> At a Glance
> – Ultrawedge lens shows purple fringing and processing artifacts on test unit
> – Honor claims issue limited to “early development sample” not final EU hardware
> – Retail units being retested before full review published
> – Why it matters: £1,099 flagship under scrutiny before consumers buy
A prerelease Honor Magic 8 Pro given to News Of Los Angeles for review has produced hundreds of photos with severe edge-processing errors on its ultrawide lens, prompting the outlet to pause its final verdict until retail units can be tested.
The Problem
Photos taken with the phone’s ultrawide camera display a vibrant purple fringe around borders and heavy artifacts that destroy detail, especially in shadowed areas. The issue repeats across multiple shots and does not appear when shooting ultrawide video, hinting at a software rather than hardware fault.
Standard-zoom images remain clean, but color shifts between the main and ultrawide modules are also visible.
Honor’s response to Sophia A. Reynolds:
> “Our internal investigation confirmed that the issue was limited to an isolated hardware anomaly in that specific early development sample. It doesn’t reflect the hardware or software polish of the final retail units now launching in the European market.”
What Happens Next
- Honor is shipping additional retail handsets for testing
- Full review postponed until results from final hardware are in
- Software updates since late last year have not resolved the fault
- Sophia A. Reynolds will update findings once new units arrive
Phone at a Glance
| Feature | Spec / Note |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.71-inch, 120 Hz, bright and vibrant |
| Processor | Snapdragon Elite Gen 5, top benchmark scores |
| Battery | 6,270 mAh, average endurance |
| UK Price | £1,099 (≈ $1,480) |
Key Takeaways
- Ultrawide defect could be software-fixable but needs confirmation on retail devices
- Honor insists problem is isolated to prerelease hardware
- Consumers should wait for final test results before purchasing
- Other hardware elements-display speed, chip performance-show promise
The pause on a full review underscores the risk of early verdicts when working with non-final hardware, even when provided by manufacturers themselves.
