Honor 20 Pro Review
The Honor 20 Pro arrived with considerable fanfare, promising a premium smartphone experience at a competitive price point. Its quad-camera system was a major selling point, boasting impressive specifications on paper. But does the reality live up to the marketing hype? We spent a week with the device, putting it through its paces to provide you with a comprehensive and unbiased review.
Design and Build Quality
The Honor 20 Pro boasts a sleek, modern design. Its curved glass back feels luxurious in the hand, although it is a fingerprint magnet. The phone’s weight is well-balanced, feeling substantial without being overly heavy. The vibrant colors available add to its visual appeal. The power button and volume rocker are conveniently positioned on the right-hand side, easily accessible with one hand. The in-display fingerprint sensor is responsive and accurate, unlocking the phone quickly and reliably. Overall, the build quality is excellent, reflecting a commitment to premium materials and craftsmanship.
Display
The Honor 20 Pro features a stunning 6.26-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. The colors are vibrant and accurate, with deep blacks and excellent contrast. Brightness levels are also impressive, making the screen easily visible even in direct sunlight. The high refresh rate contributes to a smooth and responsive user experience, especially when scrolling through websites or playing games. The screen’s sharpness is exceptional, ensuring a crisp and clear viewing experience for photos, videos, and text.
Camera Performance: A Closer Look
The Honor 20 Pro’s camera system is arguably its most significant selling point. It features a quad-camera setup, including a 48MP main sensor, a 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens, an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 2MP macro lens. The main camera captures incredibly detailed and sharp images, even in low-light conditions. The ultra-wide-angle lens is perfect for capturing expansive landscapes and architectural shots, while the telephoto lens provides excellent zoom capabilities without significant loss of quality. The macro lens allows for close-up shots with impressive detail, opening up creative possibilities for photography enthusiasts. The camera app is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy to switch between shooting modes and adjust settings.
Night Photography
Night photography is often a challenge for smartphone cameras, but the Honor 20 Pro handles low-light situations remarkably well. The images retain a good level of detail and clarity, with minimal noise. The night mode enhances the brightness and reduces noise further, resulting in impressive low-light shots. While not perfect, the night mode performance surpasses many competitors in the same price range. The dynamic range is also commendable, capturing details in both the highlights and shadows.
Video Recording
The Honor 20 Pro is capable of recording high-quality videos at up to 4K resolution. The video stabilization is effective, minimizing shakes and ensuring smooth footage. The colors are accurate and vibrant, and the detail is excellent. While the microphone could be slightly improved for better audio capture, the overall video recording capabilities are impressive for a phone in this price bracket.
Performance and Battery Life
Under the hood, the Honor 20 Pro is powered by the Kirin 980 processor, paired with 8GB of RAM. This combination delivers smooth and responsive performance, handling demanding tasks with ease. Whether you’re gaming, multitasking, or browsing the web, the phone rarely stutters or lags. The ample RAM ensures that apps stay in memory, allowing for quick switching between applications. The user interface is fluid and intuitive, making navigation a pleasure.
Battery Performance
The Honor 20 Pro boasts a 4000mAh battery, which provides excellent battery life. With moderate usage, the phone easily lasts a full day on a single charge. Heavy users might need to top up the battery in the late afternoon, but generally, the battery life is a strong point of the device. The fast charging capabilities further enhance the user experience, allowing for quick recharges when needed. Overall, the battery life is a significant advantage, ensuring you can rely on your phone throughout the day without worrying about running out of power.
Software and User Experience
The Honor 20 Pro runs on Magic UI, Honor’s custom Android skin. While it deviates from stock Android, the overall experience is positive. The interface is visually appealing and offers a range of customization options. The inclusion of useful features, such as gesture controls and a split-screen mode, enhances productivity. The software is generally stable and well-optimized, providing a smooth and responsive user experience. Regular security updates are crucial and Honor has been relatively consistent in this area.
- Pros: Excellent camera system, stunning display, smooth performance, long battery life, attractive design.
- Cons: Fingerprint magnet, some may find Magic UI less intuitive than stock Android.
Connectivity and Other Features
The Honor 20 Pro offers a comprehensive suite of connectivity options, including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC. The phone’s connectivity is reliable and consistent, providing a seamless experience for browsing, streaming, and connecting to other devices. The inclusion of NFC enables easy contactless payments using mobile wallets. The dual SIM support adds flexibility for users who require two phone numbers.
The Honor 20 Pro is a compelling smartphone offering a premium experience at a competitive price. Its standout features include its exceptional camera system, vibrant display, and impressive performance. While minor drawbacks exist, such as the fingerprint-prone design, the overall user experience is overwhelmingly positive. The long battery life and fast charging further enhance its appeal. It’s a phone that justifies its price tag and delivers a strong contender in the mid-range market. Consider this phone if you prioritize a great camera and overall performance.
