That’s brought both challenges – forming its own R&D, manufacture, and distribution channels – and benefits, as Honor is finally free from the US trade restrictions that have crippled Huawei’s ability to make phones, and so from now on Honor devices can ship globally with full Google software. The result is that this is a relatively short list, as Honor hasn’t released that many phones since it began shipping Google software again. The Honor 50 and Magic 4 series were the first to ship worldwide with Google, as does the most recent Honor 70. The company has also launched the Honor 80 series and the Magic Vs foldable in China, with both promised to launch globally too – though we don’t yet know exactly when.
Best Honor phones 2023
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Powerful performance Beautiful display Excellent camera Full Google support
Only 2 years of Android updates Unreliable with 3rd-party chargers
That means a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a 120Hz LTPO OLED display, and incredibly fast charging: 100W wired and wireless. The camera is committed too, with a triple lens setup including a powerful 64Mp periscope lens. Still, this isn’t a perfect phone. There’s no IP rating, unlike some similarly priced rivals, and small flaws frustrate, like unreliable performance with unofficial chargers. Compared to other flagships, Honor’s commitment to only two years of software updates can’t quite compete either. This is the most impressive phone Honor makes though, and with strong specs and a competitive price it’s well worth considering.
Lovely design Strong camera performance Good battery life Curved OLED 120Hz screen
Poor software update promise No waterproofing
It’s up against stiff competition from the likes of the Pixel 6a, Nothing Phone (1), and OnePlus Nord 2T, which are all a little bit cheaper and sometimes have an edge on hardware. Crucially, all three also run on slicker software, with better long-term support promised too. But with a 120Hz display and very good main camera, the Honor 70 is still a solid choice.
Slim and light Beautiful display Full Google support
No waterproofing Mixed camera performance
The design and display are the biggest selling points here – the Honor 50 looks and feels great, and it’s both slim (7.8mm) and light (175g). The curved 120Hz OLED display is also one of the best you’ll find in any phone at this price. The 108Mp rear camera is pretty strong, though the other rear lenses disappoint a bit. The selfie camera is still good though, and at 32Mp it’s one of the higher-resolution front-facing cameras around.
66W charging Big 120Hz display Cheap 5G
Android 11 Inconsistent cameras LCD screen
There’s a lot to like. The battery life is good, the screen is huge, and it offers solid performance alongside its 5G connectivity. It’s a shame that huge screen is LCD rather than OLED, but at this prices compromises have to come somewhere, and that’s the trade-off made for a 120Hz refresh rate. Inconsistent cameras hold it back a little further, as does the choice to ship the phone with the now-old Android 11, but overall this is still a capable cheap mid-ranger.
66W charging Big display
No 5G 60Hz screen
The large 6.67in display is welcome at this price point (even if it only has a 60Hz refresh rate), and you’re also getting a decent 64Mp main rear camera and really fast 66W charging – genuinely impressive at this price point. There’s no 5G support, and the design isn’t a match for its sibling, but for the price this really isn’t too shabby. Tech Advisor’s Deputy Editor, Dom covers everything that runs on electricity, from phones and laptops to wearables, audio, gaming, smart home, and streaming - plus he’s a regular fixture on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.
