Honor 8 announced for the US [Live Photos]

As expected, Huawei's sub-brand Honor has made official its Honor 8 smartphone for the US market. The device - which is currently only available in China - will be up for pre-order in the US starting today (August 17).

You'll be able to pre-order the Huawei Honor 8 through third-party retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo Video, and Newegg, as well as HiHonor.com/us/. The pre-order period ends September 3. The device will be available in Sapphire Blue, Pearl White, and Midnight Black color options, although the first one will be a Best Buy-exclusive for initial 60 days.

Those pre-ordering the device will also receive a $50 gift card from participating retailers - HiHonor US offer a $50 rebate instead.

Specs-wise, the phone is powered by Kirin 950 SoC and sports a 5.2-inch full-HD display. It comes with 4GB RAM and 32GB/64GB internal memory options, and packs in a 3,000mAh battery. In terms of camera, the device features a dual-12 MP camera setup on the back and an 8MP front shooter.

Honor 8 in the hand at yesterday's event

Measuring 145.5 x 71.0 x 7.45mm and weighing in at 153g, the Honor 8 runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. As for price, the handset carries a $399 tag for the 32GB model and $449.99 for the 64GB one. For comparison, prices start at under $300 in China.

"Honor 8 perfectly represents the evolution of our overall product view," said George Zhao, president of Honor."It goes against established industry norms and market conventions with a higher aesthetic standard. At the same time, it balances looks with the smarts, speed, and connectivity that today’s millennial consumers demand. Honor 8 reflects our understanding of and commitment to their needs and goals."