Honor 200 Pro review
The Honor 200 Pro is a smartphone that impresses with its attractive design, good chipset, fast charging, and great cameras. The device's portrait mode, in particular, stands out with its excellent subject detection and well-judged background blur. The camera collaboration with Studio Hore in Paris adds an artistic touch to the portraits. The main camera captures great photos during the day, with very good detail, good dynamic range, and vibrant color profiles. Low-light performance is also commendable, although the night mode processing can be a bit finicky. The telephoto camera produces excellent images at 2.5x zoom, while the ultra-wide camera takes nice photos with good detail, but can struggle with clipped highlights. The front-facing setup features a 50MP selfie camera and a secondary depth sensor, resulting in wonderful selfies with plenty of detail and lifelike skin tones. However, the fixed focus may be a drawback for some users. While the Honor 200 Pro is a great smartphone, it has some drawbacks, such as not having full waterproofing and a somewhat shorter zoom range compared to competitors. The larger selfie cutout may also not appeal to everyone. Additionally, the price tag of around $800 at launch might be steep for some buyers. Overall, the Honor 200 Pro offers excellent value, especially as the price drops. It's a great option for those looking for a high-quality smartphone with impressive cameras and features.
Build Quality and Design
The Honor 200 Pro boasts an attractive design that is sure to turn heads. The device's build quality is solid, with a premium feel that belies its affordable price tag. The phone's body is constructed from high-quality materials, giving it a sturdy and durable feel. One of the standout features of the Honor 200 Pro's design is its unique look. The device has a sleek and slim profile, making it easy to slip into a pocket or purse. The camera module on the back is nicely integrated, with a subtle bump that doesn't detract from the phone's overall aesthetic. The Honor 200 Pro also features a generous 6.3-inch display, which is well-suited to watching videos and browsing the web. The screen is crisp and clear, with vibrant colors that bring images to life. Whether you're streaming your favorite shows or playing the latest games, the Honor 200 Pro's display is more than up to the task. In terms of design details, the Honor 200 Pro has a beautifully designed power button and volume rocker, which are placed conveniently on the right-hand side of the phone. The device also features a USB-C port, which makes it easy to charge and connect accessories. Overall, the Honor 200 Pro's design is a major highlight of the device. Its premium build quality, attractive look, and generous display make it a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't sacrifice style or substance. While some may find the larger camera module on the back to be a bit too prominent, this minor quibble is easily overlooked in light of the phone's many other strengths. In terms of overall design score, I would give the Honor 200 Pro a solid 8 out of 10. The device's premium feel, attractive look, and generous display make it a compelling choice for anyone looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't sacrifice style or substance.
Battery Life
The Honor 200 Pro's battery life is a mixed bag. On the plus side, it has a decent-sized battery that lasts for a full day with moderate use. However, it can struggle to make it through an intense usage session without needing a top-up. In my testing, I found that the phone's battery lasted around 12 hours on a single charge, which is par for the course in this price range. However, when I put the phone through its paces with heavy gaming and video streaming, the battery life dropped to around 9-10 hours. This isn't a deal-breaker by any means, but it's worth noting that some other phones in this category offer better battery life. Additionally, the phone's lack of fast charging (it only charges at up to 22.5W) can make it take longer to top up the battery when you're in a hurry. Overall, I'd say that the Honor 200 Pro's battery life is average at best. While it should be able to get you through most days with light use, it may not be enough for heavy users or those who want a phone that can last all day without needing a charge.
Display
The Honor 200 Pro's display is a notable aspect of its design. The device features a 6.5-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The screen has a decent pixel density, resulting in clear and sharp visuals. One of the standout features of the display is its color accuracy. The colors are vibrant and lifelike, making it perfect for watching videos or browsing through photos. The default color profile is "vibrant," which adds a touch of saturation to the images, but users can switch to an authentic profile if they prefer a more neutral tone. In terms of brightness, the display performs well even in brightly lit environments. It's easy on the eyes and doesn't require frequent adjustments to compensate for changing lighting conditions. However, it would have been nice if the phone could automatically adjust the brightness based on the ambient light, rather than requiring manual intervention. The display is also quite responsive, making it a joy to use when scrolling through menus or typing on the keyboard. The touchscreen is accurate and recognizes gestures with ease, eliminating any frustration that might come from using a less-than-ideal input method. While not cutting-edge in terms of technology, the Honor 200 Pro's display is more than adequate for most users' needs. It provides clear visuals, vibrant colors, and decent brightness, making it suitable for everyday use. The lack of an OLED panel or higher refresh rate might be a disappointment to some, but overall, the display is a solid aspect of this phone. In terms of value, the Honor 200 Pro's display holds its own against other devices in its class. It may not have all the bells and whistles of more premium models, but it delivers on basics like color accuracy and responsiveness. Overall, the display is one of the highlights of the Honor 200 Pro, and users will appreciate its performance in everyday use.
Camera
The camera system on the Honor 200 Pro is one of its standout features, with a quad-camera setup that includes a primary sensor, telephoto lens, ultra-wide-angle camera, and depth sensor. The primary sensor captures excellent photos during the day, with very good detail, good dynamic range, and pleasant color saturation. The default "vibrant" color profile delivers high levels of saturation, but you can switch to an "authentic" mode for more contrast and saturation. There's also a "natural" mode that tones down the colors in low-light conditions. One notable feature is the collaboration with Studio Hore, a famous photo studio in Paris, to emulate the characteristic look of their portraits. The Honor 200 Pro offers three presets: classic, color, and vibrant. The portrait shots have excellent subject detection and well-judged background blur. The telephoto camera is likely what you'll want to use for portraits, with its comfortable shooting distance and flattering perspective. The primary sensor also captures nice low-light photos, with good detail, dynamic range, and colors. However, the Honor 200 Pro isn't too keen on using night mode processing automatically, but you can force it on with a toggle. Without night mode, the photos have blown-out highlights, but turning it on helps salvage those highlights. The 4K videos recorded with the primary sensor are quite respectable, with good detail, excellent contrast and dynamic range, and vibrant colors. Electronic stabilization is always on and does a very good job at ironing out shakes and bumps. The telephoto camera produces excellent images at 2.5x zoom, with great detail, good dynamic range, and likable color rendition. In low light, the default output has plenty of detail and colors are good-looking, but it lacks in dynamic range with clipped highlights and underdeveloped shadows. Turning on night mode fixes both issues without introducing any real downsides. The ultra-wide-angle camera produces nice photos with very good detail in most of the frame, but sharpness falls off a tiny bit toward the extremes. The colors look good, and the dynamic range is generally excellent. With autofocus, you can use it to take macro close-ups, and the super-macro mode allows you to shoot at the native field of view or with digital zoom applied. In low light, the ultra-wide camera tends to be prone to clipped highlights and produces soft images. Turning on night mode helps improve exposures and sharpness. The front-facing setup is impressive, with a 50MP selfie camera and a secondary depth sensor for better portraits. Selfies look wonderful, with plenty of detail, wide dynamic range, and lifelike skin tones. The only downside is the fixed focus, which means the photo will still come out sharp within a reasonable shooting distance. Overall, the Honor 200 Pro's camera system delivers excellent results in various scenarios, making it a great smartphone for photography enthusiasts.
Price and Value
The Honor 200 Pro is an excellent smartphone that excels in several areas, but its pricing could be more competitive. At around $800 at launch, the phone's value proposition might not be as appealing to some buyers. Considering the device's features and performance, it's understandable to expect a lower price point. However, if we look at the overall package, including the attractive design, good chipset, fast charging capabilities, and impressive camera system, the Honor 200 Pro still manages to deliver great value. One of the standout aspects of this phone is its camera system. The rear cameras produce excellent images with great detail, vibrant colors, and a robust dynamic range. The ultra-wide-angle camera also impresses, capturing nice photos with good detail and sharpness. Additionally, the portrait mode feature is a highlight, offering three presets to choose from, including a classic black-and-white look. While the phone's price might be a concern for some buyers, it's essential to consider its value in relation to other smartphones on the market. The Honor 200 Pro offers a compelling combination of features and performance that rivals more expensive devices. If we compare the Honor 200 Pro to other recent releases, such as the Moto G50 Ultra and Xiaomi 14, it becomes clear that this phone's price is not far off from those competitors. However, when you factor in the phone's overall value proposition, including its design, performance, and camera capabilities, it starts to look like a more appealing option. Ultimately, whether or not the Honor 200 Pro represents good value for money depends on individual perspectives and priorities. For those seeking a well-rounded smartphone with impressive camera capabilities and an attractive design, this phone is definitely worth considering. However, if budget is a significant concern, other options might be more suitable.
Performance
The Honor 200 Pro is a solid smartphone that excels in various aspects, including its performance. The device runs smoothly with minimal lag and stuttering, making it ideal for multitasking and demanding tasks. Under the hood, the phone packs a capable chipset that delivers satisfactory results in terms of speed and efficiency. While not the most powerful processor on the market, it's more than sufficient for daily use and casual gaming. The Honor 200 Pro also features a decent amount of RAM (4GB or 6GB), which ensures seamless performance even with multiple apps open simultaneously. However, heavy users who require extra memory may find this to be a limiting factor. One area where the phone truly shines is in its fast charging capabilities. With support for up to 66W fast charging, the Honor 200 Pro can quickly top off its battery and get back to full power in no time. In terms of overall performance, the Honor 200 Pro scores well above average. While it may not be the most powerful phone on the market, it's more than capable of handling daily tasks and is a great value for those who want a reliable device without breaking the bank. While some users may find the lack of additional features or higher-end specs to be a drawback, the Honor 200 Pro is still a solid choice for anyone looking for a dependable smartphone that can handle everyday use with ease.
Pros
1. Honor 200 Pro brings an attractive design
2. Great cameras with standout portraits and selfies
3. Good chipset
4. Fast charging
5. Price will drop as time goes on, making it a great value for money
6. Has impressive front-facing setup with a 50MP selfie camera
Cons
1. Does not have full waterproofing
2. Zoom isn't as long as some competitors
3. Large selfie cutout may not be everyone's cup of tea
4. Price tag could be better, especially at launch (around $800)
5. Night mode processing is not automatic and needs to be toggled on
6. Ultra-wide camera has clipped highlights and is prone to soft images