On sale for $300, this Android powerhouse is all the smartphone you need

16 December 2016

Flagship smartphones from Samsung or Apple generally sell for $600-700. That’s a lot of money, but in return you’re getting a pocket computer with fast internals, a good screen, a standout camera, and extras like a fingerprint reader. The “complete package” is meant to be the justification for those high price tags, but the times they are a-changing.

The Huawei Honor 8 was quietly one of the best phones released in 2016. It’s got killer two-day battery life, a weirdly fast fingerprint sensor, great screen and a very capable dual-camera system. The biggest downside I could find was that the naked phone is more slippery than a greased penguin on ice, so having a case is an absolute must. But if you can live with that, you get a fantastic Android smartphone with zero bloatware for $400.

At least, that’s the RRP. But for Christmas, a bunch of retailers are cutting the price to $300, plus throwing in a bunch of freebies like $100 Bluetooth headphones and a case. If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading, or you’re hunting for a Christmas gift for someone, it’s definitely worth a look.

As Android Police noted, the best deal is over at Newegg right now. For $300, you get the 32GB version of the Honor 8, plus a $50 Newegg gift card, extra cables and a case, and JBL Synchros E40BT Bluetooth headphones. B&H has the same deal but without the gift card, while Best Buy and Amazon are both offering the discounted price but none of the freebies.

- BGR