Honor 50 Lite review
The Honor 50 Lite is an affordable smartphone that has recently landed in Malaysia for under RM1,000. Priced at RM999, this device comes with impressive specs, including 8GB of RAM and 128GB of non-expandable storage. In terms of design, the Honor 50 Lite boasts a sleek silver color, although it may not be entirely accurate as the phone's frame has a slight purple tint. The back panel features a quad-camera setup, complete with a 64MP main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. However, the macro lens and depth sensor are somewhat underwhelming. The front of the device is equipped with a 6.67-inch LCD display running at 1080p, which may not have a fast refresh rate but still provides decent brightness levels and strong saturation. Unfortunately, the phone's performance is not its strongest suit, as it relies on an outdated Snapdragon 662 processor that can feel sluggish during day-to-day use. Despite this, the Honor 50 Lite excels in other areas, such as battery life. It packs a 4300mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging, which can get from zero to 40% in just 10 minutes. The camera performance is decent, with good pictures taken during both day and night conditions. However, the macro lens and depth sensor are somewhat underwhelming. Overall, the Honor 50 Lite offers impressive specs at an affordable price point of RM999. While it may not be perfect, this device is a solid choice for those looking for a budget-friendly option that still packs some punch. 3.5/5
Build Quality and Design
The Honor 50 Lite is a budget-friendly smartphone that has caught my attention with its affordable price point of under RM1,000 in Malaysia. One of the standout features of this device is its build quality and design. The phone I have with me is in the silver color, although it may not look as silver as I expected. The back panel has a mirror-like finish that seems to attract fingerprints quite easily. Upon closer inspection, you'll notice that the phone's design bears a striking resemblance to a previous Huawei device. This is likely due to Honor being a sub-brand of Huawei. However, what sets the 50 Lite apart is its unique circular frame for the quad-camera setup at the back. The camera module itself features a 64MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and two macro lenses that seem somewhat redundant. The phone's build quality is surprisingly good, with the aluminum-like finish on the back panel giving it a premium feel. The sides of the phone feature a fingerprint scanner on the right side, while the bottom has a Type-C port and a single firing speaker (no dual stereo speakers here). Fortunately, you still get to keep the headphone jack at the top. One thing that stood out about the Honor 50 Lite's design was its large pill-shaped cutout at the top left corner of the screen. This houses a single 16MP selfie camera, accompanied by what appears to be a proximity sensor on the side. While this might not be the most ideal placement for the camera, it's still a minor quibble in an otherwise well-designed phone. Overall, I'm impressed with the Honor 50 Lite's build quality and design. It may not be a game-changer in the budget smartphone market, but it certainly holds its own against other devices in this price range.
Battery Life
One aspect where the Honor 50 Lite shines is its battery life. The device comes equipped with a 4,300mAh battery, which is quite substantial considering the phone's compact size. Furthermore, it supports 66W fast charging, allowing users to quickly top up their device on-the-go. In my experience, the battery life of the Honor 50 Lite was satisfactory, but not exceptional. I found that with moderate usage, including social media browsing, messaging, and occasional gaming sessions, the phone could easily last a full day without needing a recharge. However, when put to more intense use, such as streaming videos or playing resource-intensive games, the battery life began to dwindle. Nevertheless, even under these conditions, I was able to squeeze out around 12-14 hours of usage before needing to plug in. The inclusion of fast charging is a welcome feature, and the Honor 50 Lite's ability to go from zero to 40% charge in just 10 minutes is impressive. While not the fastest charger on the market, it still provides a decent boost when you need it most. Ultimately, while the battery life of the Honor 50 Lite may not be spectacular, it gets the job done for most users. Just be aware that prolonged use or power-hungry apps may require more frequent recharging. Overall, the phone's battery performance is solid, if unremarkable – a decent trade-off considering its affordable price point.
Display
The Honor 50 Lite boasts an impressive 6.67-inch LCD display, offering excellent visuals for its price point. The screen is quite large and has very slim bezels on the sides, making it look sleek and modern. In terms of quality, the LCD panel delivers strong brightness levels, good saturation, and decent contrast. One notable feature of this display is its minimal bezels, which provide an immersive viewing experience. However, there's a slight compromise in the form of a large pill-shaped cutout at the top left corner, housing a single 16-megapixel selfie camera. While some may find this design choice unappealing, it doesn't detract from the overall display quality. The LCD is capable of producing good colors and brightness, making it suitable for general use, such as browsing, social media, and watching videos. Unfortunately, this display does not support fast refresh rates, sticking to a standard 60Hz refresh rate. Additionally, the touch sampling rate is only 180Hz, which may be a letdown for those who value smooth interaction. Despite these limitations, the Honor 50 Lite's LCD display is one of the best in its class at this price point. Its strong brightness levels and decent contrast make it an excellent choice for casual users. While some may find the design choices unappealing, the overall display quality justifies its inclusion in a positive review. Overall, the Honor 50 Lite's LCD display is a solid offering that excels in its price segment. It's not perfect, but its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. If you're in the market for an affordable device with good display quality, the Honor 50 Lite should definitely be considered.
Camera
The camera system on the Honor 50 Lite is a quad-camera setup with a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and two macro lenses. The main sensor delivers decent performance in various lighting conditions, capturing good pictures both during the day and at night. However, the other sensors, including the ultra-wide-angle lens, do not offer anything remarkable. They are not particularly useful for specific scenarios like extreme wide shots or detailed close-ups. In fact, they can be considered redundant, as their capabilities are already covered by the primary sensor. Despite this, the Honor 50 Lite's main camera performs relatively well in various situations. It captures good image quality with sufficient detail and color accuracy. The ultra-wide-angle lens also provides a decent angle of view for group shots or expansive landscapes. One of the highlights of the camera system is its ability to produce good low-light images. Despite not having an optical zoom, the primary sensor manages to capture enough light to create well-exposed photos in dimly lit conditions. The macro lenses are somewhat useful, but their 2x and 5x magnifications do not offer any significant advantages over the primary sensor's ability to focus on subjects at close range. The images produced by these lenses tend to be slightly soft and lacking in detail compared to the primary sensor's output. In terms of video recording capabilities, the Honor 50 Lite can shoot up to 4K resolution at 30fps. However, there is no stabilization system to compensate for camera shake or movement, which may result in noticeable blur in handheld shots. Overall, while the camera system on the Honor 50 Lite has its limitations, it still manages to produce decent images and video. The primary sensor is capable of delivering good results in various situations, but the other sensors feel somewhat redundant and underutilized.
Price and Value
I recently had the chance to get my hands on the Honor 50 Lite, and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by its price point in Malaysia. Priced under RM999 for a single specification variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory, this device offers an impressive value proposition. The phone's design is sleek and modern, with a silver finish on the back panel that looks premium despite its affordability. The Honor 50 Lite's bezels are slim, and it features a quad-camera setup at the back, which includes a 64MP main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. While the macro lenses might not be as useful, the main camera produces decent photos in both day and night conditions. One of the standout features of the Honor 50 Lite is its display. The 6.67-inch LCD panel has strong brightness levels and good contrast, making it one of the best in the market at this price point. However, the phone's performance is where it falters, with a Snapdragon 662 processor that feels outdated compared to modern standards. Despite this, the Honor 50 Lite still manages to deliver decent performance for its price. It supports the Google Play Store, allowing users to download and install their favorite apps and games. With an 8GB RAM and 128GB non-expandable storage, it's a solid build quality device that looks great with its design at the back. In conclusion, the Honor 50 Lite is an affordable phone that offers good value for money. While it may not be the most powerful device on the market, it's a great option for those who want a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank. With its price point of under RM999 and decent performance, this phone is definitely worth considering for anyone in the market for a budget-friendly device.
Performance
The Honor 50 Lite is an affordable smartphone that boasts an impressive design and feature set, but its performance is a different story. Under the hood, this device runs on a Snapdragon 662 processor, which, in today's standards, is considered outdated. While it can handle basic tasks such as browsing the internet, watching social media, and streaming YouTube videos, more demanding users may find it wanting. The good news is that the Honor 50 Lite does support the Google Play Store, allowing users to download a wide range of apps. However, performance-wise, this device cannot keep up with more powerful smartphones in its price bracket. In terms of benchmarks, the Snapdragon 662 is not exactly impressive. It scores relatively low compared to other mid-range processors on the market. This means that tasks such as gaming, multitasking, and video editing will be sluggish at best. With 8GB of RAM and 128GB of non-expandable storage (UFs 2.2), users can expect a decent experience for everyday use. However, this is not a device for power users or those who demand high-performance capabilities from their smartphones. The performance gap between the Honor 50 Lite and more recent mid-range devices is noticeable, especially when it comes to gaming and multitasking. While this device may suffice for casual users, serious smartphone enthusiasts will find themselves wanting more. In conclusion, while the Honor 50 Lite has its strengths in design, display, and battery life, its performance is a drawback that may deter some potential buyers. Users who prioritize speed and responsiveness should look elsewhere, but those on a tight budget or seeking an entry-level device may still consider this option.