If you're a frequent traveler, you'll know that nothing taxes a phone like dragging it halfway across a continent, through airport security bins, onto planes and back again. So whenever I take a phone with me on a trip — as I did with the Galaxy S7 edge earlier this year — it's fun to reflect on the lessons learned. This time around my phone of choice was the Huawei-built Honor 8, and the venue was IFA 2016 in Berlin, Germany. Read on to find out how it fared.

1. Dual SIM is pretty neat The European-spec Honor 8 is a dual-SIM device, using Huawei's hybrid slot to take either one SIM and an SD card, or two SIMs (but not both at once). So when I took the phone to Berlin for IFA, I kept my regular UK SIM for calls and texts, and used a prepaid German SIM for data. The setup process was easy, and I didn't notice any significant extra battery drain from using two networks at once. Verizon is offering the Pixel 4a for just $10/mo on new Unlimited lines It's a handy way to sidestep the usual traveling smartphone nerd dilemma: use a local SIM and miss all your calls and texts, or pay over the odds by roaming on your home operator. The only compromise is that you can't use an SD card at the same time. 2. Use a case The Honor 8's incredibly, ludicrously reflective glass back looks great, but one unfortunate side effect is extra fragility compared to metal phones. After just a couple of weeks of using the Honor 8 without a case, I've picked up countless hairline scratches on the back of the thing — even having handled it with care. The front and sides of my unit have so far escaped unscathed. The other thing to watch out for is the "hockey puck" effect when it's lying on a flat surface. We've seen it before — way back in the days of the Nexus 4, which was eventually modified with rubber nubs to stop it sliding about the place. The solution to both issues is to use a case — in some markets Honor includes a transparent plastic case in the box; otherwise Amazon is your best bet. (There's also a good thread on the AC forums with some other options.)