Blackview Wave 8 Smartphone Review – Over the years, Blackview has built a niche reputation among the durable and practical smartphone range. They have now expanded the smartphone segments to standard devices. Typically, you might expect a rugged handset, but this time, the company produced a new Blackview Wave 8. It is a stunning device that unlocks new horizons for the company. Plus, the balance between affordability, battery life, and easy usage is a great combination.
Undoubtedly, the phone can effortlessly handle daily tasks, provide a decent level of multitasking, and provide ample screen time. The phone was released around November 2024, and it’s available on the official Blackview website. At first impression, the phone does look wonderful. Yet the phone does look like another entry-level smartphone without some additional features to expect. For more information, let’s dive into the Blackview Wave 8 smartphone review.
Table of Contents
Blackview Wave 8 Smartphone Review
Highlights
- The device obtains a 6.56-inch IPS LCD panel with a standard HD resolution display with 450 nits brightness.
- As for the software interface, it runs on the Android 14-based DokeOS 4.0 skin with various customization attributes.
- The hardware section features a Unisoc T606 chipset that provides average performance.
- A 13MP camera lens appears on the back panel, while the front display houses an 8MP selfie camera.
- Under the hood, the phone provides a decent 5000 mAh battery setup with a 10W charger.
Design and Display
The design aspect does feel downgraded compared to the rugged smartphone since you won’t find those sweet IP ratings durable. Instead, the phone looks like yet another standard budget device. Blackview does try to give a modern touch to the back panel by offering stylish color options. It presents three trendy appearances with a square camera module on the back. You can choose Dusk Black if you prefer a professional look.
But if you want something fancy, Sunset Purple and Dawn Blue would be a slightly better choice. On top of that, the back panel comes with wave-like textures while giving a matte finish. The Wave 8 also includes an 8.8mm profile with a 192-gram weight approx. It makes the phone slim and lightweight. However, they can’t be considered ultra-thin or ultra-light smartphones. But, it didn’t feel that heavy when you held it for the first time.
On the side panel, you will find a biometric scanner mounted on the power button, along with volume rockers. They are metallic, but the sides are actually plastic material. As for the front display, the device brings a tall 6.56-inch HD display with a waterdrop notch. Moreover, the screen-to-body ratio is excellent, and the brightness can go up to 450 nits. Still, the thick bezels at the bottom are a complete eyesore.
Memory and Internal
As far as performance is concerned, the Blackview Wave 8 introduces the Unisoc T606 processor. Typically, this chip is used in the budget segment phones, which allows users to perform basic tasks. For starters, it can produce up to 2×1.6GHz clocking speed. With that much processing speed, normal internet surfing, a little bit of gaming, social media scrolling, and other media consumption is manageable for the phone.
It might get hot during long gaming sessions, even though they have an integrated cooling system. However, the software experience seems smooth with the entry of DokeOS 4.0 with Android 14 skin. The new interface introduces new focus mode settings. It offers No-play, Mediation, Work, and customize mode. Through this, you can improve your digital well-being.
Apart from this, Wave 8 brings some AI features, such as Live Captions, screen focus, and more. You will also find a dedicated game mode that blocks all of the distractions for you so that you can focus on gaming. Furthermore, the company uses 4GB RAM intelligently and optimize the performance. But let’s be real, the 12GB virtual RAM is for the show.
Still, you will find endless customization features inside the system settings, including smart pre-loading, custom hidden folders, and setting your privacy boundaries. The Blackview Wave 8 gets a 256GB ROM and 1TB expandable microSD slot. Yes, the company does cut corners in the RAM and performance department. But still, it’s what is supposed to be a budget device. The good thing is that the phone does the basic activities without lags. However, don’t expect anything more.
Camera
Blackview Wave 8 only houses a single 13MP camera on the back panel. With this, you can click beautiful pictures in daylight, but lowlight images are inadequate. The front 8MP camera, on the other hand, brings features like “Face Fill light” that makes selfies more color-vibration. Even if you are clicking photos in the dim light condition, the picture quality will be decent. But, noise and grains are visible whether you are using the primary camera or a selfie.
The native camera app comes with numerous modes, filters, and perks. Through them, you can capture beautiful photos without losing too much of details. It also contains AI features that will boost the colors, contrast, and hue. Besides this, you can use the Pro mode to adjust the camera settings and get the desired results. There are other modes such as beauty, night, and portrait serving their purpose.
As for the video recording, the Wave 8 barely produces 1080p videos, and the overall results aren’t that great either. It lacks proper stabilization support, which gives shaky results. Not to forget, you will notice grains in the background, less dynamic range, and inaccurate colors. Across the board, the photos and videos aren’t that charming.
Battery and Others
If you want to stay connected online and enjoy your day watching your favorite shows, the 5000mAh will power all your activities. With a high-capacity battery, the phone will grant up to 6+ hours of screen time with no hassle. Depending on the usage, the screen could be increased or decreased. As for the charging speed, the 10W wired charger will recharge the battery percentages.
The company claims to provide Smart-K speakers that can produce decent audio output. But in reality, they are just single mono speakers with mediocre sound quality. Speaking of the overall cost, the Blackview Wave 8 is priced at $138 (Rs 11,999 in India). At this price, the phone is a great choice. Last but not least, it can be purchased through AliExpress, Amazon, Blackview’s official store, and other websites.
Blackview Wave 8 Pros and Cons
Blackview Wave 8 Specifications Detail
Down below you can see the full specifications of the Blackview Wave 8 smartphone.
| Specifications | Blackview Wave 8 |
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Announced | November 2024 |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Dimensions | 6.43 x 2.96 x 0.35 inches |
| Weight | 192 g |
| Size | 6.56 inches |
| Display | IPS LCD 450 nits brightness 20:9 ratio ~269 PPI density |
| Protection | No |
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels |
| OS | Android 14, DokeOS 4.0 |
| Chipset | 12nm – Unisoc T606 |
| CPU | Octa-core 2×1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 6×1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MP1 |
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Internal | 256GB |
| Camera | 13 MP (wide) LED flash, HDR, panorama Max – 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie | 8 MP (wide) Max – 1080p@30fps |
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| NFC | No |
| Infrared port | No |
| Radio | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG |
| Sensors | Side-mounted fingerprint, accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery | 5000 mAh 10W wired |
| Colors | Sunset Purple, Dawn Blue, Dusk Black |
| Expected Price | $138 (Rs 11,999 in India) approx |
Conclusion
The Blackview Wave 8 presents an affordable price with above-average features. Let’s not forget that the phone also houses a large battery that will support your everyday activities with ease. Yet, the phone has a handful of flaws. If you are a camera enthusiast, this phone might not meet your expectations.
Moreover, you might have to wait hours to refill the battery and it only has 4G connectivity. If these downsides are deal-breakers for you, then it would be great to look for an alternative. At the same price point, you will find devices like the Motorola Moto G05. It will grant a clean UI with better camera results. Feel free to explore other options to find a desired device.
