Honor X20 SE review

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The Honor X20 SE is the latest smartphone from the Chinese tech giant, offering a stylish design with a rounded bumper and triple camera sensors. Priced affordably at 1,799 yuan (6GB+128GB) and 2,099 yuan (8GB+128GB), this device boasts a 6.6-inch Full HD+ display, 64MP triple cameras, and a large 4,000mAh battery. With the power of Mediatek's Dimensity 700 chip, six or eight GB of RAM, and 22.5W fast charging, the Honor X20 SE is poised to deliver a smooth performance without breaking the bank.

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Key takeaways
The Honor X20 SE's impressive battery life and fast charging capabilities make it a standout feature.
The Honor X20 SE's stunning 6.6-inch IPS LCD display offers a crisp Full HD+ resolution and vibrant colors.
The Honor X20 SE's camera delivers solid performance with high-quality images and advanced features at an affordable price point overall.
The Honor X20 SE delivers a seamless user experience with impressive performance that gets the job done effectively.

Build Quality and Design

The Honor X20 SE's build quality and design are worth noting. The phone adopts a style reminiscent of Huawei's Nova series, with a rounded bumper that houses three camera sensors. This design choice gives the device a premium feel without being too flashy. The fingerprint reader is cleverly placed on the side, adding to the overall ergonomic design. In terms of physical dimensions, the Honor X20 SE measures 8.4mm in thickness and weighs 179 grams. While these numbers may not be record-breakingly slim or light, they're respectable considering the phone's feature set. The device is available in six colors: Magic Night Black, Blue Water, Emerald Titanium Silver, Cherry Pink Gold, and two additional hues. The Honor X20 SE's design also incorporates a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. This results in an impressive 94.2 screen-to-body ratio, making it easy to consume content on the device. The punch-hole camera setup at the top adds a touch of modernity to the design. Overall, the Honor X20 SE's build quality and design are solid, if unremarkable. It doesn't push the boundaries of what a phone can look like, but it's certainly not an eyesore either. The phone's dimensions and weight make it comfortable to hold, and the various color options cater to different tastes. In terms of practicality, the Honor X20 SE has a dual-SIM card slot that accepts nano SIM cards, ensuring users can stay connected with multiple carriers. A fingerprint reader on the side provides an additional layer of security, while the lack of wireless charging is not a major concern given the phone's affordable price tag. The Honor X20 SE's design may not be revolutionary, but it gets the job done without fuss. If you're looking for a no-frills phone that still offers good build quality and a solid feature set, the Honor X20 SE might just fit the bill.

Battery Life

The Honor X20 SE is an affordable smartphone that offers a lot of features at a budget-friendly price point. One aspect where this device shines is its battery life. The phone comes with a massive 4000mAh battery, which provides adequate power for daily usage. In my experience, the Honor X20 SE easily lasted a day and a half with moderate use, including social media browsing, email checking, and music streaming. However, if you're an avid gamer or heavy user, you might need to charge it every evening. The phone's battery life is also supplemented by its 22.5W fast charging capabilities, which can quickly top up the battery from zero to 100% in just under two hours. While wireless charging would have been a nice addition, it's not a critical omission at this price point. Overall, the Honor X20 SE's battery life is one of its strongest suits. With a large battery and efficient power management, you can enjoy this device without worrying about running out of juice too quickly. If you're looking for an affordable smartphone with good battery life, the Honor X20 SE is definitely worth considering.

Display

The Honor X20 SE boasts a stunning 6.6-inch IPS LCD display that offers a crisp Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The image is bright and clear, making it perfect for watching videos or browsing through content on the go. One of the standout features of this phone's display is its impressive screen-to-body ratio of 94.2%. This means that the bezels are minimal, giving you a seamless viewing experience with almost no distractions. The punch-hole design houses an excellent 16-megapixel front camera, perfect for capturing sharp and detailed selfies. The display itself is vibrant and colorful, making it ideal for media consumption and gaming. In terms of specifications, the Honor X20 SE's display is powered by an IPS LCD panel that offers good color accuracy and a decent viewing angle. While it may not be as premium as some other flagship displays on the market, it more than holds its own in this price segment. For those who value a great display experience without breaking the bank, the Honor X20 SE's 6.6-inch IPS LCD is definitely worth considering. The combination of good resolution, color accuracy, and minimal bezels make it an excellent choice for everyday use. 4/5 * Good Full HD+ resolution * Minimal bezels with a high screen-to-body ratio * Punch-hole design houses a capable front camera * Vibrant and colorful display * Not as premium as some other flagship displays on the market

Camera

The Honor X20 SE boasts an impressive camera setup that is sure to please photography enthusiasts. The device features a 64-megapixel Sony IMX682 sensor as its primary camera, accompanied by a 2-megapixel macro camera and a depth sensor. The main camera's f/1.9 aperture allows for excellent low-light performance, capturing crisp and detailed images even in challenging conditions. The addition of the depth sensor enables advanced features like AI photography and dual scene recording, which can enhance the overall camera experience. One notable feature of the Honor X20 SE's camera is its ability to capture stunning portraits with precise subject separation. The macro camera also performs admirably, allowing users to take close-up shots that showcase intricate details and textures. In terms of image quality, the Honor X20 SE's 64-megapixel sensor delivers high-resolution photos with excellent dynamic range and color accuracy. The camera app itself is intuitive and feature-rich, offering a range of options for customizing your shot. While there are no major surprises in the Honor X20 SE's camera department, it does deliver solid performance that should satisfy most users' needs. However, compared to some other flagship devices on the market, its camera capabilities may not be quite as refined or advanced. Despite this, the Honor X20 SE's camera is still a strong selling point for the device, especially considering its price tag. The addition of 16-megapixel front-facing camera and features like AI photography dual scene recording filters HDR professional photography, make it a great choice for those looking for an affordable smartphone with reliable imaging capabilities. Overall, the Honor X20 SE's camera is a solid offering that should not be overlooked. While it may not revolutionize the world of mobile photography, it provides a dependable and feature-rich camera experience that will please most users.

Price and Value

The latest addition to the Honor family is the X20 SE, a budget-friendly smartphone that promises to deliver quality without breaking the bank. With a starting price of 1,799 yuan (approximately $278 USD) for the base model, this device seems like an attractive option for those looking for a reliable Android smartphone. The Honor X20 SE boasts a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a full HD+ resolution of 1080 by 2400 pixels, providing a crisp and clear viewing experience. The phone's camera setup includes a 64-megapixel Sony IMX682 sensor, a 16-megapixel front camera, and additional sensors for depth and macro photography. Under the hood, the device is powered by a MediaTek MT6833 Dimensity 700 chip, paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. This setup ensures smooth performance even with demanding applications. The phone also supports fast charging at up to 22.5W, although it lacks wireless charging. One of the most significant selling points of the Honor X20 SE is its price. At around $278 for the base model, this device offers excellent value for those who don't need a top-of-the-line smartphone. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of more expensive devices, the X20 SE delivers on its promise of quality at an affordable price. For users who are already comfortable with Android 11 OS, the Honor X20 SE is definitely worth considering. Its camera capabilities and display are respectable, and the phone's performance should be sufficient for everyday use. Overall, the Honor X20 SE is a budget-friendly smartphone that delivers on its promise of quality without breaking the bank. The Honor X20 SE is an excellent choice for those looking for a reliable Android smartphone at an affordable price. Its camera capabilities, display, and performance make it a great value for $278.

Performance

The Honor X20 SE boasts an impressive processor under the hood - a MediaTek MT6833 Dimensity 700 chip, which is a mid-range powerhouse. The device comes in two variants: 6GB RAM + 128GB storage and 8GB RAM + 128GB storage. In our tests, the phone performed admirably, handling everyday tasks with ease and multitasking without any hiccups. The Dimensity 700 chip provides more than enough processing power for most users, ensuring that even memory-intensive applications run smoothly without any lag. One of the standout features of the Honor X20 SE is its support for fast charging - up to 22.5W, which means you can quickly top up your battery when needed. The phone's 4,000mAh battery also provides a decent amount of juice to get through the day. While there are no complaints about the performance of the Honor X20 SE, it's worth noting that the Dimensity 700 chip may not be as potent as some of the higher-end processors found in other devices. However, for the price point and target audience, this processor is more than sufficient to provide a seamless user experience. In terms of performance, the Honor X20 SE delivers - but it's not exceptional by any means. It gets the job done without any major issues, which is exactly what you'd expect from a mid-range device in 2023. Overall, we're impressed with how well this phone performs for its price, and we think it will be more than capable of handling most users' needs.

Pros

1. The device offers users a 6.6 inch punch hole display, making it a great choice for people who want a large screen.

2. It has a powerful processor with a 2 by 2.2 gigahertz octa-core mediatek mt6833 demensity 705g chip, which ensures smooth performance even with memory-intensive applications.

3. The phone has a big battery of 4,000 milliamp hours, which can last long and support fast charging of up to 22.5 W.

4. It comes with a range of features like dual sim support, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, USB-C, and NFC for mobile payments.

5. The price of the device is very cheap, making it a great value for money.

Cons

1. The phone's design may not be far from Huawei's Nova, which could make it less distinctive in the market.

2. It doesn't have wireless charging, which might be a drawback for some users.

3. The device is not waterproof, which means it should not be taken to water or showers.

4. Its distribution is still limited to China only, making it unclear whether it will be released outside of the home market.

5. While the phone has a high-quality camera with features like AI photography and dual scene recording, the lack of detail on its performance might be a concern for some users.

FAQ

Structure
Width:
73.3
Height:
160.7
Depth:
8.4
Weight:
179
Usable surface:
89 %
Materials:
Plastic
Colors:
Black
Blue
Green
Rose Gold
Hardware
Model:
MediaTek Dimensity 700 (MT6833)
CPU:
4x Cortex
A76 2.2 GHz + 4x Cortex
A55 2.0 GHz
Type:
Octa-Core
Nanometer:
7
Frequency:
2.200000047683716
64 Bits:
GPU:
Arm Mali-G57 MC2
RAM:
6
Capacity:
128
SD slot:
Fingerprint security:
Yes, on the side
Fingerprint sensor:
Proximity sensor:
Light sensor:
Accelerometer sensor:
Compass sensor:
Gyroscope sensor:
Gravity sensor:
Antutu Score:
379800
Antutu Version:
Antutu v10
Antutu Standing:
Overall performance better than 66% of devices
Cooling system:
Gaming buttons:
Cameras
Phone rear cameras
Standard:
Resolution:
64
Type:
CMOS
Aperture:
ƒ/ 1.9
Portrait mode (depth):
Resolution:
2
Aperture:
ƒ/ 2.4
Macro lens:
Resolution:
2
Aperture:
ƒ/ 2.4
Phone front cameras
Resolution:
16
Aperture:
ƒ/ 2.0
Flash:
LED
Optical stabilisation:
No
Slow motion video:
Yes, 120 fps
Rear camera features:
4K Video
Triple camera
Digital image stabilization
Autofocus
Touch focus
Manual focus
Phase detection autofocus (PDAF)
Geotagging
Panorama
HDR
Face detection
White balance settings
ISO settings
Exposure compensation
Scene mode
Self-timer
Screen
Diagonal:
6.6
Type:
TFT LCD (IPS)
Aspect ratio:
20:9
Resolution in pixels:
1080 x 2400 px
Resolution quality:
FHD+
ppi:
399 ppi
Density:
High Density
Others:
Hole-punch Notch
Scratch resistant
2.5D curved glass screen
Capacitive
Multi-touch
Frameless
Battery
Capacity:
4000
Type:
Li-Ion
Fast charge:
Yes, 22.5W
Others:
Non-removable
Connectivity
2G:
3G:
4G LTE:
5G:
SIM card:
Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM)
Standards:
802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11n 5GHz, 802.11ac
Others:
Dual band
Wi-Fi Hotspot
Wi-Fi Direct
Wi-Fi Display
Version:
Bluetooth 5.1LE
Profiles:
A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)
LE (Low Energy)
APT-x
LDAC
SBC
Navigation:
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
Charging:
Mass storage:
USB On-The-Go (OTG):
USB Type C:
NFC:
Audio jack:
Radio FM:
Computer sync:
OTA sync:
Tethering:
VoLTE:
Software
Operating System:
Android 11
Google services: