Huawei Enjoy 8 Review: Best Budget Smartphone of 2018

Huawei Enjoy 8 (2018)

The Huawei Enjoy 8 is an entry-level 4G smartphone released by Huawei in October 2018, positioned as a budget-friendly large-screen device for daily communication, media consumption, and casual use. Targeting cost-conscious users, students, and first-time smartphone buyers in emerging markets, it features a 6.26-inch HD+ display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset, and a 13MP rear camera, running stock Android 8.0 Oreo with Huawei’s EMUI 8.0 custom skin. As part of Huawei’s Enjoy series—focused on value, large displays, and long battery life—the Enjoy 8 competed with the Redmi 6 Pro and Honor Play 7 in the 2018 entry-level segment, prioritizing accessibility over flagship specs.

Core Overview & Positioning

Attribute	Details
Launch Date	October 2018 (China first; global rollout in Q4 2018)
Model Number	LDN-AL00 (China); LDN-L21 (global)
Market Position	Entry-level 4G budget smartphone (large-screen daily driver)
Target Audience	Budget users, students, first-time smartphone buyers, media consumers, emerging market users
Key Selling Points	6.26-inch HD+ Dewdrop notch display, Snapdragon 430, 13MP rear/8MP front cameras, 3000mAh battery, dual-SIM, expandable storage, Android 8.0/EMUI 8.0
Launch Price (China)	~¥999 (3GB RAM + 32GB storage); ~¥1199 (4GB RAM + 64GB storage)
Launch Price (Global)	~$150–$180 unlocked
Color Options	Black, Blue, Gold, Red (gradient finish variants for China)

Full Technical Specifications

Display

Type: 6.26-inch IPS LCD capacitive multi-touch (16M colors, 19:9 aspect ratio)
Resolution: 1520×720 pixels (HD+, ~269 ppi)
Design: Dewdrop (waterdrop) notch for front camera, narrow bezels, 86.6% screen-to-body ratio
Features: 5-point multi-touch, sunlight visibility enhancement, scratch-resistant glass coating (no Gorilla Glass)
Protection: Basic plastic screen coating (no premium glass protection)

Performance & Software

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8940) (28nm LP process)
CPU: Octa-core (8×1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A53) – octa-core design for smooth daily multitasking
GPU: Adreno 505 (supports OpenGL ES 3.1, casual 2D/light 3D gaming)
Memory: 3GB/4GB LPDDR3 RAM; 32GB/64GB internal eMMC 5.1 storage
Storage Expansion: microSDXC slot (supports up to 256GB, dedicated slot – no SIM 2 sacrifice)
Operating System: Android 8.0 Oreo (customized with Huawei EMUI 8.0)
Software Features:
- Google Mobile Services (GMS) support (Play Store, Gmail, Maps – global variants)
- Huawei Cloud Services (backup/sync contacts, photos, data)
- EMUI Smart Gestures (palm swipe screenshot, knock-to-wake, flip-to-mute)
- Basic multitasking, app drawer, theme customization, split-screen mode (for selected apps)
- Document viewer (Word/Excel/PDF), FM radio, voice assistant (Huawei HiVoice)
- No official OS upgrades (stuck on Android 8.0/EMUI 8.0; limited security patches)

Camera System

Rear Camera (Single Setup)

13MP primary sensor, f/2.2 aperture, fixed focus (no autofocus/PDAF), LED flash
Photo Resolution: Up to 4128×3096 pixels
Video Recording: 1080p Full HD @ 30fps (no EIS/OIS)
Features: HDR, panorama, AI scene recognition (16 categories), night mode (basic), beauty mode for photos/videos

Front Camera

8MP sensor, f/2.0 aperture, fixed focus, Dewdrop notch placement
Photo Resolution: Up to 3264×2448 pixels
Video Recording: 720p HD @ 30fps
Features: AI beauty mode (10-level adjustment), HDR, screen flash (low-light selfies), face unlock (basic 2D)

Battery & Charging

Capacity: 3000 mAh non-removable Li-Polymer battery
Charging: 5V/1A standard wired charging (microUSB 2.0 port; no fast charging)
Battery Life:
- Talk time: Up to 15 hours (4G LTE)
- Standby time: Up to 200 hours
- Video playback: Up to 8 hours (continuous 720p streaming)
- Screen-on time (SOT): ~5–6 hours (mixed use: social media, browsing, calls)
Power Optimization: EMUI Smart Power Saving (limits background app activity, CPU frequency adjustment)

Build & Design

Dimensions: 158.3×75.3×7.8 mm
Weight: 150 g (ultra-lightweight for a 6.26-inch phone)
Build Material: Full plastic body (matte finish back panel for grip, plastic frame)
Form Factor: Candybar; Dewdrop notch display; rear-mounted fingerprint sensor (rectangular, below camera)
Buttons & Ports: Volume rocker (side), power/lock key (side), 3.5mm headphone jack (top), microUSB 2.0 port (bottom), speaker grille (bottom)
Sensors: Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, proximity, ambient light, compass

Connectivity

Feature	Specifications
Cellular	4G LTE (FDD-LTE: 1/3/5/7/8/20; TD-LTE: 38/39/40/41), 3G HSPA+, 2G GSM; dual-SIM dual-standby (Nano-SIM ×2)
Wi-Fi	802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz only), Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth	4.2 (A2DP, AVRCP for audio streaming/control, LE for low-power devices)
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Other	3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio (with RDS), microUSB 2.0 (data + charging), no NFC, no OTG support

Core Features & User Experience Highlights

6.26-inch Large HD+ Dewdrop Display: The compact 6.26-inch IPS LCD with a Dewdrop notch delivered an immersive viewing experience for 720p video streaming, browsing, and reading— a key selling point for budget users seeking a large screen without flagship costs. Its 19:9 aspect ratio and narrow bezels also made the phone comfortable to hold with one hand.
Lightweight & Compact Design: At just 150g and 7.8mm thick, the Enjoy 8 was one of the lightest 6-inch+ entry-level phones of 2018, ideal for daily carry and one-handed use.
Dual-SIM + Dedicated MicroSD Slot: The dedicated microSD slot (up to 256GB) solved the 32GB/64GB internal storage limitation, while dual-SIM dual-standby support catered to users in emerging markets who needed separate personal/work numbers or local/roaming SIMs.
Smooth Daily Performance: The Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor and 3GB/4GB RAM handled basic daily tasks (calls, texts, social media, light browsing, casual gaming like Candy Crush) smoothly, with no significant lag for everyday use.
Basic Camera for Social Media: The 13MP rear and 8MP front cameras delivered decent daylight photos and selfies, with AI scene recognition and beauty mode— perfect for sharing on social media (WeChat, Facebook, Instagram) for budget users.

Advantages & Limitations

Advantages	Limitations
6.26-inch large HD+ Dewdrop display (immersive media viewing)	No fast charging (5V/1A; full charge takes ~3 hours)
Ultra-lightweight (150g) and slim (7.8mm) design	HD+ 720p resolution (pixelated on a 6.26-inch screen vs. FHD+ rivals)
Dedicated microSD slot (up to 256GB) + dual-SIM (no storage sacrifice)	No autofocus/PDAF on rear camera (blurry close-up shots)
Octa-core Snapdragon 430 for smooth daily multitasking	No EIS/OIS (blurry motion/low-light video)
GMS support (global variants – full Google Play access)	No Gorilla Glass (screen prone to scratches/cracks)
Basic face unlock + rear fingerprint sensor (dual biometrics)	Small 3000mAh battery (low SOT for heavy users)
Affordable pricing (~$150–$180 unlocked)	No official OS upgrades (stuck on Android 8.0/EMUI 8.0)
3.5mm headphone jack (retained for wired audio)	No NFC (no mobile payment support)
No OTG support (cannot connect external storage/accessories)	Plastic build (feels cheap vs. metal/glass mid-range phones)

Target Markets & Use Cases

Emerging Market Users: Popular in Asia, Africa, and Latin America for dual-SIM support, expandable storage, and affordable large-screen design— core needs for budget consumers in these regions.
Students & Young Users: Ideal for daily communication, social media, and 720p video streaming, with a low price point suitable for students and teens.
First-Time Smartphone Buyers: Transitioning from feature phones to a smartphone with a large display, basic smart features, and an easy-to-use EMUI/Android interface.
Secondary/Backup Device Users: A lightweight, affordable backup phone for users with a flagship primary device, or for kids/elderly family members who only need basic smart functions.
Media Consumers on a Budget: Users who prioritize a large screen for streaming YouTube, Netflix (720p), and reading e-books without spending on mid-range/flagship phones.

Legacy & Market Impact

The Huawei Enjoy 8 was a key entry-level device in Huawei’s 2018 lineup, reinforcing the Enjoy series’ reputation for value, large displays, and accessibility. It helped Huawei maintain its market share in the global entry-level smartphone segment, especially in emerging markets, where it undercut competitors like Xiaomi and Realme with a larger screen and dual-SIM/expandable storage at a similar price point.

As a budget phone with a Dewdrop notch— a trendy design feature in 2018— the Enjoy 8 made modern display design accessible to cost-conscious users, a trend that Huawei and other Chinese brands expanded on in subsequent Enjoy and Honor models. While it lacked flagship specs and official OS upgrades, it delivered on its core promise: a large-screen, functional daily driver at an unbeatable price.

Today, the Huawei Enjoy 8 is a discontinued budget device, with well-preserved units still used in emerging markets as a low-cost secondary phone, and it remains a representative example of Huawei’s 2018 entry-level smartphone strategy.