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Huawei Mate 8
Huawei Mate 8
Huawei Mate 8
Huawei Mate 8
...


7.8/10
Informr score
The Huawei Mate 8 currently has an Informr score of 7.8 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 26 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • All-day battery life
  • Blazing performance
  • MicroSD support
  • Dual-SIM
  • Crisp camera
  • Fast fingerprint scanner

What's bad

  • Too big for one-handed use
  • EMUI 4.0 heavily modifies Android
  • Lower resolution display than competition

Huawei has built a solid reputation for high-quality devices at competitive prices. With the Mate 8, Huawei looks to tackle the competitive phablet market. But does this monster of a metal phone offer enough value to warrant toting it around?

Reviews are out and we’re bringing you everything you need to know in this Informr phone summary!

One of the first things mentioned by reviewers is the sheer size of the phone. Yet, apart from one-handed usage, most were very pleased with the all-metal design of the Mate 8. The Inquirer said, “the smartphone's matte metal body provides a premium feel and a reassuring solidity. It's curved at the back and the chamfered edges mean that, while most will still struggle to operate it comfortably with one hand, it sits nicely in the palm.”

You’ll find a round fingerprint scanner tucked into the upper-middle of the phone’s back. Reviewers loved both the placement and performance of the scanner. Pocket Lint says, “It's the scanner's rear positioning that makes it particularly standout. It's just a really natural placement for a device of this size; the fact it's recessed makes it easy for a finger to slip into place.”

Coming around front, you’re greeted with a 6-inch 1080p IPS panel. The Gorilla Glass 4 should avoid scratches well, but many reviewers noted some smudging and fingerprint issues. Otherwise, the screen performs well, with PocketLint noting, “Pushed to maximum brightness and there's plenty of output from the Mate 8. However, its auto brightness can seem a little conservative in some situations.”

Huawei chose to power the phone with their own eight-core 2.3Ghz Kirin 950 processor. Depending on the model, you’ll find 3 or 4GB of RAM to handle larger apps or multitasking. Performance reviews are undeniably positive with PC Advisor UK saying, “the Kirin 950 delivers is in spades.” Phandroid agreed, declaring, “All you need to know about this processor is it screams. This is without a doubt the fastest phone I have ever used.”

To ensure you can make the most of the big screen and powerful processor, Huawei offers models with 32, 64 and 128GB of internal storage. Should you need more space, you can use the microSD slot. However, doing so disables the dual-SIM capabilities of the phone.

The 4000mAh battery in the Mate 8 blew reviewers away. Pocket Lint noted, “The 4,000mAh cell on board the Mate 8 has lasted out for well beyond a day, almost without exception. And we're talking under proper use: we don't faff around uninstalling Facebook, WhatsApp and whatnot.” Fast charging with the built-in charger offers a 37% charge in 30 minutes for quick top-offs when needed.

The one area that most reviewers questioned is the software on the Mate 8. While it runs Android Marshmallow 6.0, Huawei’s Emotion UI 4.0 leaves it almost unrecognizable. SlashGear notes, “Pure Android fans will also lament the lack of an app drawer, or a clean implementation of Material Design. Another lasting annoyance associated with Emui were its constant notifications concerning the amount of power being used by background apps and services.” Reviews agreed that the UI is the biggest reason buyers might not like the phone.

If you don’t mind having to hold a massive phone to take pictures, reviews on both the 16MP rear camera and 8MP front-facing lens are positive. SlashGear notes, “You'll likely be ecstatic with the quality of the photos taken by the device.” Phandroid backs this up, saying, “Photos come out with a lot of detail, but lighting can be a bit iffy. The front facing camera is just as solid as the rear one.”

Overall, as long as you know you’re getting a large phone, reviews for the Mate 8 are great. Phandroid summed up opinions well in their verdict, saying, “The software will ultimately determine if the phone is right for you. EMUI is an acquired taste. You’ll either learn to love it or despise it more every day. The good news is there’s really nothing else to complain about.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.3 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.3 GHz
6"
Screen Size
Screen Size
6"
16+ MP
Camera
Camera
16+ MP
4000 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GSM Dome
GSM Dome

This model is the highest performing unit one can get before the 2016 flagships are out and even then it may pose them some problems, with its great low light capture and great CPU. Everything is basically perfect on this phablet, minus the audio and video capture. It’s a future proof device.

- Alexandru Stănescu, GSM Dome
Notebookcheck
Notebookcheck

The Huawei Mate 8 left a very good impression during our review with its noble chassis and the high performance. It is quite a big device with its 6-inch display, but the handling is still comfortable thanks to the thin frame. Besides the high performance, we are also convinced by the efficiency of...

- Andreas Osthoff, Notebookcheck
The Inquirer
The Inquirer

It's not hard to see why Huawei is becoming more popular. The Mate 8's software is frustratingly heavy, but it matches its big-name rivals in almost every other respect, offering a premium design, superb performance and a decent display.

- Carly Page, The Inquirer
Mobile Choice
Mobile Choice

If you need a device to do all the grunt work in the world then this is the one for you. Also important are massive hands because the Mate 8 is a lot wider than most other smartphones out there making it quite awkward to use one-handed.

- Sunetra Chakravarti, Mobile Choice
Phandroid
Phandroid

The Mate 8 is a beastly phone with specs that will make most people drool. Performance and battery life are off the charts, but Huawei’s weird EMUI software will be a turn-off for some people. If raw power is your #1 priority, it’s hard to find a better phone that the Mate 8.

- Joe Fedewa, Phandroid


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Huawei Mate 8 user manual here.


Huawei backs up the Mate 8 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Mate 8 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Huawei support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Huawei's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
6"

The Huawei Mate 8's screen size is 6 inches with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.3 GHz

There is a HiSilicon Kirin 950 Octa core 2.3 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system (OS).

Camera
16+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 16+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 8+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32/64 GB

Internal memory is 32/64 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
4000mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 4000 mAh battery. Huawei's performance ratings are 1080 minutes.

Mate 8 Specs

Overview
Release Date January 25, 2016
Regions Available United Kingdom
Operating System Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor HiSilicon Kirin 950 Octa core 2.3 GHz
Internal Storage 32/64 GB
RAM 3 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 1.18 W/kg
Body: 0.21 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Standard Battery, Headset, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM Yes
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.2
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC, microSDXC (up to 128 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
16+ Megapixels
Zoom
4x digital
Flash
Yes (Dual LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, Image stabilization, ISO, Multi-shot, Night mode, Panorama, HDR, Slow motion recording
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, XviD
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 60 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels
Pixel Density 368 pixels
Size 6 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 4000 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1080 minutes
Standby Time Up to 22 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Aluminium
Colors Moonlight Silver, Space Gray, Champagne Gold, Mocha Brown
Dimensions [H x W x D] 15.7 x 8.1 x 0.8 cm (6.2 x 3.2 x 0.3 in)
Weight 185 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA): Huawei Ascend Mate 8, NXT-L29

Additional Sensors: Fingerprint sensor, Barometer

Variant:
64 GB Internal Flash Memory has 4 GB of RAM
Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
Manual (PDF)
Huawei Mate 8 Reviews
Where to buy Huawei Mate 8
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