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A new challenger is set to enter the flagship race sooner than you think, bringing a new threat to Samsung and Google

The battle for your next phone is already heating up, as Honor might disrupt the smartphone calendar.

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By Tsveta Ermenkova

Published: Aug 22, 2025, 7:57 AM

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Android Honor

Honor Magic 7 Pro. | Image credit – PhoneArena

Fall always signals a new flagship phone season, and this year is no different. September will bring the debut of the iPhone 17 lineup, followed closely by a wave of new releases from China in October. Among those, Honor’s next big launch might actually land earlier than expected.

The Honor Magic 8 series has already been the subject of plenty of leaks, and now we are getting a clearer picture of when it might arrive.

A new leak suggests Honor will unveil the Magic 8 lineup in mid-October, which would be slightly ahead of the Magic 7 launch timeline – that one was announced in late October and went on sale in China in early November 2024.

A new challenger is set to enter the flagship race sooner than you think, bringing a new threat to Samsung and Google

The new leak coming from China suggests Honor might launch its next flagship earlier in its home country. | Screenshot by PhoneArena

And as usual, the global launch is expected to trail behind the China debut, likely happening in early 2026. The upcoming Magic 8 family is rumored to include four models: the standard Magic 8, the Magic 8 Pro, a new smaller Magic 8 Mini, and the top-tier Magic 8 Ultra. But don’t expect the Mini and Ultra anytime soon, as they are tipped for an early 2026 debut in China. First up, we will likely see just the regular Magic 8 and the Pro version.

The Pro models have been regulars on our best phones list, and chances are the next generation could keep that streak going. Availability in the US is still a sticking point with Honor, but if you are open to importing once the global launch happens, the Magic 8 series could stand as a solid alternative to the upcoming Galaxy S26, the next OnePlus 15, or even the freshly launched Pixel 10 series.

Would you consider the Honor Magic 8 Pro once the global launch happens?

Definitely, looks worth it.

36.36%

Maybe, depends on the price.

30.68%

No, I’d rather stick to Samsung/Google/OnePlus.

32.95%

Leaks so far hint at both exciting upgrades and one potential letdown. The whole lineup is expected to support wireless charging, but wired charging speeds might take a step back. Word is that the Magic 8 Pro will cap out at 90W wired charging, compared to the Magic 7 Pro’s 100W wired and 80W wireless speeds. Whether that downgrade is real or not is still up in the air, though.

Honor Magic 7 Pro Review: The Android flagship to beat?

Performance shouldn’t be an issue at all, since the new series is set to run on Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, which should deliver faster and smoother results than the current Snapdragon 8 Elite chip powering many of today’s top flagships.

Battery life could also get a serious boost. The Magic 7 Pro global version already packs a hefty 5270 mAh cell, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Honor pushes past 6,000 mAh with the new lineup.

And of course, cameras are another area to watch. Reports suggest the Magic 8 Pro will carry a triple-camera setup featuring:

A 50 MP main
A 50 MP ultra-wide
A 200 MP periscope telephoto

On paper, that is the same setup as the Magic 7 Pro, but the Magic 8 Pro is expected to swap in the OmniVision OV50Q sensor for its main shooter. That change alone could give it the edge to climb higher in our camera test rankings.

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Tsveta, a passionate technology enthusiast and accomplished playwright, combines her love for mobile technologies and writing to explore and reveal the transformative power of tech. From being an early follower of PhoneArena to relying exclusively on her smartphone for photography, she embraces the immense capabilities of compact devices in our daily lives. With a Journalism degree and an explorative spirit, Tsveta not only provides expert insights into the world of gadgets and smartphones but also shares a unique perspective shaped by her diverse interests in travel, culture, and visual storytelling.

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