Honor has officially confirmed a key regional difference for its upcoming Magic8 Lite smartphone, and it’s not great news for European buyers.
Following a pattern already seen with the Magic8 Pro lineup, the Honor Magic8 Lite will ship with different battery sizes depending on the market, giving Latin America users a clear advantage.
According to Honor, Magic8 Lite units sold in Europe will feature a 7,500mAh battery and weigh 189 grams. In contrast, models destined for Latin America will come equipped with a larger 8,300mAh battery, increasing the device’s weight slightly to 193 grams. While the difference may seem minor on paper, it could translate into noticeably longer battery life for Latin American users.
This regional battery split mirrors Honor’s strategy with the Magic8 Pro series. For reference, the China-exclusive Magic8 Pro packs a 7,200mAh battery, the global version drops slightly to 7,100mAh, and the EU model is further reduced to 6,270mAh. Such segmentation has drawn criticism, especially from European consumers who consistently receive smaller batteries.
Thankfully, charging speeds appear to remain consistent for the Magic8 Lite across all regions. Honor has confirmed that the device will support 66W wired charging globally, with no wireless charging option. This differs from the Magic8 Pro, which offers varying charging speeds depending on the market.
In real-world testing, the European 7,500mAh Magic8 Lite already performs impressively. Reviews show an Active Use Score of around 18 hours, indicating strong endurance despite the smaller battery. Charging performance is also solid, reaching nearly 50% in just 30 minutes and achieving a full charge in approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. The larger 8,300mAh Latin America variant is expected to last even longer, although it may take slightly more time to fully recharge.
At present, Honor has only officially confirmed a European launch for the Magic8 Lite, which is expected in January. However, the acknowledgment of a Latin America-specific battery version strongly suggests that the phone will also debut in that region.
More details regarding availability, pricing, and regional launch timelines are expected to emerge soon.