Honor 90 Smartphone : The Honor 90 has emerged as a formidable contender in the mid-range smartphone market, offering a blend of premium features and affordability.
This device, successor to the Honor 70, aims to deliver a flagship-like experience without the hefty price tag. Let’s delve into the key aspects of this smartphone to understand what makes it stand out.
Design and Build-
The Honor 90 boasts a sleek and modern design that belies its mid-range status. With dimensions of 161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm and weighing 183g, it strikes a balance between screen real estate and ergonomics. The phone features a quad-curved design, giving it a premium feel in hand.
Available in eye-catching colors like Emerald Green, Diamond Silver, and Midnight Black, the Honor 90 caters to various aesthetic preferences.
The rear panel, depending on the color variant, offers either a frosted finish or a more ostentatious glittery look.
While the build quality is commendable, it’s worth noting that the Honor 90 lacks an official IP rating for dust and water resistance, which might be a concern for some users.
Display-
One of the Honor 90’s standout features is its 6.7-inch AMOLED display. This panel boasts:
Resolution: 2664 x 1200 pixels
Refresh rate: Adaptive 120Hz
Peak brightness: 1600 nits
HDR10+ support
The display incorporates Honor’s Circadian Night Display technology, which filters blue light to promote better sleep patterns. Additionally, the 3840Hz PWM dimming helps reduce eye strain during prolonged use.
Performance-
Under the hood, the Honor 90 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition chipset. This octa-core processor offers a good balance between performance and energy efficiency. The device comes in various RAM and storage configurations:
8GB RAM / 256GB storage
12GB RAM / 256GB storage
12GB RAM / 512GB storage
While not top-tier, the performance is more than adequate for everyday tasks, light gaming, and multitasking. However, users might experience occasional performance dips, which is not uncommon for devices in this price range.
Camera System-
The camera setup is one of the Honor 90’s most impressive features:
Main camera: 200MP, f/1.9 aperture, 1/1.4″ sensor
Ultra-wide camera: 12MP, f/2.2 aperture (doubles as macro)
Depth sensor: 2MP, f/2.4 aperture
Front-facing camera: 50MP, f/2.4 aperture
The 200MP main sensor is a significant upgrade from its predecessor, capable of capturing detailed images in various lighting conditions. The ultra-wide camera, while not as high in resolution, offers versatility with its macro capabilities.
Video capabilities include 4K recording at 30fps, which is commendable for a mid-range device. The phone also offers various shooting modes, including Night mode, Portrait mode, and a Pro mode for more control over camera settings.
Software and User Experience-
The Honor 90 runs on MagicOS 7.1, based on Android 13. This custom skin offers a range of features and optimizations, including:
Magic Text: Recognizes text in images for quick actions
Enhanced smart features for productivity
However, Honor’s software support commitment is somewhat lacking compared to competitors. The Honor 90 is promised two years of Android updates and three years of security updates, which falls short of the industry standard set by brands like Samsung.
Battery Life and Charging-
Equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, the Honor 90 offers robust battery life that should easily last a full day of moderate to heavy use.
The device supports 66W fast charging, which can charge the battery to 45% in just 15 minutes with a compatible charger. However, wireless charging is not supported, which is a common omission in this price range.
Connectivity and Additional Features-
The Honor 90 comes with a range of connectivity options:
5G support
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 5.2
NFC for contactless payments
Under-display fingerprint sensor
The device also features an in-display fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication, which adds to its premium feel.
Price and Value Proposition-
At its current price point (starting from £299 in the UK), the Honor 90 offers exceptional value for money.
It competes favorably with other mid-range options like the Google Pixel 7a and Samsung Galaxy A54, often undercutting them in price while offering comparable or superior specifications in certain areas.
Pros and Cons-
Pros:
Excellent display with eye-care features
Impressive 200MP main camera
Sleek design and build quality
Good performance for the price
Long battery life with fast charging
Cons:
Limited software update commitment
No official IP rating for water and dust resistance
Lack of wireless charging
Occasional performance hiccups
Conclusion-
The Honor 90 represents a compelling option in the mid-range smartphone market. It successfully brings several flagship-level features, particularly in its display and camera system, to a more accessible price point.
While it does have some limitations, such as the lack of water resistance and a shorter software support timeline, these are often acceptable trade-offs for budget-conscious consumers.
For users who prioritize a great display, capable cameras, and solid everyday performance without breaking the bank, the Honor 90 is definitely worth considering.
It strikes a fine balance between premium features and affordability, making it a strong contender in its price segment.
As smartphone technology continues to evolve, devices like the Honor 90 demonstrate that the line between mid-range and flagship devices is becoming increasingly blurred, offering consumers more value and choice than ever before.