Honor 8S : The budget smartphone segment welcomed a stylish new contender yesterday as Honor unveiled the 8S at a launch event in Mumbai. In a market where low prices often mean compromising on aesthetics, Honor has managed to craft a device that looks and feels significantly more expensive than its price suggests. The 8S represents Honor’s renewed commitment to the Indian market, targeting young consumers who refuse to settle for boring designs just because their budgets are tight.
Design That Defies Its Price Point
The moment you hold the Honor 8S, it becomes clear that this isn’t your typical budget smartphone. The device features a unique dewdrop display design with minimal bezels that creates an impressive screen-to-body ratio for this price segment. The back panel uses a special coating technique that creates gradient reflections as light hits it from different angles, giving it a premium appearance that catches eyes.
Available in three striking colors – Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, and the gorgeous Aurora Purple – each variant showcases Honor’s attention to aesthetic details. The curved edges and slim 8.45mm profile make it comfortable to hold for extended periods, while the lightweight 146-gram body ensures it never feels burdensome in pockets or bags.
Display Quality That Surprises
The 5.71-inch HD+ display might not break resolution records, but Honor has optimized it brilliantly for everyday use. The IPS LCD panel delivers vibrant colors and decent viewing angles that make content consumption enjoyable. Whether you’re scrolling through Instagram, watching YouTube videos, or reading articles, the display remains clear and readable.
What impressed me during hands-on testing was the display’s brightness levels. Even under direct sunlight, the screen remains visible enough for comfortable use. The dewdrop notch housing the front camera is unobtrusive, maximizing screen real estate without resorting to complicated pop-up mechanisms that could fail over time.
Performance Tuned for Real-World Use
Powering the Honor 8S is the MediaTek Helio P35 processor, a chipset that prioritizes efficiency over raw power. Paired with 3GB of RAM, the phone handles daily tasks like messaging, social media browsing, and light gaming without frustrating slowdowns. While you won’t be playing graphics-intensive games at maximum settings, popular titles like Subway Surfers and Candy Crush run smoothly.
The 32GB internal storage might seem limited, but the dedicated microSD card slot supports expansion up to 512GB. This thoughtful inclusion means users don’t have to choose between dual SIM functionality and storage expansion – a common compromise in budget phones.
Camera Capabilities Beyond Expectations
The single 13MP rear camera might raise eyebrows in an era of multiple camera setups, but Honor has focused on optimizing this sensor to deliver reliable results. In good lighting, photos show impressive detail and accurate colors. The AI scene detection recognizes common scenarios and adjusts settings accordingly, helping casual photographers capture better shots without manual tweaking.
The 5MP front camera includes beauty modes that enhance selfies subtly without making faces look artificial. Portrait mode uses software algorithms to create background blur, and while edge detection isn’t perfect, results are acceptable for social media sharing.
Software Experience That Stays Clean
Running Android 9 Pie with Honor’s EMUI 9.0 skin, the 8S offers a surprisingly clean software experience. Bloatware is minimal compared to other budget phones, with most pre-installed apps being genuinely useful. The interface feels smooth thanks to optimization work, with animations that don’t stutter despite the modest hardware.
Honor includes useful features like digital wellbeing tools, app twin functionality for running multiple social media accounts, and a simple mode that enlarges icons and simplifies the interface for elderly users. These thoughtful additions show Honor understands its diverse user base.
Battery Life That Lasts
The 3,020mAh battery might not sound impressive on paper, but efficient hardware and software optimization ensure it lasts through a typical day. Moderate users report ending their day with 20-30% charge remaining, while heavy users might need a top-up by evening. The included 5W charger takes about two hours for a full charge – not fast by modern standards but acceptable at this price point.
Battery-saving modes help extend usage when needed, intelligently limiting background processes and reducing screen brightness. The phone learns usage patterns over time, optimizing power delivery to frequently used apps while restricting rarely opened ones.
Value Proposition That Makes Sense
Honor has priced the 8S at ₹6,999, positioning it perfectly in the ultra-budget segment. At this price, finding a phone that doesn’t look or feel cheap is genuinely challenging, making the 8S stand out from the crowd. The combination of attractive design, decent performance, and reliable basics creates a package that overdelivers for its asking price.
Launch offers include a one-time screen replacement warranty and cashback offers through various payment partners. Honor has also partnered with Reliance Jio to bundle data benefits worth ₹2,200, adding further value to the proposition.
Honor 8S The Final Word
The Honor 8S proves that budget phones don’t have to be boring. By focusing on design aesthetics and optimizing available hardware rather than chasing specification numbers, Honor has created a device that appeals to style-conscious buyers with limited budgets. While it won’t satisfy power users or mobile gaming enthusiasts, the 8S perfectly serves its intended audience – young users seeking their first smartphone or anyone needing a reliable secondary device that doesn’t embarrass them in public.