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Honor is back, and they have further diversified its portfolio in India recently with the launch of its 200 series. Focused on making a dent in the mid-range and premium smartphone space, the company released the Honor 200 Pro for high-end users, while the Honor 200 represents an all-rounder device in the hypercompetitive Indian market. Talking now about prices, the Honor 200 comes in at ₹34,999 and ₹39,999 for its 8GB and 12GB RAM versions, respectively.
Apart from elegant design and brilliant features, the camera has been the main highlight of it. And that is developed in partnership with Studio Harcourt, a legendary photography studio, to bring their best in portrait photography. Now the question arises: how will it fare in a competitive environment? Well, go through this Honor 200 review.
Honor has always been a company that never failed to focus on design, and the Honor 200 is no different. Even before their temporary exit from the Indian market, Honor has been a brand synonymous with its stylish smartphones, and the Honor 200 carries it through. The Moonlight White variant, in particular, is classy an uncommon feature in this price range. There is this wavy pattern that reflects from the rear panel, and the oval-shaped camera module adds a bit of flair to it. This camera module does kind of make the phone wobble on flat surfaces, though.
Comfortable to hold, the device doesn't feel cheap, even though a plastic frame may sound a bit of a letdown. At 7.7mm thick and 187 grams, the Honor 200 is at par with most rivals in this price segment. However, it isn't perfect in design. The slippery surface and absence of official Gorilla Glass protection caused some big concerns. And yet again, there is no IP rating, which at this price point may be a bit disappointing to consumers who look for a well-built device.
Furthermore, it has a quad-curved display that shows vivid and color-full visual outputs, even under the most extreme conditions of sunlight, with a brightness of 4,000 nits. The high refresh rate of 120Hz supports smooth scrolling and seamless transitions. Not only does the quad-curve design provide a premium feel, but it also has the additional benefit of reducing the chances of accidental touches.
For media consumption, the device does quite well. The colors appeared rich and saturated, and there was enough contrast in even darker scenes, such as in a show like Monarch: Legacy of Monsters on Apple TV+. For the security of the display, it has Widevine L1 certification and HDR10+. Two modes are available for the display: Normal and Vivid, which the company recommends the phone be set to the Vivid mode for the best output.
The AoD comes in two modes Full screen and Partial screen. The full-screen mode merely dims the lock screen and offers a more interactive AoD user experience. The in-display fingerprint is also as responsive but could use a tad more ergonomic placement. There's also an option to set custom animations that let you personalize the way you unlock your phone.
The Honor 200 is powered by MagicOS 8.0 based on Android 14, with rich personalization combined well with AI-driven features such as Magic Capsule, Magic Portal, and Magic Ring. The most useful may be the Magic Portal, which as an extension allows drag-and-drop for text, images, and videos into Instagram, Notes, Gmail, and likely other apps.
However, the Magic Capsule feels like a gimmick at this point. It feels like a take on Apple's Dynamic Island and only shows limited information, e.g. music playback and timers. More functionality could greatly make it a useful addition in the future.
While it is customizable, the software suffers from bloatware. Believe it or not, there are two separate apps for Email, two apps for Gallery, and two apps for controlling device brightness using software; one for quick settings, and one for advanced settings. On the bright side, these apps don't flood the user with spammy notifications.
Here, though, the camera setup becomes one of the strongest selling points of the Honor 200. That primary sensor is quite intelligent and can result in high-quality shots with decent dynamic range and brilliant colors, even if slightly oversaturated. Photos are sharp and detailed but suffer a bit from the ultra-wide-angle lens. Oftentimes, this lets the pictures down when it comes to daylight shots, lost at the corners.
The most developed portrait mode, co-engineered together with Studio Harcourt, offers top-quality photos with incredible depth and flesh tones. The primary sensor is also quite strong even in low lighting, mostly thanks to the optimized night mode settings.
Honor 200 ships with a silicon-carbon battery, offering higher energy density and a smaller size compared to a regular lithium battery. In everyday use, the phone has no problems passing the full day with a mean screen-on time of 6 hours. On a battery loop test, it clocked off at an impressive 20 hours and 27 minutes.
It does support 100W fast charging, but the charger has to be purchased separately. On the bright side, with a 68W charger, the phone went from 0 to 37% in 15 minutes, from 0 to 70% in 30 minutes, and reached a full charge in 49 minutes.
The Honor 200 is a great balance between design, performance, and camera quality. This smartphone offers a sleek and unique design with an FHD+ display apt for content consumption. Its camera, apart from the brilliant primary sensor and portrait mode, works wonders; the ultra-wide lens just needs some more work on it. Overall, the Honor 200 is smooth for performance in day-to-day tasks, and that in itself sets this device apart uniquely within its segment.
In closing, it would be a great piece for someone interested in design and camera features in their mid-range smartphone. It succumbs easily to intense competition, especially in comparison to other smartphones within this price bracket that offers better software optimization and overall build quality. With the little trade-offs it forces, the Honor 200 is bound to offer a very compelling proposal for people after a stylish and feature-packed mid-ranger.
What are the key specifications of the Honor 200?
The Honor 200 comes with a 6.67-inch quad-curved AMOLED display offering a 120Hz refresh rate and a brightness of up to 4,000 nits. It is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 Ultra chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. The device features a triple-camera setup, including a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro camera. It also houses a 4,500mAh silicon-carbon battery with support for 100W fast charging, although the charger needs to be purchased separately.
How does the Honor 200 perform in terms of design and build quality?
The Honor 200 shines in terms of design, featuring a sleek and elegant appearance with a wavy pattern on the back panel. The Moonlight White variant, in particular, stands out for its premium feel. Despite its plastic frame, the phone doesn’t feel cheap and is comfortable to hold at just 7.7mm thickness and 187g weight. However, it lacks official Gorilla Glass protection and an IP rating, which might be a drawback for some users.
Is the Honor 200 display good for media consumption?
Yes, the Honor 200’s quad-curved AMOLED display is excellent for media consumption. The vivid colors, deep contrast, and 120Hz refresh rate make it ideal for watching videos and playing games. The display is Widevine L1 certified and supports HDR10+, allowing for high-quality streaming on platforms like Netflix and Apple TV+. The AoD (Always-on Display) feature is customizable with two modes, offering a more engaging user experience.
What makes the Honor 200 camera stand out?
The camera is one of the major highlights of the Honor 200. The primary 50MP sensor delivers high-quality images with good dynamic range and vibrant colors. Co-engineered with Studio Harcourt, the portrait mode excels in capturing professional-looking images with natural skin tones and impressive depth. While the ultra-wide lens has room for improvement, particularly in retaining detail in daylight shots, the overall camera performance is commendable, especially for portrait photography.
How does the Honor 200 perform in terms of battery life?
The Honor 200’s 4,500mAh silicon-carbon battery provides excellent battery life. In normal usage, it comfortably lasts a full day with around six hours of screen-on time. In a battery loop test, the phone lasted for 20 hours and 27 minutes. The device supports 100W fast charging, though only a 68W charger is provided in the box. With the 68W charger, the phone charges to 37% in 15 minutes and reaches 100% in 49 minutes.
