The Honor 90 has entered the mid-range smartphone market with a strong mix of premium features and affordability, positioning itself as a solid choice for those seeking a flagship experience without the premium price. Building on the foundation laid by the Honor 70, this device promises to deliver value without compromise. Here’s a closer look at what makes the Honor 90 stand out.
Design and Build
The Honor 90 sports a sleek, modern design that feels anything but mid-range. Measuring 161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm and weighing 183g, it strikes a nice balance between screen size and comfortable handling. Its quad-curved design adds a premium feel, while color options like Emerald Green, Diamond Silver, and Midnight Black provide a variety of styles for different tastes. The back panel design varies by color, with options that either have a frosted finish or a glittery effect.
While the build quality is notable, it lacks an official IP rating for dust and water resistance, a feature some users may miss.
Display
One of the highlights of the Honor 90 is its 6.7-inch AMOLED display, which boasts:
- Resolution: 2664 x 1200 pixels
- Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate
- 1600 nits peak brightness
- HDR10+ support
The display features Honor’s Circadian Night Display technology, designed to reduce blue light exposure for better sleep. Additionally, its 3840Hz PWM dimming helps reduce eye strain during extended use.
Performance
The Honor 90 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition chipset, an octa-core processor that balances performance with energy efficiency. It comes in three RAM and storage configurations:
- 8GB RAM / 256GB storage
- 12GB RAM / 256GB storage
- 12GB RAM / 512GB storage
While not top-of-the-line, this setup is more than adequate for daily tasks, multitasking, and light gaming, though occasional performance dips may occur, which is common in this price range.
Camera System
The Honor 90’s camera setup is one of its strongest features:
- Main camera: 200MP, f/1.9 aperture, 1/1.4” sensor
- Ultra-wide camera: 12MP, f/2.2 aperture (also serves as macro)
- Depth sensor: 2MP, f/2.4 aperture
- Front-facing camera: 50MP, f/2.4 aperture
The main 200MP sensor is a significant improvement from its predecessor, capturing detailed photos across different lighting conditions. Although the ultra-wide camera has a lower resolution, it adds versatility with macro capabilities. The device also supports 4K video recording at 30fps and offers a range of shooting modes, including Night mode, Portrait mode, and Pro mode for advanced settings.
Software and User Experience
Running on MagicOS 7.1, based on Android 13, the Honor 90 provides several features to enhance usability:
- Magic Text: Recognizes text in images for quick actions
- Enhanced productivity features
However, Honor’s commitment to software support is limited to two years of Android updates and three years of security patches, which is less than what some competitors like Samsung offer.
Battery Life and Charging
The Honor 90’s 5,000mAh battery ensures that it can last through a full day of moderate to heavy use. With support for 66W fast charging, the device can reach 45% battery in just 15 minutes with the right charger. However, wireless charging is not supported, a feature often absent in this price range.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Honor 90 includes a comprehensive set of connectivity options:
- 5G support
- Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth 5.2
- NFC for contactless payments
- Under-display fingerprint sensor
It also comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner, which enhances its overall premium feel.
Price and Value Proposition
Starting at £299 in the UK, the Honor 90 is a strong value proposition. It competes with other mid-range smartphones, such as the Google Pixel 7a and Samsung Galaxy A54, often undercutting them on price while offering competitive features.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- High-quality display with eye-care technology
- Impressive 200MP main camera
- Stylish design and build quality
- Good overall performance for its price
- Long battery life with fast charging
Cons:
- Limited software support
- No official IP rating for water and dust resistance
- Lack of wireless charging
- Occasional minor performance issues
Conclusion
The Honor 90 delivers a well-rounded mid-range experience with several flagship-level features, especially in display quality and camera performance. While it lacks certain premium aspects like water resistance and extended software support, these trade-offs are manageable for budget-conscious users.
For those seeking a high-quality display, capable cameras, and reliable daily performance without overspending, the Honor 90 is a top contender. It effectively blurs the line between mid-range and flagship devices, showcasing how much value can be packed into a device at an accessible price point.
