Honor Magic8 introduces NoxGod imaging for 200MP telephoto with new model lineup

Honor is gearing up for the mid-October debut of its Magic8 smartphone series, and the spotlight is already on a fresh piece of imaging tech the company has just trademarked: NoxGod. The name itself is a clever nod to Nox, the Roman goddess of night, hinting that this innovation is all about elevating nighttime photography.

According to Li Kun, Honor’s Product Manager for Flagship Phones, the feature will specifically enhance the 200MP telephoto camera on the new models.

While not every Magic8 variant is guaranteed to ship with a 200MP sensor, leaks suggest the Magic8 Ultra will use a customized OmniVision sensor, while the Magic8 Pro will retain the 200MP periscope camera setup alongside 50MP main and ultra-wide shooters. This isn’t just a numbers game – Honor is trying to fix one of the big criticisms of its Magic7 Pro: lackluster low-light performance. If NoxGod really delivers, night shots could become a standout feature rather than a weak point.

Beyond cameras, the series is shaping up to be diverse. The base Magic8 model shrinks to a 6.59-inch display, compared to the Magic7’s 6.78-inch, and Honor is even introducing a Magic8 mini with a 6.3-inch screen powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500. This is a bold play in a market dominated by increasingly oversized devices. While some argue mini phones are a dead-end, plenty of users are frustrated with carrying around what feels like a tablet in their pockets. For them, a compact flagship could be a breath of fresh air. On the other end of the spectrum, the Pro version will pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for those craving raw performance.

Several models are expected to feature a Direct Time-of-Flight (dToF) sensor, improving depth mapping for more accurate portrait effects. And in a first for the lineup, Honor is preparing both an Ultra and a mini variant – though rumor has it these may not launch until early 2026. That means the October event will likely focus on the more conventional Pro and base editions, with the Ultra and mini acting as teasers for Honor’s longer-term vision.

The strategy reflects a dual bet: doubling down on extreme camera hardware while carving space for users who want a premium yet pocket-friendly phone. Whether this balance pays off will depend not just on NoxGod’s promise under the stars, but on whether Honor can convince buyers that there’s still a market for smaller, practical flagships in a world chasing ever-bigger screens.