Review of the Honor 90: An excellent mid-range smartphone available at an outstanding price Honor 90 Review

It appears that Honor is currently hitting its stride. With a string of successful releases in recent years and a few promising ones on the horizon, it’s clear that now, more than ever, is a time to closely follow this Chinese manufacturer.

The Honor 90 represents the company’s latest venture into the mid-range market, which is becoming increasingly crowded with highly capable competitors. Honor aims to stand out in this field with the Honor 90, its latest mid-range offering. The device boasts impressive specifications on paper, presenting significant upgrades compared to the Honor 70, the last model in this category to be available for sale outside of China.

Specs, pricing and availability

Similar to other Honor smartphones, the Honor 90 is not officially available in the United States. However, you can still find it on Amazon. It’s important to note that this will be the imported version, which is priced at $499 for the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage configuration, the same as the unit I reviewed.

 The imported Honor 90 is compatible only with GSM networks, so it’s not recommended for use with Verizon or any other CDMA network. Additionally, its support for the necessary 5G bands is limited. Therefore, it’s essential to exercise caution when making a purchase and ensure that your carrier supports it before adding it to your cart.

HONOR 90 Feature & Specification

In the UK and Europe, the situation is more straightforward. In the UK, you can only purchase the 8GB RAM/256GB storage variant, which has a recommended retail price (RRP) of £450. However, opting for this version doesn’t make much sense when you consider that the 12GB RAM/512GB version is priced at £500 or €500. Nevertheless, at the time of writing, the Honor store was offering the phone for just £399, making the Honor 90 an even more attractive deal.

When it comes to color options, you can choose from Emerald Green, Diamond Silver, or Midnight Black. Additionally, Peacock Blue is available for purchase directly from Honor’s website. It’s important to mention that the Midnight Black variant is exclusively offered for the lower-spec model.

Design

Without a doubt, when it comes to design, Honor tends to stick with what works. This trend has been consistent across their product lines in recent years. The Honor 90 continues this tradition with its slim and tall build, reminiscent of its predecessors. It sits slightly higher in the hand compared to devices like the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, thanks to its larger 6.7-inch screen. 

Our review unit features the Diamond Silver finish on the back panel, which may not appeal to everyone due to a somewhat intricate pattern etched into the bottom half. In contrast, other colors like Emerald Green, Peacock Blue, or Midnight Black offer a more pearlescent finish and lack this pattern. It’s worth noting that the back panel is made of plastic, whereas some competitors like the Samsung A54 have opted for glass. While glass would be a nice touch, it doesn’t significantly detract from the phone’s solid feel, and there are no creaking issues. 

True to Honor’s style, the rear camera design is a prominent feature, with two large camera “islands” housing the three cameras and flash. When placed in the included clear protective case, this design creates an interesting figure-eight-like look and serves as a bold design statement, complementing the diamond pattern below it. 

The prominent camera bump may make the phone slightly unstable when placed on a table, but it’s not a major issue. 

The phone only features a single speaker at the bottom, which is easily covered by your hand and produces a somewhat hollow and brash sound with minimal bass. This can affect the overall enjoyment of watching videos on the phone, so if you’re a frequent on-the-go video watcher, using headphones is recommended. 

Overall, the design and build of the Honor 90 seem appropriate for its price point, although some competitors are beginning to surpass it. However, the absence of an IP rating and, to some extent, wireless charging, is becoming less forgivable. These features are becoming expected even in the mid-range price segment.

Display

Honor has invested significant effort in enhancing its display capabilities, incorporating a sizable 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a full HD+ resolution of 2664 x 1200 and an impressive peak brightness of 1600 nits.

This display is truly remarkable and wouldn’t be out of place on a flagship smartphone. It delivers sharp, vibrant visuals and remarkable brightness, making it compatible with HDR10+ content from platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, thanks to its HDR certification.

In the Normal screen mode, colors are well-balanced and visually appealing, although there’s also a Vivid mode for those who prefer slightly more vibrant but less realistic colors.

Honor continues to promote its Quad-Curved Floating display, featuring curves at each edge, both on the front and back. While this design isn’t as common these days due to occasional responsiveness issues at the edges, I didn’t encounter any such problems during testing. In fact, it contributes to making such a large phone more comfortable to hold.

The display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth content viewing. You can set it to adapt dynamically based on your usage or choose from fixed rates of 60, 90, or 120Hz. Naturally, the 120Hz setting offers the best performance but may drain the battery faster.

Similar to the Honor Magic 5 Pro, the Honor 90 incorporates various eye comfort features, including 3840Hz PWM dimming, a circadian night display, and TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certification. These features aim to reduce eye strain and fatigue during prolonged use. While it’s challenging to quantify their exact benefits, the screen proves comfortable for extended usage, demonstrating Honor’s thoughtful approach even at this price point.

Beneath the display, you’ll find a fingerprint sensor that works quite effectively. Occasionally, you may need to reposition your finger, but the built-in face detection feature often activates before you need to use the fingerprint sensor.

Hardware and performance

The Honor 90 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition 5G chip, which is well-suited for its position in the market. The Accelerated version of this chip can achieve peak CPU speeds of 2.5GHz.

Compared to the Honor 70, the Adreno 644 GPU has seen a 20 percent increase in performance, while AI capabilities have improved by 30 percent. These enhancements contribute to smooth graphics and faster response times.

In terms of performance, I have found the Honor 90 to be reliable. While it may not match the speed and immediacy of a flagship chipset, it performs admirably. It handles light gaming and streaming tasks without generating noticeable heat, and I have observed minimal stuttering even when the device is under pressure. Considering I transitioned to this phone from an iPhone 13 Pro, experiencing few noteworthy performance issues is quite impressive.

The phone is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, a slight improvement over the Honor 70, and on par with the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G. This battery easily provides all-day usage, even with relatively heavy usage, which isn’t always guaranteed on my iPhone. In a battery test involving streaming a 1.5-hour video from Netflix at half brightness, the Honor 90 consumed approximately 11 percent of its total battery capacity.

While there is no wireless charging support, the Honor 90 comes with Honor’s 66W charger in the box, enabling super-fast charging. I was able to charge the phone from empty to 51 percent in just 20 minutes, with the promise of achieving a 20 percent charge in only five minutes. This feature significantly alleviates any concerns about battery life, knowing that you can quickly replenish the battery if needed.

Software

The Honor 90 operates on Honor’s proprietary MagicOS 7.1, layered over Android 13. While it has been making improvements, it still lags behind some other manufacturers that adhere more closely to stock Android. The software lacks the same level of polish as the hardware, and its design language can feel somewhat dated.

Nonetheless, the user experience is generally smooth, and navigation is straightforward, with ample customization options to tailor it to your preferences. There are convenient features, such as quick access to popular apps through a swipe and hold gesture from the left edge, flexible folder customization, and helpful gestures. In terms of usability, there are fewer complaints compared to the past.

However, there remains a notable amount of pre-installed bloatware from various companies and unnecessary duplications of apps, where Google’s native offerings would have sufficed.

Another concern is that Honor only commits to providing two years of software updates, a significant shortfall compared to the four years offered by the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and the five years promised by the Google Pixel 7a. While this should cover the typical 24-month upgrade cycle, it limits the flexibility of device owners and may require them to upgrade sooner than desired.

Cameras

Honor has once again emphasized its camera capabilities in the Honor 90, featuring a triple camera setup that includes a massive 200MP main camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide and macro camera (f/2.2), and a 2MP depth camera (f/2.4). Additionally, there’s a 50MP wide-angle front-facing camera for selfies.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the 200MP main camera, boasting a 1/1.4-inch sensor, which is 25 percent larger than the sensor in the Honor 70. With 16-in-1 pixel binning, this sensor allows more light to be captured, resulting in better, brighter photos. In optimal conditions, the Honor 90’s camera produces vibrant, detailed shots, albeit with a slight touch of edge softness, which is typical at this price point.

Zooming in, even using the digital 2x shortcut within the main camera’s software, tends to exacerbate this softness, so it’s advisable to use zoom sparingly.

One drawback is the absence of optical image stabilization (OIS), which can lead to reduced sharpness in photos of moving subjects, such as children. Low-light photos are also susceptible to blur unless you have a steady hand, making spontaneous point-and-shoot photography more challenging.

Despite the lack of OIS, it’s still possible to capture decent nighttime shots outdoors, although darker areas may exhibit noticeable noise. However, as long as there’s sufficient ambient light, you can achieve respectable results, albeit with some effort to avoid blurring.

Indoor shots under variable or artificial lighting conditions pose the greatest challenge. Results may lack detail and become smudgy quickly. Using the flash can brighten the scene but can create an unnatural appearance, particularly on human subjects.

Moving on to the 12MP ultra-wide and macro camera, it offers a 112-degree field of view with a minimum focusing distance of 2.5cm. Although it represents a step down from the 50MP camera on the Honor 70, it’s important to note that megapixels alone do not determine camera quality. This lens exhibits a drop in detail and sharpness, especially when zoomed in. Additionally, there’s a noticeable difference in color tone between the main lens and the ultra-wide lens, with the latter displaying a bluer hue. This lens is best suited for capturing wide scenic shots outdoors.

Lastly, the 2MP depth sensor feels like a less impactful addition. While it enhances the Portrait mode, promising improved bokeh effects and a more natural transition between the subject and background blur, it can still struggle in certain situations and doesn’t offer a significant improvement over software-only methods. In the future, this lens space could potentially be better utilized for a dedicated macro or telephoto lens.

Verdict

The Honor 90 is an enticing mid-range smartphone, especially considering its recent price reduction to under £400. It impresses with its surprisingly robust performance and a stunning display that could easily rival those found on many flagship devices. Additionally, its camera setup is capable of producing good results in favorable lighting conditions, provided you have a steady hand.

One of its standout features is the exceptional battery life, and the 66W wired charging provides a reassuringly fast charging experience.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. The absence of an official IP rating for water and dust resistance feels like a missed opportunity at this stage. The lack of optical image stabilization (OIS) in the camera setup can be a limitation, particularly for capturing sharp photos of moving subjects. Furthermore, the single-speaker configuration results in a subpar audio experience when listening to music or watching videos without headphones.

Perhaps most importantly, a longer commitment to software updates from Honor would go a long way in maintaining consumer confidence. While the Honor 90 offers many appealing features at a great price, there’s room for improvement in the finer details.

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FAQ’s

1. What is the price range of the Honor 90?

The Honor 90 is priced at under £400, making it an attractive mid-range smartphone option.

2. What are the standout features of the Honor 90?

The Honor 90 offers impressive performance, a stunning display, and a capable camera setup for well-lit conditions. It also boasts superb battery life and fast 66W wired charging.

3. Does the Honor 90 have an official IP rating for water and dust resistance?

No, the Honor 90 does not come with an official IP rating for water and dust resistance.

4. Is optical image stabilization (OIS) included in the Honor 90’s camera setup?

Unfortunately, the Honor 90 lacks optical image stabilization (OIS) in its camera setup, which can impact the sharpness of photos, especially when capturing moving subjects.

5. How is the audio quality of the Honor 90’s single-speaker setup?

The single-speaker configuration on the Honor 90 may result in a subpar audio experience when listening to music or watching videos without headphones.

6. What is the warranty period for the Honor 90?

The warranty period for the Honor 90 may vary depending on your location and the retailer you purchase it from. It’s a good idea to inquire with the retailer about the warranty specifics.

7. Can you customize the Honor 90’s user interface?

Yes, the Honor 90 provides customization options for its user interface, allowing you to personalize it to suit your preferences.

8. How fast is the charging speed with the 66W wired charger?

The 66W wired charger included with the Honor 90 offers rapid charging capabilities. It can charge the phone significantly in a short period, with approximately 51 percent charge in just 20 minutes from empty.

9. What are the alternatives to the Honor 90 in the mid-range smartphone market?

Some alternatives to the Honor 90 in the mid-range smartphone market include devices from other manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Google. It’s essential to consider your specific preferences and requirements when choosing a mid-range smartphone.

10. Is the Honor 90 eligible for software updates, and for how long?

The Honor 90 comes with a promised two years of software updates. This may fall short of the longer software update commitments offered by some competitors, such as the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and Google Pixel 7a, which promise four and five years of updates, respectively.