Honor Pad 8 review

Two 5MP cameras

The Pad 8 has two 5MP cameras, one on the back and another one on the display side. They appear to use identical sensors with an optical format of 1/5" and a pixel size of 1.12µm. Lenses have the same 27mm equivalent focal length and f/2.2 aperture, but only the rear camera features autofocus. Both cameras support 1080p video recording at 30fps and there's no video stabilization.

The camera app is the standard Huawei/Honor app, but with a more basic feature set to account for the device's limited hardware. You're all but guaranteed to be using both hands for taking photos, and the UI works well in either orientation.

Photos out of the rear camera are decent for the class and its use cases. We're getting okay contrast, but limited dynamic range. Colors are good most of the time, but can be lacking in saturation on occasion. Sharpness and detail are, well, about alright for a 5MP tablet camera.

Rear camera samples

Video quality is in the same vein - nothing fancy, but usable if there's no better option.

Selfies are also best described as satisfactory - detail is good, colors are muted but mostly accurate, and dynamic range is limited. Selfie video capture is good enough for those video calls, and that's about all you need.

Selfie samples: Photo • Video framegrab

Verdict

The Honor Pad 8 boasts one of the biggest displays in the market segment and some of the nicest speakers, packed in a body with an upmarket build. The (comparatively) fast charging and the competent multi-window implementation are also strong points in its favor.

The Pad 8 is missing a microSD slot, which you'd find on the bulk of competitors, and that's possibly the largest omission on its spec sheet. The meh battery life and lack of cellular connectivity are easier to swallow on a device that's probably too big to leave the house often, while the chipset's lack of serious oomph doesn't hinder the tablet's use for less demanding applications.

At the time of writing, the Honor Pad 8 retails for €350 or just under INR 20K for a 6GB/128GB version or £270 in the UK (albeit for the 4GB/128GB spec). Its price in India makes it competitive in that market, and its sheer size gives it an edge for the right audience. In Europe, it's a touch pricier than similar mid-range offerings, but it could potentially justify the small premium with the list immediately below.

Pros

• Large display.
• Premium-level look and feel.
• Fast battery charging for the class.
• Loud and high-quality speaker system.
• Android 12, full Google app suite, useful multi-window functionality.

Cons

• Screen is not very high quality - has a contrast shift when viewing it at an angle.
• No memory card slot.
• Battery life is not great.
• Chipset on the low end of the performance spectrum for the class.