In mid-June, HONOR introduced three devices set to hit store shelves in July. We received the youngest model for review, the HONOR 200 Lite. It features a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset with 5G support, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of internal storage. The smartphone boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080×2412, a 108 MP main camera, and a 4500 mAh battery with 35W charging. The device is currently priced at €285 / $317.
Can this device offer something to users with higher demands, even for a mid-range phone? At first glance, the HONOR 200 Lite seems to have everything you need—good hardware, impressive cameras, and modern software. But is it the best choice in an already crowded market? That’s exactly what we’ll try to find out.
Technical specifications of HONOR 200 Lite
- Screen: AMOLED 6.7”, 1080×2412, 16.7M colors, 100% DCI-P3
- Processor: octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 6080 (6 nm), 2.40 GHz
- Video card: ARM Mali-G57 MC2
- Operating system: Android 14, MagicOS 8 interface
- RAM: 8 GB
- ROM: 256 GB
- Cameras:
- Main module 108 megapixels, f/1.75
- Wide-angle lens 5 megapixels, f/2.2
- Macro 2 megapixels, f/2.4
- Front camera 50 megapixel, f/2.1
- Video recording: 1080p@30 fps
- Battery: Li-Po 4500 mAh, 35W SuperCharge
- Connectivity: 5G, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, USB Type-C, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
- Memory card slot: no
- Fingerprint scanner: in the power button
- Dimensions and weight: 161.05 × 74.55 × 6.78 mm, 166 g
Positioning and price
The star of our review was launched alongside other models in the lineup—HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Pro. According to the information provided by the manufacturer, the Lite version is simplified compared to its siblings (comparison here). It looks different, has a weaker battery and cameras, slower charging, less memory, a less advanced chipset, and a lower resolution display. However, it’s also significantly more affordable. The HONOR 200 Pro is priced at €799 / $867, and the HONOR 200 at €649 / $704.
HONOR 200 Lite is available in three colors: Starry Blue, Cyan Lake, and Midnight Black.
Read also: Honor Earbuds X6 TWS Headphones Review: Good Sound for $35
Package contents
The HONOR 200 Lite’s package is quite modest, to say the least. Aside from the phone, we only get the documentation, a SIM tray removal pin, and a USB Type-C cable. The included screen protector, already applied, can also be considered part of the package. However, there’s no charger or case. Of course, you could argue that everyone has an old charger at home and that most people don’t end up using those silicone cases that eventually turn yellow. Still, it would have been nice to provide a basic level of convenience for the buyer.
HONOR 200 Lite design
The phone looks nice and interesting. To start, 89.9% of the front panel is occupied by the screen with rounded edges. It looks cool, almost like an iPhone!
The cutout for the front camera is larger than usual. This is because it also includes a selfie flash. However, it still takes up more screen space and draws unnecessary attention.
The entire body is plastic, which isn’t surprising at this price point. On the right side, there’s a power button, which also houses the fingerprint scanner, along with the volume rocker. On the left side, at the top, there’s only the SIM card tray. The top of the body is framed with flat edges, rounded at the corners.
The back has a lovely light-blue shade, almost glitter-like, which shimmers beautifully in sunlight. Fingerprints aren’t visible on this panel.
I really like the phone’s flat edges, which, combined with its overall size, make it comfortable to hold. It’s slim and stylish. The only downside is that the weight is slightly off-balance due to the camera island, which protrudes from the body. A case would have been useful here, but unfortunately, it’s not included in the box, which is something to keep in mind. It’s also worth noting that the manufacturer hasn’t provided any information about water resistance certifications.
Display
There are no compromises here, the HONOR has a very good 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1080×2412 pixels displaying 16.7 million colors. It provides full coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, resulting in vivid and realistic colors.
The screen has a rich and clear image with good viewing angles and contrast. It’s a real pleasure to use.
We can also customize some elements of the screen, such as brightness, switch between light and dark modes, turn on eye protection, and set a work schedule. You can also switch the screen to reading mode, play with the color mode and font size.
The refresh rate is less impressive, with a maximum of 90 Hz instead of 120+, but it seems the manufacturer had to cut costs somewhere. It’s better to avoid the lowest setting of 60 Hz and keep the dynamic mode enabled, which adjusts the refresh rate based on the content displayed. Despite this, video playback and overall performance were smooth, with no noticeable lag.
The good news is that the HONOR 200 Lite’s display remains legible in all lighting conditions.
Read also: HONOR Magic6 Lite Smartphone Review: Too Many Drawbacks
Cameras
The extended camera island houses three cameras: a 108 MP f/1.75 main module, a 5 MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens, and a 2 MP f/2.4 macro camera, along with a flash.
The main camera takes acceptable photos with good color and shade accuracy. However, I found it lacking in detail, and it’s crucial to keep the phone steady; otherwise, the shots will be blurry. Additionally, low-light conditions can introduce noise.
The ultrawide sensor is decent, but once you zoom into the finished photo, the issue with detail becomes more apparent.
However, I was impressed by the zoom functionality. Both 2x and 3x zoom performed well, allowing objects to remain visible and text to stay legible even from a distance.
Selfies come out well—detailed and clear, with options for adjustments if needed. In low light, you can use the selfie flash, though it tends to highlight skin imperfections, so I didn’t use it.
Night shots lack a bit of contrast, but if you’re out walking in the city and want to take a quick photo, it’s a great option.
You can record video at 1080p resolution with a maximum frame rate of 30 frames per second. The quality is average, and the lack of image stabilization is a significant drawback.
There’s also a 2 MP macro module, but it’s mainly there just for the numbers. The quality is poor, with low clarity.
Read also: Honor 90 Review: “Flagship Killer” with a 200 MP Camera
Unlocking methods
As soon as you turn on the device, the system prompts you to add protection for your data—via password, fingerprint, or Face ID. I tested the fingerprint scanner, which worked quickly and reliably, though occasional false triggers occurred, such as when the phone was in my pocket. If you prefer, you can use facial recognition instead. The phone recognized me even in low light, so there shouldn’t be any issues with that, although it is less secure.
Sound
The lack of stereo sound is disappointing. There’s only one speaker located at the bottom, which delivers flat and muffled audio—nothing impressive. Additionally, you can’t connect wired headphones because there’s no 3.5 mm mini-jack input. The sound quality with wireless headphones is better, likely due to the codecs and sound amplifier in the apps. In the settings, you can also choose a playback mode when headphones are connected.
Communication and communication
The device includes all the essential communication modules, such as support for 5G, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.1. It also features NFC for contactless payments and has GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS for navigation.
Read also: HONOR Magic5 Lite Review: Nice Mid-range Device
HONOR 200 Lite software
The smartphone runs on Android 14 with the HONOR MagicOS 8 interface. I liked the simplicity and clarity of the system, and the interface is both lightweight and stylish.
As always in HONOR smartphone reviews, I can’t help but note that the interface looks almost identical to HUAWEI EMUI. The App Market is the same as Huawei AppGallery, Honor Health is akin to Huawei Health, Honor ID resembles Huawei ID, and My HONOR and My HUAWEI are the same, among other similarities. Although the companies are no longer formally connected, it seems they use similar technologies. However, since HONOR is a separate brand, these smartphones do support Google services, just like any other.
Overall, if you’ve ever had an Android phone, nothing here will surprise you, including the presence of common bloatware—pre-installed third-party apps. After all, manufacturers need to make money from ads, right? You’ll find apps like TikTok, Aliexpress, Netflix, Booking, and Facebook. It’s not a disaster, as some people might find these apps useful, and it’s certainly better than having unwanted games you’d never play. And, of course, you can remove all of them if you prefer.
One interesting feature is the trendy AI functionalities, including Magic Portal, which is known from the HONOR Magic6 Pro. This feature allows you to drag text or images into a designated area on the screen to later add them to another app. It’s called “magic” because sharing apps offer it automatically, but it can also be customized to your preferences.
There’s also a side panel for quick app access, windowed mode for multitasking, and the “Magic Capsule”—an expandable area around the front camera that provides useful information and notifications.
Read also: HONOR Magic5 Pro review: Like Huawei, but with Google services
HONOR 200 Lite performance
From a technical perspective, the device features an octa-core 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 6080 processor with an ARM Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. Here are the benchmark results:
It’s worth noting that during benchmarking, the phone only warmed up slightly around the camera area.
Both the technical specifications and performance were satisfactory. The combination of a good processor and components provides speed and reliability for various activities—social media, web browsing, light graphic work, video playback, and even gaming—all performed well. However, this did impact the battery life, which I’ll discuss next.
The 8/256 GB memory configuration is sufficient for a budget model, but it cannot be expanded as microSD is not supported. The default RAM can be expanded up to 8 GB using fixed storage, and this option cannot be altered.
Battery life
This is another “Achilles’ heel” of the device. To put it simply, it has a 4500 mAh battery, which seems like a small difference from the “gold standard” of 5000 mAh, but this shortcoming becomes noticeable with daily use. Of course, it depends on how you use the phone, but for basic tasks, I found myself having to charge the phone every evening. Overall, I felt that it drained quickly.
Regarding charging, the included charger is a SuperCharge with up to 35W. This is also a downside, as competitors offer higher power options. The phone charges to full in just over an hour.
Read also: HONOR X8a Review: 100MP camera and powerful battery
Conclusions
The HONOR 200 Lite is a decent mid-range device, but it doesn’t offer anything particularly special. The first impression is positive, as the model is attractive, slim, stylish, and features a quality AMOLED screen. It also has really good cameras, a smooth and user-friendly operating system, all at a reasonable price. However, this isn’t enough to make it stand out in the market. It has some drawbacks that not everyone may tolerate: a weak battery and relatively slow charging, lack of basic accessories in the box, no stereo sound, and even basic splash protection is missing.
Who might be interested in this new model? Firstly, it’s suitable for those who are looking for a simple phone for everyday use. Secondly, it’s a good option for a child or an elderly person, as they also want to keep up with the times. There are plenty of alternatives on the market. For instance, the very powerful Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G offers a 200 MP camera with OIS, a 2712×1220 120 Hz display, IP54 protection, a 4 nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, a 5100 mAh battery with 67W charging, and even an under-display fingerprint scanner, all for $365. For those looking to save, the 4G version of the Note 13 Pro is also quite good (we did a comparison here). Other interesting options include the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G, POCO X6 Pro 5G or X5 Pro 5G, Oppo Reno 11F, and Infinix Note 40.
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