Honor Play 8A Specs Prices Pros & Cons Unveiled

Design and Build

The Honor Play 8A features a sleek and lightweight design, with dimensions of 156.3 x 73.5 x 8 mm and a weight of only 150 grams, making it easy to handle and carry around. It sports a glass front with a plastic back and a plastic frame, giving it a modern look while maintaining cost-effectiveness. The device is available in four attractive colors - Black, Blue, Gold, and Red - allowing users to choose one that best suits their style.

Display

The device comes equipped with a 6.09-inch IPS LCD display that offers a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 79.2%. The display resolution is set at 720 x 1560 pixels, with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, providing a pixel density of about 282 ppi. This setup allows for vibrant colors and decent clarity, making it adequate for daily multimedia consumption such as watching videos and browsing the web.

Performance

Under the hood, the Honor Play 8A is powered by the Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 chipset, built on a 12 nm process. The octa-core CPU configuration, featuring 4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53, delivers balanced performance for routine tasks. The device also includes the PowerVR GE8320 GPU for handling graphics-intensive activities. Users can expect smooth operation for applications like social media, messaging, and light gaming.

Memory and Storage

The Honor Play 8A is available in two storage variants: 32GB and 64GB with 3GB of RAM, which allows for adequate multitasking and storage of essential apps and media. Additionally, the device features a dedicated microSDXC slot, providing users with the option to expand the storage further, accommodating additional media files and applications as needed.

Camera

For photography enthusiasts, the Honor Play 8A is equipped with a single 13 MP rear camera featuring an f/1.8 aperture and PDAF. The camera supports features such as LED flash, HDR, and panorama, allowing users to capture clear and vivid images. The device can record video at 1080p at 30fps. The front-facing camera sports an 8 MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, also capable of taking HDR photos and recording videos at 1080p at 30fps, making it suitable for selfies and video calls.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a non-removable 3020 mAh Li-Po battery. While it might not feature the largest capacity on the market, it is sufficient for a day's usage with moderate usage patterns, given the power-efficient nature of the Helio P35 chipset and the relatively lower screen resolution. Users can perform activities such as browsing, calling, and messaging without needing to recharge frequently.

Software and User Interface

The Honor Play 8A runs on Android 9.0 Pie with EMUI 9, offering a user-friendly interface with several customization options. EMUI provides additional features such as gesture navigation and split-screen multitasking, along with various pre-installed apps and system optimizations that enhance the overall user experience.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The device supports a range of connectivity options including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, ensuring reliable mobile connectivity across various network bands. It includes dual SIM support, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2, and FM radio for a complete communication experience. For navigation, the Honor Play 8A supports GPS, GLONASS, and BDS. Unfortunately, NFC is not supported on this model.

The Honor Play 8A also comes with essential sensors like an accelerometer and a proximity sensor, adding to its functionality. Audio configurations include a 3.5mm headphone jack and a loudspeaker, catering to standard audio connectivity needs.

Price and Value for Money

Priced at around 100 EUR, the Honor Play 8A provides a compelling value proposition for budget-conscious consumers. It offers a balanced mix of performance, design, and features at an affordable price point, making it an attractive option for first-time smartphone buyers or those seeking a reliable secondary device.