HONOR 600 review – Value in Design

Mid-range smartphones have become remarkably good over the past few years, leaving very little room for error in this competitive market. Buyers expect premium design, capable cameras, strong battery life and software support that will keep a phone relevant for five or more years for less. HONOR 600 delivers all of this at a very attractive price.

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Tested here in Black with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, Honor 600 makes a strong first impression. While its appearance bears resemblance to recent iPhone models at a glance, particularly around the flat-sided design language and overall silhouette, that is hardly a criticism.

And, while Apple’s device has a splodge of plastic around it cameras, Honor 600 has a convex microswept bevel framing its take on the lens plateau. The more you look, the less they look alike. HONOR 600

Substantative Style

Build quality is outstanding. The matte metal frame feels reassuringly solid in the hand, while the overall construction gives the impression that HONOR has paid attention to the details. There is little flex, the buttons are firm and tactile, and the phone carries itself with the sort of confidence normally associated with more expensive devices. Add in the IP68 and IP69 ratings and HONOR 600 feels ready for the realities of everyday life rather than simply looking good on a specification sheet.

The 6.57-inch AMOLED display is excellent. Colours are vibrant without becoming overblown, contrast levels are impressive and the 120Hz refresh rate helps everything feel smooth and responsive. Whether browsing social media, streaming video or simply navigating the interface, the display consistently impresses. Outdoor visibility is also strong, making the phone easy to use even in bright conditions.

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Powering HONOR 600 is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 platform. While this is not intended to compete directly with flagship processors, it delivers more than enough performance for everyday use.

Applications open quickly, multitasking is handled comfortably and gaming performance is perfectly respectable for a device in this class. Combined with 8GB of RAM, the overall experience feels responsive and well optimised.

Magic Maker

HONOR’s MagicOS 10 remains one of the more approachable Android skins on the market. The interface is colourful, intuitive and packed with useful functionality. It avoids feeling overly complicated while still offering enough customisation to satisfy more advanced users.

There is, however, a tickle of bloatware present out of the box. None of it is especially intrusive and most can be removed, but it prevents the software experience from feeling quite as clean as Google’s Pixel range. Even so, MagicOS has matured considerably over the years and is now one of HONOR’s strengths rather than a weakness.

Budget Snapper

Photography is another area where HONOR 600 performs well for its price range, though some devices aimed more at snapping fare a little better. The headline feature is a 200MP main camera paired with a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. As is often the case, the megapixel count is less important than the results, and thankfully the results are generally very good.

Images are detailed, colours are pleasing and dynamic range is handled confidently. The camera performs particularly well in challenging lighting conditions, while optical image stabilisation helps maintain consistency when light levels drop. The lack of an optical zoom is notable, but 200MP is put to good use in a digital zoom.

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The 50MP front-facing camera is equally impressive for video calls and selfies. Detail levels are strong, skin tones are generally natural and the inclusion of 4K video recording adds welcome flexibility for content creators.

HONOR 600’s 6,400mAh battery is large by current standards and this translates into real-world stamina. Most users should comfortably reach the end of a busy day with plenty of capacity remaining, while lighter users may stretch usage well into a second day. Fast 80W charging further strengthens the package, reducing downtime when a recharge is eventually required.

Money Well Spent

Value is where HONOR 600 really makes its case. The device combines premium styling, strong build quality, a quality display, capable cameras and outstanding battery life at a price far, far below flagship devices.

There are compromises, of course. Buyers seeking the fastest processors or a dedicated telephoto camera will find stronger options elsewhere.

For the vast majority of users, however, those omissions are unlikely to outweigh the phone’s many strengths. When compared to its price rivals, it’s hard to ignore HONOR 600’s flawless build, eye-catching design and gorgeous display married to a competent and capable chipset. Other devices around this price may play games a little better or take a slightly better pic, none while look or feel this good.

Honor 600 8GB+256GB is available from €479 sim free in Currys Ireland. The 8GB+512GB model is available with Tesco Mobile from €99 on bill pay. Three are offering HONOR 600

HONOR 600 Specifications

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