News

Honor Magic shows off beauty and brains

Published

December 17, 2016

Marvin Velasco

Magic is real — actually, make that the Honor Magic.

After numerous teasers and leaks, we now have a definitive look at the latest addition to Huawei’s sub-brand, and it was well worth the wait.

It’s an absolutely gorgeous device, from its curved 5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display to the rounded edges and slim 7.8mm profile. There are two colors to choose from: golden black and porcelain white.

And that’s just the start. What awaits inside the operating system better justifies the Magic name.

On top of its Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, there’s something called Honor Magic Live, which is an intelligent system that can read your moves and predict what you’d need next. It’s a lot like Google Assistant, if you think about it, but there’s supposedly smarter predictions behind this implementation.

Instances include movie recommendations while bringing up the topic in an online conversation, automatic switching to driving mode when the phone notices you’re on the road, and providing useful information for a webpage after holding the home button.

Another interesting feature is WiseScreen. Using a combination of sensors on the phone’s frame and the infrared camera in front, the Honor Magic can detect when it’s in your hands and turn on automatically. The same applies to pocketing the handset, wherein it’ll go to sleep the moment it feels your pocket.

Even cooler is this function called FaceCode, which uses facial recognition to figure out who’s allowed to view message notifications. It sounds like more trouble than it’s worth, but we have to see some real-life tests before we can judge.

Powering all these features is Huawei’s in-house Kirin 950 processor — the same one found in the Honor 8 launched last July. The chipset is assisted by 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage.

In front, you’ll find a physical home button, but it’s unlike anything you’d find on most Androids. You can tap and swipe on it to navigate around the interface, effectively removing any need for the usual Back and Apps Overview buttons. It also doubles as a fingerprint scanner.

On the back you have a 12-megapixel dual-camera setup, just like the one found on the Honor 8. It works the same way: One camera utilizes a color sensor while the other is monochrome. Put together, outputs are a lot sharper, and colors much brighter.

Finally, the Honor Magic makes use of truly fast charging for its 2900mAh battery. It can go from zero to 40 percent in 10 minutes, up to 70 percent in 20 minutes, and as much as 90 percent in only 30 minutes.

Pretty cool, huh? Hold on, because there are a couple of drawbacks. The Honor Magic is only available in China for the time being, and it retails for CNY 3,699, which translates to a premium $530 price tag.

[irp posts=”7005″ name=”Honor 6X offers dual-camera setup for $150″]

Source: Android Authority

News

HONOR Magic8 Pro gets Android 17 Beta 3 support early

Android 17 arrives early

Published

May 12, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

The HONOR Magic8 Pro is among the first smartphones to support Android 17 Beta 3, giving developers early access to Google’s upcoming mobile platform ahead of its wider release.

According to HONOR, the early beta access allows developers to test app compatibility, optimize performance, and integrate new Android 17 features using the company’s flagship smartphone.

Android 17 Beta 3

Android 17 Beta 3 introduces several new multitasking, customization, camera, and privacy tools. One of its biggest additions is the expansion of Bubbles into a system-wide feature. Apps can now run in floating windows that users can minimize and reopen from anywhere on-screen.

The update also adds support for the RAW14 image format. HONOR says this allows developers to better take advantage of the Magic8 Pro’s AiMAGE camera system for improved image processing, dynamic range, and color accuracy in third-party camera and editing apps.

Android 17 Beta 3 also expands UI customization. Users can now hide app labels for a cleaner home screen layout, while developers can adjust Photo Picker layouts with different aspect ratios including portrait-style 9:16 views.

Other updates include separate Quick Settings toggles for Wi-Fi and mobile data, alongside a redesigned screen recording interface that lets users choose between recording the full display or a specific app.

Privacy and security improvements are also part of the update. Android 17 Beta 3 adds session-only precise location access, blocks local network access by default, and introduces protections against code injection attacks. Google is also preparing Android for future cybersecurity threats through support for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).

The HONOR Magic8 Pro features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, HONOR’s AiMAGE imaging system, and a 6,270mAh Silicon-carbon Battery. HONOR says its participation in the Android 17 Beta program highlights its continued collaboration with Google ahead of Android 17’s official release.

News

Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million

Samsung allegedly used her image without her consent.

Published

May 11, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Samsung has an unlikely rival. Dua Lipa is suing the South Korean company for using her image without her permission.

In the marketing world, brand endorsers are part and parcel of how products are pushed to the market. Famous celebrities are often asked to advertise a product for their potential star power. That said, a company needs the endorser’s consent first.

According to a new suit (via Variety), pop star Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for using her image to endorse TVs without her consent. The South Korean brand is reportedly using Lipa’s photo on the packaging of its TVs. Lipa alleges that the photo’s usage implies that she endorses the TV, which she does not.

The complaint also alleges that Lipa asked Samsung to take down the image last year. However, Samsung’s reply was, to her, “dismissive and callous.” The brand has then continued to use the image in its packaging.

To prove her point, the suit includes anecdotes of Samsung customers who bought the TV specifically because the packaging has Lipa’s image on it. To pay for damages, Lipa is asking for US$ 15 million from the global brand for copyright infringement.

Gaming

The Switch 2 is getting more expensive this year

The price increases will start this month.

Published

May 11, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Gone are the days when consoles get cheaper as time goes by. These days, especially because of the RAM crisis, gaming consoles are getting more expensive. Joining this worrying trend, the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price hike.

Even upon launch, the Switch 2 was already pricier than its original counterpart. Currently, without the incoming price hikes, the console retails for US$ 449.99. It’s a lot but not completely out of reach.

Last week, Nintendo announced a price hike that might push the console to less than attainable levels. Starting May 25, the Switch 2 will cost JPY 59,980 (up from JPY 49,980) in Japan. The original generation is also getting a hike: JPY 47,980 for the Switch OLED, JPY 43,980 for the base Switch, and JPY 29,980 for the Switch Lite.

Abroad, you can expect price hikes on September 1. The Switch 2 will jump to US$ 499.99, CAN 679.99, or EUR 499.99, depending on where you live. These are the only official hikes announced right now, but Nintendo has confirmed that price revisions will be implemented in other regions, too.

As you might expect, the price increases are due to the ongoing RAM crisis. Though the console is an undeniable hit, the Switch 2 can’t hide behind its popularity against the price shortage dealt by unnecessary data centers. At the very least, users worldwide have time to grab the console in its original pricing before the hikes.