Honor Magic8 Global Variant Surfaces on Geekbench with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

The upcoming Honor Magic8 has officially surfaced on Geekbench, giving us the first detailed look at the global model’s performance ahead of its launch later this month. The device, identified as BKQ-N49, differs from the Chinese version, which carries the BKQ-AN80 tag, hinting at subtle regional hardware or software differences.

Despite being an early prototype, the benchmark results already provide interesting insights into what Honor is preparing for the international market.

According to the listing, the global Magic8 achieved 3,563 points in single-core and 7,632 in multi-core tests – slightly lower than its Chinese sibling. However, these numbers likely reflect pre-production tuning and unfinished firmware rather than a real-world performance gap. Under the hood, the phone packs the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset paired with 12GB of RAM, ensuring flagship-level power. It runs on Android 16 with MagicOS 10 layered on top, signaling Honor’s intent to stay ahead with its next-gen software experience.

Design-wise, the Magic8 continues Honor’s signature aesthetic with sleek lines and a premium finish, although some users seem tired of the brand’s circular ‘stovetop’ camera design that’s become a common trait among Chinese manufacturers. While the device no longer shares roots with Huawei – a point of confusion for some fans – Honor’s independence has allowed it to push innovation without the constraints of US sanctions. Early impressions suggest that the Magic8 could be a powerful global contender, balancing speed, design, and a refreshed user experience for 2025’s flagship race.