Honor is making a slight push in the Nepali market with a series of new launches. The company recently expanded its mid-range and premium lineup by introducing the Honor 200 series. While the Honor 200 Pro targets the premium segment, it’s the Honor 200 that will face stiff competition in the Nepali smartphone market. Priced at Rs 64,999 for the 8GB + 256GB model and Rs 67,999 for the 12GB + 512GB variant, this latest offering from Honor comes with some noteworthy features and a sleek design.
A key highlight of the Honor 200 is its camera system, co-engineered with the renowned photography studio Studio Harcourt, famous for its portrait work. But is this enough to make users choose it over its competitors? Let’s dive into the Honor 200 full review to find out.
Table of Contents
Honor 200 Full Review: Pros and Cons | Detailed Experience
Design
Honor has long been recognized for its thoughtful approach to phone design and the Honor 200 continues to reflect this design philosophy, standing out in the mid-range segment with its distinct and stylish appearance. I reviewed the Moonlight White variant, which struck me as elegant—a rare quality in this price range.
The rear panel features an attractive wave design pattern, complemented by an oval-shaped camera module that adds a touch of sophistication. However, the camera module does cause the phone to wobble when placed on flat surfaces. Despite this, the in-hand feel is comfortable, though it’s worth noting that the frame is made of plastic, which might be a letdown for some.
The device is slim, measuring just 7.7mm in thickness, and weighs 187 grams, aligning well with other phones in its category. However, the design has a couple of drawbacks. The phone is quite slippery, so using a case is advisable, especially since it lacks official Gorilla Glass protection. Additionally, the absence of an official IP rating is disappointing at this price point and could be a significant drawback for potential buyers.
Display
The tale starts from the premium experience which is evident in the phone’s 6.7-inch 120Hz 1.2K OLED display, which boasts a remarkable peak brightness of 4000 nits—matching that of the 200 Pro and surpassing even high-end displays like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which peaks at 2600 nits. This level of brightness ensures that the screen remains legible even in a hands-on area illuminated by bright spotlights. The 120Hz refresh rate adds to the smoothness, making interactions with MagicOS feel exceptionally responsive.
However, the device is not without its shortcomings. Notably, it lacks any official dust and water resistance, a feature that similarly priced competitors like the Google Pixel 8a offer with an IP67 rating. Even more affordable options, such as the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion, provide full IP68 protection. This omission feels like a significant drawback given the phone’s price point.
Moreover, there’s no mention of any specific screen protection, raising concerns about the phone’s durability in 2024. This suggests it might not be the most robust option available in the market.
Performance
The HONOR 200 is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, featuring a 1+3+4 architecture similar to the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2. This includes a 2.63 GHz ARM Cortex-A715 prime core, three A715 performance cores running at up to 2.4 GHz, and four Cortex-A510 efficiency cores clocked at up to 1.8 GHz.
Built on TSMC’s 4nm Process Technology, this chipset offers a 15% boost in CPU performance compared to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 found in the HONOR 90. The device is equipped with a stainless steel vapor chamber covering an area of 36,881mm², providing a 10% larger dissipation area than its predecessor, according to the company.
The Adreno 720 GPU powers the graphics, delivering smooth gameplay without any noticeable frame drops or overheating issues. In the 3D Mark Wild Life stress test, the phone achieved a stability score of 99.6%, with temperatures rising from 32°C to 44°C. Despite solid benchmark results, it’s worth noting that there are other phones with the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 and even Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 available at a lower price point, which might be better options if top-tier performance is your priority.
OS and UI
The HONOR 200 operates on MagicOS 8, which is built on Android 14, and recently received the August 2024 Android security patch, ensuring the device stays up-to-date with the latest protections. HONOR has committed to providing 2 years of software updates and 3 years of security patches, ensuring the device remains both functional and secure over time. The device comes equipped with Google apps and access to the Google Play Store, offering a familiar experience for Android users.
One of the standout features of MagicOS 8.0 is MagicLM, an AI large language model integrated into the system. Alongside MagicLM, the OS includes advanced AI functionalities such as Magic Capsule, Magic Portal, and Magic Ring, which enhance the user experience by offering intelligent, seamless interactions. An update has also introduced a call recording feature for the native dialer, adding to the phone’s utility.
MagicOS 8.0 supports a range of gestures and a multi-window feature, enabling more efficient multitasking. However, there are areas within the Magic UI that could benefit from improvement. For instance, there is currently no option to access an app’s settings directly through a long press to manage permissions, and the volume buttons cannot switch to vibrate mode, which could be more user-friendly.
The HONOR 200 also features HONORShare, a convenient tool for cross-system file transfers between a HONOR smartphone and a PC using the HONOR Computer Manager. Multiscreen collaboration is another useful feature, allowing users to share screens, keyboards, and mice across various devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, creating a cohesive and integrated ecosystem.
Additionally, the device includes MagicText, a smart feature that identifies text within images and converts it into a digital file. This allows users to capture text using the camera and save it as a PDF, making it easier to store and share information from physical documents.
Camera
The camera interface on the Honor 200 follows a familiar pattern seen in many HONOR smartphones equipped with MagicUI. It provides a user-friendly layout with quick access to essential features. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll find easy toggles to switch between the main camera, the ultra-wide camera, and a zoom option, allowing you to adjust your framing quickly. On the top of the interface, there are additional quick toggles for essential features like flash, AI enhancements, motion photos, and filters, making it convenient to customize your shots on the fly.
Beyond these basic controls, the Honor 200’s camera app is packed with a variety of additional modes and features that cater to different photography needs. These include Aperture mode for adjusting the depth of field, Night mode for capturing better low-light shots, and Multi-cam for using multiple cameras simultaneously. The Pro mode is ideal for those who prefer manual control over their photography settings, while Slow-mo allows for capturing dramatic slow-motion videos. Panorama mode is available for wide, sweeping landscape shots, and HDR photo and video modes help to capture scenes with a high dynamic range.
When it comes to actual photography performance, the Honor 200’s camera setup delivers solid results, especially in well-lit conditions. The primary camera, featuring a 50MP Sony sensor, captures daylight shots with impressive detail and clarity. The dynamic range is notably enhanced by the auto HDR feature, which helps balance out highlights and shadows, making for a more visually appealing image. The AI mode further enhances the shooting experience by automatically recognizing different scenes—such as landscapes, portraits, or food—and adjusting the camera settings accordingly to bring out the best in each shot. This AI-driven adjustment often results in richer, more vibrant colors that make the photos pop.
The 12MP ultra-wide camera, while capable of delivering good results, especially in daylight, doesn’t quite match the performance of the main camera in low-light situations. In such conditions, the ultra-wide lens tends to capture less detail and introduce more noise into the images. That said, it’s still a valuable addition to the camera array, particularly for capturing wide landscapes or group shots. The ultra-wide lens also offers a macro option, which allows for decent close-up shots, although the main camera’s macro capability tends to produce sharper and more detailed images.
Portrait photography on the Honor 200 is another area where the device shines. The 2.5x portrait telephoto lens is well-suited for capturing portrait shots, offering a flattering perspective that isolates the subject from the background. The camera also includes Harcourt portrait modes, which are designed to mimic professional studio lighting, adding a polished look to your portraits. For selfies, the front-facing camera does an admirable job, especially in daylight, capturing clear and vibrant self-portraits that stand out.
Low-light photography is bolstered by the inclusion of a dedicated Night mode, which significantly improves image quality in darker environments. However, it’s worth noting that using Night mode requires a bit of patience, as the camera takes a few seconds to process the image. Despite this delay, the results are generally worth the wait, with the Night mode helping to reduce noise and enhance details in low-light scenes.
Finally, the Honor 200 also performs well in creating bokeh shots, where the subject is sharply focused against a pleasingly blurred background. The camera’s edge detection in these scenarios is quite good, ensuring that the subject is clearly defined without harsh or unnatural transitions between the in-focus and out-of-focus areas. This makes for aesthetically pleasing portraits and product shots where the subject truly stands out.
Battery and Charging
The Honor 200 comes with a 5200mAh battery, the same as the Honor 200 Pro. Although it supports 100W fast charging, it’s a letdown that the charging adapter isn’t included in the package, meaning you’ll need to purchase one separately. However, with a 100W charger, the Honor 200 can charge fully from 0 to 100 percent in just 43 minutes, which is quite impressive.
In a PCMark battery test, the phone lasted 13 hours and 52 minutes, surpassing its predecessor. While the battery performance of the Honor 200 is respectable, it might not be the best value for its price. For example, a single Call of Duty: Mobile match caused the battery to drop from 100 percent to 93 percent. The phone performs better with lighter tasks, though the overall battery life isn’t extraordinary. For light to moderate usage, you can expect about eight to nine hours of battery life, but for more intense activities like gaming or multimedia consumption, the battery will likely last around six to seven hours.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Eye-catching Design and well-built | No IP rating |
| Brilliant display | The ultra-wide sensor is mediocre |
| Fast wired charging | Few Bloatware |
| Smooth performance |
Verdict
The Honor 200 is an appealing choice for those seeking a premium camera phone in the mid-range segment. Its sleek, lightweight design stands out, and the crisp display is perfect for enjoying content. The phone’s highlight is its camera, with the primary and portrait camera giving impressive results, though the wide-angle sensor is less remarkable. Performance-wise, it handles daily tasks smoothly.
It faces tough competition from models like the Realme GT 6T, Motorola Edge 50 Pro, OnePlus Nord 4, Oppo Reno 12 Pro, and others. If you’re in the market for a camera-focused smartphone with reliable performance, the Honor 200 is worth considering.
