Honor Magic 8 Pro: The Brand Challenges the iPhone 17 Pro in Night Photography… From a Helicopter
Honor is setting the stage for its upcoming major launch with a bold marketing move: a comparative video filmed… from a helicopter.
This promotional clip, released on Chinese social media, puts the Magic 8 Pro directly up against Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro in an extreme test of night photography and stabilization.
Magic 8 Pro & iPhone 17 Pro: Nighttime Duel at High Altitude
The sequence features a brand representative capturing aerial views of a brightly lit cityscape, camera in hand, while the helicopter shakes in the air.
The message is clear: showcasing the stability and low-light sensitivity of the Magic 8 Pro.
And the results are striking:
- Details from afar—facades, lights, textures—appear sharper and more defined on the Magic 8 Pro.
- Colors are more vibrant, without excessive saturation.
- The image processing AI kicks in after shooting to enhance sharpness and clarity, without compromising the surrounding light.
The iPhone 17 Pro, true to its philosophy, remains more neutral and balanced, prioritizing consistency over the “wow” factor.
A High-End Photophone Technical Specifications
Honor has not disclosed everything yet, but official teasers confirm an ambitious camera setup:
- 200 megapixels (periscope telephoto lens, 1/1.4” sensor, f/2.6),
- 50 megapixels main (1/1.31”, f/1.6),
- 50 megapixels ultra-wide angle.
This configuration is designed for professional versatility, directly competing with top players like Apple and Samsung.
Under the hood, rumors suggest a 7,200 mAh silicon-carbon battery with 120W fast charging—a potential record for a flagship of this size.
The Stakes: Repositioning Honor in the Premium Segment
The timing is no coincidence: the Honor Magic 8 series will be officially presented later today, just weeks after the international launch of the iPhone 17 Pro. This spectacular yet precise helicopter test aims to solidify Honor’s return to the big leagues.
The dual objective is:
- to demonstrate that the Chinese brand now masters night photography, a domain long dominated by Apple,
- and to prove that Honor’s hardware and software innovations can compete with Western giants.
It’s hard to judge without a complete test, but one thing is certain: Honor is making a strong impact, both technically and in terms of marketing.
If the promises of the Magic 8 Pro hold true—particularly regarding dynamic range, stabilization, and urban light management—the model could become the go-to Android photophone by the end of the year.
And even though Apple maintains a consistency advantage, Honor is showing that it is no longer afraid to measure itself directly against the king of the premium segment.
