ZHUHAI, China, Jan 20, 2026, 20:09 (UTC+8)
Honor’s latest Magic8 RSR Porsche Design phone might be the final model in their co-branded lineup, according to a report from Chinese tech site IT Home on Tuesday. The outlet referenced a Weibo post by Chen Ligeng, an Honor performance development engineer, who described the device as the “last-generation pinnacle” of the Porsche series. (IT Home)
Why it matters now: the Porsche Design label is a key sign that Honor is aiming squarely at the premium Android segment, where brand prestige matters more than raw specs. Without that badge, the company loses a major selling point to back prices that now compete with flagship offerings from Samsung and Apple.
Honor is juggling two big ideas here: a super-thin “Air” phone and a flagship loaded with cameras. Meanwhile, competitors are doubling down on camera tech, faster charging, and smarter on-device AI to drive their next upgrades.
Honor unveiled the Magic8 RSR Porsche Design on January 19, featuring a 200-megapixel telephoto camera and a hefty 7,200 mAh battery—mAh being the standard unit for battery capacity. The phone offers 120-watt wired charging alongside 80-watt wireless charging, with prices starting at 7,999 yuan. (Honor)
At the Zhuhai event, Honor unveiled the Magic8 Pro Air, boasting a slim 6.1-millimetre profile and weighing just 155 grams. The phone features a 6.31-inch OLED display and packs a 5,500 mAh battery. Prices range from 4,999 yuan to 5,999 yuan, with sales kicking off on Jan. 23. (Honor)
Design blog Yanko Design highlighted a Chinese tagline translated as “thin but not lacking,” suggesting Honor aims to show slim phones can still pack big batteries and multiple lenses. Details on camera sensors and focal lengths haven’t been released yet. (Yanko Design)
On Monday, Nicholas Sutrich from Android Central called the Honor Magic8 Pro the company’s best phone to date. He highlighted its 200MP telephoto camera, rapid charging, and battery life that can last “two days,” along with a commitment to seven years of OS updates. The Magic8 Pro has been on sale across Europe since Jan. 7, starting at £1,099.99/€1,299, but it hasn’t officially launched in North America. (Android Central)
The Porsche Design situation remains unresolved. Huawei Central pointed out that Chen’s post didn’t clarify if Honor plans to cut ties entirely or just drop the branding from its phones. So far, the company hasn’t shared any plans beyond its existing lineup. (Huawei Central)
In December 2023, Honor and Porsche Design revealed their partnership to jointly develop premium smart devices. Porsche Lifestyle Group chairman Stefan Buescher called the move “a milestone,” while Honor CEO George Zhao highlighted the “long-term collaboration” as a strategy to fuel growth across global markets, the companies said at the time. (Honor)
The Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR, the first device from this partnership, made its debut in Shanghai back in January 2024, the companies announced then. (Honor)
Right now, Honor offers both a slim “Air” model and a Porsche Design flagship. Going forward, the badge on their next high-end phone might hinge less on specs like cameras or batteries, and more on whether Honor believes the name still holds market value.
