Huawei has continued its impressive run of devices with the new middle range G8, which in truth has more of a high-end specification.
Boasting 3GB of RAM, the Qualcomm MSM8939 chipset with 1.5GHz + 1.2GHz 8-core processor, 140mm (5.5”), full HD display with 16M colours (1920 x 1080) and a 13MP front and 5MP rear camera, the GX8 can hardly be said to have a reduced feature set.
In comparison to its flagship stable mate, the P8, the only real differences are that the GX has an aluminium chassis, is slightly heavier and does not feature Huawei’s home-grown HiSilicon Kirin 930/935 chipset.
However, the battery is a slightly larger 3,000mAh, and it also gets a rear mounted fingerprint reader for lock and unlock, but also for gesture control. Swiping up and down the fingerprint reader reveals the notification panel, allows you to read and clear all notifications with a single gesture as well as taking photos, answering calls and to switch off the alarm.
The G8 also gets Android 5.1, while the P8 languishes with Android 5.0, though both sport the Emotion UI 3.1.
In appearance, the few grams in the difference in weight is negligible between the G8 and the P8. The aluminium body is comfortable to hold as the G8 features a more rounded design, more akin to Samsung’s S series, than the squarer design of the P8. This facilitates easy use of well-placed fingerprint reader too.
The interface feels fast and fluid as the Emotion UI on the one hand is a fairly light overlay, and Android 5.1 is well suited to the Qualcomm chipset and processor. Though under certain circumstances, using the device in a Google Cardboard VR headset for example, the body did warm, but the metal chassis meant the heat was well dissipated before it became a problem.
Huawei has deep carrier knowledge from its work developing 4G technologies which it brings to bear in its handsets, pioneering dual LTE antennas to ensure high call quality and also better data performance. The G8 benefits from these and it is a standout feature in the niche. Connectivity is delivered via Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4G
The cameras benefit from technologies first seen on the P8, with particular attention paid to low light performance. Here it can take several pictures where exposures are varied and then automatically stitch them together to give the optimal image. The front facing camera has a few selfie options such as automatic enhancement of certain individuals based on face recognition. This is likely to be a popular feature in a phone which will be well in range of the young and fashion conscious, as are the colour options no doubt, described by the maker as Horizon Gold, Moonlight Silver and Space Grey.
Internal storage is 32GB, but this is expandable with a MicroSD card.
Other unique features for Huawei phones are the native phone manager, one handed operation and knuckle screen shot.
The phone manager app scans the phone and highlights storage, performance and application enhancements, as well as security issues and provides automatic resolutions that can also be rolled back. This is a useful feature that brings together a number of minor manual tasks that help the not so technically adept to keep their phone in top working order.
The one handed mode allows users to reduce the control area of the screen to allow for one-handed, or single thumb, operation. This is useful as the overall increase in dimensions over the P8 make the G8 just a little unwieldy, unless you are equipped with the digits of Eddie Van Halen.
Finally, tapping the screen with a knuckle from anywhere within the UI takes a screenshot.
With the addition of a slightly beefier battery and the fingerprint reader with gesture control, the G8 emerges from the other mid-range options as a very competitive package. Combined with prices around €360 SIM free, or free on a two-year contract, the G8 makes a good buy. It is available now on Meteor and Eir, with Tesco Mobile and Three to follow.
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