HONOR 8X MAX Review: A Giant Phone with Compromises?

🔍 Introduction

The HONOR 8X MAX is a budget-friendly phablet (phone + tablet) with a massive 7.12-inch display, a 5000mAh battery, and a Snapdragon 660 processor. Released in 2018, it targeted users who wanted a big screen for media consumption without breaking the bank.

But is it still worth buying in 2024? Let’s break it down honestly—no sugarcoating!

🏗️ Build Quality & Design

✅ Pros:

• Large screen-to-body ratio (90%) for immersive viewing.
• Aluminum frame gives a premium feel for a budget phone.
• 3.5mm headphone jack (rare in modern phones!).

🛑 Cons:

• Plastic back feels cheap and attracts fingerprints. 👎
• No water resistance—keep it away from spills! 💦
• Heavy (210g)—not ideal for one-handed use.

Manufactured in: China 🇨🇳 (by HONOR, a former Huawei sub-brand)

📺 Display Quality

✅ Pros:

• 7.12-inch IPS LCD—great for videos & gaming.
• 2244×1080 resolution (350ppi)—sharp enough for daily use.
• 72% NTSC color gamut—decent color accuracy.

🛑 Cons:

• TFT LCD (not AMOLED)—blacks look gray, poor contrast. 👎
• No high refresh rate (stuck at 60Hz)—feels outdated.
• Low brightness (450 nits max)—hard to see in sunlight. ☀️

🚀 Performance & Hardware

✅ Pros:

• Snapdragon 660 (Octa-core)—handles daily tasks smoothly.
• 4GB RAM + 64/128GB storage—expandable via microSD (up to 256GB).
• Dual speakers—louder than most budget phones.

🛑 Cons:

• Outdated chipset (2017)—struggles with heavy apps & games. 🎮
• No 5G or Wi-Fi 6—only Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
• Bluetooth 4.2 (slow & inefficient)—no aptX HD for better audio.

🎮 Gaming Performance

• PUBG Mobile: Medium settings @ 30fps (drops in intense scenes).
• Genshin Impact: Low settings @ 20-25fps (unplayable).
• Call of Duty Mobile: Medium @ 40fps (manageable).

Verdict: ❌ Not for hardcore gamers.

📸 Camera Review

✅ Pros:

• 16MP main camera (f/2.0)—decent daylight shots.
• 2MP depth sensor—helps with portrait mode.
• 8MP front camera—okay for selfies.

🛑 Cons:

• No Night Mode—terrible low-light performance. 🌙
• No OIS or EIS—shaky 1080p videos. 🎥
• Overprocessed HDR—washed-out colors.

Sample Opinions:

• “Daytime photos are fine, but night shots are garbage.” – User on Reddit
• “Selfies look soft, like an old budget phone.” – Tech Forum User

🔋 Battery & Charging

✅ Pros:

• 5000mAh battery—lasts 1.5 days with moderate use.
• Good standby drain—efficient EMUI optimization.

🛑 Cons:

• No fast charging (10W max)—takes 3+ hours to charge. ⏳
• No wireless charging—expected at this price, but still missing.

📲 Software & Updates

✅ Pros:

• EMUI 8.2 (Android 8.1 Oreo)—smooth and bloat-free.

🛑 Cons:

• No Android updates since 2018—🚨 Security risk!
• No Google Play Services (due to Huawei ban)—relying on Huawei AppGallery (limited apps).

📶 Connectivity & Extras

✅ Pros:

• Dual SIM + microSD—flexible storage options.
• Dual-band Wi-Fi—stable connections.

🛑 Cons:

• No NFC—can’t use Google Pay. 💳
• Bluetooth 4.2 is slow—laggy with wireless earbuds.

🔄 Competition Comparison

Verdict: ❌ Outdated in 2024—better options exist.

🏆 Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?

✅ Who Should Buy?

• Media lovers who want a big screen for videos.
• Budget users who don’t care about gaming or cameras.

❌ Who Should Avoid?

• Gamers (weak GPU).
• Photography lovers (bad low-light performance).
• Those needing updates (stuck on Android 8.1).

💡 Final Rating: 5.5/10

🟢 Good for: Battery, screen size.
🛑 Bad for: Performance, cameras, software support.

📌 Better Alternatives:

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 (better AMOLED, faster chip).
• Samsung Galaxy A14 (longer software support).

Would I buy it in 2024? No. Unless you really need a cheap big-screen phone, there are better options. 🚀

🔹 What do YOU think? Have you used the HONOR 8X MAX? Share your thoughts below! 👇