After a hiatus caused by the US Huawei saga, Honor has made a triumphant comeback as an independent brand. The Honor 90 is their first premium product to go global, and it’s generating quite a buzz. In this review, we’ll delve into its design, display, performance, camera capabilities, and more, to see if it lives up to the expectations.
Design:
The Honor 90 impresses with its sleek design reminiscent of Huawei’s “Nova series.” It features subtle curves, a distinctive circular camera ring, and a lightweight build. Despite its slim profile, Honor managed to cram a massive 5000mAh battery inside. However, note that it lacks Gorilla Glass protection, so using a case is advisable for added durability.
Display:
The star of the show is undoubtedly the Honor 90’s display. It boasts a stunning 6.7″ AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit colors, 1600 nits peak brightness, and HDR10+ certification. This display even received the coveted “DXOMark Gold” certification, making it among the best in the market. Notably, it’s also the first smartphone to offer “TÜV Rheinland Flicker-Free” certification, minimizing potential headaches caused by screen flicker.
Performance:
The Honor 90 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 “Accelerated Edition,” offering a smooth and fluid user experience for everyday tasks. It handles multitasking effortlessly with 12GB of RAM and 256GB/512GB storage options. While it can handle games like PUBG and COD Mobile at 60 fps, it tends to get warm, and frame drops may occur in more demanding games like Genshin Impact.
Software and UI:
The phone runs on Honor’s MagicOS 7.1, based on Android 13. The software is well-optimized, but there’s room for improvement in terms of communication regarding software updates. An official announcement regarding future updates would provide more clarity.
Camera:
The Honor 90’s camera setup includes a 200MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro shooter. Selfies are taken care of by a 50MP front camera. While the main camera delivers impressive daytime shots with rich colors, the absence of optical image stabilization (OIS) affects low-light performance. The ultrawide and macro cameras perform well, and portraits turn out with good background blur and skin tone.
The standout feature is the selfie camera, which captures high-quality selfies with excellent skin tone and dynamic range, making it a strong contender in this segment.
Videography:
The Honor 90 can record up to 4K 30 fps videos but lacks OIS. However, electronic image stabilization (EIS) helps in achieving reasonably stable footage.
Battery and Charging:
With a 5000mAh battery, the phone can comfortably last through a typical workday. However, battery optimization could be improved, especially at low levels. On the bright side, the 66W fast charging capability ensures you can quickly top up your device in less than an hour.
The Honor 90 offers a compelling package for a midrange smartphone, with a stylish design, a top-notch display, and excellent selfie capabilities. However, it has its downsides, such as a single speaker and a lack of promised updated information. The absence of OIS for the camera also impacts its low-light performance. Despite these shortcomings, Honor’s return to the smartphone market is noteworthy, and the Honor 90 sets a promising tone for their future offerings.
Pros:
- Stylish Design
- Flagship Display
- Impressive Selfies
Cons:
- Single Speaker
- Lack of Promised Updates
- No OIS for Camera
In summary, the Honor 90 is a solid choice for users seeking a well-rounded midrange smartphone, but it’s not without its quirks.
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