Quick Ones : Honor 200 Pro

CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm)
Memory512GB+12GB RAM
Display6.78″ AMOLED 120Hz, HDR10+ 4000 nits Peak Brightness
Camera50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF,OIS
50 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto) 2.5x
12 MP, 112˚ f/2.2, (ultrawide)

50 MP, f/2.1 (selfie)
2 MP f/2.4 (depth)
ConnectivityBluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C 2.0, WiFi 7
OSAndroid 14, MagicOS 8
Battery5,200 mAh, 100W Fast Charging, 66W wireless charging
Available ColorsMoonlight White, Black
Retail Price512GB+12GB – RM 2699

New Everything Once Again

The HONOR 90 felt like a leap, but this time the HONOR 200 Pro is even more massive, starting with the debut of the all-new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, which Qualcomm had introduced recently as a high-end SoC that’s just below the flagship 8 Gen 3, making it a powerhouse choice in the midrange phone category.

The design language is only similar to the HONOR 90 by shape, but in terms of finish, it feels more refined and looks more premium on the HONOR 200 Pro. My white unit has a matte finish but a subtle reflection of natural pearl that really grabs the eye despite being a color as subdued as white is.

The design change continues to the camera module itself, being a massive oval taking about a 1/3 of the phone’s real estate. It houses a triple camera setup that I’ll cover more about below.

6.78 OLED Display With Blinding Brightness

The HONOR 200 Pro comes in a 6.78-inch display size with the choice of panel being OLED and a 120Hz refresh rate. Its color depth is 10-bit and comes with support for HDR10.

Shape-wise it is curved, and while that makes the screen seem fuller, there’s also a pill-shaped cutout to house the selfie camera and depth sensor. It’s no huge intrusion because that cutout also serves the function of being a dynamic island, known as Magic Capsule, as seen on the Magic 6 Pro and on MagicOS 8.0.

It’s basically a top-placement mini area where certain minimized apps would jump into while you’re looking at something else on the big screen.

Think Timer and Music Playback. Always a welcome feature I’d say, especially on a midranger.

Fully Loaded Camera Setup

The HONOR 200 Pro boasts a versatile triple camera system on the rear, prioritizing portrait photography according to Honor. Stabilisation is taken care of via a dual gyro-EIS+OIS system, varying across lenses.

Here’s a breakdown of the three lenses:

Main Sensor:

  • This is the star of the show, sharing the same sensor as the flagship Honor Magic 6 Pro. It’s a large 1/1.3″ sensor,known as the H9000
  • Pixel size is 1.2µm, which combines with the 4-in-1 pixel binning technology to deliver good low-light performance by increasing light sensitivity.
  • Optical image stabilization (OIS) is present to counteract camera shake and ensure sharper photos, especially in low-light situations.

Telephoto Lens:

  • This lens offers up to 2.5x optical zoom bringing distant subjects closer without significant quality loss.
  • The sensor is a Sony IMX 856, making it the first midranger in Malaysia to have this sensor.
  • It has a focal length equivalent to roughly 68mm and an aperture of f/2.4, which means it might struggle a bit in low-light scenarios compared to the main sensor.

Ultrawide Lens:

  • This 12MP ultrawide sensor offers a wider field of view for capturing expansive landscapes or fitting more people into group photos.
  • It stands out from some competitors by having autofocus, which allows for a macro mode to capture close-up shots with good detail.

Front Facing Cameras:

  • The selfie system is seemingly similar on paper as the HONOR 90, packing a 50MP sensor with a f/2.4 aperture.
  • It is now supported by an additional 2MP depth sensor for better portrait blurs.
  • As for video, you are able to capture up to 4K footage, including the wider 21:9 aspect ratio.

Early Verdict

It seems HONOR knows what big an impact midrange smartphones make in the market, and how well the HONOR 90 did last year, so the effort is definitely doubled down in terms of software and hardware offerings.

There’s plenty of the features seen on the Magic 6 Pro moved onto the HONOR 200 Pro, which would result in positive consumer sentiment towards the brand, considering that the gap between HONOR’s flagship and midrange is nearly double. I’m also quite happy with the fact that the hardware department got a boost in terms of the choice of chipset while keeping the price tag reasonable.

The full review is coming soon, so stay tuned!

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