The Huawei GX8 (MSRP $350, online for $299) isn’t quite on the Nexus 6P’s level, but like the 6P, the value is undeniable. The GX8 isn’t a top-of-the-line device, but for $300 it does a remarkable job imitating one.
Every inch of the GX8—from its glass-and-metal build to its hefty weight—practically screams, “I’m a premium smartphone!” With that being said, the GX8’s 5.5-inch screen might take some getting used to if you’re coming from a smaller phone.
Around back is the GX8’s primary camera, which protrudes slightly but not enough as to be a nuisance. Beneath that is the phone’s fingerprint scanner — another feature typically found on higher-end handsets.
Overall, I enjoyed holding the GX8 in a normal, stationary position, but the second I readjust its placement in my palm or changed my grasp to tap a button, its size and metal exterior made it feel uncomfortably slippery. It’s a phone I’d recommend handling before purchasing.
When it came to the GX8’s speed, it didn’t take much time for it to wow me. Our benchmark processor tests confirmed my first impression: For the most part, the GX8 performs at a level slightly below the top-of-the-line, but close to last year's best.
I do, however, find Huawei’s EMUI skin—which runs atop Android Lollipop—to have more than its fair share of quirks. These range from minor cosmetic issues to flat-out poor feature implementation, but more often than not, I found myself just wishing the changes weren’t there. The customizable gesture software also felt half-baked most of the time.
Despite those faults, the GX8 is still a phone of pleasant surprises. Take, for instance, its microSD slot, which can accept up to 64GB of expanded storage. I’m not sure why so many manufacturers still neglect external storage, but it’s always an invaluable addition.
Of all the GX8’s performance charms, the one I appreciate the most is its stalwart battery life. In a heavy workload simulation, the GX8 petered out a little over four and a half hours. Considering that the iPhone 6s tops off at a hair under four hours, this performance from a mid-range phone is nothing to scoff at.
In general, you can expect the GX8 to last you from your morning routine until you go to bed, which is usually good enough for most people.
The GX8’s primary camera is a robust 13-megapixel a wide aperture of f/2.0, and for the most part, it does what it needs to do with relative grace. The inclusion of optical image stabilization definitely helps when your hand isn't steady; the sensor is zippy when hunting for a subject and keeps it in tight focus despite minor hand ticks.
Unfortunately, the GX8 struggles where a lot of smartphone cameras often do—in low light. The camera’s noise reduction software tends to crush details in dimly-lit settings.
In everyday situations, however, the GX8 holds its own and snaps perfectly adequate pictures. One of the things I dig about the shots I get is how vibrant they appear without being over-saturated to a cartoony degree. The GX8 also shoots 1080p video with better-than-average results, and its 5-megapixel front-facing camera will satisfy selfie-addicts.
While you won’t quite get a handset to compete with today’s better-known flagships with Huawei’s GX8, you’ll still get a phone that would’ve been flagship quality a year ago — for just $300-$350. Even with its tiny flaws, the GX8 is what other low-cost, high-value phones should aspire to be.
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