The handset will also be getting Huawei’s new EMUI 5.0 skin.
Huawei’s feature-rich yet affordable Honor 8 is about to get a taste of Nougat. Android 7.0 Nougat, that is.
The handset, which earned an excellent rating in PCMag’s review, is poised to receive two updates by the end of February: Android 7.0 and Huawei’s new EMUI 5.0 skin.
“Simplified and streamlined, the new EMUI 5.0 significantly cuts down on the number of steps you need to get things done,” Huawei’s Honor brand said. “In fact, you can reach 90 percent of the phone’s core functions in just two to three clicks.”
The new interface also offers “more screen real estate for the content that really matters to you,” plus a choice between the standard layout and an app drawer. You’ll also be able to run multiple profiles on the handset to easily switch between your professional and personal life.
EMUI 5.0 leverages machine learning to “dynamically optimize processing resources by analyzing the user’s behavior over time and prioritizing frequently used apps,” Honor said. Plus, there’s a “selection of power saving modes” to help you better manage your device’s battery consumption. And, for shady and/or security-conscious individuals, an App Lock feature offers peace of mind that nobody but you can get into specific apps if they grab your phone.
“The Nougat update plus EMUI 5.0 on the Honor 8 offers a simpler user interface, stronger functionality, and a more secure system overall,” Honor said.
PCMag reviewed the Honor 8 this summer and called it a “stylish unlocked Android handset with some unique features.” We liked its attractive design, “sharp dual-sensor camera performance,” and its fingerprint scanner, but docked points for its “mediocre battery life,” and said the “heavy” EMUI layer “causes occasional performance hiccups.”