American sanctions in the form of disconnecting Honor from Google services, of course, affected the growth of smartphone sales, but for lovers of this brand’s technology they did not become an obstacle to purchase.
A large number of models in different price categories is a significant plus of Honor phones - you can choose the most suitable one based on its characteristics and cost.
honor phone review
HONOR 20 Lite 4/128 Gb
The excellent FullHD+ resolution of the 6.15-inch screen perfectly conveys all the nuances of the picture. The main advantage of this Honor model is the 48-megapixel triple-lens camera, and the 8-megapixel sensor offers a wide viewing angle.
Smartphone HONOR 20 Lite 4/128GB (RU) in the honor smartphone rating
The internal storage capacity is 128 GB, and this will be enough for the average smartphone owner, but the presence of a slot for a microSD memory card makes it possible to use it. GPU Turbo 3.0 graphics processing technology based on the KIRIN 710F processor will help you run various games on this device.
The expressive, laconic design with 3D glass on the back of the phone will appeal to the most discerning buyer. The smartphone is available in blue-violet, black and white colors.
Advantages:
- Availability of artificial intelligence (AI) for shooting and a wide-angle camera.
- Memory size.
- Possibility to pay by phone (NFC).
- Processor KIRIN 710F.
- Battery capacity 3340 mAh and support for fast charging of the phone.
Flaws:
- The retractable camera above the body is not for everyone.
- The memory card slot is combined with a SIM card slot.
- Slippery and easily soiled surface of the rear wall.
We understand the current models of Honor gadgets (end of 2022)
Over the past year, we have written about literally every new Honor product, the most important and interesting ones even several times. Now it's time to summarize everything that has been written, focus on the differences between the devices and help you make your choice. But don’t be alarmed in advance - we did it as discreetly and briefly as possible.
Smartphones
You know that this year Honor became an independent company and was able to return to cooperation with Qualcomm, Google and other American companies. This means that smartphones are again equipped with all the necessary applications and services, so that the model range is essentially being formed anew. At the moment, there are two current models presented in Russia - Honor 50 and Honor 50 Lite, and the choice between them is primarily determined by your budget.
Honor 50
The older one, Honor 50, sells for 35-45 thousand rubles and offers a 6.57-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, as well as a sub-flagship-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G system-on-chip. So, in addition to all possible smartphone tasks, the Honor 50 is great for gaming. He's also handsome and takes good pictures.
Honor 50 Lite
Honor 50 Lite costs only 21,990 rubles, and in all key parameters it lags slightly behind the Honor 50. It has a weaker processor, which means the graphics quality will have to be reduced in games, and the camera is more modest, which will be noticeable when shooting at night. The screen does not use OLED, but an IPS matrix, albeit with a slightly larger diagonal (6.67 inches), but the battery and fast charging capabilities of both smartphones of the fiftieth series are identical. Both use a 4,300 mAh battery and both charge fully in 45 minutes.
Wearable devices
When choosing something smart for your hand, you first need to decide on the type of device - whether it will be a smart watch or a fitness bracelet. The line between these devices is quite thin, watches every now and then enter the territory of bracelets, and bracelets are actively trying to compete with watches. To simplify things as much as possible, traditional smartwatches are larger, more functional, contain more sensors (which largely determine functionality) and often have longer battery life. Plus, they often have enough built-in memory to store music for workouts and go out for a run, leaving the smartphone at home. With a bracelet, this trick will no longer work, although it will calculate the number of steps, total mileage and calorie consumption correctly.
Honor Watch GS Pro
One of the most expensive and sophisticated watches in the current line is the Honor Watch GS Pro. This is a round watch with a rugged case, suitable for the harshest conditions. If you love mountain hiking, rafting, kayaking, skiing or snowboarding, then this is your obvious choice. Honor Watch GS Pro works up to 25 days without recharging and has a built-in GPS module, which means you can completely rely on it as your main navigator - in extreme cases, it provides an option for quickly plotting your way back, which can literally be a lifesaver. I'm not even talking about constant monitoring of oxygen levels in the blood, which is especially important for mountain climbing.
Honor MagicWatch 2
There is another option for multifunctional smartwatches - Honor MagicWatch 2, which is offered in two sizes - 46 mm and 42 mm. There is a wider choice of styles - different case colors, different straps. In general, everything is done to ensure that the watch goes equally well with a business suit and a sports uniform. The MagicWatch 2 also offers built-in GPS (along with GLONASS), water resistance to 50 meters (so you can swim in the pool) and all the necessary sensors, including an accelerometer, magnetometer, optical heart rate monitor and barometer. There is also 4 GB of internal memory, which should be enough for a week's supply of music. In our opinion, the most important difference from the Watch GS Pro will be the battery life – up to a week without recharging. In urban environments, this is more than enough, especially compared to the Apple watch, which needs to be charged every day, but on a long hike it is better to take a watch with better battery life.
Honor Watch ES
For those who for some reason do not like smartwatches in a round form factor, there is the Honor Watch ES with a 1.64-inch AMOLED display. They are light (21 grams), compact, and in terms of functionality they are not inferior to more expensive models. In addition, this model has a very good operating time - up to 10 days without recharging and has a blood oxygen level sensor.
Honor Band 6
The Honor Band 6 fitness bracelet can easily be mistaken for a smartwatch thanks to its large screen. Actually, it is the screen size that will play a decisive role in the choice. If you need to not only count steps and calories, but also conveniently read notifications while your smartphone is in your pocket, then your choice is Band 6. And if the screen size does not play a special role, and you primarily need the basic functions of a fitness bracelet , then you can take Honor Band 5.
Laptops
Choosing a laptop is a complex task with many variables. Because a lot depends not so much on the specific model, but on its configuration. The configuration largely determines the price. First, you need to decide on the screen diagonal. Everything is simple here: the larger the diagonal, the larger the laptop itself, therefore, the more difficult it will be for you to carry it with you every day. So for those who like to work on the go and use the most obvious work surfaces like a folding table on an airplane, it’s best to look at 13-14-inch models. If you plan to use a laptop only at home or at work, then you can safely take 15- and 16-inch ones. If there is a number in the name of the laptop, for example, Honor MagicBook View 14, then this number will indicate the screen diagonal. In this case - 14 inches.
Honor MagicBook View 14
Current Honor laptops come in three lines: MagicBook X, MagicBook and MagicBook Pro. The first consists of the most inexpensive and modest in configuration. The second includes more expensive and more powerful laptops. Well, MagicBook Pro is a professional line with the largest displays and advanced hardware. The price is appropriate.
Honor MagicBook Pro
If you work with graphics - for example, process photos in Photoshop or Lightroom, handle extremely cumbersome Excel documents or edit videos, then the MagicBook Pro line will be the right choice. It is available on both the Intel and AMD platforms. It's beautiful, small enough for a device with a 16-inch screen, and quite powerful.
The aforementioned MagicBook View 14 stands apart - this is one of the most expensive Honor models. With a beautiful screen, keyboard and built-in camera located above the screen. An excellent option for those whose work half consists of Zoom calls, for those who have to write large texts, and especially for those who are forced to literally work on the go. The battery lasts for a full day of active work away from a power outlet.
Honor MagicBook X
The basic line of Honor MagicBook X with a diagonal of 14 inches or 15 inches is an absolutely universal solution for work, study, watching TV shows, and so on. It is especially recommended for those who already have an Honor smartphone - thanks to the Multi-Screen function, you can conveniently synchronize your devices. It will be possible, for example, to respond to an SMS from the laptop screen without being distracted by the phone.
10.png Honor MagicBook 14
Honor MagicBook laptops are a real middle ground, offering the largest selection of platforms and configurations. But it is based on two screen diagonals: Intel (and 15 inches) and AMD (also 15 inches). Price range - from 52,990 for the Honor MagicBook 14 8+256 GB version, AMD Ryzen 5 3500U to 72,990 rubles for the Honor MagicBook 15 16+512 GB, Intel Core i5-1135G7.
HONOR 9X 4/128 Gb
A 4000 mAh battery is enough to last a day without recharging with moderate use of the phone. 4 GB RAM and KIRIN 710 processor allow you to use the phone for about 5-6 hours in gaming mode. The device supports a 512 GB memory card. The smartphone is quite large, the screen diagonal is 6.59 inches, which means it is not worth choosing for people with small hands. It's more of a man's phone.
Smartphone HONOR 9X 4/128GB in the honor smartphone rating
The smartphone has USB Type-C instead of the no longer relevant microUSB.
A frameless screen with eye protection takes bright photos with a 48 MP dual camera.
Advantages:
- Night mode.
- 4000 mAh battery.
- Fingerprint scanner.
- Contactless payment and USB Type-C.
- There is an intelligent signal amplifier.
- Bokeh effect for photos.
Flaws:
- The plastic housing is susceptible to damage.
- Combined slot for two SIM cards and a memory card.
- The sound level may not be sufficient due to the weak external speaker.
What are the sanctions and why were they applied?
Since 2022, sanctions against the leader in the production of Chinese smartphones have only intensified. The largest partners have revoked their licenses to supply Huawei. We are talking about the revocation of 8 licenses. At the moment, Intel and the Japanese company producing flash memory chips Kioxia (Toshiba Memory) have already lost their licenses.
The restrictions affect a huge range of electronic products. To date, licenses totaling $280 billion have been virtually blocked.
The US State Department has limited the Chinese manufacturer's access to American technology.
Mike Pompeo stated this. He also noted that such measures are aimed at reducing the capabilities of Huawei, which threatens the security and integrity of global computer networks, as well as the safety of the personal data of American citizens. In addition, such restrictive measures involve the protection of business intellectual property.
The Chinese manufacturer even lost access to its own KIRIN processors, since the British company ARM also revoked its license to produce electronic chips due to sanctions. Likewise, the Taiwan-based TSMC plant has stopped producing them.
Thus, we can’t expect any popular applications or updates in the near future on smartphones of this brand. The situation described above makes you wonder whether you should think about buying a Huawei smartphone.
It's no secret that these are not the best times for Huawei. The sanctions imposed by the American government made Google services unavailable for the company's products, which gave rise to the search for workarounds and certain inconveniences associated with this. The production of Kirin processors has also stalled due to the revocation of the British license, although for users this problem is not as pressing as the inability to use the Google Play Market
HONOR 20s 6/128 Gb
The cost is quite high, in the middle price range, due to the RAM capacity of 6 GB. But at the same time, the 8-core KIRIN 710 processor is quite mediocre. 6.15-inch standard screen with a resolution of 2312 * 1080.
Smartphone HONOR 20s 6/128GB in the honor smartphone rating
The 48 MP front camera with artificial intelligence and ultra-wide-angle lens captures decent landscapes, supports night mode and provides excellent selfies. The vision protection mode will reduce eye strain during prolonged use of the device.
Advantages:
- Large amount of RAM and internal memory.
- Highly detailed, vibrant photos with excellent color reproduction.
- Powerful battery.
- Fast charging support.
- Video ringtones instead of ringtones.
Flaws:
- The plastic body slides in the hand, a case is needed
- High-quality photos require very good lighting.
- The price is too high for a not very powerful processor
Is it dangerous to install Google services?
There is a certain amount of danger. The general scheme most often comes down to rolling back the firmware to the previous version. If you have no experience, there is a chance to get a “brick” - a smartphone that is difficult to restore. Next, a painstaking installation and configuration of services is carried out, which can take up to a couple of hours.
Nobody knows how long these instructions and services installed against Google’s will will work. At the same time, Huawei branded services are developing by leaps and bounds, so it is best to use the App Gallery. Moreover, the number of applications here is growing every day.
HONOR 10i 6/128 Gb
In 2022, this smartphone gained popularity among many users for its quality, price and capabilities. The internal storage with 128 GB of memory and 6 GB of RAM is capable of handling any games thanks to the 8-core KIRIN 710F processor. There is the ability to record videos in FullHD quality, although good photos are obtained only with sufficient lighting.
Smartphone HONOR 10i 6/128GB in the honor smartphone rating
At the same time, the lens format is ultra-wide-angle at 17 millimeters. The phone has an NFC module and a fingerprint sensor. It is also possible to unlock the device through the facial recognition function.
Advantages:
- Contactless payment (NFC).
- Eye protection mode.
- The memory capacity corresponds to expensive smartphones.
- Processor performance.
- Screen resolution.
Flaws:
- Combined slot for memory card and two SIM cards.
- The non-oleophobic plastic case is susceptible to chips and scratches.
- No notification indication.
Huawei P Smart Z
In terms of positioning, this smartphone copies Honor 9X. The only difference is the camera.
| Options | |
| Display | 6.59" (FHD+) |
| Camera | 16MP + 2MP |
| Chipset | Kirin 710 |
| battery | 4000 mAh |
It has a less impressive sensor with a modest 16 megapixels, and there is no wide sensor. At the same time, the price turned out to be lower, so there are still reasons to buy the Huawei P Smart Z.
Pros:
- retractable front camera;
- display without “bangs” and “drops”;
- autonomy.
Minuses:
- modest performance.
HONOR 8X 4/128 Gb
Mid-price smartphone. Its glass back makes it look like an expensive device. The screen resolution of 2340*1080 allows you to take high-quality photographs, plus the ability to take photographs with the “bokeh” effect.
Smartphone HONOR 8X 4/128GB in the honor smartphone rating
The KIRIN 710 processor makes it possible to run many mobile games. When the charger is connected, the phone heats up a little, but the heating level does not exceed the permissible values.
Advantages:
- Large screen diagonal.
- The battery capacity is enough for a day with average processor load.
- Large internal storage capacity.
- Satisfactory shooting results with AI and dual flash.
- Ability to play many games.
Flaws:
- Can charge up to 2.5 hours.
- The glass back is scratched and marks easily.
- External speaker sound level.
The best inexpensive models
Review of the TOP 3 best inexpensive Honor models.
HONOR 8A
Stylish budget phone with a large battery.
The body of the HONOR 8A smartphone is made of smart touch plastic: it looks good, is slightly scratched and does not attract dirt, and is pleasant to the touch.
Very compact and lightweight. The screen is IPS, with excellent viewing angles, pure white and deep black.
The proprietary One UI shell based on Android 10 is beautiful, convenient and functional. Double camera. The smartphone can work without recharging for almost two days.
Specifications:
- weight: 150 g;
- dimensions: 73.5×156.28×8.22 mm;
- Screen diagonal: 6.09 inch;
- image size: 1560×720;
- battery: 3020 mAh;
- RAM: 2 GB;
- built-in memory: 32 GB.
Advantages
- good sound;
- contactless payments;
- the price is low;
- weighs little;
- miniature;
- picks up the connection without any problems;
- GLONASS and GPS.
Flaws
- outdated charger;
- high minimum brightness;
- no oleophobic coating;
- Autofocus does not work well during shooting.
HONOR 8S
One of the most affordable HONOR smartphones.
The HONOR 8S model is designed for those who do not like clutter with details.
The installed processor is not the most powerful, but it copes with its task - everyday tasks and some games - without problems.
There is more than enough memory: main 2 GB, built-in 32 GB. The facial recognition feature will save the owner from entering a password.
There is a slot for two SIM cards, a Micro USB connector, and a MicroSD card can be used.
The ringtone increases in intensity, so you won't miss anything important.
Specifications:
- weight: 146 g;
- dimensions: 70.78×147.13×8.45 mm;
- screen diagonal: 5.71 inches;
- image size: 1520×720;
- processor: MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761) (2000 MHz);
- video processor: PowerVR.
Advantages
- charges quickly;
- the battery holds a charge for a long time;
- fast processor;
- lasting;
- good assembly;
- comfortable for hands.
Flaws
- There is no fingerprint scanner;
- No NFC;
- no wifi 5GHz.
HONOR 9S
Powerful battery, fashionable design and cool camera for ridiculous money.
This model from the ultra-budget line is made of matte plastic (back cover) and durable glass (front).
The display frames are almost invisible. The auto-backlight function automatically adjusts to ambient lighting.
There are “e-book” and “dark screen” modes for comfortable reading and viewing social networks.
The “stuffing” is enough for the most complex tasks and even runs games without any problems. Works autonomously for a long time. The kit includes a protective film for the screen.
The speakers and charging holes are located at the bottom of the smartphone.
Specifications:
- weight: 144 g;
- parameters: 70.94×146.5×8.35 mm;
- Screen diagonal: 5.45 inches;
- image size: 1440×720;
- processor: Mediatek Helio P22 (MT6762R) (2000 MHz);
- video processor: PowerVR GE8320.
Advantages
- there are connectors for connecting regular headphones;
- AppGallery;
- availability of NFC;
- face recognition;
- nimble;
- stylish design.
Flaws
- microUSB charging connectors are outdated;
- Google services are not supported;
- There is no fingerprint recognition function.
HONOR 9X Lite
The battery charge is enough to work for a day with an average load of the device. 4 GB RAM and 128 GB ROM are enough for everyday functionality and storing various information. The frameless screen makes up almost the entire surface of the front panel.
HONOR 9X Lite smartphone in the honor smartphone rating
This smartphone has a super slow motion function with a 48 MP main camera. It is possible to pay by phone - the NFC module is installed in the device.
Advantages:
- Good processor performance.
- For its price, a large amount of internal storage.
- High-quality photos and videos.
- Unlocking the device by face and fingerprint.
- Rich screen colors.
HONOR 20 6/128 Gb
The price above the average segment is justified by its characteristics, although the design of the smartphone is average. The battery will last almost the entire working day when the device is loaded above average. The KIRIN 980 processor will handle almost any game, and 6 GB of RAM will help it with this.
Smartphone HONOR 20 6/128GB in the honor smartphone rating
Photos of good quality are obtained thanks to a camera with four 48 megapixel lenses and the work of artificial intelligence. By the way, the fingerprint scanner for unlocking the smartphone is combined with the power button.
Advantages:
- Small front camera cutout.
- Fast charging.
- Good photos in any shooting mode.
- Metal frame.
- Processor KIRIN 980.
- Built-in memory capacity.
Flaws:
- There is no slot for a memory card.
- The phone slips in your hand, you need a case.
- Protruding cameras on the back.
The main problems for users after sanctions are life without Google services
Huawei has already started working on its own services (Mobile Services), which are located inside the App Gallery store. Such options have been working in China for a long time. For example, on the Mate 30 Pro smartphone, the basic Chinese EMUI application package is installed.
The remaining settings must be downloaded from the gallery.
At the moment, the App Gallery can contain about 11,000 different applications. Despite this, there are no Facebook, Instagram, Yandex.Taxi and other services that are in demand in Russian realities.
Thus, using such a smartphone in Russia will be quite inconvenient. Most users are located inside China. Because of the problems described above, a completely logical question arises about the advisability of purchasing this phone.
HONOR 20e
This inexpensive Honor model is equipped with a standard KIRIN 710 processor and 4 GB of RAM. These characteristics are quite enough for any games. The triple camera allows you to take high-quality photos and videos regardless of the time of day.
HONOR 20e smartphone in the honor smartphone rating
When the device is lightly loaded, the battery life approaches average values. The creators have introduced an NFC module, a fingerprint scanner and facial recognition - all the necessary functions. It’s strange, but this smartphone supports Google services.
Advantages:
- Shooting in night mode and slow motion.
- Google services.
- High screen resolution.
- Productive processor.
- Convenient dimensions.
Flaws
:
- No notification indication.
- Long charging time and not very capacious battery.
Which latest model Honor is best to buy today?
Having studied the characteristics of the models and become familiar with their pros and cons, it will be possible to make an informed choice taking into account the tasks assigned to the smartphone. For games, Honor Play5 5G Youth is more suitable, for high-quality photos - Honor 9C or Honor 50. For solving basic tasks - Honor 7A Prime.
| NAME | CPU | GRAPHICS PROCESSOR | RAM AND BUILT-IN MEMORY, GB | ANTUTU BENCHMARK PERFORMANCE TEST | GOOGLE SERVICES | YEAR OF ISSUE |
| Honor 50 | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G | Adreno 642L | 8|128 | 512.904 | + | 2021 |
| Honor 50 Lite | Qualcomm SDM662 Snapdragon 662 | Adreno 610 | 6|128 | 184.000 | + | 2021 |
| Honor 7A Prime | Mediatek MT6739 | ARM Mali-G68 MC4 | 2|32 | 41.565 | No | 2021 |
| Honor X30 Max | MediaTek MT6877 Dimensity 900 5G | ARM Mali-G68 MC4 | 8|128 | 475.000 | + | 2021 |
| Honor Play5 5G Youth | MediaTek MT6877 Dimensity 900 | ARM Mali-G68 MC4 | 8|128 | 429563 | + | 2021 |
| Honor X30i | MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G | ARM Mali-G57 MC2 | 6|128 | 386144 | No | 2020 |
| Honor 10X Lite | Hisilicon Kirin 710A | ARM Mali-G51 MP4 | 4|128 | 172910 | No | 2020 |
| Honor 30 Pro Plus | HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G | ARM Mali-G76 MP16 | 8|256 | 461213 | No | 2020 |
| Honor 9C | HiSilicon Kirin 710A | ARM Mali-G51 MP4 | 4|64 | 165512 | No | 2020 |
| Honor 9A | Mediatek MT6762R Helio P22 | PowerVR GE8320 | 3|64 | 74702 | No | 2020 |
HONOR 10Lite 3/128 Gb
For its low cost, this device has fairly standard characteristics and functionality. The amount of RAM is small, only 3 GB, and will handle mediocre games. But the standard KIRIN 710 processor and 3400 mAh battery are sufficient for battery life throughout the day if the smartphone is not loaded.
Smartphone HONOR 10 Lite 3/128GB in the honor smartphone rating
There is a good frameless screen with a resolution of 2340*1080 and a wide viewing angle. You can shoot in night mode. Built-in contactless payment module. In principle, all the necessary functionality is present in Honor 10Lite.
Advantages:
- The selfie camera has a small cutout.
- Productive processor.
- NFC.
- Resolution and screen diagonal.
- Duration of operation without recharging.
Flaws:
- The plastic body is prone to scratches.
- Small amount of RAM.
- Photos and videos of questionable quality.
- Quiet external speaker.
How to choose a HONOR smartphone?
To select a high-quality smartphone from HONOR in 2021-2022 from the catalog, we recommend paying attention to the main criteria:
- Resolution and screen size. For clear images, it is better to choose the highest resolution available, especially if you plan to play games or watch video content frequently. The manufacturer produces models with resolutions from 960x480 pixels to modern FullHD. The diagonal ranges from 4 inches to almost 7. If we talk about the matrix, it can be a budget TFT or bright IPS with wide viewing angles and brightness suitable for the street.
- Processor . As a chip, the brand prefers to use processors from MediaTek companies, and even in budget models you can find a processor with 8 cores.
- Convenience . Before purchasing, it is advisable to evaluate the size of the device, how comfortable it is in your hand, whether the back panel slips, and whether the smartphone gets in the way in your pocket. Don’t forget about the appearance, as well as the ability to choose accessories for your smartphone in the form of a case or glass.
- Autonomy. If you want to rarely be distracted by recharging your mobile device, then it is better to buy models with a capacity of 3000 to 5000 mAh.
- Memory. An important parameter for a smartphone is RAM. The figures of 1 and 2 GB are now considered outdated; this volume is only enough for calls, instant messengers and social networks. If you want stable operation with heavy applications, then the RAM should be at least 3 GB.
- Google services. Since 2022, some smartphones no longer have Google services; instead, the manufacturer offers to use its application gallery.
