Honor Play8T: A Big Player In The Smartphone Arena? Unveiling The Specs!

Aesthetics and Build

First impressions matter, and the Honor Play8T doesn't disappoint. With dimensions measuring 166.7×76.5 mm and weighing just 199 g, it strikes a balance between size and comfort. It’s available in three chic colors: Black, Green, and Silver. Slip it into your pocket, and you'll barely notice it's there, making it a great choice for those who are always on the move.

Here are the relevant specs:

The Honor Play8T sports an ergonomic design, engineered with user comfort in mind. Its dimensions strike a harmonious balance - it's large enough to accommodate the expansive 6.8-inch display without feeling unwieldy, yet it's not overly bulky, ensuring a comfortable grip. It feels surprisingly light for a phone with such a spacious screen and a robust battery, making it a breeze to hold for extended periods.

In terms of pocket-friendliness, the Play8T passes the test with flying colors. Its slim profile and reasonable weight mean it won't weigh you down as you move through your day. Whether you're commuting, running errands, or simply hanging out with friends, slipping this phone into your pocket won’t feel like a burden.

The Honor Play8T comes in three stylish shades: Black, Green, and Silver. Each color caters to a different personality and style. Sleek, sophisticated, and timeless, Black is a classic choice for individuals who prefer a professional, minimalist aesthetic. It's perfect for business professionals and anyone who appreciates a phone that exudes elegance.

Vibrant and refreshing, green reflects a lively and adventurous spirit. It's ideal for those who love nature, have an eco-friendly mindset, or simply want a phone that stands out in a crowd. If you're someone with a lively personality and a zest for life, the green variant might be your perfect match.

Sleek yet subtle, silver strikes a balance between sophistication and modernity. It's a versatile choice, appealing to individuals who appreciate a touch of luxury without being too flashy. If you're someone who values understated elegance and timeless design, the silver variant could be your go-to option.

If we compare the Honor Play8T with the predecessor Play7T, it is slightly smaller and slightly heavier. The Play7T was 167.5×76.9×8.3 mm and 196 g.

IP Rating

(Related: IP ratings explained.)

The Honor Play8T lacks an IP rating. This is something that often leaves buyers pondering. Smartphones with an IP (Ingress Protection) rating are officially certified to resist dust and water to a certain degree. While the absence of an official IP rating might raise an eyebrow for some, it doesn’t necessarily spell disaster for the Honor Play8T. But it does mean you should exercise a bit of caution.

To keep your Play8T in tip-top shape, here are some practical suggestions:

• Avoid Water and Dust Exposure: While the Play8T might withstand minor spills and dust encounters, it's best to keep it away from water bodies and dusty environments. Accidents happen, and prevention is the best cure!
• Use a Protective Case: Investing in a sturdy, shock-absorbent case is a brilliant idea. A good case not only protects your phone from drops and impacts but can also guard against minor water splashes. Plus, it adds a personal touch to your device.
• Embrace a Screen Protector: The screen is often the most vulnerable part of any phone. A quality screen protector adds an extra layer of defense against scratches and minor impacts. With a good protector in place, you can worry less about accidental pocket encounters with keys or loose change.
• Regular Cleaning: Clean your phone regularly with a soft, microfiber cloth. Keeping the ports and speakers free of dust and debris can prolong your device's life.

While the absence of an official IP rating might make the Play8T slightly less adventurous in extreme conditions, with a bit of care and some accessories, you can keep your device safe and sound.

The predecessor Honor Play7T did not have an IP rating, either.

Display Delights

(Related: Know more about the various kinds of displays and screen specs.)

Feast your eyes on the Play8T's expansive 6.8-inch TFT LCD display. With a rapid 90 Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 850 nits, this screen brings your content to life with vibrant colors and sharp contrasts. The 1080×2412 pixel resolution ensures every detail is crystal clear, making movie nights and gaming sessions truly immersive.

Image credit: Honor

Here are the relevant specs:

Get ready for a visual treat! The TFT LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) screen is nothing short of impressive. TFT LCDs are renowned for their vibrant colors, excellent contrast, and quick response times. Thanks to the integration of thin film transistors, each pixel on the screen can be controlled individually, resulting in sharp images and vivid hues. This technology ensures that your videos pop with color, and your images come to life with clarity.

What sets the Play8T's display apart within its segment is its rapid 90 Hz refresh rate. Here's why this matters: A higher refresh rate means the screen refreshes more times per second, providing smoother animations and scrolling. Whether you're gaming, scrolling through your social media feed, or simply navigating your phone, the 90 Hz refresh rate ensures everything feels buttery smooth. It’s a noticeable difference, especially for gamers, creating an immersive experience that’s hard to match.

The Play8T's display shines at a peak brightness of 850 nits. This means it's exceptionally bright, making it easily visible even in direct sunlight. No more squinting and angling your phone just right to read messages or view your screen outdoors! This high brightness ensures that your content remains clear and vibrant, even when you’re basking under the sun.

Additionally, the display boasts a resolution of 1080×2412 pixels, offering a pixel density of approximately 389 pixels per inch (PPI). What does this mean for you? In simple terms, it means incredibly sharp images and text. You’ll enjoy crisp details in your photos, videos, and apps, making every visual experience on your Play8T a feast for the eyes.

For comparison, the predecessor Honor Play7T featured a 6.74-inch IPS LCD display with 90 Hz refresh rate and 720×1600 px resolution. The newer version offers a higher resolution. And in terms of size, the Play8T takes the lead with its larger 6.8-inch display. The additional screen real estate provides a more immersive viewing experience.

While both phones use LCD technology, the TFT LCD of the Play8T generally offers faster response times and can achieve higher brightness levels compared to the IPS LCD. The IPS LCD of the Play7T provides better viewing angles, though.

Overall, then, the Honor Play8T's display is undeniably an upgrade from its predecessor.

Networks

The Honor Play8T, like its predecessor Play7T, supports the GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE, and 5G technologies.

SIM

The Honor Play8T, like its predecessor Play7T, supports dual Nano-SIM (dual stand-by).

Chipset: Under the Hood

Beneath the surface, the device is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 6080 chipset, a 6nm marvel. An octa-core CPU, coupled with ample RAM, ensures smooth multitasking and snappy app launches. Gaming graphics are handled by the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, promising a seamless experience even with graphics-intensive games.

Here are the relevant specs:

The 8 cores of the octa-core CPU are divided into two types. The two Cortex-A76 cores, clocked at 2.4 GHz, are like the thoroughbreds of the CPU world. They handle demanding tasks and heavy-duty applications with ease. When you're gaming, streaming high-definition content, or running intensive apps, these cores kick into high gear, ensuring a smooth experience without a hint of lag.

The remaining six cores, the Cortex-A55, are the power-efficient cores clocked at 2.0 GHz. These cores are like the marathon runners. They handle lighter tasks and everyday functions, sipping power conservatively. When you're checking emails, browsing social media, or chatting with friends, these cores take the lead, ensuring optimal energy efficiency and prolonging your battery life.

This combination of high-performance and efficiency cores creates a perfect harmony, balancing raw power with energy conservation. It's this balance that allows your Play8T to deliver exceptional performance while managing battery life efficiently.

The older Play7T featured the Mediatek Dimensity 6020 (7 nm) chpiset, an octa-core CPU (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 + 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55), and the same Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. The new version sports a better chipset and a higher clock rate of the performance cores, making it an upgrade in this department.

Memory Matters

Memory junkies, rejoice! The Honor Play8T comes in two variants, both with ample RAM and internal storage. Here are the relevant specs:

With 256 GB internal storage, you have ample space for your apps, games, photos, and videos. For most users, this storage capacity is more than enough to cater to their needs.

Sadly, there’s no option to expand the storage, but with a quarter of a terabyte at your disposal, how much more do you really need in a phone?

This is also an upgrade from the older Play7T, which came in two variants with 8 GB RAM (in both) and 128 Gb and 256 GB of internal storage. The Play7T did not have a memory card slot, either.

Cameras: Photography Prowess

On the back, the Play8T sports a dual-camera setup featuring a 50 MP primary lens complemented by a 2 MP depth sensor. This duo, accompanied by features like LED flash, HDR, and panorama mode, ensures your photos are Instagram-ready in an instant. Selfie enthusiasts will appreciate the 8 MP front camera, delivering clear and vibrant self-portraits.

Rear Camera

While not groundbreaking, the dual-camera setup offers a balanced versatility.

Image credit: Honor

Here are the relevant specs:

Specification	Honor Play8T
Number of Cameras	2 (Dual)
Resolution (Megapixels)	50 MP (wide), 2 MP (depth)
Aperture	f/1.8, f/2.4
Autofocus	PDAF, N/A
Video Recording	1080p at 30 fps
Other Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR

The star of the show is the 50 MP primary lens with an impressive f/1.8 aperture. This high-resolution sensor captures incredible detail in every shot, allowing you to zoom in without losing clarity. The large aperture ensures great low-light performance, meaning your photos won't lose their magic even in dimly lit environments. Whether you're capturing landscapes, portraits, or intricate details, this lens lets you bring your vision to life with stunning clarity and vivid colors.

Accompanying the primary lens is a 2 MP depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. This sensor adds depth information to your photos, enabling beautiful background blur effects in portrait shots. It's the secret ingredient that gives your portraits that professional, DSLR-like quality. By accurately detecting distances between objects, it ensures your subjects stand out, creating visually appealing and captivating photographs.

The inclusion of PDAF technology ensures that your shots are sharp and focused, even when capturing moving subjects. PDAF detects the phase of light rays, allowing the camera to adjust the lens focus quickly and accurately. Whether you're snapping action shots or capturing moments on the go, PDAF ensures your subjects are always in focus, freezing moments in time with precision.

The addition of an LED flash brightens up low-light scenes, ensuring your night shots are well-lit and detailed. Say goodbye to grainy, dark photos in low-light environments. With the LED flash, your nighttime adventures are captured in all their glory.

Ever wanted to capture the entirety of a breathtaking landscape or a bustling cityscape? The panorama mode lets you do just that. Sweep your camera across the scene, and the Play8T stitches together a seamless, wide-angle photo, preserving the grandeur of expansive vistas and capturing the essence of your surroundings.

And HDR is your ticket to photos with excellent contrast and rich colors. It's particularly useful in challenging lighting situations, such as scenes with harsh sunlight and deep shadows. HDR combines multiple exposures of the same shot, ensuring both the brightest and darkest parts of your photo are perfectly exposed. The result? Balanced, lifelike images that capture the true beauty of the moment.

In summary, the Honor Play8T's main camera setup is a versatile powerhouse, capturing everything from intricate details to sweeping landscapes with finesse. With its various features, your photography adventures are about to reach new heights. So, get ready to snap, shoot, and share your world with breathtaking clarity and creativity!

The older Honor Play7T had a similar main camera setup; not much change here.

Battery: Fuel for the Day

(Related: Battery specs and charging types explained.)

Keeping the Play8T alive and kicking is a hefty 6000 mAh non-removable battery. Here are the relevant specs:

No need to worry about constant charging, as this powerhouse can easily last you through a full day of heavy usage. When it does need a boost, the 35 W wired charging ensures you spend more time using your phone and less time waiting for it to charge.

The older Play7T had a similar battery, which supported a slower wired charging at 22.5 W.

Sound

The Honor Play8T doesn’t just impress with visuals; it sounds great too! Here are the relevant specs:

Stereo speakers ensure immersive audio experiences, while the 24-bit, 192 kHz audio support elevates your music and video experience. The inclusion of a 3.5 mm headphone jack is a delightful nod to traditionalists.

The older Honor Play7T also featured a loudspeaker, and it supported the 3.5 mm headphone jack and 24-bit, 192 kHz audio.

Connectivity

With support for dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, the Honor Play8T ensures you can connect to common Wi-Fi networks. Also, there's Wi-Fi Direct, a feature that allows direct device-to-device connections without the need for a router. It's perfect for fast file transfers and seamless collaboration.

The Honor Play8T boasts Bluetooth 5.1, ensuring a seamless connection, whether you're connecting to headphones, speakers, or other devices. With features like A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for high-quality audio streaming and LE (Low Energy) for power efficiency, your Bluetooth experience reaches new heights.

Lost? Not with the positioning capabilities of the Pixel 8 series! It supports multiple global navigation satellite systems, including GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS. This means your phone always knows where you are, no matter where you travel in the world. Whether you're navigating through bustling cities or remote wilderness, your phone's positioning technology ensures you're always on the right path.

The Honor Play8T does not have NFC.

Last but not least, the trusty USB-C 2.0 - the universal connector. Whether you're charging your phone, transferring files, or connecting to external devices, USB Type-C 2.0 ensures a reliable connection. It's the jack-of-all-trades, allowing you to expand your phone's capabilities and stay connected to the wider world of technology. And the support for OTG (USB On-The-Go) enables your smartphone to act as host and connect to other USB devices, such as flash drives, keyboards, cameras, and more, without needing a computer as an intermediary.

Sensors

The device is loaded with essential sensors , enhancing your overall user experience:

• Proximity Sensor: Detects the presence or movement of an object (say, with infrared, sound, light, or electromagnetic fields) without physically contacting it. It is used, for example, to turn off the screen when you position your device close to your ear while making a call.
• Fingerprint Sensor: Used for quick and secure unlocking. It is side-facing in the Honor Play8T.
• Accelerometer: The accelerometer detects changes in the device's orientation and acceleration. If you tilt, shake, or move your device, the accelerometer knows.
• Compass: The compass determines your device's orientation. It is essential for navigation apps, map orientation, and augmented reality experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is Honor Play8T release date?

  The Honor Play8T was announced and released on the 17th October, 2023.

• What is Honor Play8T price?

  The Honor Play8T is available at the starting price of CNY 1099 (about USD 150).