Honor has been carving out an impressive niche for itself as a company in the midrange with a unique stable of offerings that bring a variety of features. Their N series smartphones are taking a big step into becoming a photography hero for the mid-range with the company’s partnership with Harcourt. The new smartphone series promises a whole lot for a price point that doesn’t break the bank (much).
In this review, we’re going to break down the Honor 200 Pro and look at if the new features, design and price point make Honor’s Pro midrange offering a compelling price point. However, we’re looking to answer one big question: “Is the Honor 200 Pro worth your hard-earned money?”
Design
It’s very clear that Honor has no intention of being unassuming when it comes to the Honor 200 Pro. The company is taking a big leap when it comes to the specifications and it’s shouting it with a stunning outer design.
The Honor 200 Pro features a well-designed physical build that balances modern aesthetics with practical functionality. Measuring 8.2mm in thickness and weighing 199 grams, it is slim and lightweight enough for easy handling while maintaining a durable feel. Its rounded corners further contribute to user comfort during extended use.
The rear panel is crafted with a matte finish that resists fingerprints and smudges. Its texture provides a secure grip, while the dual-tone gradient design—most notably in the Ocean Cyan variant—adds a distinct visual element. The pill-shaped camera module, positioned at the upper left, slightly protrudes from the surface, which can cause the device to wobble slightly on flat surfaces. However, this design choice integrates well with the overall look.
The front is dominated by a 6.78-inch OLED display, featuring curved edges that blend seamlessly into the metallic frame. With minimal bezels, the display maximizes screen space for a clean, modern appearance. A pill-shaped cutout for the selfie camera is discreetly positioned at the top of the screen, maintaining an uninterrupted viewing experience.
The metallic frame houses the power button and volume rocker on the right side for easy access. At the bottom, the USB Type-C port, microphone, SIM tray, and speaker grille are neatly arranged. The top includes a secondary microphone, an IR blaster, and another speaker grille, supporting stereo sound functionality.
While the device emphasizes style and usability, it does have some considerations regarding durability. It does not feature reinforced glass such as Gorilla Glass, which could make it more susceptible to scratches or damage. However, it comes with a pre-applied screen protector and has an IP65 rating for resistance to dust and water splashes.
Hardware
Honor is really working on changing expectations when it comes to midrange smartphones with the Honor 200 Pro. The smartphone comes packed with specifications that we’ve seen even in higher-end flagship smartphones but at a price point that is just a fraction of what we’ve come to expect for flagship smartphones.
Specifications
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Octa-Core: 1×3.0GHz Cortex X4,4×2.8GHz Cortex A720, 3×2.0GHz Cortex A520 |
| RAM | 12GB (AS TESTED) 16GB |
| Memory | 256GB 512GB (As Tested)1TB |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) | Adreno 735 |
| Display | AMOLED panel 6.78-inch (~437 ppi) 1224×2700 pixels1.5K resolution19.85:9 Aspect Ratio120Hz Refresh rate HDR 4000 nits peak brightness |
| Operating System | Android 14 with MagicOS 8 |
| Battery | 5,200mAh Fast Charging (100W)Fast Wireless Charging (66W) Reverse Wireless Charging (5W) |
| Connectivity | Dual SIM (nano SIM), Dual Standby 5G/4G LTE/HSPA/GSM A2DP Infrared Port |
| Camera | REAR: Triple Sensor: 50-megapixel (Wide) f/1.9, 1/1.3″, 1.2µm Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) 50-megapixel (Telephoto) f/2.4 Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)2.5x optical zoom12-megapixel (Ultrawide) f/2.2, 112˚ Panorama4K Video recording (30fps) FRONT: 2-Megapixel (Depth)f/2.4 HDR 4K (30fps)1080p (30/60fps)Gyro-EIS |
| Sensor | Accelerometer Ultrasound Proximity Sensor Fingerprint (Optical, under display) Gyroscope Compass |
| Miscellaneous | Dual SIM |
| Retail Price (Malaysia) | MYR2,699 (512B + 12GB) MYR1,899 (256GB + 12GB) |
| Retail Price (EU) | EUR€799.90 (512GB + 12GB) EUR€699.90 (256GB + 12GB) |
User Interface
The Honor 200 launches with Magic OS8 based on Android 14. This OS is packed with features that are changing the user experience significantly. Of course, some of these features are coming from the Magic6 series – particularly all the AI features.
Honor’s take on Android 14 is still very much influenced by the aesthetics of iOS. However, this year, it seems like Honor has begun to develop a more unique design language. The icons are a blend of realistic and anamorphic which gives it a unique feel. However, the rest of the interface is designed to be very flat. This is easily remedied with Honor’s approach to personalisation which allows you to customise nearly everything including the icon design. It also gives the phone a whole level of personalisation that isn’t present in a lot of mid-range phones available in the market.
Honor has also improved the animations in MagicOS making the animations feel more fluid and app launches seem snappier. That said, I feel that the new version of MagicOS is only a step toward Honor finding its footing in creating a UI that is uniquely Honor’s. It’s a welcome injection of brand identity into Android that has been sorely lacking before this and the Magic6 series.
Honor’s biggest change to the MagicOS is still the inclusion of many features that help improve usability and interconnectivity between apps. This comes in addition to AI features that are more prevalent in the camera. However, these features feel a little bit clunky in their execution, particularly the Magic Portal. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a whole new way of interacting between apps but it has a learning curve that isn’t helped by its initial tutorial. You end up stumbling upon the feature most of the time. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt though. I can see users getting used to the long press and drag with repeated usage.
Performance
The Honor 200 Pro is no slouch when it comes to specifications. However, hardware specifications are only part of the equation. What’s more important is the interplay of software and hardware which is more obvious in the performance overall. Let’s be honest, hardware-wise, the Honor 200 Pro isn’t the pinnacle we’re looking for. However, it’d be foolish of us to write it off just based on that.
Multitasking & Productivity
Let’s start with the most important performance feature we all need nowadays – multitasking. The Honor 200 Pro isn’t shy to flex its 12GB of RAM here. It took a lot to make this phone slow down. Seriously, even when it did, you have extended RAM that gives you an additional 12GB of RAM by taking from your internal memory.
When it comes to multitasking, the smartphone comes with the standard features we expect from Android smartphones., However, some of the features come with a flair that is uniquely Honor. First up, we have split-screen multitasking which you can launch with a 2-finger swipe up or a knuckle gesture. Getting apps into this mode is a little bit of a learning curve given that it’s not as intuitive as some other Android-based UIs. However, It should give Honor props for optimising the software to a level where there is very little lag when you’re launching the second app and even when you’re working between apps.
In addition to this, the Honor 200 Pro comes with a floating window feature that essentially allows you to have 3 apps running simultaneously. While it’s not a three-way split-screen, the feature allows you to be more productive with the phone with a third, less accessible window. It also allows you to keep apps in an active state in the background.
The Magic Capsule is also making a comeback on the Honor 200 Pro. This feature takes a leaf out of the iPhone and brings a new level of optimization to the MagicOS interface. It brings a little bit more functionality to what is essentially dead space in the interface. It brings notifications front and center and at the fingertips of the user. It also allows users to access quick actions in supported apps and even lets users know what apps may be actively running in the background.
Call Quality & Connectivity
Being a mid-range phone, I expected to have some concessions in hardware that would affect call quality. However, the Honor 200 Pro pleasantly surprised me with pretty good call audio. The tone was warm, crisp and clear.
It’s also got all the bells and whistles when it comes to connectivity. Like many phones now, the Honor 200 Pro has 5G connectivity which should serve you well when it comes to connectivity. The higher speeds – which were gotten thanks to YTL communication’s Yes 5G – did come in handy when downloading big files off emails and also streaming my shows off Amazon Prime and Netflix. Support for WiFi 6 also came in clutch with streaming.
Honor does bring its WiFi+ feature to the smartphone. This feature ensures that you have constant internet connectivity between WiFi and mobile connectivity. It will also enable you to seamlessly connect between WiFi and mobile based on your location.
There were minor hiccups with connectivity – particularly with WiFi 6 and 5G. With the former, it had issues maintaining a connection with my WiFi 6 router. However, the issue was resolved after an update for the OS itself. The 5G connectivity problems seem to be stemming from the network itself. I had more stable data connectivity on 4G LTE. Of course, data speeds were not as impressive but a more stable connection does provide a better overall experience. However, since the 5G issues were verified to not be connected to the phone, it didn’t factor into our overall rating.
Overall, when it comes to call quality and connectivity, the Honor 200 Pro delivers an experience that we’ve come to expect from Honor devices. Comparatively, the performance puts it slightly ahead of its competition. It gets the basics right and delivers important value-added features that make it more seamless for users.
Gaming
Gaming on the Honor 200 Pro is a pretty smooth ride, with just a few bumps along the way during more intense sessions. We tested it with games like Genshin Impact, Asphalt 9: Legends, Pokémon UNITE, and Diablo Immortal, and for the most part, it held up really well—no major surprises for a phone in this class.
Now, with Genshin Impact, things got a little tricky at max settings. The phone started to warm up quite a bit, and the frame rate took a hit, making the game feel less playable. But as soon as we dialled the settings down, it was a whole new story—smooth gameplay with no big issues. The Honor 200 Pro’s cooling system did a decent job keeping the heat in check, though after a couple of hours, it did get warmer. That said, it was impressive that it stayed comfortable for such a long stretch before heating up noticeably.
Moving on to Diablo Immortal—this game really pushed the Honor 200 Pro to its limits, especially when dealing with huge mobs of enemies. Imagine 80 to 95 monsters on screen at once, plus some flashy AoE attacks, and yeah, the phone started to stutter and lag a bit. But honestly, even high-end phones struggle with that kind of workload. The good news is that the lag didn’t last long, and the phone bounced back quickly once the action calmed down.
For less demanding games like Pokémon UNITE and Asphalt 9: Legends, the Honor 200 Pro handled them like a pro—no hiccups at all, just smooth and enjoyable gameplay throughout. Thanks to the upgraded Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip, this phone has the power to tackle a range of games without breaking a sweat.
All in all, if you’re into gaming on the Honor 200 Pro, you’re in for a good time. It can handle most games pretty well, and even when it’s pushed hard, it holds its own with only minor hiccups. Perfect for casual and mid-level gamers who want a solid device without spending a fortune.
Battery Life
The Honor 200 Pro offers impressive battery performance, thanks to its upgraded Silicon Carbon substrate, which enhances both longevity and durability. During testing, the device consistently delivered a minimum of 30 hours on a single charge with mixed usage. This often extended to two full days before requiring a recharge, even with regular activities such as photography, emails, messaging, and calls.
For gaming, the smartphone provided approximately 4 hours of continuous gameplay on a full charge, while video playback lasted around 8 hours. Even when the battery reached 15%, enabling the battery-saver mode allowed for an additional 2 to 2.5 hours of use, depending on the activity. On standby mode, with minimal screen time and no mobile connectivity, the phone exceeded four days of battery life.
Overall, the Honor 200 Pro upholds its reputation for excellent battery efficiency, ensuring dependable performance for a variety of usage scenarios. Whether engaging in demanding tasks or routine daily activities, the device minimizes the need for frequent recharging, offering reliable battery life across different use cases.
Display
The Honor 200 Pro’s display is definitely one of its standout features, offering a mix of quality and functionality that’s hard to ignore. It’s a 6.78-inch OLED screen with a 1.5K resolution (2700 x 1224 pixels), which means visuals are crisp, detailed, and perfect for everything from scrolling social media to watching high-definition videos. The vibrant colors and deep blacks really make the content pop, giving it a premium feel.
One feature that stands out is the 120Hz refresh rate. It makes everything from swiping through apps to playing games feel smooth and responsive. Combined with HDR10 support, you’re looking at great contrast and more lifelike visuals, especially when you’re watching HDR-compatible content. Whether you’re gaming or streaming, the display has you covered.
Brightness isn’t an issue here either. With a peak brightness of up to 4,000 nits, the screen remains clear even in bright outdoor conditions, making it reliable for everyday use, no matter where you are. Its curved edges not only add to the sleek design but also make the display more immersive, creating a seamless blend into the phone’s frame.
What’s also worth mentioning is the 3840Hz adaptive PWM dimming. It’s designed to reduce flicker and make the display easier on the eyes, which is especially helpful if you spend a lot of time on your phone. It’s a thoughtful addition that’s geared toward user comfort during prolonged use.
That said, the display doesn’t include features like Gorilla Glass for added protection, so you might want to be careful to avoid scratches or damage. Even so, the overall experience the screen provides easily outweighs this minor drawback.
In short, the Honor 200 Pro’s display hits the right notes. Whether it’s for vibrant visuals, smooth performance, or eye-friendly features, this display delivers a solid experience that complements the rest of the device. It’s a great fit for both entertainment and everyday tasks.
Cameras
The Honor 200 Pro’s camera system is a compelling feature that blends advanced hardware with impactful software enhancements, including notable AI integrations. The partnership with Le Studio Harcourt adds another layer of refinement, particularly in portrait photography, making the system a standout in its price category. While it delivers in many areas, there are still aspects that could be improved.
The Honor 200 Pro features a versatile triple-camera setup: a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera that doubles as a macro lens. The main camera is equipped with an f/1.9 aperture and a large 1/1.3-inch sensor, producing sharp, vibrant images with strong dynamic range. Its portrait mode particularly excels, thanks to the collaboration with Le Studio Harcourt. This partnership enhances the AI-powered portrait mode, delivering studio-like results with smooth bokeh effects, accurate skin tones, and well-balanced lighting. Portrait shots feel polished and professional, catering to users who value high-quality photography.
AI integration plays a significant role in optimizing the camera system’s performance. Scene recognition ensures the camera automatically adjusts settings based on the subject, allowing users to effortlessly capture ideal shots. For instance, it can distinguish between landscapes, food, or portraits, tweaking brightness, saturation, and focus accordingly. The AI-powered bokeh and focus adjustments are especially helpful in portraits, enabling users to fine-tune these effects even after the photo is taken, providing greater creative control.
Low-light photography also benefits from AI optimization. The system intelligently enhances brightness and reduces noise, resulting in clearer images with more vivid colours. This feature is particularly noticeable in night portraits, where the Honor 200 Pro combines AI processing with its hardware to achieve impressive results. However, the ultra-wide camera struggles in low-light situations, producing softer images compared to the main sensor.
The telephoto lens, offering 2.5x optical zoom, adds versatility to the system. It allows for detailed shots from a distance, although image quality decreases with digital zoom beyond this range. The ultra-wide camera is capable of capturing expansive scenes and doubles as a macro lens for close-up shots. While its performance in good lighting conditions is solid, low-light scenarios reveal some shortcomings, with less detail and softness creeping into the results.
On the video side, the Honor 200 Pro supports 4K recording with gyro-EIS, ensuring stable and smooth footage. AI integration further enhances video quality by optimizing stabilization and colour balance. While the video capabilities are reliable and effective for casual use and social media content creation, they lack some of the more advanced options found on certain similarly priced devices, such as additional frame rates or cinematic features.
While the Honor 200 Pro’s camera system has clear strengths, it’s not without limitations. The ultra-wide lens’ performance in low-light environments falls behind the main sensor. Similarly, the telephoto lens struggles with maintaining sharpness at higher zoom levels. Some users might also notice the absence of advanced features like a periscope zoom lens or more versatile video modes, which are offered by certain competitors in this price range.
The Honor 200 Pro’s camera system strikes a good balance between hardware and software, providing a versatile and user-friendly experience. Its collaboration with Le Studio Harcourt elevates portrait photography, and the AI-driven features add meaningful enhancements to image quality and ease of use. While there are areas that could be improved, such as low-light ultra-wide performance and telephoto zoom, the overall package is impressive for a device in this segment. For users who value refined portraits, strong main camera performance, and helpful AI optimizations, the Honor 200 Pro delivers a well-rounded and capable camera system..
Harcourt Makes a Compelling Honor 200 Pro with All the Bells and Whistles that Make the Smartphone One You Should Consider
The Honor 200 Pro is no less than a badge of honour for the brand. It offers an impressive package, elevated by its collaboration with Harcourt Studio (Le Studio Harcourt). This partnership significantly enhances the photography experience, enabling the hardware to perform exceptionally well. With near-flagship-level internals, an upgraded camera system, and a fresh approach to the midrange category, the Honor 200 Pro stands out as one of the best value-for-money options currently available. It addresses the common shortcomings of midrange smartphones while redefining expectations for a device in its class.
