When a smartphone manufacturer blatantly copies Apple’s design language, it usually raises eyebrows. But what happens when that “copycat” device actually delivers better specs, superior battery life, and more features than the original? That’s exactly the dilemma presented by the Honor Magic 8 Pro Air—a phone that shamelessly mimics Apple’s aesthetic while simultaneously outperforming it in several key areas.
After spending a week with this controversial device, I’ve come to a surprising conclusion: sometimes the copy can be better than the original.
The Elephant in the Room: Yes, It’s a Copycat
Let’s address what everyone’s thinking from the moment they see this phone. The Honor Magic 8 Pro Air is an unapologetic copy of Apple’s design philosophy. From the “Air” branding to the bright orange colorway that Apple has been promoting globally, every aspect of this phone screams iPhone inspiration.
It’s the kind of product that initially made me want to decline the review. As someone who deeply respects Honor’s innovative work—particularly in foldable phones and their Magic OS software—seeing them release such a blatant copy felt beneath their capabilities. It’s like watching a talented artist suddenly trace someone else’s work instead of creating their own masterpiece.
The shamelessness extends beyond just the name. When you first look at this device, your brain immediately thinks “iPhone.” There’s no mistaking the design inspiration, and that’s clearly intentional on Honor’s part.
But Here’s the Thing: Everybody Copies Everybody
Before we get too judgmental, let’s acknowledge an uncomfortable truth about the smartphone industry: copying is universal. Apple’s “innovative” prism zoom lens? That’s just the periscope zoom technology that Huawei and Oppo pioneered seven years earlier. Tech innovation often means taking someone else’s idea and iterating on it.
The difference with the Magic 8 Pro Air is how obvious it is. There’s no attempt to disguise the inspiration or put a unique spin on it. It’s right there in your face, and many consumers have simply accepted this as the new normal in smartphone competition.
Exceptional Hardware in a Remarkably Comfortable Body
Once you get past the copycat controversy, what remains is genuinely impressive hardware packaged in one of the most comfortable form factors available today.
Featherweight Champion
At just 155 grams, the Magic 8 Pro Air is incredibly light—actually 10 grams lighter than the iPhone Air it’s mimicking. After using the Samsung Galaxy Trifold for a month (a heavy, bulky device with sharp edges), picking up the Magic 8 Pro Air felt like holding air itself.
The phone measures just 6.1mm thin, slightly thicker than the iPhone Air but still impressively slim. What makes this achievement remarkable is what Honor managed to pack into such a svelte body.
Battery Life That Actually Lasts
Here’s where the Magic 8 Pro Air starts pulling ahead of its inspiration: it houses a substantial 5,500mAh battery. For context, the iPhone Air struggles with a battery under 4,000mAh.
In real-world testing, the difference is significant. The iPhone Air typically dies after 9-10 hours of heavy use outside. The Magic 8 Pro Air? It comfortably lasted through full 14-hour days with 18-20% battery remaining.
Yes, Apple’s silicon optimization is excellent, but there’s no substitute for actual battery capacity when you’re pushing a device hard throughout the day.
A Camera System That Punches Above Its Weight Class
For a phone this thin and light, the camera system is surprisingly capable—though not without compromises.
Main Camera: Solid Performance
The 50-megapixel main camera features a 1/1.3-inch sensor with an f/1.6 aperture. These are impressive specs for such a compact device, and the photo samples prove it. The main camera delivers sharp, well-exposed images with good dynamic range.
Telephoto Zoom: Respectable, Not Revolutionary
The 64-megapixel telephoto lens has been the subject of some confusion. Some spec sheets claim it uses a 1/1.2-inch sensor, which would be enormous. However, based on actual performance—specifically the lack of depth and bokeh that such a large sensor would produce—this seems inaccurate.
Regardless of the exact sensor size, the zoom lens performs admirably at 3.4x optical zoom (approximately 75mm equivalent) and can push to 7x through sensor cropping. The results won’t beat dedicated camera phones like the Xiaomi Ultra or Vivo Ultra, but for a thin-and-light device at this price point, it’s impressive.
Additional Cameras
Rounding out the system:
- 50-megapixel ultrawide camera
- 50-megapixel front-facing camera
Video quality is solid across all lenses, with smooth 4K footage from both the main and ultrawide cameras.
Display and Audio: Where Honor Pulls Ahead
The 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display delivers buttery-smooth 120Hz animations and gets bright enough for comfortable outdoor viewing. The bezels are symmetrical, giving the phone a premium aesthetic.
More importantly, Honor included features Apple omitted:
- Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner (fast and reliable)
- Stereo speakers (versus iPhone Air’s single speaker)
These might seem like small details, but they significantly impact daily use. The stereo speakers provide genuinely better media consumption, and the fingerprint scanner offers more flexibility than Face ID alone.
Performance: Powerful but Not Invincible
The MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor paired with 12GB of RAM delivers solid performance for everyday tasks. Geekbench scores are respectable, though not quite top-tier flagship level.
The Thermal Limitation
The phone’s thin profile comes with a thermal management tradeoff. During the demanding 3DMark Wildlife Extreme stress test—a 20-minute intensive benchmark that most flagship phones complete—the Magic 8 Pro Air shut down the app with an overheating warning.
Interestingly, when this happened, the phone’s back wasn’t particularly hot. Honor appears to be proactively preventing thermal throttling rather than letting the device get uncomfortably warm.
What this means for users: If you’re a mobile gaming enthusiast planning marathon gaming sessions, this probably isn’t your phone. But for social media, productivity, email, and typical smartphone tasks, performance is more than adequate.
Magic OS 10: A Genuinely Excellent Android Skin
One of Honor’s true innovations is Magic OS, which runs atop Android 16 on this device. Having been critical of earlier versions, it’s refreshing to see how much the software has improved.
Standout Features
Resizable App Folders Unlike most Android launchers, Magic OS lets you reshape app folders into rectangular or square configurations. This provides unprecedented home screen customization flexibility.
Extended App Widgets Long-press any app to reveal extended widgets with shortcut actions. Instagram reveals quick access to likes and messages. Gmail, YouTube, and other apps gain similar quick-action shortcuts.
Advanced Photo Comparison Tool This feature is a photographer’s dream. Select multiple photos, tap “compare,” and they open in a grid. Zoom into one photo, and all selected photos zoom to the same level simultaneously. Moving one image moves them all in sync, making pixel-peeping comparisons incredibly efficient.
Smart Text and Image Lifting Long-press any text or image to “lift” it into a special sharing section, enabling quick sharing to Instagram, messaging apps, or other destinations.
After using Magic OS extensively, returning to other Android skins feels limiting—particularly the lack of resizable folders.
The Perfect Secondary Device for Asian Climates
While I still prefer flagship camera systems or foldable phones as my primary device, the Magic 8 Pro Air excels as a secondary phone, particularly in Asian contexts.
Living in hot climates means minimal pockets—no heavy jackets with multiple compartments. When carrying a second phone in a small fanny pack or crossbody bag, size and weight matter enormously. The Magic 8 Pro Air’s slim 6.1mm profile and 155g weight make it perfect for slipping into tight spaces without adding bulk.
On crowded public transportation where bulky bags are impractical, having an ultra-light secondary device that doesn’t protrude or weigh you down is genuinely valuable.
Where Honor Beats the iPhone Air
Let’s be direct about the areas where this “copycat” outperforms the original:
- Battery capacity: 5,500mAh vs. under 4,000mAh
- Battery life: 14+ hours vs. 9-10 hours
- Camera system: Telephoto zoom vs. no zoom lens
- Audio: Stereo speakers vs. single speaker
- Biometrics: Fingerprint scanner + face unlock vs. Face ID only
- Price: ~$700 vs. significantly higher
These aren’t minor advantages—they’re fundamental feature differences that impact daily use.
The Price Factor: Exceptional Value
Available primarily in China, the Magic 8 Pro Air retails for approximately $700 USD equivalent. For a device approaching flagship territory in specs and features, this represents outstanding value.
For international buyers interested in importing, Trinity Electronics in Hong Kong ships worldwide and offers reliable service.
The Verdict: Complicated but Compelling
The Honor Magic 8 Pro Air presents a philosophical dilemma. On one hand, the shameless copying of Apple’s branding, naming, and design language is difficult to defend. It feels beneath a company capable of genuine innovation in foldables and software.
On the other hand, the device itself is genuinely excellent. The hardware is comfortable, capable, and well-balanced. The camera system exceeds expectations for this form factor. The battery life is superior to its inspiration. Magic OS offers features and customization that iOS can’t match.
Who Should Buy This Phone?
Consider the Magic 8 Pro Air if you:
- Prioritize battery life and all-day endurance
- Want a lightweight secondary device
- Value features like telephoto zoom and stereo speakers
- Appreciate extensive software customization
- Don’t mind the obvious iPhone aesthetic similarities
Look elsewhere if you:
- Plan intensive mobile gaming sessions
- Want cutting-edge flagship camera performance
- Feel strongly about supporting design originality
- Need a device widely available outside China
Final Thoughts
Sometimes in tech, the most interesting products are the most complicated to evaluate. The Honor Magic 8 Pro Air is undeniably derivative in design and branding. But it’s also undeniably good at what it does.
Perhaps that’s the most honest review possible: Yes, it’s a copycat. But it’s a copycat that delivers better battery life, more features, and comparable performance at a lower price point. In the pragmatic world of consumer electronics, maybe that’s enough.
The question isn’t whether Honor should have been more original—they should have. The question is whether the actual product experience justifies looking past that flaw. For many users, especially at this price point, the answer will be yes.
Innovation matters. But so does execution. The Magic 8 Pro Air might not win awards for originality, but it deserves recognition for being exceptionally good at delivering what users actually need: all-day battery, comfortable design, capable cameras, and smart software features.
Sometimes the copy really is better than the original—even if it leaves us feeling conflicted about celebrating it.
Disclaimer: While this review strives for objectivity, remember that no tech reviewer can be entirely neutral. Consider multiple sources before making purchase decisions, and prioritize the features that matter most to your specific use case.
