Huawei P8 - Specifications. Huawei P8 - Technical specifications Huawei p8 smartphone

Review of the Huawei P8 smartphone: a flagship with a body without protrusions

The tradition of organizing one big presentation for the release of new P series products originated with Huawei several years ago. However, before the P6, smartphones in this series were not particularly popular among the public, but with the release of the P7 model, it became clear that Huawei could, with good reason, claim a place next to such giants as Apple and Samsung. By the way, at the presentation quite often the manufacturer compared its new product with the current flagships of these companies.

Still from the presentation - comparison of dimensions of Huawei P8 and iPhone 6/6 plus. Focus on screen diagonal

A shot from the presentation - a knock against competitors whose cameras protrude from the body

It’s worth noting here that Huawei products are also cheaper, and there’s no doubt about the quality of their build for a long time.

Appearance

Huawei designers did a good job on the appearance of the Huawei P8. And not only over the smartphone itself, but also over the box in which it is sold. See what unpacking a smartphone looks like:

Unboxing Huawei P8

Really original placement. And it’s not just a matter of originality - this way it’s much more convenient to take out the smartphone and there’s no risk of dropping it.

Huawei P8 smartphone

The back and sides are made of metal.

Huawei P8 smartphone

There are a minimum of buttons on the case, only the power/lock button and the volume rocker on the right side.

The right side of the Huawei P8 smartphone

By the way, there is also a slot for nano-SIM and MicroSD memory cards (there are Huawei P8 models with a combined MicroSD+nano-SIM slot).

The bottom end of the Huawei P8 smartphone

The micro-USB connector is located at the bottom, and the headphone/headset output is at the top.

The top end of the Huawei P8 smartphone

By the way, the phone comes with a good headset for its class.

Screen

It’s good that Huawei pulled out of the “megapixel race” on time - the 5.2-inch Full-HD IPS screen of the P8 smartphone looks great in every sense. Color rendition, clarity, viewing angles, responsiveness - there’s nothing to complain about. By the way, the smartphone comes from the factory with a film glued on, which is not so easy to notice. This saves users who are worried about the safety of the screen from having to buy and apply film.

Software

Huawei P8 out of the box runs on Android 5 Lollipop OS, and the user interface is proprietary EMUI 3.1.

Only the most necessary programs are preinstalled, nothing superfluous.

The interface supports various themes that change not only the desktop wallpaper, but also the icons of standard applications.

Desktop view with different themes

All default themes

Like most major Chinese brands, the interface from Huawei takes all the best from both iOS and Android - for example, placing shortcuts for all applications at once on the desktop panels, and, at the same time, a convenient quick access menu and notification list.

Of the pre-installed applications, the most unusual is “Director”. It allows you to create videos shot on several smartphones from different angles at once. Of course, you won’t be able to use this function alone - you’ll have to call several friends with Android smartphones.

Performance

Huawei P8 cannot be called a record holder in terms of performance. On the one hand, the company can be congratulated - for a long time they have been making smartphones using their own processors, which are practically not inferior to their competitors. This is beneficial for the company and, as a result, for the consumer.

System information about the smartphone

On the other hand, the system does not always behave predictably. The 3D Mark benchmark, for example, produced a different result each time it was launched, and the difference between the results is difficult to reduce to an error:

Of course, even modern 3D games still run without problems on the Huawei P8, but on competitors’ flagships, it feels like the FPS value is still higher.

Testing Huawei P8 in benchmarks

One way or another, the most important thing for a smartphone, in our opinion, is a smooth interface that works without lags. The Huawei P8 has everything right with this, but even more powerful competitors sometimes suffer from annoying minor stuttering when scrolling through lists and desktop panels.

Camera

An impressive part of Huawei's presentation was dedicated to the camera. Perhaps its most important characteristics (besides the actual image quality, which you can evaluate in the gallery below) are an optical image stabilizer, macro shooting from 4 cm, a separate processor for image processing (like cameras), and various interesting functions - for example, lighting graffiti.

Clicking on a thumbnail will open a full-size image.

The only complaint I can make about the camera is that sometimes there are problems with fast focusing in dark rooms.

Battery

The manufacturer claims that the Huawei P8 smartphone “lives” a little longer than the Apple iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S6.

Still from the presentation - comparing the autonomy of Huawei P8, iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6

However, it is quite difficult to objectively verify this in practice (in comparison with competitors).

Battery testing in AnTuTu Tester and battery discharge graph in Android

Subjectively, Huawei P8, like other flagships, lasts a full day in average use mode.

Total

Huawei P8 is, first and foremost, a premium smartphone. With characteristics sufficient for a modern flagship and an excellent design, which, unlike its famous competitors, “doesn’t stick out anything.” Well, let's not forget that Huawei is a leading manufacturer of 3G/4G modems, and this is reflected in their smartphones - there are no complaints about the quality of reception and transmission.

	Huawei P8	Apple iPhone 6	Huawei Honor 6 Plus
Main screen	TFT IPS, 5.2’’ 1080x1920 pixels	TFT IPS, 4.7’’ 750x1334 pixels	TFT IPS 5.5’’ 1080x1920 pixels
CPU	HiSilicon Kirin 930 4x 2 GHz (A57) + 4x 1.5 GHz (A53)	Apple A8, 2x 1.38 GHz	HiSilicon Kirin 925 4x 1.8 GHz (A15) + 4x 1.3 GHz (A7)
Video processor	Mali-T628MP4	PowerVR GX6450MP4	Mali-T628
SIM card type	nano-SIM	nano-SIM	nano-SIM + micro-SIM
RAM	3 GB	1 GB	3 GB
Built-in memory	16 GB	16/64/128 GB	16/32 GB
Memory cards	MicroSD	No	MicroSD
WiFi	802.11 a/b/g/n	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac	802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth	4.1	4.0	4.0
Geolocation	GPS+GLONASS	GPS+GLONASS	GPS+GLONASS
Rear camera	13 MP	8 MP	2x 8 MP
Front-camera	8 MP	1.2 MP	8 MP
Dimensions	72.1 x 144.9 x 6.4 mm	67x138.1x6.9 mm	75.9x150.5x7.5 mm
Weight	144 g	129 g	165 g
Additionally	optical stabilization	NFC (Apple Pay), Lightning (USB 3.0), fingerprint sensor
Price	from 500 euros	from i 49 000	from i 26 000

Huawei P8– a phone from a Chinese manufacturer, whose production began back in 2015. The smartphone has an up-to-date mid-class processor, beautiful design and high-quality build. Due to the rectangular shape, it may not be convenient to hold in the palm of your hand; the corners will rest and cause inconvenience during prolonged use. The device is made of a monolithic metal body coated with a matte coating. On the top there is a headphone input and a microphone, on the bottom there is a speaker, a second microphone and a micro USB port for charging and pairing with other devices.

Two cameras with a high-quality matrix (8 megapixel front and 13 megapixel main) allow you to shoot photos and videos in high resolution. The Huawei P8 has optical video stabilization, which will reduce camera shake when shooting. 64-bit, 8-core mid-range processor HiSilicon Kirin 930, 4 cores 2.0 GHz + 4 cores 1.4 GHz. The Mali-T628 MP4 video accelerator will allow you to run undemanding applications and games at medium graphics settings. The performance is enough for comfortable use.

The device's antenna is hidden behind a plastic insert; modern communication standards and LTE (4G) are supported. The front panel is covered with protective glass and a 5.2-inch FullHD display with maximum viewing angles and a reserve of brightness, which will allow you to see the picture in sunlight outside. Modifications are available with 16 and 64 GB of internal memory, microSD (128 GB cards are supported), as well as 3 GB of RAM.

The disadvantage of the device is a 2680 mAh battery, which will allow you to work with the device for no more than a day at an average rate of use; if you use the energy saving mode, then more than a day, but with limited functionality. Also, don't count on support for firmware updates from the manufacturer. The equipment is standard: a USB cord for charging and connecting to other devices, a charging adapter and a headset.

The powerful hardware of the flagship Huawei P8 was packaged in an ultra-thin metal case, where there was also room for two SIM cards. One of the coolest features of this device was a camera with an RGBW sensor and optical stabilization. Vesti.Hi-tech figured out all the nuances of the elegant new product.

The premium device P8 from Huawei was presented in mid-April in London. According to IDC data for the last quarter, this Chinese corporation is one of the top three global smartphone manufacturers, so the next European premiere of its flagship quite transparently hints at where further expansion will be directed. Let us remind you that the flagship line (P8) also includes a device with an increased screen size - P8max and a lightweight version of the top-end smartphone -. It is interesting that the presentation of the premium new product was held in a modern center of fashion and art, thereby emphasizing the desired combination of style and functionality. Since the entire family of P flagships is considered fashionable, greater emphasis is placed on design (after all, there are also technologically advanced Mate flagships).

If suddenly you have absolutely no time, then here is a short text about the main strengths and weaknesses of Huawei P8, without technical details:

Specifications

• Model: GRA_UL00
• OS: Android 5.0 (Lollipop) with EUI 3.1 shell
• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 930 8-core 64-bit processor, ARM big.LITTLE GTS architecture (4 cores ARM Cortex-A53e, 2.0 GHz + 4 cores ARM Cortex-A53, 1.5 GHz), Smart i3 coprocessor for operation with sensors
• Graphics subsystem: ARM Mali-T628 MP4
• RAM: 3 GB (LPDDR3, 1600 MHz)
• Storage: 16 GB (approx. 10.4 GB available), microSDXC memory card slot (up to 128 GB)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.1, microUSB for charging/syncing, 3.5 mm headphone jack, USB-OTG
• Screen: capacitive, IPS, 5.2-inch diagonal, resolution 1920x1080 pixels, pixel density per inch 424 ppi, glove control
• Cameras: main - 13 MP RGBW sensor (Sony IMX278), f/2.0 aperture, 29 mm EGF, autofocus, optical stabilization, dual flash, 1080p@30 fps video recording, front - 8 MP (Sony IMX179 Exmor), f aperture /2.4, EGF 26 mm, video 1080p@30 fps
• Network: 2G, 3G (HSPA+, up to 42 Mbit/s), LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbit/s)
• SIM cards: nanoSIM (4FF format) + nanoSIM (4FF format)/microSD slots, Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA)
• Navigation: GPS/GLONASS/BDS, A-GPS
• Radio: FM tuner
• Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, light and proximity sensors
• Battery: non-removable, lithium polymer, 2,680 mAh (10.19 Wh; 3.8 V)
• Colors: silver, gold
• Dimensions: 144.9x72.1x6.4 mm
• Weight: 144 grams

Design, ergonomics

Huawei does not hide the fact that when creating the new flagship, drawing inspiration from traditional values, they did without avant-garde solutions. Thus, according to the creators, P8 design elements should evoke memories of the pages, spines and bindings of books.

The overture to this approach is the original plastic box with a translucent lid, and the process of unpacking the device is in some sense reminiscent of removing a book from a bookshelf.

The fact is that the smartphone, as well as its documentation and accessories (USB-microUSB cable, power adapter and headset), which are distributed in separate boxes, are inserted into the main package vertically, and not horizontally, as usual. In general, everything looks very stylish.

According to the developers, the body of the new flagship is made of a single piece of aluminum, while the thin back cover is made of steel, which further increases the rigidity of the frame.

The developers made the P8 not only one of the thinnest (only 6.4 mm), but also one of the lightest (weight - 144 g, which is about the same as the tiny iPhone 4 by today's standards) modern flagships. Indeed, for comparison: - 6.9 mm, 129 g; - 9.6 mm, 157 g; - 9.8 mm, 155 g; - 6.8 mm, 138 g. Note, by the way, that the thickness of the previous flagship is 6.5 mm. The new smartphone model GRA_UL00 is available in two colors: silver (Titanium Gray) and gold (Mystic Champagne). At the same time, the surface treatment does not hide the structure of the metal, and the rear panel made of steel pleasantly cools the hand.

In the upper part of the front panel, covered with protective glass, there is a cutout for a “conversational” microphone, to the left of which there are proximity and light sensors, and to the right - the front camera lens and a charging/event indicator.

On-screen control buttons for Back, Home, and Recent Apps are indicated by triangle, circle, and square icons. Their order can be easily changed in the settings by adding an icon to them to open the notification panel. The Huawei logo, by which the lightweight version of the smartphone can be easily distinguished from the flagship, is missing here under the screen. Generally speaking, the front view of the new product turned out to be quite faceless, which, given Huawei’s reverent attitude to design, is quite strange.

The left side edge of the body is empty,

and on the right one they have a volume rocker, a power/lock button, as well as two closed slots with trays, the lower of which accepts only nanoSIM cards, and the upper, combined one, is intended for the alternative installation of either a nanoSIM subscriber identification module or a microSD memory card. In this sense, it is more “omnivorous”, since it accepts nanoSIM and microSIM cards in different slots. Both locks on the lids can be opened with a special clip, which is included in the kit.

By the way, in profile, the flagship P8 can be distinguished from its fleshed-out version only by plastic jumpers (elements in the antenna design).

The upper end is occupied by a 3.5 mm connector for an audio headset and a hole for a second microphone (noise reduction), which is closer to the left edge of the flagship.

At the bottom end, between two groups of holes (six in each), a microUSB connector was placed, which is framed by the heads of two mounting screws.

Under the left group of holes, as before, hides the grille of the “multimedia” speaker, and under the right one – the “talk” microphone.

The holes intended for the main camera and dual flash were moved to the upper left part of the back cover and covered with a dark glass plate, which was carefully copied in . Only closer to the edge there is a flash (in the light version it’s the other way around).

From the inscription (in very small print) at the bottom of the steel panel, decorated with the Huawei logo, you can find out the model number, company name and country of manufacture.

Fixing the smartphone in the palm of your hand is accompanied by the pleasant coolness of the metal, without any “thrill” sensations. True, the dimensions of the case, mainly due to the diagonal of the screen (5.2 inches), do not allow us to talk about comfortable operation of the device with one hand. For this reason, the settings provide a number of tools to partially compensate for this shortcoming.

Screen, camera, sound

For the 5.2-inch display of the flagship smartphone, they chose Full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels), which, for obvious reasons, does not claim to be a technological record. Of course, Quad HD would sound cooler, but whether the game is worth the candle in this case is another matter. After all, with the existing diagonal and screen resolution, the dots per inch density is 424 dpi. In addition, the P8 uses an advanced matrix without an air gap between the layers of the screen manufactured by JDI - IPS-Neo with improved contrast (1500: 1). At the same time, the ratio of the display area to the area of ​​the entire front panel is 71.6%. The screen with fairly thin side frames is distinguished not only by good contrast, but also by color rendition close to natural, large viewing angles and a solid reserve of brightness.

The backlight level is adjusted either manually or automatically adjusted by the light sensor. At the same time, the latter works quite adequately. The capacitive touch screen recognizes up to ten simultaneous presses. The results of the AnTuTu Tester and Multi-Touch Test programs fully confirm this multi-touch. In the settings you can change the color temperature of the screen - make the colors warmer or, conversely, cooler. There is also an option to increase the sensitivity of the sensor for working with gloves. The good anti-glare properties of the screen allow you to use your smartphone outdoors without any problems, even on a sunny summer day. Note that the protective glass has an oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating on top.

The key features of the main camera based on the Sony IMX278 photo module are optical image stabilization, a 4-color RGBW sensor with a resolution of 13 megapixels, and a separate (not from the chipset) image processor from Altek. It’s also worth adding a lens with an effective focal length (EFL) of 29 mm and an f/2.0 aperture, as well as autofocus and dual LED flash. All this is aimed at creating conditions for obtaining high-quality contrast images in low light conditions. The maximum image resolution is 4160x3120 pixels (13 MP) with a classic aspect ratio (4:3) and 4160x2336 pixels (10 MP) for a widescreen frame (16:9). Examples of photos can be viewed.

In turn, the front camera, based on the 8-megapixel Sony IMX179 Exmor photo module, received a wide-angle lens with an EGF of 26 mm and an f/2.4 aperture. The maximum resolution here is 3264x2448 pixels (8 MP, 4:3) and 3264x1840 pixels (3.8 MP, 16:9), respectively. Both cameras can shoot in Full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels, 16:9) at a frame rate of 30 fps. All content is saved in MP4 container files (AVC - video, AAC - audio). Shooting with 4K resolution, as well as with an increased frame rate (for example, 60 fps), is not provided here.

In the Camera app, in addition to Photo, Video, and Beautify modes (for enhancing portraits), Time Lapse (for time-lapse photography) and Light mode (for shooting with a tripod in low light) are also available. . The latter, in particular, contains the presets “Light of Lanterns”, “Light Graffiti”, “Water” and “Stars”. It is clear that for such filming you need not only a certain place, but also a decent amount of time.

Along with image resolution and video quality, parameters such as saturation, contrast and brightness are adjusted in the camera settings. White balance and ISO adjustments are also available. Before and after shooting, it’s easy to use a set of filters like “Vintage”, “Monochrome”, etc. The front camera settings offer, in particular, the “Perfect Selfie” mode, where, along with the usual beautification effect, you can adjust additional parameters (“Smoothing”, “Whitening”, “Big eyes”, “Bright eyes”, “Narrow face” ).

Using the “Mirror” application, accessible from the front camera menu, it’s easy not only to look at yourself and your loved one, but also to play a little mischief by drawing a funny face on the “foggy” screen or even “breaking” the protective glass of your smartphone.

But the “Director” program allows you to feel like a professional so that, together with your friends (by connecting a maximum of three more smartphones), you can shoot your video simultaneously from four points, and then edit it into one clip.

The smartphone's "multimedia" speaker sounds pretty good, although its volume is not very high. Let us recall that the base Kirin 930 platform (Hi3630 chipset) uses the Tensilica HiFi 3 signal processor, licensed from Cadence Design Systems. So standard tools can play FLAC files created by audio compression codecs without loss of quality. But DTS (Digital Theater System) sound enhancement technology can only be used with headphones. In this sense, the included headset is useful not only as a short-wave antenna for the built-in FM tuner, which can only be listened to through headphones. Noise-reducing stereo recordings for Voice Recorder are provided using two microphones in Meeting, Interview, and Concert modes. By the way, the manufacturer claims that, for example, in strong winds, the smartphone is able to filter out up to 90% of the noise created by the air flow.

Filling, performance

The base platform of the flagship smartphone P8 is the HiSilicon Kirin 930 chip, made in compliance with 28 nm design standards. The 8-core processor used in it is composed of two clusters of 64-bit Cortex-A53 (1.5 GHz) and Cortex-A53e (2.0 GHz) cores according to the ARM big.LITTLE GTS architecture.

More powerful Cortex-A57s were not satisfactory due to their high power consumption, which leads to increased heating of the mobile device. It is believed that the new quartet of Cortex-A53e is only slightly inferior to Cortex-A57 in terms of performance, but uses battery power more economically. Graphics processing functions are taken over by the built-in ARM Mali-T628 MP4 accelerator with four execution units. In addition to the memory controller (LPDDR3, 1600 MHz), the Kirin 930 chip contains a “sensor hub” - a Smart i3 coprocessor, a Tensilica HiFi 3 audio processor, an LTE modem, etc. The basic configuration of the smartphone is complemented by 3 GB of RAM.

On synthetic tests AnTuTu Benchmark, the flagship was measured with 46,389 “virtual parrots”. For example, a 5.5-inch smartphone and an “intermediate” flagship are valued at approximately the same number of “feathered” ones.

Vellamo benchmarks, including multi-core (Multicore) and processor (Metal) tests, confirmed the flagship efforts of the P8.

On the Epic Citadel visual test, with variable settings of High Performance, High Quality and Ultra High Quality, the average frame rate changed as follows - 58.1 fps, 54.8 fps and 31.0 fps.

On the universal gaming benchmark 3DMark, where the smartphone was tested on the Sling Shot and Ice Storm Unlimited sets, results of 184 and 7,725 were recorded, respectively. Of course, there are no problems with games, including “heavy” ones, on the P8.

The total number of points earned by the flagship on the cross-platform benchmark Base Mark OS II was 1,146 and almost twice as high as the result for.

The GRA_UL00 model is equipped with 16 GB of internal memory, of which approximately 10.4 GB is available. To expand the existing storage, there is a slot designed for microSD/HC/XC memory cards with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB. Let us remind you that the slot where the memory card is inserted is universal, and if you occupy it, you will have to sacrifice the installation of a second SIM card (nanoSIM format). Support for USB-OTG technology allows you to connect, for example, USB drives.

In the SIM card settings, you are asked to decide which subscriber identification module will work with 4G/3G networks, which one will be used for data transfer, and which one will be used for voice calls and messages. Thanks to two separate radio modules, Dual SIM Dual Active mode is supported, when both SIM cards operate simultaneously. Here's what it specifically says about support for fourth generation networks: LTE Cat. 4 (up to 150 Mbit/s) FDD: Band 1, 3, 4, 7; TDD: Band 38, 39, 40, 41. Let us remind you that the 7th frequency range (2600 MHz) is especially relevant for Russia.

To improve speed, Wi-Fi+ settings should enable smart switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data networks. But Signal+ technology allows the smartphone to choose the most optimal communication mode. This is made possible by quickly switching from one part of the dual antenna to the other. In addition, according to the developers, in this case the quality of the connection improves while driving at high speeds (up to 300 km/h).

As for other communication capabilities of the flagship, there is Bluetooth 4.1, but only one frequency band is supported for Wi-Fi 802.11n (2.4 GHz). Yes, and there is no NFC interface in this model. Well, the implementation of Wi-Fi Direct allows the smartphone to communicate with another device without routers and hot spots.

GPS, GLONASS and BDS satellite systems are used to determine location and navigation. At the same time, if you believe the test program AndroiTS GPS Test, signals from GPS satellites are most readily searched for. A-GPS mode is also available.

The capacity of the flagship's non-removable lithium-polymer battery is 2,680 mAh (10.19 Wh; 3.8 V). Let us remind you that the simplified version is content with a battery of only 2,200 mAh. But even this difference makes itself felt.

Thus, in AnTuTu Tester battery tests, the flagship earned 7,874 points (versus 4,517). But the test set of videos in MP4 and Full HD quality played continuously at full brightness for about 7 hours.

In the “Energy Saving” settings, which also provides for optimization and monitoring of energy consumption, four modes are already offered - “Energy Saving”, “Smart”, “Performance” and “Moderate”. The latter mode is recommended for long-term use of the device, but “Energy Saving” turns the smartphone into a regular “dialer” (only calls and messages). In turn, “Smart” is good for balanced daily work, and “Productivity” will be required for games and online videos.

Software

The flagship runs on the Android 5.0 operating system, the interface of which is replaced by the proprietary EMUI 3.1 shell with support for OTA (Over-The-Air) updates.

The same version of the launcher is installed on the simplified version of the flagship. Let us remind you that the shell does not have a separate application menu, and shortcuts for all programs are simply collected on desktops.

Speech recognition is useful for finding a new smartphone if it's nearby, or for making a call when your hands are full. First, in the “Speech Recognition” section, you should select activation words (recommended - Okay emy) and practice their pronunciation three times, as well as decide on the type of ringing signal and language (for now, alas, only English). For example, when searching for a phone, after the words to activate it, you need to say: “Where are you?” In response from the smartphone you will hear - “I am here”, while the device will blink with a flash and the screen, displaying colored balls on it.

Taking a screenshot on the P8 is easy by simply tapping the screen twice with your knuckle. To do this, in the "Smart Screenshot" section, you should activate the corresponding option. In addition, if you draw, again with a knuckle, a closed outline (counterclockwise), you will get a snapshot of a limited area of ​​​​the screen. It is proposed to leave this area of ​​any shape (as is), or make it square or elliptical. In addition to everything, the resulting image can be edited directly on your smartphone.

Purchase, conclusions

In general, the new flagship from Huawei fits well into the image family of R smartphones. Quite powerful hardware is hidden in its ultra-thin all-metal body with a high-quality screen. At the same time, there was a place for a separate radio module for each of the two SIM cards. Of course, the advanced main camera in this smartphone deserves special attention. Unfortunately, you have to pay for expanding the built-in memory with a second SIM card.

I was somewhat surprised by the lack of an NFC interface and support for the 5 GHz band in the flagship device. Wi-Fi 802.11n. In addition, I would like to see the possibility for fast charging. As already noted, it can hardly be considered an advantage to install a second nanoSIM card as an alternative to expanding the built-in memory .

The Huawei P8 smartphone is offered at a recommended price of 29,990 rubles, so it looks more advantageous compared to 2-SIM flagships, say, Samsung Galaxy S6 Duos or (Duos), for which, according to Yandex.Market, on average they are asking for 39,990 rubles and 42,320 rubles, respectively. However, considering all the capabilities of these elegant devices, they are worth the money (taking into account the ruble exchange rate, of course). In short, finding a worthy opponent for the P8 is not so easy. A more realistic competitor may, for example, be “thin and iron”, which also belongs to the image line. Of course, its filling is simpler, but the average price is lower - 24,879 rubles.

Review results of the Huawei P8 smartphone

Pros:

• Ultra-thin all-metal body
• High quality screen
• Powerful filling
• Advanced camera with optical stabilization
• Memory expandability
• Two radio modules for SIM cards

Minuses:

• Lack of NFC interface
• No 5GHz band support for 802.11n Wi-Fi
• No fast charging
• Alternative installation of either a second nanoSIM card or microSD

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	72.1 mm (millimeters) 7.21 cm (centimeters) 0.24 ft (feet) 2.84 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	144.9 mm (millimeters) 14.49 cm (centimeters) 0.48 ft (feet) 5.7 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement.	6.4 mm (millimeters) 0.64 cm (centimeters) 0.02 ft (feet) 0.25 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	144 g (grams) 0.32 lbs 5.11 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	66.86 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 4.06 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	Grey Black Golden Champagne
Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body.	Aluminium alloy Plastic

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies.	GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz
UMTS UMTS is an abbreviation for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is providing greater speed and spectral efficiency thanks to W-CDMA technology.	UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz UMTS 800 MHz (GRA_L09) UMTS 1700/2100 MHz (GRA_L09)
LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced.	LTE 1800 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40) LTE-TDD 1900 MHz (B39) (GRA_UL00) LTE-TDD 2500 MHz (B41) (GRA_UL00) LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38) (GRA_UL00) LTE 1900 MHz (GRA_L09) LTE 850 MHz (GRA_L09) LTE 900 MHz (GRA_L09) LTE 700 MHz (B12) (GRA_L09) LTE 700 MHz Class 17 (GRA_L09) LTE 800 MHz (GRA_L09)

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Huawei HiSilicon KIRIN 930
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	16 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	4x 2.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A53e, 4x 1.5 GHz ARM Cortex-A53
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors.	64 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv8-A
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	8
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	2000 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc.	ARM Mali-T628 MP4+i3
Number of GPU cores Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications.	4
GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	680 MHz (megahertz)
Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	3 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR3
Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates.	Dual channel
RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data.	1600 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	IPS
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	5.2 in (inches) 132.08 mm (millimeters) 13.21 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	2.55 in (inches) 64.75 mm (millimeters) 6.48 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	4.53 in (inches) 115.12 mm (millimeters) 11.51 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.778:1 16:9
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail.	1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail.	424 ppi (pixels per inch) 166 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	71.58% (percent)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch Scratch resistance
	Corning Gorilla Glass 3 OGS (One Glass Solution)

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Sensor model	Sony IMX278 Exmor RS
Sensor size	4.71 x 3.49 mm (millimeters) 0.23 in (inches)
Pixel size	1.133 µm (micrometers) 0.001133 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor	7.37
ISO (light sensitivity) ISO indicators determine the level of light sensitivity of the photosensor. A lower value means weaker light sensitivity and vice versa - higher values ​​mean higher light sensitivity, i.e. better ability of the sensor to work in low light conditions.	100 - 1600
Diaphragm	f/2
Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. The equivalent focal length is also indicated, providing the same field of view with a full frame camera.	3.92 mm (millimeters) 28.91 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame)
Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile device cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes produce softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting.	Double LED
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image.	4160 x 3120 pixels 12.98 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p.	30fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality.	Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Digital image stabilization Optical image stabilization Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition White Balance Adjustment ISO Setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode
	Sensor type - RGBW

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.

Sensor model Information about the manufacturer and model of the photo sensor used in the device's camera.	Sony IMX179 Exmor R
Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device.	CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor)
Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer higher image quality despite the lower resolution.	4.54 x 3.42 mm (millimeters) 0.22 in (inches)
Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photosensor allows more pixels per unit area, thereby increasing resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality at high ISO levels.	1.391 µm (micrometers) 0.001391 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor of a particular device.	7.61
Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means the aperture opening is larger.	f/2.4
Image Resolution Information about the maximum resolution of the additional camera when shooting. In most cases, the resolution of the secondary camera is lower than that of the main camera.	3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with an additional camera.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the secondary camera when shooting video at the maximum resolution.	30fps (frames per second)
	Focal length (35 mm equivalent) - 26 mm

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser.

HTML HTML5 CSS 3

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Head SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device close to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by CENELEC in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the guidelines of ICNIRP 1998.	0.473 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards.	1.72 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Head SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are regulated by the CTIA, and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values.	1.407 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard.	1.233 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)

Characteristics

• Case materials: metal, plastic, glass
• Operating system: Android 5.0, Huawei EMUI 3.1
• Network: GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, LTE (two slots for SIM cards and a combined microSD slot)
• Platform: HiSilicon Kirin 930/935
• Processor: Quad-core 2 GHz (Cortex-A53) and Quad-core 1.5 GHz (Cortex-A53)
• Graphics: Mali-T628 MP4
• RAM: 3 GB
• Storage memory: 16/64 GB, microSD memory card slot (128 GB cards supported)
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP, LE), microUSB connector (USB 2.0, USB-Host) for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset, DLNA, NFC, IR port
• Screen: IPS LCD, 5.2”, 1920x1080 pixels (FullHD), automatic backlight level adjustment, Gorilla Glass 3
• Main camera: 13 MP, dual LED flash (works as a flashlight), optical image stabilization (OIS)
• Front camera: 8 MP fixed focal length
• Navigation: GPS/GLONASS (A-GPS support)
• Sensors: accelerometer, position sensor, light sensor, gyroscope, barometer
• Battery: non-removable, Li-Pol, capacity 2680 mAh
• Dimensions: 144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4 mm
• Weight: 144 grams

Positioning

The line of Huawei P-series smartphones has been developing since 2012, and even then, at the start, the P1 was a successful and interesting smartphone, whose features and ideas formed the basis for the development of this series. Huawei Ascend P1 could not be called an unconditional flagship at the time of its release, but this device looked balanced and moderate in everything - in characteristics, in ease of use, and finally in cost. Three years and several models in this line later, Huawei introduced the P8 - another smartphone from the category of balanced devices: not too large, but not small, moderately productive and with the necessary set of capabilities, as well as characteristics close to flagships. In this review, I will try to talk about all the features of the new device from Huawei – P8.

Design, body materials

From a design point of view, I can’t call the P8 an interesting or bright device; it’s a typical thin piece of metal without any distinctive features. At the same time, the smartphone looks high-quality and dignified, and one cannot say that it is ugly. The result was moderately simple, albeit without recognizable details, but a universal device.

The main feature of the Huawei Ascend P7 case was the combination of a metal frame and glass panels on the front and back sides. Yes, it's impressive, but from a practical point of view, this solution has problems. The first is that the glass gets dirty, and it’s noticeable. Secondly, if a smartphone falls on any hard surface (asphalt, tiles, etc.), there is a high chance of getting the case, that is, the glass, cracked at the front or back. In Huawei P8, the company has changed the materials used; here we see an all-aluminum body, with the exception of the panel in the upper area near the camera, where the antennas are located, as well as the screen. The P8 may not look as impressive on a store shelf or in your hand, but otherwise the metal body is a better solution. The device still looks impressive, but it has become more practical than the previous model: marks and prints on the metal “back” are almost invisible, and there is less chance of damaging the smartphone if it falls. In my opinion, in terms of materials used, the new P8 is a step forward.

Only the front panel can be called a brand, and even then it’s a stretch. Traces and prints on it remain barely noticeable and can be easily removed.

In Russia, the smartphone will go on sale in three colors: silver, gold and black.

Assembly

The build quality is excellent, and I make this conclusion not based on one sample, but on several devices: I looked at the first P8 at the company’s office, then studied it again at the presentation, and finally, to prepare the review, I used the P8 as my main phone for more than two weeks

The trays for SIM cards are adjusted as precisely as possible to the plane of the edge, you can swipe your finger and feel the flat surface, the buttons “sit” securely in their places, nothing plays or dangles. During my use, my smartphone fell to the floor (at home) several times from a height of about one and a half meters, but no damage appeared on the body of the device.

Dimensions

Small frames to the left and right of the screen, minimal body thickness and reasonable margins at the top and bottom with a screen diagonal of 5.2"" make the Huawei P8 quite a compact smartphone even in the category of five-inch models, not to mention devices with a 5.2" diagonal. It is also important that the P8 is not just compact, but also ergonomic - due to the small bevels of the body at the transition points of the planes, the smartphone does not crash into the palm, but fits comfortably into it. Holding and using the device is a pleasure. Compared to models with screens of 5.5" or larger, the device from Huawei seems incredibly convenient, and compared to many phones with a 5" display, the P8 is more compact.

In terms of ease of use, Huawei P8 can even be compared with Xiaomi Mi4, and this is one of the most balanced five-inch devices in terms of size, along with the P7. It’s not for nothing that I pay such close attention to the dimensions of the device at first glance. It seems to me that balanced dimensions in 2015-2016 will become one of the most important advantages of smartphones. When every second device is equipped with 3-4 GB of RAM, a high-quality FullHD screen has become the norm, and chipset manufacturers compete in the frequency of eight-core processors, the overall ease of use of a smartphone comes to the fore. And in this regard, the new P8 looks very advantageous.

Here is a comparison of the dimensions of Huawei P8 with some popular models:

• Apple iPhone 6(4.7”) – 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm, 129 grams
• HTC One M9(5”) – 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157 grams
• (5.2”) – 144.9 x 72.1 x 6.4 mm, 144 grams
• Samsung Galaxy S6(5.1”) – 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm, 138 grams
• Xiaomi Mi4(5”) – 139.2 x 68.5 x 8.9 mm, 149 grams

Compared to HTC One M8

Compared to Meizu MX4 Pro

Compared to Nokia 3310

Compared to YotaPhone 2

Despite the quite compact dimensions of the Huawei P8, the smartphone settings have several options for simplifying one-handed operation of the device, as well as various functions related to gestures and movements - muting the sound when flipping the screen, and so on.

Controls

In terms of controls, Huawei P8 is a typical Android smartphone with a couple of hardware keys and on-screen touch buttons. The hardware buttons are located on the right edge: on top is the volume key, below is the power button. Even lower are two slots for SIM cards and a memory card. One of these slots is combined with microSD, so you can choose what to use this slot for - to install a second SIM card or for a memory card. The left edge of the smartphone is empty.

At the top end there is an additional microphone (noise reduction) and a 3.5 mm mini-jack. On the bottom there is the main microphone, a microUSB connector and a grille for two speakers.

The on-screen keypad includes three buttons: “Back”, “Home” and calling the running program manager.

If desired, the location of the buttons can be changed; a button for calling up the notification shade and a button for hiding the navigation bar itself are also added here. It is very comfortable!

When you touch any of the on-screen buttons, the device vibrates slightly.

Unfortunately, you cannot unlock your smartphone by double tapping the screen. Perhaps this feature will appear with new firmware, because in the previous Huawei smartphone I tested, Honor 6 Plus, I also did not have it. At the same time, after the review, several readers immediately sent screenshots of their devices purchased not in Russia, where the ability to unlock with a double tap is present.

On the front side at the top there is a speaker, an 8 MP camera peephole and sensors.

A factory thin protective film is glued to the front panel; the quality of the film is such that it is difficult to see it the first time without looking closely. I didn’t take it off precisely for this reason; the film is virtually invisible.

Screen

Huawei P8 uses a high-quality IPS LCD matrix with a 5.2" diagonal and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Screen with maximum viewing angles. No matter what angle you tilt it at, diagonally, edges or ends, the picture is not distorted. There is a good reserve of brightness. The color rendition of the display is close to natural, and in the settings you can always adjust the color temperature, making the picture on the screen warmer or cooler. Personally, I preferred to turn up the temperature a little on my P8 towards cooler tones.

Automatic brightness adjustment works very well, as is the case with the Honor 6 Plus. Having enabled this option, I forgot that sometimes on other smartphones I set the brightness manually depending on the conditions (in the daytime - one brightness, in the evening at home - another).

An important point related to the Huawei P8 screen is the standard design themes. Below in the text I will return to the “topics”, but now I want to note one important feature. If we take all the well-known Chinese brands: Lenovo, Huawei, ZTE, Xiaomi, Meizu and even some smaller ones, then the proprietary shell from Huawei from a design point of view will probably be the most unsightly. We are talking specifically about the design, and not about its capabilities. How does this relate to the screen and its perception? Very much, in fact. When you pick up the Huawei P8 for the first time, turn it on and see the scary basic theme with khaki-colored icons, it seems as if the device’s screen is at least dim or dim. It’s worth changing the theme to a more juicy one or simply filling the start screen with application icons instead of basic ones and changing the picture, and now you see a good display. In the end, I stayed with the basic design theme, because, having sifted through about 4 GB of themes for EMUI, I didn’t find anything worthy, but take this point into account. The display itself in the P8 is excellent, but its perception when turned on for the first time may be slightly spoiled by not the most successful “themes”.

In the P8 settings there is a “smart film” item. By turning on this mode, judging by the description, you can transfer the functions of the on-screen keys to the area under the display, and also assign selected actions to touching the corners of the case on the top left and right of the screen, provided that there is a special film on the glass. This mode does not work with factory film.

Camera

Probably half of the entire Huawei P8 presentation was devoted to the device’s camera. Key features: Sony's new 13MP four-color RGBW sensor, optical image stabilization and dedicated ISP. In theory, the camera should be one of the best among all smartphones on the market in any shooting conditions: day, evening, night, as well as in low light (f/2.0 will come in handy here).

The camera interface is simple and clear, switching modes, turning on HDR and other essential settings are collected on one screen, it can be called up by clicking on the options button, more detailed settings can also be opened by clicking on the options button already in this window.

Burst shooting modes are available, after which you can select the best frame, as well as a mode that is already familiar to all top-end devices with choosing the focus point on the final image (the camera takes several frames with different focal lengths and merges them into one). There is a “decoration” mode for both the front and main cameras, in which a retouching effect is applied to the skin, wrinkles, pimples, and so on are smoothed out.

The “light” mode is interesting; a lot of attention was also paid to it at the presentation. The point is this: you press the “shoot” button, and the camera begins to photograph one frame, while the picture is taken in such a mode as if you had chosen a shutter speed value of about a minute, conventionally. But in reality, you don't choose the shutter speed before shooting, you simply stop photographing after as many seconds as you need. This results in shooting with a shutter speed set at the end of the photographing process. The mode is interesting, and using it together with a tripod on the Huawei P8 you can take unusual shots at night. However, I note that this mode is, in fact, a piece of the manual mode present in HTC, Lenovo, Meizu and Xiaomi smartphones; there you can also select the shutter speed value manually, but before you start shooting.

Now about the quality of the photos.

I'll start with the main thing - Huawei P8 has excellent macro. The minimum distance to the subject when shooting is about 3-4 centimeters. For example, in Meizu MX4 Pro with an excellent camera this distance is about 6-7 centimeters, and in HTC One M8, also with good macro photography, about 7-8 centimeters. At the same time, for macro photography in Huawei P8 you don’t even need to turn on any separate mode, you just point your smartphone at the object as close as possible and take a picture - that’s all.

When shooting on a bright sunny day, the photos turn out generally good, although personally, when studying the images, I can’t shake the feeling that the frames are a little lacking in overall richness. Minus - in the center of the frame you can often notice the transition of the picture into a pink color scheme; this “feature” is also typical, for example, for some HTC smartphones and is most clearly manifested when shooting a white sheet with text. At the same time, I would like to note the excellent performance of optical stabilization - even when you are simply moving your smartphone around in search of a frame, the operation of this system is visible on the screen, the picture moves smoothly, it is more comfortable to shoot on the P8 with OIS than on devices without a “stabilizer”, often there Where on another smartphone I would need to take 3-4 frames to choose one sharp one, on Huawei P8 I simply took one photo and got the desired sharp photo.

Shooting at night is perhaps one of the strengths of the Huawei P8 camera. Yes, in complete darkness there is still some blurring and blurring of frames, but if you compare the final night photos with pictures from many other smartphones (I compared with LG G3 and G4, for example), the difference is in favor of the P8, and it is noticeable “by eye” . Photos are sharp, with fine details visible, albeit with a noticeable presence of digital noise.

When shooting at night, you can manually set the shutter speed and ISO.

The camera also has a shooting mode with effects and HDR, the latter works very well and accurately.

Front-camera. The front camera with a resolution of 8 MP and a fixed focal length in the Huawei P8 is very good if we are talking specifically about shooting portraits. Yes, there is no autofocus here, but this does not prevent you from taking photos with good detail: all the pimples and black “things” on the face are visible, and if desired, they can be removed by turning on the “decoration” mode.

Video recording. The smartphone records video in a maximum resolution of 1080p, the device does not have tracking autofocus, you can only select focus by tapping on the screen, which now, when this feature is available in almost every smartphone, looks rather strange. But there is software stabilization in addition to optical stabilization; if you turn on both, the image turns out very smooth. I suggest you evaluate the overall quality of the video in the attached files with examples.

If we evaluate the camera in the Huawei P8 based on some individual shooting modes, it has strengths and weaknesses: excellent macro, good shooting at night, but at the same time, a lack of richness when shooting on a clear sunny day and average video quality. The front camera is excellent, there are no complaints about it. As for the main one, I cannot call it one of the best among modern smartphones. Yes, it is more or less universal and allows you to get decent photos in difficult conditions, but paying for it is not the most convincing quality when shooting in seemingly ideal situations on a sunny day. Perhaps with software updates Huawei will improve this aspect, because the potential of this sensor on the P8 with optical stabilization is simply enormous.

Autonomous operation

The smartphone uses a non-removable Li-Pol battery with a capacity of 2680 mAh. In my case, Huawei P8 worked on average until the evening with the following mode: 40-60 minutes of calls, 10-20 text messages, Gmail, 3-4 hours of listening to music and about 1-2 hours of active use of the mobile Internet (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook messenger, browser) plus the use of a camera (about 50 pictures, conditionally). The performance is not the best; the device's operating time is inferior to such smartphones as LG G3, HTC One M8 and M9 and many others. However, if you, like me, are used to constantly carrying an external battery with you or charging your smartphone as soon as possible, this will not be a problem. Not the best operating time indicators - the price for the thin and compact body of the device.

Platform, memory

The smartphone is built on Huawei’s own platform – HiSilicon Kirin 930/935 (depending on the version and memory size) with a quad-core 2 GHz (Cortex-A53) and quad-core 1.5 GHz (Cortex-A53) processor. Graphics subsystem (GPU) – Mali-T628 MP4. The device has 3 GB of RAM and 16 or 64 GB of internal memory for storing user data. There is also a slot for a memory card, combined with a slot for a second SIM card.

There are no performance issues with the device. Everything, from the shell and launching programs to games like GTA San Andreas and WoT Blitz, works quickly and without lag at maximum graphics settings. Below are the test results of Honor P8 in the Antutu benchmark.

I didn’t notice any noticeable heating of the smartphone’s body (as was the case with the HTC One M9) even under load.

Interfaces

The smartphone works in GSM, HSDPA and LTE networks; all LTE bands common in Russia are supported. You can turn wireless interfaces on and off through settings or using one of the notification curtain pages.

To synchronize with a PC and transfer data, the included microUSB cable and USB 2.0 interface are used.

The smartphone has support for USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) – you can connect flash drives and other storage devices, for example, a camera, to the device via an adapter to transfer pictures from it to the device’s memory.

Bluetooth. Built-in Bluetooth 4.1 module with A2DP and LE support.

Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n). The Wi-Fi module in Huawei P8 does not support the 5 GHz band, only the familiar and common 2.4. The module works flawlessly.

Wi-Fi router. Typically for Android smartphones, there is the ability to “share” a 2G/3G/4G Internet connection via Wi-Fi. In the settings, when starting for the first time, you need to select a network name and password (WPA2).

NFC. The smartphone has an NFC module, it works correctly: you can check the balance on your transport card and write tickets to it or top it up when you install the appropriate application.

Navigation

The smartphone has GPS/Glonass support; searching for satellites takes a minimum amount of time, from 5 to 15 seconds. There is no special navigation software in the smartphone.

Software, EMUI 3.0

The smartphone runs Android 5.x, using the proprietary Emotion UI – EMUI version 3.1 as the shell. According to the general logic, the shell resembles MIUI and Flyme, and its roots go back to iOS - there is no separate application menu, all programs are collected on desktops.

There are many detailed settings and useful things: displaying network speed, displaying or hiding the operator’s name, changing the location of the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen, customizable “do not disturb” mode, and so on.

There is illogicality in some shell solutions. Let's say when you see a notification about a new event (message, missed call, WhatsApp, etc.) on the lock screen, to go to it, you need to swipe the notification card to the right. And when you see the same notification while on the home screen or in some application, to go to it, you just need to touch the card. It's inconvenient at first, it takes some getting used to.

But most of all, what upsets me personally is a seemingly trifle, but very annoying in my case. The fact is that all themes for EMUI change some of the application icons to their own. And I couldn’t find a topic where such a substitution would not exist. And to make sure that there are no such themes, I went through about 4 GB of design themes for all versions of EMUI for stock icons. What do I mean by "stock icons"? This is when, having installed Instagram or WhatsApp, you will see the same program icon that is displayed for it on Google Play, that is, intended by the developers. In EMUI, about half of the programs end up with changed icons; this does not in any way affect the usability of the smartphone, but it annoys me, at least. An attempt to remove all the icons in one of the base themes, so that when the theme is installed they are replaced by standard ones from Android, leads to the system “digging out” very old icons from its depths and placing them at the heart of the interface. In general, I have not yet found a solution to overcome this feature of EMUI.

Another feature of EMUI that I personally don't like is that it's too much of a redesign compared to pure Android OS. In this regard, I am closer to the current versions of LG UI and HTC Sense, where the developers tried to leave all the convenient functions from Lollipop - the notification curtain, cards and the logic of working with them on the lock screen and some other things. In EMUI, all these elements have been redone, and if you are switching to Huawei P8 from some device with Android 5.0, you will need to study the interface again.

If you close your eyes to it, as well as to some of the illogicalities of the shell described above, then in general, EMUI turns out to be a quite convenient interface, with many detailed settings and useful options.

Accessories

Along with the presentation of the Huawei P8 smartphone, the company also presented an interesting accessory for it - a cover with an e-ink screen. The accessory is produced by Oaxis, known for producing similar cases under its own brand, and is equipped with a 4.3" e-ink display, its own battery, charging connector and connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth.

Conclusion

I had no complaints about the quality of signal reception while using the Huawei P8. The device picks up the network well, the sound in the conversational speaker is clear, without wheezing or extraneous noise, there is a volume reserve. The vibration alert is felt well in different conditions, including when walking. The volume of the ringing speaker is above average, while the sound is clear and clear, but without wheezing. The presentation also announced the function of quickly searching for a network when leaving an area where there is no network coverage, or disabling the “airplane” mode, but to be honest, there is not much difference here between the Huawei P8 with this function and, say, the LG G4 and Meizu I didn't notice the MX4 Pro without it.

In Russia, the smartphone will go on sale in a single 16 GB version and with two slots for SIM cards, one of which is combined with a slot for microSD. The exact cost of the device for Russia has not yet been determined, but the preliminary price for Huawei P8 will be about 30,000 rubles. If we remember that immediately after the presentation the estimated price tag was announced in the region of 40-45 thousand rubles, 30 thousand now seems more adequate. This is about 10-15 thousand cheaper than the cost of flagships from Samsung, LG, HTC, and if you consider that in terms of characteristics Huawei P8 is not much behind them, and in terms of dimensions it looks even more interesting, the price turns out to be quite acceptable.

Yes, Huawei P8 is far from an ideal smartphone, but the strengths of this device, such as a high-quality display, high operating speed without much heating of the body even under load, moderate dimensions, small thickness and a good main camera combined with an excellent front camera, make the shortcomings forgivable . If you are looking for a compact, modern smartphone with up-to-date specifications, but are not willing to overpay for a flagship from a major manufacturer and for some unnecessary features (like 2560x1440 resolution on a five-inch screen), you should take a closer look at the Huawei P8.