It wasn’t too long ago when HONOR Philippines launched Honor 90 in the Philippines. They skipped HONOR 100, and less than a year later, HONOR decided to bring in a more powerful upgrade – the Honor 200 Pro.
The HONOR 200 Pro arrives as the latest flagship offering from the Chinese manufacturer, aiming to carve out a niche in the competitive upper mid-range smartphone market. With its emphasis on AI-powered photography and sleek design, the HONOR 200 Pro seeks to differentiate itself from both its predecessors and rivals.
Build
HONOR has clearly put significant thought into the design of the HONOR 200 Pro, resulting in a device that feels premium and stands out from the crowd. The phone features a glass and aluminum construction, with curved edges that provide a comfortable in-hand feel despite its large 6.78-inch display. At 199g, it strikes a nice balance between heft and manageability.
The standout design element is undoubtedly the camera module. Inspired by the architectural style of Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Milà, the circular array houses the triple-lens setup in a visually striking manner. While some may find it polarizing, it certainly gives the 200 Pro a unique identity in a sea of similar-looking devices.
Available in Ocean Cyan, Moonlight White, and Black colorways, the 200 Pro offers a range of aesthetic options. The Ocean Cyan variant, in particular, features a subtle color-shifting effect that catches the light beautifully. I also think that it is the color that catches more attention than the rather regular-looking White and Black variants (IMO).
One notable upgrade from its non-Pro sibling is the IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. While not fully waterproof, this provides peace of mind against splashes and light rain. It’s a welcome addition that brings the 200 Pro more in line with flagship expectations.
Display
TheHONOR 200 Pro boasts a 6.78-inch OLED display that impresses on multiple fronts. With a resolution of 2700 x 1224 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate, content looks crisp and interactions feel fluid. The panel supports 1.07 billion colors and HDR10+, ensuring vibrant and accurate color reproduction.
One of the standout features is the claimed peak brightness of 4000 nits. While you’re unlikely to encounter this level in everyday use, it does translate to excellent outdoor visibility. Even under direct sunlight, the screen remains easily readable. This is the closest we’ve got to experience the same level of brightness found on the Magic6 Pro, which is 5000 nits.
HONOR has also implemented some eye comfort features that deserve mention. The display uses 3840Hz PWM dimming, which should reduce eye strain during extended use, especially at lower brightness levels. There’s also a Natural Tone feature that adjusts color temperature based on ambient lighting conditions.
The curved edges of the display may be divisive – some users love the premium look, while others find it prone to accidental touches. Honor has implemented palm rejection algorithms to mitigate this, but your mileage may vary depending on how you grip the phone.
Hardware
Under the hood, the HONOR 200 Pro is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. This is a step down from the absolute top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but it still offers flagship-level performance for most tasks. Paired with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, the Honor 200 Pro has ample resources for multitasking and app storage.
The inclusion of UFS 4.0 storage ensures speedy data access, which is particularly noticeable when loading large apps or processing photos and videos. While there’s no microSD card slot for expansion, the 512GB capacity should be sufficient for most users.
On the connectivity front, the 200 Pro supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC. There’s also an under-display fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication, which works reliably in my testing.
Performance
In day-to-day use, the HONOR 200 Pro feels snappy and responsive. Apps launch quickly, and multitasking is smooth thanks to the generous RAM allocation. The 120Hz display contributes to the perception of speed, making scrolling and animations feel particularly fluid.
Gaming performance is solid, with the device handling graphically intensive titles like Zenless Zone Zero at high settings without significant frame drops. The phone does warm up during extended gaming sessions, but not to uncomfortable levels.
Benchmark scores place the HONOR 200 Pro comfortably in the upper mid-range category. While it may not top the charts against the absolute latest flagships, the performance delta in real-world usage is minimal for most users.
Meanwhile, I know that some of you are wondering how the HONOR 200 Pro’s performance stacks with the HONOR 200 and other devices. Below is a list of our benchmark results for your reference.
Software
The HONOR 200 Pro runs on MagicOS 8.0, based on Android 14. HONOR’s skin brings a number of customizations and features on top of stock Android, some more useful than others.
On the positive side, there are some genuinely innovative AI-powered features. The Magic Portal function, for instance, allows for intelligent content sharing between apps. You can drag an address from a message directly into a maps app, or a product image into a shopping app. It’s a clever implementation that can save time in certain scenarios.
The AI-powered image editing tools in the gallery app are also noteworthy, offering one-tap enhancements and creative filters that go beyond basic adjustments.
However, MagicOS does come with its share of bloatware and duplicate apps. While some can be uninstalled, others can only be disabled. The overall aesthetic of the UI may also not appeal to those who prefer a cleaner, more stock-like Android experience.
Honor promises three years of major Android updates and four years of security patches for the 200 Pro. While not industry-leading, it’s a respectable commitment to longevity.
Camera
Photography is where the HONOR 200 Pro truly aims to shine, and for the most part, it delivers. The triple-lens rear setup consists of:
- 50MP main camera (f/1.9, OIS)
- 50MP telephoto (2.5x optical zoom, OIS)
- 12MP ultra-wide
The standout feature is the AI-powered portrait mode, developed in collaboration with Studio Harcourt, a renowned Parisian portrait studio. This mode aims to replicate the studio’s signature lighting and post-processing techniques.
In practice, the portrait mode produces impressive results. Subject separation is accurate, even with challenging hair outlines, and the AI enhances skin tones and facial features without looking overly artificial. The ability to adjust the bokeh effect after capture is a nice touch.
The main camera performs well in various lighting conditions. Daylight shots exhibit good dynamic range and natural colors. Low-light performance is aided by the large sensor and AI algorithms, resulting in bright, detailed images with well-controlled noise.
The telephoto lens offers versatility for zoom shots, maintaining good quality up to about 5x zoom. Beyond that, digital zoom takes over, and quality naturally degrades.
Video capabilities are solid, with 4K recording at 60fps supported on the main camera. Electronic image stabilization does a good job of smoothing out handheld footage, though it’s not quite as effective as some flagship competitors.
The 50MP front-facing camera is housed in a pill-shaped cutout and delivers high-quality selfies. The portrait mode effects can also be applied to selfies, though the results are not quite as refined as those from the rear camera.
Battery
The HONOR 200 Pro is equipped with a 5200mAh battery, which provides ample power for a full day of moderate to heavy use. With more conservative usage, you could potentially stretch it to two days.
When it comes time to recharge, the 100W wired fast charging is impressive. Honor claims it can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in just 41 minutes, which aligns with my testing. It’s worth noting that the charger is not included in some markets, so factor that into your purchase decision.
The device also supports 66W wireless charging, which is faster than many competitors. There’s even support for reverse wireless charging, allowing you to top up accessories like earbuds in a pinch.
Sound
Audio performance on the Honor 200 Pro is handled by a stereo speaker setup. The bottom-firing main speaker is complemented by the earpiece doubling as a secondary speaker. The result is a well-balanced sound stage with good separation and clarity.
Maximum volume is impressive, and there’s minimal distortion even at higher levels. Bass response is decent for a smartphone, though audiophiles will still want to reach for external speakers or headphones for serious listening sessions.
Speaking of headphones, there’s no 3.5mm jack here, so you’ll need to use USB-C or Bluetooth audio devices. The phone supports various high-quality Bluetooth codecs, including aptX HD and LDAC, ensuring good wireless audio performance with compatible headphones.
Verdict
The HONOR 200 Pro is a compelling option in the upper mid-range smartphone market. It excels in areas like display quality, camera performance (especially portraits), and fast charging capabilities. The unique design and AI-powered features help it stand out in a crowded field.
However, it’s not without its drawbacks. The software experience may be divisive, and some may find the price a bit steep compared to similarly-specced alternatives. The lack of an included charger in some regions is also disappointing at this price point.
Ultimately, the HONOR 200 Pro is best suited for users who prioritize camera performance, particularly for portrait photography. If you’re drawn to its AI features and can adapt to (or even enjoy) the MagicOS interface, it’s a solid choice that offers flagship-like experiences in several key areas.
For those who prefer a cleaner software experience or are looking for the absolute bleeding edge in performance, there may be better options available. However, as a well-rounded package with some standout features, the HONOR 200 Pro certainly deserves consideration for your next smartphone upgrade.
The HONOR 200 Pro is now available for PhP29,990.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
