod on the Huawei P8, you can take unusual shots at night. However, I note that this mode, in fact, is a piece of the manual mode, which is present in smartphones HTC, Lenovo, Meizu and Xiaomi, where you can also select the shutter speed manually, but before shooting.

Now about the quality of photos.

I'll start with the main thing - the Huawei P8 has an excellent macro. The minimum shooting distance to the subject is about 3-4 centimeters. For example, in Meizu MX4 Pro with an excellent camera this distance is about 6-7 centimeters, and in HTC One M8, also with good macro photography, about 7-8 centimeters. At the same time, for macro photography in Huawei P8, you don't even need to turn on any separate mode, you just point your smartphone at the object as close as possible and take a picture - that's it.

When shooting on a bright sunny day, the photos are generally good, although I personally, when studying the pictures, do not leave the feeling that the frames are a little lacking in overall juiciness. Minus - in the center of the frame you can often notice the transition of the picture to the pink color gamut, such a "feature" is also characteristic, for example, for some HTC smartphones and is most clearly manifested when shooting a white sheet of text. At the same time, I want to note the excellent work of optical stabilization - even when you just drive your smartphone in search of a frame, the operation of this system is visible on the screen, the picture moves smoothly, it is more comfortable to shoot with P8 with OIS than with devices without a "stub", often there where on another smartphone I would need to take 3-4 frames to select one sharp one, on the Huawei P8 I just took one photo and got the desired sharp image.

Shooting at night is perhaps one of the strengths of the Huawei P8's camera. Yes, in complete darkness there is still some blurring and blurring of frames, but if we compare the resulting night photos with pictures from many other smartphones (I compared with LG G3 and G4, for example), the difference is in favor of the P8, and it is noticeable "by eye" ... Photos are sharp, with fine details discernible, albeit with a tangible presence of digital noise.

When shooting at night, you can manually set the shutter speed and ISO.

The camera also has a shooting mode with overlay effects and HDR, the latter works very well and neatly.

Front-camera... The front-facing 8MP fixed focal camera on the Huawei P8 is very good when it comes to taking portraits. Yes, there is no autofocus, but this does not prevent you from getting photos with good detail: you can see all the pimples and black "garbage" on the face, and if you wish, you can remove them by turning on the "decoration" mode.

Video recording... The smartphone records video in a maximum resolution of 1080p, the device does not have tracking autofocus, only the choice of focusing by tapping on the screen, which now, when this feature is available in almost any smartphone, looks rather strange. But there is software stabilization in addition to optical, if you turn on both, the image is very smooth. I suggest evaluating the overall quality of the video in the attached files with examples.

If we evaluate the camera in Huawei P8 according to some individual shooting modes, it has strengths and weaknesses: excellent macro, good shooting at night, but, at the same time, lack of juiciness when shooting on a clear sunny day and average video quality. The front camera is excellent, there are no complaints about it. As for the main one, I cannot call it one of the best among modern smartphones. Yes, it is more or less versatile and allows you to get decent photos in difficult conditions, and the price for this is not the most convincing quality when shooting in seemingly ideal situations on a sunny day. Perhaps with software updates Huawei will improve this aspect, because the potential of this sensor on the P8 with OIS is simply enormous.

Autonomous work

The smartphone uses a non-removable Li-Pol battery with a capacity of 2680 mAh. In my case, Huawei P8 worked on average until the evening with the following mode: 40-60 minutes of calls, 10-20 text messages, Gmail, 3-4 hours of listening to music and about 1-2 hours of active use of the mobile Internet (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook messenger, browser) plus the use of the camera (about 50 shots are conditional). The indicators are not very good, the device is inferior in operating time to such smartphones as LG G3, HTC One M8 and M9 and many others. However, if you, like me, are used to constantly carrying an external battery with you or charging your smartphone as soon as possible, this will not be a problem. Not the best battery life - the price to pay for the slim and compact body of the device.

Platform, memory

The smartphone is built on the platform of Huawei's own development - HiSilicon Kirin 930/935 (depending on the version and memory size) with a 2 GHz quad-core processor (Cortex-A53) and a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor (Cortex-A53). Graphics subsystem (GPU) - Mali-T628 MP4. The device has 3 GB of RAM and 16 or 64 GB of internal memory for storing user data. There is also a slot for a memory card, combined with a slot for a second SIM card.

There are no questions about performance for the device. Everything from the shell and launching programs to toys like GTA San Andreas and WoT Blitz, on maximum settings graphics works quickly and without delays. Below are the benchmark results of the Honor P8 in the Antutu benchmark.

I did not notice any noticeable heating of the smartphone body (as in the case of the HTC One M9) even under load.

Interfaces

The smartphone works in GSM, HSDPA and LTE networks, all common LTE bands in Russia are supported. Turn on and off wireless interfaces you can through the settings or using one of the notification curtain pages.

For synchronization with a PC and data transfer, a complete microUSB cable, USB 2.0 interface is used.

The smartphone has support for USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) - you can connect a flash drive and other storage devices to the device via an adapter, for example, a camera to transfer pictures from it to the device's memory.

Bluetooth... Built-in Bluetooth 4.1 module with A2DP and LE support.

Wi-Fi (802.11 a / b / g / n)... Wi-Fi module in Huawei P8 without support for 5 GHz band, only familiar and widespread 2.4. The module works flawlessly.

Wi-Fi router ... As usual for Android smartphones, there is the possibility of "sharing" 2G / 3G / 4G Internet connection via Wi-Fi. In the settings at the first start, you need to select a network name and password (WPA2).

NFC... The smartphone has an NFC module, it works correctly: you can check the balance on the transport card and write tickets on it or top up when installing the appropriate application.

Navigation

The smartphone has GPS / Glonass support; it takes a minimum amount of time to search for satellites, from 5 to 15 seconds. There is no special navigation software in the smartphone.

Software, EMUI 3.0

The smartphone works under Android 5.x, the proprietary Emotion UI - EMUI version 3.1 is used as a shell. By general logic, the shell resembles MIUI and Flyme, and its roots go back, respectively, to iOS - there is no separate application menu, all programs are collected on desktops.

There are many detailed settings and useful things: displaying the network speed, showing or hiding the operator's name, changing the location of the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen, customizable do not disturb mode, and so on.

Some shell solutions are illogical. For example, when you see a notification about a new event (message, missed call, WhatsApp, etc.) on the lock screen, to go to it, you need to swipe the notification card to the right. And when you see the same notification, while on the home screen or in some application, to go to it, you just need to touch the card. At first it is inconvenient, it takes some getting used to.

But most of all I am personally saddened by a seemingly small thing, but very annoying in my case. The fact is that all themes for EMUI change some of the application icons to their own. And I could not find a topic where there would be no such substitution. And to make sure that there are no such themes, I shoveled about 4 GB of themes for all versions of EMUI for stock icons. What do I mean by "stock icons"? This is when you, having installed Instagram or WhatsApp, will see the same program icon that is displayed for it on Google Play, that is, conceived by the developers. In EMUI, about half of the programs appear with changed icons, this does not affect the usability of the smartphone at all, but annoys me, at least. An attempt to remove all the icons in one of the basic themes so that when installing the theme they are replaced by the standard ones from Android, leads to the fact that the system "digs" very old icons from its depths and makes them the basis of the interface. In general, until I found a solution to overcome this EMUI feature.

Another feature of EMUI that I personally do not like is that it is too much of a rework in comparison with the pure Android OS. In this regard, the current versions of LG UI and HTC Sense, where the developers tried to leave all the convenient functions from Lollipop - the notification curtain, cards and the logic of working with them on the lock screen and some other things. In EMUI, all these elements have been redone, and if you switch to Huawei P8 from some device with Android 5.0, you will need to study the interface again.

If we close our eyes to it, as well as to some of the shell inconsistencies described above, then in general, EMUI turns out to be a quite convenient interface, with many detailed settings and useful options.

Accessories

Along with the presentation of the Huawei P8 smartphone, the company also presented an interesting accessory for it - a cover with an e-ink screen. The accessory is produced by Oaxis, known for producing similar cases under its own brand, equipped with a 4.3 "" e-ink display, its own battery, a charging connector and connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth.

Conclusion

I had no complaints about the quality of signal reception during the use of Huawei P8. The device catches the network well, the sound in the conversational dynamics is clear, without wheezing and extraneous noise, there is a volume reserve. The vibration alert is well felt in different conditions, including when walking. The volume of the ringing loudspeaker is above average, while the sound is clear and sonorous, but without wheezing. The presentation also announced the function quick search network when leaving an area where the network does not catch, or turning off the "airplane" mode, but to be honest, I did not notice much difference here between Huawei P8 with this function and, say, LG G4 and Meizu MX4 Pro without it.

In Russia, the smartphone will go on sale in a single 16 GB version and with two slots for SIM cards, one of which is just combined with a slot for microSD. The exact cost of the device for Russia has not yet been determined, but the preliminary price for Huawei P8 will be about 30,000 rubles. If you remember that immediately after the presentation, an estimated price tag was announced in the region of 40-45 thousand rubles, 30 thousand now seem to be more adequate. This is about 10-15 thousand cheaper than the cost of flagships from Samsung, LG, HTC, and if we consider that the characteristics of Huawei P8 are not much behind them, and from the point of view of dimensions it looks even more interesting, the price turns out to be quite acceptable.

Yes, Huawei P8 is far from an ideal smartphone, but the strengths of this device, such as a high-quality display, high operating speed without much heating of the case even under load, moderate dimensions, small thickness and a good main camera, combined with an excellent front camera, make the shortcomings forgivable ... If you are looking for a compact modern smartphone with up-to-date specifications, but are not ready to overpay for a flagship from a major manufacturer and for some superfluous features for you (like 2560x1440 resolution on a five-inch screen), you should take a closer look at Huawei P8.

The powerful stuffing of the flagship Huawei P8 was packed in an ultra-thin metal case, where there was also a place for two SIM-cards. One of the coolest features of this device is a camera with an RGBW sensor and optical stabilization. Vesti.Hi-tech figured out all the nuances of the elegant novelty.

Huawei's premium P8 was unveiled in mid-April in London. According to IDC for the last quarter, this Chinese corporation is one of the three leaders among global smartphone manufacturers, so the next European premiere of its flagship quite transparently hints where further expansion will be directed. Recall that the flagship line (P8) also includes a device with an increased screen size - P8max and a lightweight version of the top smartphone -. Interestingly, the presentation of the premium novelty was held in a modern center for fashion and art, thereby highlighting the desired combination of style and functionality. Since the entire family of P flagships is considered to be fashionable, more emphasis in it is still placed on design (after all, there are also technologically advanced Mate flagships).

If suddenly you do not have time at all, then here is a short text about the main strengths and weaknesses of Huawei P8, without technical details:

Specifications

• Model: GRA_UL00
• OS: Android 5.0 (Lollipop) with EUI 3.1 shell
• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 930 8-core 64-bit processor, ARM big.LITTLE GTS architecture (4 ARM Cortex-A53e cores, 2.0 GHz + 4 ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.5 GHz), Smart i3 coprocessor for operation with sensors
• Graphics Subsystem: ARM Mali-T628 MP4
• RAM: 3 GB (LPDDR3, 1600 MHz)
• Memory for data storage: 16 GB (available about 10.4 GB), slot for memory cards microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n (2.4 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.1, microUSB for charge / synchronization, 3.5 mm for headphones, USB-OTG
• Screen: capacitive, IPS, diagonal 5.2 inches, resolution 1920 × 1080 pixels, pixel per inch 424 ppi, gloved control
• Cameras: main - 13 MP RGBW sensor (Sony IMX278), aperture f / 2.0, EGF 29 mm, autofocus, optical stabilization, dual flash, video recording [email protected] fps, frontal - 8 MP (Sony IMX179 Exmor), aperture f / 2.4, EGF 26 mm, video [email protected] fps
• Network: 2G, 3G (HSPA +, up to 42 Mbps), LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbps)
• SIM cards: nanoSIM slots (4FF format) + nanoSIM (4FF format) / microSD, Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA)
• Navigation: GPS / GLONASS / BDS, A-GPS
• Radio: FM tuner
• Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, light and proximity sensors
• Battery: non-removable, lithium polymer, 2 680 mAh (10.19 W * h; 3.8 V)
• Colors: silver, golden
• Dimensions: 144.9x72.1x6.4 mm
• Weight: 144 grams

Design, ergonomics

Huawei does not hide the fact that when creating a new flagship, drawing inspiration from traditional values, they did without avant-garde solutions. So, according to the creators, the design elements of the P8 should evoke memories of the pages, spines and bindings of books.

An original plastic box with a translucent lid serves as an overture to this approach, and the process of unpacking the device in a sense resembles removing a book from a bookshelf.

The fact is that the smartphone, as well as documentation for it and accessories (USB-microUSB cable, power adapter and headset), which are distributed in separate boxes, are inserted vertically into the main package, and not horizontally, as usual. In general, everything looks very stylish.

According to the developers, the body of the new flagship is made of a single piece of aluminum, while the thin back cover was made of steel, which made it possible to further increase the rigidity of the frame.

The developers made the P8 not only one of the thinnest (only 6.4 mm), but also one of the lightest (weight - 144 g, which is about the same as the iPhone 4, tiny by today's standards) modern flagships. Indeed, for comparison: - 6.9 mm, 129 g; - 9.6 mm, 157 g; - 9.8mm, 155g - 6.8 mm, 138 g. Note, by the way, that the thickness of the previous flagship is 6.5 mm. The model of the new smartphone GRA_UL00 is presented in two colors: silver (Titanium Gray) and golden (Mystic Champagne). At the same time, the surface treatment does not hide the metal structure, and the steel back panel pleasantly cools the hand.

In the upper part of the front panel, covered with a protective glass, there is a cut-out for a "spoken" microphone, to the left of which there are proximity and light sensors, and to the right - a front camera lens and a charge / event indicator.

The onscreen controls for Back, Home, and Recent Apps are identified by triangle, circle, and square icons. You can easily change their order in the settings, adding an icon to them to call the notification panel. The Huawei logo, by which the lightweight version of the smartphone can be easily distinguished from the flagship, is absent here under the screen. Generally speaking, the front view of the novelty turned out to be rather faceless, which, given Huawei's reverent attitude to design, is rather strange.

The left side edge of the case is empty,

and on the right, they assembled a volume rocker, a power / lock button, as well as two closed slots with trays, the lower of which accepts only nanoSIM cards, and the upper, combined one, is intended for alternative installation of either a nanoSIM subscriber identification module or a microSD memory card. In this sense, it is more "omnivorous", since it accepts nanoSIM and microSIM cards in different slots. Both locks on the lids are opened with a special paper clip, which is included in the kit.

By the way, in profile, the flagship P8 can be distinguished from its clothed version only by the plastic jumpers (elements in the antenna design).

The upper end is occupied by a 3.5 mm connector for an audio headset and a hole for a second microphone (noise cancellation), which is closer to the left edge of the flagship.

At the bottom end, between two groups of holes (six in each), a microUSB connector was placed, which is framed by the heads of two mounting screws.

The grille of the "multimedia" speaker is still hidden under the left group of holes, and the "spoken" microphone is under the right one.

The holes for the main camera and the dual flash were taken out to the top left side back cover and covered with a dark glass plate, which was neatly copied into. Only closer to the edge there is a flash (in the lite version, the opposite is true).

The lettering (in very small print) at the bottom of the steel panel, adorned with the Huawei logo, shows the model number, company name and country of manufacture.

Fixing the smartphone in the palm of your hand is accompanied by the pleasant coolness of the metal, without any "thrill" sensations. However, the dimensions of the case, mainly due to the screen diagonal (5.2 inches), do not allow us to speak about comfortable one-handed operation of the device. For this reason, the settings provide a number of tools to partially compensate for this disadvantage.

Screen, camera, sound

For the 5.2-inch display of the flagship smartphone, they chose Full HD-resolution (1920 × 1080 pixels), which, for obvious reasons, does not pretend to be a technology record. Of course, Quad HD would have sounded cooler, but whether the game is worth the candle is another matter. Indeed, with the existing diagonal and screen resolution, the density of dots per inch is 424 dpi. In addition, the P8 uses an advanced matrix without an air gap between the layers of the screen from JDI - IPS-Neo with an improved contrast ratio (1500: 1). At the same time, the ratio of the display area to the area of ​​the entire front panel is 71.6%. The screen with rather thin side bezels differs not only in good contrast, but also in color reproduction close to natural, large viewing angles and a solid margin of brightness.

The backlight level is adjusted either manually, or it is automatically adjusted by the light sensor. At the same time, the latter works quite adequately. The touchscreen capacitive screen recognizes up to ten simultaneous presses. The results of the programs AnTuTu Tester and Multi-Touch Test fully confirm this multitouch. In the settings it is possible to change the color temperature of the screen - to make the colors warmer or vice versa, cold. An option to increase the sensitivity of the sensor for working with gloves is also available there. Good anti-glare properties of the screen allow you to use your smartphone outdoors without any problems, even on a sunny summer day. Note that on safety glass oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating is applied on top.

The key features of the main camera based on the Sony IMX278 photo module are optical image stabilization, a 4-color RGBW sensor with a resolution of 13 megapixels, and a separate (and not from the chipset) image processor from Altek. It is also worth adding a lens with an effective focal length (EGF) of 29 mm and aperture of f / 2.0, as well as autofocus and a dual LED flash. All this is aimed at creating conditions for obtaining a high-quality contrasting image in low light conditions. The maximum image resolution is 4160x3120 pixels (13 MP) with a classic aspect ratio (4: 3) and 4160x2336 pixels (10 MP) for a widescreen frame (16: 9). Examples of photos can be viewed.

In turn, the front camera, based on the 8-megapixel Sony IMX179 Exmor photo module, received a wide-angle lens with an EGF 26 mm and aperture f / 2.4. The maximum resolution of the "self" here is 3264x2448 pixels (8 MP, 4: 3) and 3264x1840 pixels (3.8 MP, 16: 9), respectively. Both cameras can shoot in Full HD-resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels, 16: 9) at a frame rate of 30 fps. All content is saved in MP4 container files (AVC - video, AAC - sound). Shooting with 4K resolution, as well as with an increased frame rate (for example, 60 fps), is not provided here.

In the Camera application, in addition to the Photo, Video, and Beauty modes (to enhance portraits), there are also Time Lapse (for taking time-lapses) and Light (shooting with a tripod in low light) ... In the latter, in particular, the presets "Light of lanterns", "Light graffiti", "Water" and "Stars" are collected. It is clear that for such filming, you need not only a certain place, but also a decent margin of time.

Along with image resolution and video quality, parameters such as saturation, contrast and brightness are adjusted in the camera settings. White balance and ISO adjustment are also available. Before and after shooting, it is easy to use a set of filters such as "Vintage", "Monochrome", etc. In the settings of the front camera, in particular, the "Perfect selfie" mode is offered, where, along with the usual beautification effect, you can adjust additional parameters ("Smoothing", "Whitening", "Big eyes", "Bright eyes", "Narrow face" ).

With the help of the "Mirror" application, available from the front camera menu, it is easy not only to look at yourself, your beloved, but also to make a little hooliganism by drawing a funny face on the "fogged up" screen or even "break" the protective glass of your smartphone.

But the "Director" program allows you to feel like a professional so that together with your friends (by connecting a maximum of three more smartphones) you can shoot your video simultaneously from four points, and then edit it into one clip.

The smartphone's "multimedia" speaker sounds pretty good, although the volume is not very high. As a reminder, the base Kirin 930 platform (Hi3630 chipset) uses a Tensilica HiFi 3 signal processor licensed from Cadence Design Systems. So for standard tools, playback of FLAC files created by audio compression codecs without loss of quality is available. But DTS (Digital Theater System) sound enhancement technology can only be used with headphones. In this sense, the included headset is useful not only as a shortwave antenna for the built-in FM tuner, which can only be listened to through headphones. Stereo recordings with noise suppression for the Dictaphone application are provided using two microphones in the Meeting, Interview and Concert modes. By the way, the manufacturer claims that, for example, in strong winds, the smartphone is able to filter out up to 90% of the noise generated by the air flow.

Filling, performance

The base platform of the flagship smartphone P8 is the HiSilicon Kirin 930 chip, made in compliance with the 28 nm design standards. The 8-core processor used in it is composed of two clusters of 64-bit cores Cortex-A53 (1.5 GHz) and Cortex-A53e (2.0 GHz) according to the ARM big.LITTLE GTS architecture.

The more powerful Cortex-A57s were not satisfied with their high power consumption, which leads to increased heating of the mobile device. It is believed that the new Cortex-A53e quartet is only slightly inferior to the Cortex-A57 in terms of performance, but it uses up battery power more economically. The graphics processing functions are taken over by the built-in ARM Mali-T628 MP4 accelerator with four execution units. In addition to the memory controller (LPDDR3, 1600 MHz), a "sensor hub" is implemented on the Kirin 930 chip - a Smart i3 coprocessor, a Tensilica HiFi 3 audio processor, an LTE modem, etc. The basic configuration of the smartphone is complemented by 3 GB of RAM.

On synthetic tests AnTuTu Benchmark 46 389 "virtual parrots" were measured out to the flagship. Approximately the same number of "birds" are estimated, for example, a 5.5-inch smartphone and an "intermediate" flagship.

Vellamo's benchmarks, including multicore and metal benchmarks, confirmed the P8's flagship efforts.

On the Epic Citadel visual test with variable settings of High Performance, High Quality and Ultra High Quality, the average frame rate changed as follows - 58.1 fps, 54.8 fps and 31.0 fps.

On the universal gaming benchmark 3DMark, where the smartphone was tested on the Sling Shot and Ice Storm Unlimited sets, the results were 184 and 7,725, respectively. Of course, there are no problems with games, including "heavy" ones, on the P8.

The total number of points earned by the flagship on the Base Mark OS II cross-platform benchmark was 1,146 and was almost twice the result for.

The GRA_UL00 model is equipped with 16 GB of internal memory, of which approximately 10.4 GB is available. To expand the available storage, a slot is provided for microSD / HC / XC memory cards with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. Recall that the slot where the memory card is inserted is universal, and, having occupied it, you will have to sacrifice the installation of a second SIM card (nanoSIM format). Support for USB-OTG technology allows you to connect, for example, USB-drives.

In the SIM card settings, it is proposed to determine which of the subscriber identification modules will work with 4G / 3G networks, which one will be used for data transmission, and which one for voice calls and messages. Thanks to two separate radio modules, Dual SIM Dual Active mode is supported, when both SIM cards work at the same time. Here's what exactly is said about support for 4G networks: LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbps) FDD: Band 1, 3, 4, 7; TDD: Band 38, 39, 40, 41. Recall that the 7th is especially relevant for Russia. frequency range(2600 MHz).

To improve performance, Wi-Fi + settings should enable smart switching between Wi-Fi networks and mobile data networks. But the Signal + technology allows the smartphone to choose the most optimal communication mode. This is made possible by quickly switching from one part of the dual antenna to another. In addition, according to the developers, in this case, the quality of the connection is also improved while driving at high speeds (up to 300 km / h).

As for the other communication capabilities of the flagship, there is Bluetooth 4.1, but only one frequency range is supported for Wi-Fi 802.11n (2.4 GHz). And there is no NFC interface in this model. Well, the implementation of Wi-Fi Direct allows the smartphone to communicate with another device without routers and hotspots.

GPS, GLONASS and BDS satellite systems are used for positioning and navigation. At the same time, according to the AndroiTS GPS Test test program, signals from GPS satellites are most readily sought. A-GPS mode is also available.

The capacity of the flagship's non-removable lithium-polymer battery is 2,680 mAh (10.19 Wh; 3.8 V). Recall that the simplified version is content with a battery of only 2,200 mAh. But even this difference makes itself felt.

So, on battery tests AnTuTu Tester, the flagship earned 7,874 points (against 4,517). But the test set of videos in MP4 format and Full HD-quality at full brightness spun continuously for about 7 hours.

In the settings "Energy Saving", which also provides for optimization and monitoring of energy consumption, there are already four modes - "Energy Saving", "Smart", "Performance" and "Moderate". The latter mode is recommended for long-term use of the device, but "Energy Saving" turns the smartphone into a regular "dialer" (only calls and messages). In turn, "Smart" is good for balanced day-to-day work, while "Performance" is required for games and online videos.

Software

The flagship is operated by an operating theater Android systems 5.0, the interface of which is replaced by the proprietary shell EMUI 3.1 with support for OTA (Over-The-Air) updates.

The same version of the launcher is installed on the simplified version of the flagship. Recall that the shell does not have a separate application menu, and the shortcuts of all programs are simply collected on the desktops.

Speech recognition is useful for finding a new smartphone if it's nearby, or for making a call when your hands are busy. Previously, in the "Speech Recognition" section, you should select the activation words (recommended - Okay emy) and practice their pronunciation three times, as well as decide on the type of ringing signal and language (so far, alas, only English). For example, when looking for a phone, after the words to activate it, you must say: "Where are you?". In response, you will hear from the smartphone - "I am here", while the device will flash with a flash and a screen, displaying colored balls on it.

A screenshot on the P8 is easy to take by simply tapping the screen twice with your knuckle. To do this, in the "Smart screenshot" section, activate the appropriate option. In addition, if you draw, again with your knuckle, a closed loop (counterclockwise), you get a snapshot of a limited area of ​​the screen. It is proposed to leave this area of ​​arbitrary shape (as it is), or to make it square or elliptical. In addition to everything, the resulting image can be edited directly on the smartphone.

Purchase, conclusions

In general, the new flagship from Huawei successfully fit into the image family of smartphones R. In its ultra-thin all-metal case with a high-quality screen, a rather powerful filling is hidden. At the same time, for each of the two SIM-cards there was a place for a separate radio module. Of course, the advanced main camera deserves special attention in this smartphone. Unfortunately, you have to pay for the expansion of the built-in memory with a second SIM-card.

I was somewhat surprised by the lack of an NFC interface in the flagship device and support for the 5 GHz band for Wi-Fi 802.11n. In addition, I would like to see the possibility of fast charging. As already noted, it can hardly be considered an advantage to install a second nanoSIM card, as an alternative to expanding the built-in memory. .

The Huawei P8 smartphone is offered at a recommended price of 29,990 rubles, so it looks more advantageous in comparison with 2-SIM flagships, for example, Samsung Galaxy S6 Duos or (Duos), for which, according to Yandex.Market, on average they ask for 39,990 rubles and 42,320 rubles, respectively. However, taking into account all the possibilities of these elegant devices, they cost that much money (taking into account the ruble exchange rate, of course). In short, finding a worthy competitor for the P8 isn't easy. A more real competitor may, for example, be "thin and iron", which also belongs to the fashion line. Of course, the filling is simpler, but the average price is also lower - 24,879 rubles.

The results of the review of the smartphone Huawei P8

Pros:

• Ultra-thin all-metal body
• High-quality screen
• Powerful filling
• Advanced OIS camera
• Expandable memory
• Two radio modules for SIM-cards

Minuses:

• Lack of NFC interface
• No 5GHz band support for Wi-Fi 802.11n
• Fast charging is not provided
• Alternative installation of either a second nanoSIM card or microSD

Huawei P8 continues the glorious tradition of the flagship smartphone line. This gadget was announced in a big way in April 2015. He successfully preserved the design developments of his predecessors, and also acquired a completely new hardware.

Appearance and ergonomics

Huawei P8's high-quality all-metal body immediately inspires respect. The Huawei designers claim to be inspired by hand-made bookbinding. The result is a kind of classic with a modern twist. And if the front of the smartphone looks recognizable, then the back has undergone changes. The rear panel has lost its glass, but has improved ergonomics thanks to slightly roughened aluminum. Now prints will not actively collect on the case. Emphasis was placed on practicality and grace at the same time. At the same time, the device is as compact as possible, and the build quality is at a truly high level. P8 dimensions: height - 145 mm, width - 72 mm, thickness - 6.4 mm, weight - 145 g. Case color: silver, champagne, black.

Display

The Huawei P8 uses a 5.2-inch IPS screen. The viewing angles are maximum here, and the picture quality is always excellent. Almost natural color reproduction is pleasing to the eye, and Full resolution HD at this size creates amazing detail. You can adjust the colors yourself. The automatic brightness control, which does an excellent job with its duties, is pleasantly surprising. The anti-glare coating is not satisfactory, since the information remains readable in the sun.

Iron and performance

The Huawei P8 smartphone is equipped with a progressive 64-bit Kirin 930 processor with eight cores (Cortex-A53) and a maximum frequency of 2000 MHz. It uses the Mali-T628 MP4 graphics accelerator, as well as 3 GB of RAM. The user is given only 16 GB for file storage, which is very small for a flagship. At the same time, only 10 GB is actually available. MicroSD cards up to 256 GB can be used. EMUI 3.1 acts as an exclusive shell, and the smartphone is controlled using the very popular Android 5.0 OS.

The filling turned out to be quite productive. So, in the AnTuTu test, the P8 gadget manages to score 45,000 points. The speed of the device is felt not only during everyday use, but also when launching serious games. For example, projects of the AAA class (WoT, GTA, Asphalt 8) work with high speed and maximum effects. In Ice Storm Extreme, the device scores 5700 points.

Communication and sound

It is worth noting that Huawei P8 supports all domestic bands LTE networks... It can also work on HSDPA and GSM networks. Of the wireless modules, Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n 2.4 GHz stand out. The device receives a signal very confidently, and any network is well received. Able to please and the clear sound of the spoken speaker. As for the multimedia speaker, its volume is not the most impressive, but the sound is clear and clear.

Camera

During the presentation of Huawei P8, a lot of attention was paid to the new generation 13-megapixel camera. Sony's sensor is now four-color (RGBW). Optical stabilization appeared, which was not available in smartphones of this series. A dedicated DSLR processor is dedicated to this. Aperture 2.0 is useful for night shooting. The camera menu is extremely convenient, there are a lot of useful modes. The focus point can also be changed. There is an interesting mode "Drawing with light", which is relevant in the evening. The camera boasts great macro. Even at night, the smartphone takes great pictures, and even more so in the daytime. You can only record videos in Full HD, since 4K is not supported. The front-facing 8-megapixel camera with a fixed focus distance will also delight. Mode "Beautification" will help get rid of skin imperfections.

conclusions

The Huawei P8 may not turn out to be a perfect flagship, but it has stepped forward much further than its predecessor in literally everything. For 30,000 rubles (at the start of sales), the user gets a truly beautiful smartphone with a good filling and two excellent cameras. This is the optimal solution for those who still do not have enough or feel sorry for money for top-end solutions from Samsung and Apple.

Pros:

• Performance.
• Screen.
• Cameras (front and main).
• Build quality.
• Price.

Minuses:

• Lack of NFC.
• Little internal memory.

Specifications Huawei P8

General characteristics
Model	Huawei P8, GRA-UL00, GRA-TL00, GRA-CL00, GRA-L09, GRA-UL10, GRA-TL10, GRA-CL10
Date of announcement / start of sales	April 2015 / April 2015
Dimensions (edit)	144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4 mm.
The weight	144 BC
Body colors	Titanium Gray, Mystic Champagne (16 GB model) Carbon Black, Prestige Gold (64 GB model)
Number and type of SIM-cards	2 nano-SIM, alternating mode
Operating system	Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat), v5.0.2 (Lollipop)
Communication standard in 2G networks	GSM 850/900/1800/1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 CDMA 800
Communication standard in 3G networks	HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO / TD-SCDMA
Communication standard in 4G networks	LTE band 1 (2100), 3 (1800), 7 (2600), 38 (2600), 39 (1900), 40 (2300), 41 (2500)
Display
Screen type	IPS-NEO LCD, 16 million colors
Screen size	5.2 inch
Screen resolution	1080 x 1920 @ 424 ppi
Multitouch	yes, up to 10 simultaneous touches
Screen protection	Gorilla Glass 3
Sound
3.5mm jack	there is
FM radio	there is
Additionally	24-bit / 192kHz audio, active noise cancellation
Data transfer
USB	microUSB v2.0, USB Host
Satellite navigation	GPS (A-GPS), GLONASS / BDS
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth	v4.1, A2DP, LE
Internet connection	LTE, Cat4; HSDPA, 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps, EDGE, GPRS
NFC	Yes
Platform
CPU	HiSilicon Kirin 930/935 Octa-core (4 × 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4 × 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU	Mali-T628 MP4
RAM	3GB RAM
Inner memory	16/64 GB
Supported memory cards	microSD up to 256GB
Camera
Camera	13 MP, f / 2.0, 28mm, autofocus, OIS, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
Camera functions	1.12 µm pixel size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face / smile detection, panorama, HDR
Video recording	[email protected]
Front-camera	8 MP, f / 2.4, 26mm, 1080p
Battery
Battery type and capacity	Li-Po 2680 mAh, non-removable
Additionally
Sensors	Illumination, approximation, gyroscope, compass, accelerometer
Browser	HTML5
Email	IMAP, POP3, SMTP
Other	- XviD / MP4 / H.264 player - MP3 / eAAC + / WMA / WAV / Flac player - Document viewer - Organizer - Voice dialing, voice commands
Equipment
Standard complete set	smartphone, headphones, charger, USB cable, instruction

Prices

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