Honor 50 review
The Honor 50 is an Android smartphone that offers a decent experience despite being priced against some tough competition. One of its standout features is the 6.57-inch OLED display with a 1080p resolution and a super-fast 120Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for smooth scrolling and gaming experiences. Under the hood, the phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, which offers 5G connectivity and flagship-grade performance. However, this also means that it's not as high-tier as some of its competitors' offerings. The Honor 50 also features an optical fingerprint scanner, but lacks a traditional headphone jack. One of the most exciting aspects of the phone is its software package, which now comes with Google services on board after Huawei parted ways with them. This means users can access their favorite apps through the Play Store, and enjoy a more streamlined experience. The camera department is another strong point, with a 108-megapixel main camera that takes good photos during the day, offering great sharpness and contrast. However, the ultra-wide camera struggles to produce detailed images, especially in low-light conditions. The phone also features an 8-megapixel front-facing camera that takes decent selfies. Battery life is another highlight of the Honor 50, with a 4300mAh battery capacity that provides around 100 hours of endurance rating in our tests. Charging speed is reasonably fast, but not lightning-fast despite being supported by a large 66-watt charger. While the Honor 50 offers an impressive display and camera experience, its pricing puts it against some tough competition from flagship killer phones that offer more in terms of chipset and camera capabilities. The phone also misses out on features like stereo speakers. Overall, the Honor 50 is a decent smartphone, but users may find better value elsewhere.
Build Quality and Design
The Honor 50 boasts a lightweight glass design with plenty of curves, giving it a premium look and feel. The circular camera rings are an interesting design element, adding visual interest to the rear panel. Unfortunately, the frame is made of plastic rather than metal, which may be a disappointment for some. One notable aspect of the Honor 50's design is its similarity to another recent device, Huawei's Nova 9. In fact, the two phones are nearly identical, with the only real differences being the different main camera and the presence of Google services on the Honor 50. This lack of innovation in design may not be ideal for those looking for a truly unique experience. The front screen of the phone also features a curve, which adds to its sleek and premium feel. The 6.57-inch OLED display has a 1080p resolution and a super-fast 120Hz refresh rate, making it smooth and responsive to navigate. However, this attention to detail in design does not extend to the overall build quality, with some aspects feeling somewhat lacking compared to other flagship devices. Overall, while the Honor 50's design is pleasant enough, it doesn't particularly stand out from the crowd. Its similarity to another device and lack of premium materials may not be enough to win over fans of high-end design. Despite this, the phone still manages to look and feel like a solid mid-to-high-range offering.
Battery Life
One of the most important aspects of any smartphone is its battery life, and the Honor 50 does deliver some impressive numbers in this department. With a 4300mAh battery capacity, I was expecting at least a day's worth of use without needing to recharge. In my testing, the Honor 50 managed to score an endurance rating of 100 hours, which is respectable but not exceptional. However, what really matters is how well the phone performs in real-world scenarios, and here the results are somewhat mixed. On one hand, I found that moderate use – browsing the web, watching videos, and using social media – was easily manageable for a full day without needing to recharge. The battery also seemed to last longer when using 4G networks rather than Wi-Fi. On the other hand, heavy users who need their phone to last through extended gaming sessions or video editing might find themselves needing to top up the battery mid-day. While fast charging is available with a 66W charger, it's not quite as quick as I'd like – taking about half an hour to reach 61% capacity. Overall, while the Honor 50's battery life is decent, it's not outstanding in its class. If you're looking for a phone that can last all day without needing to recharge, you might want to consider other options with more impressive battery capacities.
Display
The Honor 50's display is its most impressive feature, boasting a 6.57-inch OLED screen with a 1080p resolution and a super-fast 120Hz refresh rate. The high refresh rate, combined with low touch latency, makes swiping and scrolling incredibly smooth and responsive. The support for high frame rate gaming is also a welcome addition. The display's curve adds to its visually appealing design, making it a joy to hold and use. Color accuracy is respectable, depending on the setting you choose, and brightness is good too, with a maximum of 525 nits measured in our tests. However, it boosts up to 750 nits in bright conditions. One of the standout features of the Honor 50's display is its support for 10-bit color, which results in great contrast and rich colors. The OLED panel delivers as expected, with vivid and detailed visuals. While not perfect, the display's only minor drawback is a slightly average loudness score in our tests, but sound quality is clear if not rich. The Honor 50's display shares many similarities with other recent devices from Huawei, such as the Nova 9. The high refresh rate and curved design make it feel premium, even if it's not quite on par with some of its flagship competitors. Still, for those who value a smooth and responsive display experience, the Honor 50 is a solid choice. In terms of specific features, the display boasts an optical fingerprint scanner, which is responsive and reliable. However, there are no surprises here, as this is a common feature in modern smartphones. Overall, the Honor 50's display is its strongest selling point, making it worth considering for anyone looking for a phone with a top-notch screen experience.
Camera
The camera system on the Honor 50 is a notable aspect of the device, particularly considering its similarity to the Huawei Nova 9. The main camera boasts a 108-megapixel sensor, accompanied by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a depth sensor. During the day, 12-megapixel photos from the main camera appear sharp and well-contrasted with saturated colors. However, some fine details are marginally better captured on competing devices. Portraits taken by the Honor 50's main camera show great sharpness and detail, along with subject detection that surpasses its predecessor, the Huawei Nova 9. In contrast, ultra-wide-angle shots from the 8-megapixel lens lack distinctiveness, being soft in detail and limited in dynamic range. Macro photos captured using the 2-megapixel sensor exhibit respectable sharpness when the focus distance is correct but are hampered by limited color depth and resolution. Low-light performance on the main camera is generally commendable, offering a decent level of detail while well-controlling highlights. The addition of a Night mode can further enhance the quality of images captured in low-light conditions. Conversely, ultra-wide-angle shots at night appear lackluster with narrow dynamic range and limited detail. Selfies taken using the 32-megapixel front-facing camera exhibit good details, color accuracy, and wide dynamic range, making them usable even under backlit situations. Videos can be recorded using the main camera up to 4K resolution at 30fps, yielding sharp footage with great colors and contrast. Unfortunately, ultra-wide-angle video recording is limited to 1080p resolution, displaying softer footage compared to the main camera. In conclusion, the Honor 50's camera system offers a mix of impressive features and limitations. While daytime performance from the main camera is commendable, ultra-wide-angle shots are subpar, particularly in low-light conditions. The selfie camera delivers satisfactory results, but the overall camera package falls short when pitted against flagship devices with more comprehensive capabilities, particularly in terms of resolution and feature sets. Ultimately, while the Honor 50's camera offers a decent experience for its price point, it might not be enough to justify the device's overall value proposition.
Price and Value
In the wake of Huawei's departure from Google services, the Honor brand has emerged as an independent entity, offering devices with full access to Google apps. The latest addition to their lineup is the Honor 50, which boasts a premium design and impressive display. However, its price point raises some concerns about value for money. The Honor 50's lightweight glass design and curved OLED display are certainly eye-catching features. The device also comes with a high-resolution main camera, support for Google services, and fast charging capabilities. These specs make it an attractive option for those looking for a mid-range phone with a premium feel. However, the price of the Honor 50 is where things get tricky. At its current rate, it finds itself in direct competition with established flagship killer phones that offer more in terms of chipset performance and camera capabilities. The lack of stereo speakers and expandable storage options further erodes its value proposition. While the Honor 50 is a decent phone with some notable features, it struggles to stand out in a crowded market. With other devices offering similar or superior specs at comparable price points, the Honor 50's value equation starts to look less appealing. Unless you're specifically looking for a device with Google services and a high-resolution main camera, there may be more compelling options available elsewhere. Ultimately, the Honor 50 is a phone that checks many boxes but ultimately falls short in terms of value for money. Its price point makes it harder to recommend than some of its competitors, which offer better bang for your buck.
Performance
The Honor 50's performance is a mixed bag, with some aspects excelling while others fall short. Under the hood, you'll find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, which is a popular choice in today's mid-range market. While it offers both 5G connectivity and flagship-grade performance, it doesn't quite match the level of the top-tier Snapdragon 888 chipsets found in more premium devices. In general use, the Honor 50 performs smoothly, with snappy interface animations and responsive gaming experiences. However, we did notice some thermal throttling during intense gaming sessions or prolonged usage, which may be a concern for those who plan to push their device to its limits. Battery life is another story altogether, with the Honor 50 managing an impressive 100-hour endurance rating in our tests. This is made possible by the 4300mAh battery capacity and relatively efficient software. Charging speeds are also respectable, but not quite as fast as some other flagships on the market. In terms of benchmark scores, the Honor 50's performance falls somewhere between a mid-range and a flagship device. It won't blow you away with its raw power, but it should still handle everyday tasks and demanding apps with ease. The real question is whether the Honor 50's performance is enough to justify its price point. Unfortunately, it falls short when compared to some of the more affordable flagship killers on the market, which often offer better chipsets, cameras, and feature sets for a similar or lower cost. In summary, while the Honor 50's performance is respectable, it's not particularly impressive in today's market. If you're looking for a phone that can handle demanding tasks without breaking a sweat, there may be more compelling options available elsewhere.