Huawei Mate 8 Unveiling Features Pricing and Pros & Cons

Introduction to Huawei Mate 8

The Huawei Mate 8, launched in November 2015, is a device that exemplified Huawei's ambition to capture the premium smartphone market. Known for its remarkable performance and elegant design, the Mate 8 was, at the time, a testament to the innovative engineering coming out of Huawei's manufacturing lines. This overview provides an in-depth exploration of its key features, capabilities, and lasting impact on the smartphone landscape.

Design and Build

The Huawei Mate 8 boasts a sophisticated design crafted from premium materials. With dimensions of 157.1 x 80.6 x 7.9 mm and a weight of 185 grams, it offers a well-balanced feel in the hand. The phone’s construction includes a glass front protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and a sleek aluminum back framed by aluminum edges. Its ergonomic design enhanced by its modern aesthetics offered a solid grip, making it both durable and comfortable to handle.

Display Quality

Featuring a 6.0-inch IPS-NEO LCD screen, the Mate 8 delivered vivid and clear visuals with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. The display's 16:9 aspect ratio with a pixel density of approximately 368 ppi ensured detailed and sharp images. The robust Gorilla Glass 3 protection added another layer of durability, making the device resilient to scratches and minor drops. This screen size and quality positioned the Mate 8 as an excellent choice for media consumption and gaming.

Performance and Hardware

At its core, the Mate 8 is powered by Huawei's Kirin 950 chipset fabricated on the 16 nm process technology, ensuring efficient performance. It houses an octa-core CPU composed of four Cortex-A72 cores clocked at 2.3 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.8 GHz, paired with a Mali-T880 MP4 GPU. This combination provided smooth multitasking capabilities and robust performance for both everyday tasks and resource-heavy applications. The device was offered with options for either 3GB or 4GB of RAM depending on the storage configuration (32GB, 64GB, or 128GB), with expandable storage via a microSDXC card.

Camera Capabilities

The Huawei Mate 8 camera setup was impressive for its time, highlighting a 16 MP rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture. Equipped with phase detection autofocus (PDAF), optical image stabilization (OIS), and a dual-LED dual-tone flash, it delivered quality photos with good detail and dynamic range. The camera also supported video recording at 1080p at 60fps. On the front, the 8 MP selfie camera with an f/2.4 aperture and 26mm wide-angle capabilities allowed users to capture high-quality selfies and sharp video recordings at 1080p at 30fps.

Battery Life and Efficiency

Powering the Mate 8 is a non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery, which at the time offered excellent endurance. Notably, its battery life can support up to 528 hours of standby on 3G and around 98 hours of music play. Fast charging capabilities with an 18W wired charger could lead to a battery charge of 37% in just 30 minutes, aligning with the demands of an on-the-go lifestyle.

Software and Features

Running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat, the device utilized Huawei's custom EMUI 4 user interface. Key features included a suite of sensors, such as a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, barometer, and compass, enhancing both the device's security and utility. Its connectivity suite was equally comprehensive, featuring Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, and GPS, expanding its functionality beyond just a communication device.

Network and Connectivity

The Mate 8 was built to support a vast range of network bands making it versatile across different regions. With comprehensive GSM / HSPA / LTE capabilities, the device could achieve speeds of up to 42.2/5.76 Mbps on HSPA and 300/50 Mbps on LTE cat6. This ensured swift data connectivity and seamless interaction with wireless networks, making it an optimal choice for travelers and professionals alike.

Audio and Multimedia

Multimedia consumption was a significant focus in the Mate 8's design. With a loudspeaker delivering clear audio at voice levels of up to 67dB, users could enjoy various media formats comfortably. The inclusion of a 3.5mm audio jack facilitated easy connection to headphones or external speakers. The phone also featured FM Radio functionality, providing access to a wide range of audio content without the need for an internet connection.

Color Variants and Models

The Huawei Mate 8 was available in several attractive color options, including Champagne Gold, Moonlight Silver, Space Gray, and Mocha Brown, allowing users to align their choice with personal style preferences. Different models such as NXT-AL10, NXT-CL00, NXT-DL00, NXT-TL00, NXT-L09, and NXT-L29 catered to varying market requirements, supporting region-specific network bands.

Market Performance and Legacy

At approximately 300 EUR at launch, the Huawei Mate 8 offered exceptional value against competing flagship devices. Its strong combination of performance, battery life, and design significantly strengthened Huawei’s presence in the international smartphone market. While discontinued now, the Mate 8’s influence persists as a beloved device by many, illustrating Huawei's capacity to deliver high-performance smartphones suitable for both personal and professional use.

Conclusion

The Huawei Mate 8 was an excellent representation of Huawei's strategic direction during its release period—a device that combined thoughtful design, robust hardware, and efficient software. It remains a key chapter in Huawei’s history, a point where it firmly established itself as a leader in the global smartphone arena. Despite newer models superseding it, the Huawei Mate 8's legacy continues to be felt, particularly among enthusiasts who prioritize quality, battery life, and performance.