To celebrate the upcoming Tomb Raider – Live In Concert we're giving away 5 pairs of tickets to this tribute to the music behind of the iconic gaming franchise. Featuring an 80 piece orchestra, Tomb Raider composer Nathan McCree, Lara Croft voice actress Shelley Bond and 70 minutes of classic music, this is something no gaming fan should miss.
Lenovo might have decided to replace its flagship X series with the Z considering the launch of Moto Z as their flagship along with the Moto Z Play. The snap on packs & accessories called Moto Mods is what is garnering a lot of attention to the device . Let’s see the details and if it’s worth the hype!
Design & Hardware
The Moto Z Play is not as slim as the Moto Z but it fits firmly in your hand thanks to it’s aesthetic design.The front has a 5.5” screen and only a fingerprint reader / unlock button below it . No physical buttons ! Above the screen you’ll find the 5MP front camera on the right and the front flash on the left .The earpiece cum speaker grill is at the centre.The back is complete hard glass and is a fingerprint magnet . The 16MP camera protrudes out at the top centre with the Motorola logo below . The edges are complete Aluminium and feel premium. On the right edge you can find the volume buttons and the power button below which is ridged so you can feel the difference since it’s pretty close to the volume buttons. The left edge has been left untouched and the card tray at the top takes in nano Dual Sims & a Micro SD card as well! VoLTE is supported only by SIM 1 but both SIMs can use LTE. At the bottom is the USB Type C charging port & 3.5mm audio socket.
The 5.5” screen is Super AMOLED full HD (403 ppi) & looks good indoors and adjusts well in broad daylight if outdoors. You’ll find the onscreen buttons at the bottom of the screen as there are no physical buttons .
The phone weighs 163 gms and is 7mm thin but unusually large .In the box you get the 15W charger with a type C cable & a boring headset. There are only 2 colour variants available , Black & White.
The Moto Z Play is powered by the Snapdragon 625 Soc which is a bit disappointing since 820 is the norm for the phones in this price range . Nonetheless, the device performs up to your expectations and real world performance isn’t affected massively by the kind of processor & RAM capacity. 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM & Adreno 506 GPU get the job done even if you throw high end games with multitasking.
Software
The Moto Z Play runs Android 6.01. Marshmallow out of the box which is the best Android stock experience available with minimum bloatware. Motorola has continued with the Moto Actions which are the party tricks up its sleeve like double chop to turn on Flash, or turning your wrist for quick photo capture and Moto Display (waving over the locked screen to see notifications without turning on the screen.) A swipe up from the bottom shrinks the screen to a 4” size for one hand operations . There’s also Moto Voice that can perform actions with a predefined phrase.
Camera
The rear camera is a 16MP PDAF with laser auto focus. It has excellent shutter speed and captures are quick. Focussing could be faster but results are good nonetheless.Captures could’ve been much better in Low light , the 16MP doesn’t do justice here .
There’s also no OIS, so keep your phone steady while clicking! You have the usual camera modes like burst, panorama , Pro etc. Video recording maxes out in 4K@30fps and Slow motion videos are impressive at 720p@120fps. The front 5MP camera supports wide angle photos & has a flash as well , which is great for low light indoor selfies.
Multimedia
The phone manages multi tasking easily and heavy games like FIFA Mobile , Asphalt 8 & NFS No Limits run with ease. At 61257 in the AnTuTU benchmark, it’s not a top score but it doesn’t really matter in the real world usage.
Coming to the Moto Mods like the Stereo speaker , Projector , 10x Optical Camera & Battery pack, all of which need to be purchased additionally can make a world of difference to the phone. A Style Shell cover is included in the box as default. These Mods seamlessly attach, becoming one with your phone, turning your Moto Z Play into a new phone.
The battery life of 3510 mAh on the Moto Z Play is great and can easily last a full day of heavy usage. Phone goes from 0 to 100 in just over 1.5 hrs which is impressive of the battery size, there is some heating observed occasionally as well but that’s common with most fast charging phones. Disappointingly there’s no NFC or 5Ghz Wi-Fi support which is ridiculous! No FM Radio as well. Booo!
Conclusion
At this price point the Moto Z Play is competing with Honor 8, One Plus 3 & the Asus Zenfone 3. It’s a good all round device and will give you the quickest OS updates after the Google phones. The Moto fans will love it and if you want a cheaper Moto Z experience , look at the Moto G4 Plus which is half the cost .
Children’s animations are absolutely dominated by Disney Pixar and DreamWorks nowadays, and so it’s refreshing when one comes through that isn’t created by one of the big two. Having competition like that is hard though, but ‘The Secret Life of Pets’ has such a great premise that it manages to pull it off.
Max the dog (Louis C.K.) lives a wonderful life at home with his owner, Katie (Ellie Hemper), whom he patiently waits for everyday to come home from work. She is his life and he hers, until one day she comes back home with Duke (Eric Stonestreet), a rescue dog who Max doesn’t take too kindly to. After nearly getting put in the pound by accident, the two dogs find themselves having to work together to stop evil bunny Snowball (Kevin Hart) who is intent on bringing down the humans as revenge.
It’s quite a common plot, but for a kids’ film it works really well as it promotes getting along with everyone. It’s also a story that a lot of kids can relate to, and so it felt engaging to watch straight away. The plot seems a little random at the start, with it seemingly jumping all over the place, but once the action gets started properly then it becomes easy to follow.
One thing I thought was great was just how accurate the pet habits were – anyone who has a cat or a dog will find this film entertaining. Some of the characters are really funny, and there’s also a lot of exciting and perilous action scenes to keep the kids glued to the screen. I also thought the humour was really good – sometimes kids’ films only contain kids humour, yet this one felt a little more balanced for both children and adults alike. There is a lot of cartoon violence shown, but it’s not overdone and I didn’t feel that it was too much for young children considering the moral of the story.
Unfortunately it did seem a bit flat in parts – the exciting bits were great, but after a while I found myself not quite as engaged as I had been at the start. I’m not sure why really – the characters didn’t lose their charm or anything, but it just started to feel a bit forced. I also felt like the relationship between Max and Duke was strange at points - it was as if the fact that they hated each other was conveniently forgotten about so that the plot could be moved forward, which meant some scenes were lacking in the tension that you would have expected. The majority of the scenes were good though (including a particularly surreal scene involving a sausage factory).
There’s plenty of evoked emotion for the film though (some happy, some sad) and it all ends nice and positively, despite things looking rather grim towards the final scenes. The characters are all very lovable, with a range of different personalities for the kids to identify with. The music is also great – it has a Monsters Inc. feel to it that makes it particularly enjoyable to watch.
Sure, it’s not Pixar or DreamWorks, but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less entertaining. As with many films nowadays it’s not as good at the trailer makes it out to be, but it’s still a great watch whether young or old. 3/5
“He had a fine mustache. Men of wisdom so often do.”
― Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke & Bone
As it’s Movember, it is time to look back upon some of the finest moustaches. With Hannah and Jason tackling the film and gaming ‘taches for you, it’s up to me to show you TV’s finest. Here goes…
ABRAHAM FORD – Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead)
Abraham “Suck My Nuts” Ford is a bad-ass. He has become a hero for the ginger community with his wit, strength and bravery. Oh, and that moustache. Look at it. I bet there’s a whole world in there. Rick and the gang didn’t need the farm, or the prison, or Alexandria. They just all needed to get cosy in Abe’s ‘tache. There’s plenty of room for everyone.
Ian McShane’s Al Swearengen is the only character on this list who comes from an utterly perfect television series – the short-lived but soon-to-be-revived Western, Deadwood. One of the greatest programmes ever to reach the tellybox, Deadwood is easily HBO’s finest hour. And the foul-mouthed centre of the series, Al Swearengen, happens to sport a fine bit of facial hair which, when combined with that pinstripe suit, earns him a place on this list. Very snazzy.
JERRY SEINFELD (and GEORGE COSTANZA) – Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander (Seinfeld)
As the final season of Seinfeld began on September 25th 1997, the world was treated to a sight that will always be remembered. George’s idea for the pair to grow moustaches was as a vacation from themselves, but the duo ended up looking like “out-of-work pornstars”. A lot of us can relate to that…we’re just not all cut out for the ‘tache life. Still, this face fluff is absolutely deserving of a place on this list - if only for being a rare instance of the ‘tache-wearer acknowledging how bad it looks.
Of course Magnum is here. Does this choice need explaining? Look at that moustache. It’s beautiful. Did you know that when Magnum P.I. was being made, Tom Selleck’s moustache got a paycheck of its own? As the years went on, it became sentient and more powerful than you could possibly imagine – it was very difficult to work with. It always turned up to filming high on cocaine, having not read the script. How’s this sentient moustache banter going down with you? Oh. Okay. I’ll stop.
And finally, you simply cannot go wrong with Ronald Ulysses Swanson’s ‘tache. The incredibly dry, deadpan and sarcastic meat-lover boasts a thick and full moustache that, I think, everyone can see beauty in. Men want it, and women want to stroke it. Look at it. LOOK AT IT. It’s art. Pure art.
They say a man becomes manlier and hotter when he has a beard or a face full of hair. For example, just look at Tom Hardy. With facial hair, he seems literally irresistible to any woman I know. You know, there is one more step you can go, an elite form on manliness: When he can pull off a moustache. Sure the characters in this list may not actually exist, but they are still the manliest of men.
5. Sir Galahad – The Order 1886
Sir Galahad deserves to be on this list simply because it’s probably the only time you’re going to hear “Top 5” and “The Order: 1886” in the same sentence and it not include words like “disappointment” or “utter sh**”. He’s on this list simply because the technology behind the game was pretty spectacular and honestly I don’t think a moustache has ever looked as good as it did in The Order: 1886. Check out The Order 1886 HERE
4. Mario – Super Mario
I’m going to be completely honest: I completely forgot Mario had a moustache until I researched this article. His happy little face, big roundy nose, and that bright red cap just took the attention away from his moustache to me for the last number of years. Kinda weird when you think that one of the most child friendly faces in the whole world has a big dirty moustache on it no? Check out Mario HERE
3. Dr. Robotnik – Sonic
Dr. Robotnik is a madman. Do you know how I know that? Because he just doesn’t look after his moustache. Anytime you see him, it’s wild and unmanageable. He doesn’t realise how thankful he should be that a moustache like that graces his face. Not everyone can grow one, especially not to the potential the he can but he squanders his time to stopping a damn blue hedgehog. In my opinion, he deserves to always lose for letting a good thing go like that moustache. Check out Sonic HERE
2. Solid Snake – Metal Gear Solid 4
The definition of a legend, and throughout the Metal Gear Solid series, he’s proved that he can pretty much do everything. That all culminates in Metal Gear Solid 4 where he models a moustache that would make Tom Selleck proud. He may be ageing prematurely in this game but his moustache is timeless. Check out Metal Gear Solid HERE
1. Captain Price – Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
What the hell can I say about Captain Price’s moustache other than words to describe it: manly, incredible, glorious, we are not worthy Captain! He’s a huge part of what made the Modern Warfare so damn good and despite the rough situations you were in (I mean, it is war), his moustache remaining perfectly intact was what reminded you that there was going to be light again tomorrow to keep fighting. Hoo rah!
We’re halfway through now, so you most likely have noticed the plethora of beards that have gradually been creeping up on you. Yep, it’s that time of year again – Movember. Whilst I won’t be participating for obvious reasons, I thought I’d instead highlight five impressive moustaches that have graced our screens in the world of film… Maybe they’ll even inspire.
5. Jules Winnfield – Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction)
Samuel L. Jackson’s face fuzz as Jules Winnfield was never meant to be iconic, but its inclusion in Pulp Fiction lead to accidentally creating a whole new craze. It’s not surprising, as the combination of the horseshoe moustache and barely attached sideburns is a wonderful sight, but it never looks completely perfect without Winnfield’s Jheri-curled hair. Check out Pulp Fiction HERE
4. Rufus T. Firefly – Groucho Marx (Duck Soup)
Groucho Marx’s moustache in ‘Duck Soup’ is pretty iconic, as it inspired those glasses and moustache masks that everyone is so familiar with. The moustache you see on screen was actually painted on over Groucho’s original moustache, but there’s no reason why you can’t aspire to such wonderful lip foliage.
3. Ulysses Everett McGill – George Clooney (O Brother Where Art Thou?)
Shaped moustaches come and go in facial hair history, but George Clooney’s style in O Brother Where Art Thou just won’t be forgotten. McGill is notoriously vain anyway, but his pencil-thin ‘tache is kept perfectly trim at all times (despite the situation), and some even it makes Clooney looks the spitting image of Clark Gable. Check out O Brother Where Art Thou HERE
2. Derek Smalls – Harry Shearer (This Is Spinal Tap):
Spinal Tap’s bass player Derek Smalls is the epitome of the ‘70s – retro, metal, and with a mutton chop moustache that rivals any others of its type. It’s clearly derived from Motorhead’s Lemmy’s classic style and, combined with Smalls’ rock star locks there’s almost no cheek in sight. This is one example of facial hair that’s turned up all the way to 11. Check out This Is Spinal Tap HERE
1. Sam Elliott playing anyone ever
Sam Elliott has exactly the right type of facial hair for the more forthright styles of ‘tache – it’s coarse, impressive, and whatever style it’s in it deserves a certain level of respect. It’s hard to choose which moustachioed character is the best display but The Stranger’s in The Big Lebowski has to be up there – it’s less of a style, and more of a facial topiary art form.
With the subtitle 'Wings of Freedom', you may well be expecting a game about sanitary towels, but no! The preceding 'AOT' acronym stands for 'Attack On Titan'. AOT is an ongoing manga series, an anime series (the second season of which is due next year), two live action movies, a handful of novels, a half dozen or so games that never made it outside of Japan... and this one, which did.
Developed by Omega Force and out now for PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox One and even the Vita (yup, really), Wings Of Freedom is quite frankly a fan's dream come true. I've had hours upon hours of fun with it and I'm still playing, though that statement comes with a suitably titan-sized caveat; if you're not already an Attack On Titan fan, you're probably not going to get an awful lot out of this.
There are a lot of (skippable) cut scenes telling the story, and it's virtually all lifted directly from the series, but an awful lot has been dropped out of necessity (no mention at all of Eren's father or how Mikasa and Eren met, for example). Plus of course you're thrown into the whole 'killing giant naked people' thing with only a minimum of explanation of what the hell's going on. From here on out, therefore, I'll presume that you already know the story.
It's hard to imagine how the developers could've made it feel any more like you're fighting in the middle of the series' world. Characters, equipment, locations, and enemies all look exactly as they should. Titan appearances and behaviour are vital to anything seeking to offer an authentic AOT experience... and Omega Force have absolutely nailed it here. You get small, medium, large, and Abnormals. Their behaviour and animations match the anime pretty much perfectly. They'll grin and gurn gormlessly like people who think Mrs Brown's Boys is funny, they'll chase you (and others), they'll try to snatch attackers out of the air, Abnormals have their weird movements (including the occasional dive for a human on the ground)... in other words, they act just like real titans. If, er, titans were real.
The pre-existing concerns of gas running out and blades needing to be replaced have of course been brought over to the game, meaning that there's an element of keeping an eye on your supplies. ODM use is nice and simple yet 'feels' exactly right. One button will send your anchors into any nearby scenery, starting your Spider-Man-like flight through the environment, while another will boost you forward. Titan combat works as it does in the series. Hook anchors into your target, get a clean run at the nape, and slice away for victory. However, you need to take several factors into consideration. The titan will try to defend itself if it can, and any others close enough are likely to swipe for you too. If anything gets between you and your target while attached, the line will snap. Approach too slow or at the wrong angle, and you'll deal minimal damage or no damage at all. More intelligent titans will try to defend the nape, and for them you'll have to take out the arms before being able to make the kill.
It all sounds great – and for people enamoured with the series such as myself, it is – but there's good reason I said non-fans probably won't be too impressed. Despite the (small) variety in environments, introduction of horses and different titan types, and previously mentioned storytelling, this is ultimately a game built on repetition. Whether you're starting the first mission or the final one, you know that it's going to ultimately come down to “kill a load of titans until the toughest one/ones appear, then kill them too”. Developing new equipment and improving existing isn't enough to deny that, nor are the epilogue chapters which go beyond the first anime series and introduce a new titan.
Fighting alongside others in online missions is a nice touch... or it would be, were the online mode not broken at time of writing. It's still pretty much a must-buy for fans, though.
Don't have a Cow...ley? Yeah, that was a lame pun. Pay no attention to this. Move along...
We’ve just opened a brand new store in Cowley and
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We’ve just opened a brand new store in Street, Somerset and
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We’ve just opened a brand new store in Finglas and
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Level Up is a movie that threatens to drown itself in borrowed ideas. Protagonist's loved one is kidnapped, so he's forced to follow instructions from an unseen nasty man; delivery of a mysterious package; London drug dealers in a grotty council estate flat; and other bits and pieces, some of which sit in spoiler territory. Here's the thing though: Level Up is actually quite a decent film.
A relatively low budget British production, writer/director Adam Randall works well with what he has. The basic idea is this: lazy twenty something loser Matt (Josh Bowman) does very little with his life except play his favourite (generic and suspiciously outdated) FPS game, frustrate the hell out of his girlfriend Anna (Leila Mimmack), and mess around with his best friend Joel (a severely underused Doc Brown). This all goes out of the proverbial window when, moments after a fight with Anna that sees her storm out of the flat, Matt finds himself under attack from a group of men wearing multicoloured balaclavas that appear to have been knitted by somebody's nan.
Regaining consciousness after being knocked out, Matt finds himself with a headache and a screwed-on vest containing some sort of package hidden behind a combination lock. Receiving instructions by phone, he's told that Anna has been kidnapped; if he fails to follow instructions to deliver the package, or if he tries to tell anybody what's happening to him, Anna will die.
It's important to stress that one of the most important elements that makes the film work is Matt's character. A combination of Randall's writing and Bowman's performance makes him come across as a real human being you might pass in the street from beginning to end. There are a million movies and games with the 'ordinary person thrown into an extraordinary situation' scenario, but a significant flaw most of them share is that the transformation from supposedly relatable everyman to seemingly unstoppable superman is almost instantaneous. Matt, however, is consistently frustrated by – and terrified of – the insane path his life is now hurtling down.
Some sections of the film are downright surreal, temporarily allowing the viewer to share in Matt's fragile grip on the reality of his situation. There's grim humour in patches too because, let's face it, there's humour to be found in even the darkest times of our life – even though we probably don't see it at the time. The best example of the surreal and the humorous coming together is probably the section where Matt is directed to a Karaoke bar hidden down a grimy side alley, which culminates in his being forced to sing for reasons that don't become apparent until later.
Once things get going, they carry on at a decent pace until the end. And, although there are moments of laughter, there's violence as well. Extremely well directed violence that lets you almost feel every punch, kick, and merciless blow with a makeshift weapon. I have no shame in saying that I winced more than once during these scenes, so brutal and realistic were the blows. Especially as Matt, unwilling hero that he is, tends to be on the receiving end.
Although engaging from moment to moment, it has to be said that the overall plot of Level Up is somewhat uninspired and derivative. The plot twists are split about 50/50 between “Really? Crikey.” and “Saw that coming bloody miles off”. The story may not do anything new or exciting, and the ending may not tie things up quite as tightly as it should, but the execution is more than good enough to hold your attention for the duration.
Like retro games? Well, we do to, and it's about time we did something about that!
That's right, now at CeX we're buying and selling selected N64, SNES, NES, Neo Geo Pocket Color, GBA titles and consoles. So, fancy picking up that JRPG you never had a chance to play when your were a kid? How about selling those pesky SNES cartridges that are only collecting dust in your sock drawer? Come on down and lets see what we can do for you.?
We’ve just opened a brand new store in Bangalore and
it’s packed to the rafters with Films, Games and Gadgets. Feel free to
swing by, say "hey!" and see what CeX has brought to the table.
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Everyone who can drive remembers learning. The initial nerves, the feeling of power when you first hit the roads…but the thing that sticks with people most is their instructor. It seems there is no middle ground with your instructor – you either had a brilliant one who became a friend, or a shit one who became an enemy. I’d be in the latter camp…bloody Stephen. Anyway, it’s surprising that this big coming-of-age experience has been so ignored in film narrative – sure it’s sometimes used as a little subplot, but rarely as a film’s core. The aptly named Learning to Drive is probably the most accurate portrayal of this part of life, but its meaning goes far beyond the title.
Learning to Drive follows an unlikely friendship that grows between two very different New Yorkers each day in a car; Wendy (Patricia Clarkson) is a sharp-tongued literary critic whose husband (Jake Weber) just left her, inspiring her to embrace her independence and finally learn how to drive, while her teacher Darwan (Ben Kingsley) is a gentle Indian Sikh driving instructor with an impending arranged marriage troubling him. As Darwan teaches Wendy how to drive, they both learn valuable lessons about relationships, life, and the value of friendship – and maybe Wendy teaches Darwan a few things in return. Yes, I know, it sounds like another cheesy odd couple film that you’ve seen a million times before. But Learning to Drive is slightly deeper than it appears.
At its core, Learning to Drive is not a film about learning to drive a car, but learning to drive one’s own life. Deep, I know. Both of the lost souls in the film have forgotten how to lead their own lives – Wendy’s life with a controlling husband has left her dependent, while Darwan’s religion has his life set out for him. The learning to drive behind the wheel is a powerful metaphor for life. The roads are in front of us metaphorically, and all that. Road knowledge (“you can't always trust people to behave properly”, for example) can be applied to life and, as Wendy says in the film, ain’t that the truth. However, some of this symbolism can be a little heavy-handed, which does diminish the effect ever-so-slightly.
Films like this can ultimately be measured by the strength of their performances alone, and Learning to Drive brings us two of the finest talents in cinema – so they’re both going to be good, surely? Absolutely. Clarkson is superb in the somewhat feminist role of Wendy, but it is Kingsley who steals the show as the softly spoken Darwan who must face racial injustice and arguably suffer for his religion. It’s a complex and layered performance, something Kingsley can always pull off with great panache. And that’s it, really. The supporting cast are all adequate but fail to leave a lasting impression – besides perhaps Weber who is always good at playing arseholes.
But despite all this, Learning to Drive doesn’t leave much of a lasting impression, nor is it hugely original. I guess that isn’t a huge criticism – not every film is made to be remembered and revisited – but it does make a film slightly harder to recommend. If this review makes the film sound familiar in any way, it’s probably because you’ve seen it before…a hundred times. It’s nothing too special, but if you do decide to give it a test drive (wahey) you’ll enjoy the ride (I’m unstoppable). Just don’t expect anything that’ll change your life or stick with you. The credits will roll, you’ll switch it off and move on with your life. You won’t find yourself studying it and discussing it, but hey, sometimes we just need an easy watch.
Learning to Drive isn’t perfect by any stretch, but it’s a nice and gentle little film. 3/5
We here at CeX would like to congratulate the winner of our recent giveaway. The proud owner of a new Samsung 55" 4K Smart TV, our winner Dave is one of our lucky CeX fans that got a winning scratch card in-store. Congrats Dave!!
Every card also has a unique
code which automatically enters you into the prize draw for a £5000
gadget haul, so make sure you hold onto all the cards you get!
Hurry down to your local store and for full terms & conditions head to webuy.com/tradeintowin.
Huawei has been regularly adding devices in it's Honor series and the Honor 8 is the latest entrant after the Honor 7 which was well received from customers last year. The major difference though is the higher price range for this device. Let’s find out if it’s value for your money…
Design & Hardware
The Honor 8 looks a completely different device from the previous Honor devices and looks more premium thanks to the metal frame and curved 2.5D glass on the front & the back. Scratch guard alert for those who don’t want to risk it slipping out of your hands and breaking it! The corners are diamond cut , hence smoothly rounded with an ultra narrow bezel. The front has a 5.2” (423 ppi) LTPS Capacitive screen with the 8MP camera & light sensor at the top left & no physical buttons at the bottom, just a Honor logo.The notification LED is hidden in the earpiece grill.
The back has the fingerprint sensor and the 12MP dual camera setup which is the USP of the Honor 8 with dual LED flash.At the top edge, you’ll find the infrared sensor while at the bottom you’ll find the 3.5mm jack & Type C charging port with the speaker grill next to it.
The left edge has the 2in1 4G SIM & Micro SD card tray , so no Dual SIM support on this one . The right edge has the volume control & power button . The Honor 8 weighs only 154 grams & is pretty slim. It ships with an 18W fast charger & there are 3 colours, Sapphire Blue, Pearl White & Sunrise Gold for the phone to chose from.
Hardware is what increases the cost of the phone & is pretty obvious when you see why the Honor 8 is slightly on the higher side as compared to the One Plus 3 , Asus ZenFone 3.
Huawei always use the in-house Kirin processors for their phones & the Honor 8 has been given the latest Kirin 950 Octa-core SoC (4 x 2.3GHz ARM Cortex-A72 + 4 x 1.8GHz ARM Cortex-A53 ) which is similar to the Snapdragon 820.The GPU is Mali T880 that is combined with 4GB RAM & 32GB ROM & an expansion slot to support 128GB Micro SD card & a 3000 mAh battery.
Dual band Wi-Fi, OTG support, NFC are a given considering the price but no FM Radio and VoLTE support which could be an issue for many since 2017 will see most telecom operators move to cheaper data & VoLTE will be used for calling. Hopefully there’s a software update that can enable it if it has the right H/W inside!
Coming back to the Fingerprint sensor, which besides unlocking is also actually like a button and can be sued to take a selfie or pull down notifications or answer calls. The Smart Key on it has 3 types of touch sensitivities single, double and long which can be assigned functions like toggling the flashlight, taking a screenshot or even voice recording , stopping alarms, swiping for browsing photos. It can also be assigned to launch apps! Now THAT is how you reinvent !
Software
The Honor 8 runs on EMUI 4.1 which is a skin on top of the Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS.EMUI is Huawei’s custom interface and it’s been evolving for the last 2 years. It's got great icon packs & the UI is very unique and you won’t see the real Android layer underneath. Some new features are Now-On-Tap via Google, Link+ in the WIreless options for improved signal reception & WiFi+ to switch automatically between Wi-Fi & Data based on signal strength.
There are Voice Control features like Voice wakeup , Answering calls & Quick calling.
The Knuckle sense meanwhile let’s you take a screenshot by drawing a circle on screen or start screen recording by knocking with your knuckles. . Overall it’s a smooth UI & you can move to the simple layout mode if you don’t want all these bells and whistles on the home screen. The screen size can also be reduced in size for single hand functionality by quickly swiping to the right on the navigation keys.
Camera
The dual camera setup consists of a monochrome sensor & a 12MP colour camera which is similar to the iPhone 7 Plus. The major difference is in the aperture where the Honor 8 is f/2.2 , the iPhone 7 Plus is f/1.8 which is which it’s in a league of it’s own. The S7 edge meanwhile has f/1.7 which takes the cake!The Honor 8 is still a great camera phone and produces great details in daylight while low light is much improved than the Honor 7 & compared to other devices in the same budget. The manual mode offers good macro options & blur effects thanks to the wide aperture mode.
Modes include HDR, Pro, Panorama, slow motion, light painting, Beauty & Time Lapse.
Video recording maxes out at 1080p at 60fps and there’s no 4K, absolutely unbelievable when you market your phone as a camera phone & at this price!
Front camera is at 8MP and f/2.4 captures good wide angle selfies.
Multimedia
Media playback is good and supports 4K . The stock music player is neat as well & supports DTS audio while the speaker is pretty loud as well. Demanding games like FIFA Mobile , Asphalt 8 & Mortal Kombat X work pretty smooth and didn't notice any frame drops . AnTuTu score was at 91575 which isn’t justifying the hardware but the real world performance is great.
The IR sensor controlled by Smart Control 4.0 can operate all your electronic appliances like TV, set top box, AC etc. Thanks to the 3000 mAh battery, all day 4G with games , streaming & music kept the device running for over 9 hours. There’s a ROG battery feature that makes the display 720p to save power and when charging the device , it went upto 40% in 30 mins!
Conclusion
If you’re ok with losing out on Next gen VoLTE feature and 4K video recording, the Honor 8 is a good device but it’s in the premium segment . If you want more bang for your buck, look at Moto Z, One Plus 3, Nexus 6P (though old) are great devices.
