The Honor 300 Ultra: A Powerhouse with One Big Caveat
Let’s cut to the chase: the Honor 300 Ultra is like that friend who shows up to a party with amazing snacks but forgets the drinks. It’s packed with jaw-dropping specs, but there’s a glaring omission that’ll make you pause. Let me walk you through what this phone actually feels like to use.
The Screen That’s Easy on the Eyes (and Ego)
That 6.78-inch AMOLED display isn’t just big—it’s smart. The 3840Hz PWM dimming means no more eye strain at 2 AM when you’re doomscrolling. It’s like swapping a flickering fluorescent bulb for a soft lamp. And 120Hz? Butter-smooth, but here’s the kicker: that 4000-nit peak brightness is mostly for HDR highlights. Real-world max is 1200 nits—still blindingly bright for sunny days. The dual-edge design looks sexy, but prepare for accidental touches. It’s like owning a sports car that occasionally veers into the next lane.
Performance: Overkill, in a Good Way
Snapdragon 8 Gen3 + 12GB/16GB RAM = zero lag. Period. I threw Genshin Impact, 4K video editing, and 20 Chrome tabs at it—it didn’t blink. The cooling system works like a car radiator on a summer highway: you’ll feel warmth during marathon sessions, but no throttling. That 2.1M Antutu score? It translates to “I’ll handle whatever your chaotic life throws at me.”
Battery Life: The Marathon Runner
5300mAh sounds big, but with this screen and chipset? You’ll still get a solid 7-8 hours of screen time. The 100W charging? 0-100% in 28 minutes. It’s like filling a pickup truck’s gas tank in the time it takes to drink a latte. Wireless charging at 80W? Black magic. You could practically ditch your wall adapter.
Cameras: Jack of All Trades
The 50MP main sensor (OVH9000) eats daylight photos for breakfast. That f/2.0 aperture? Low-light shots are decent, but don’t expect Pixel-level night mode magic. The 3.8x telephoto is weirdly fun—great for concert sneaky-shots. Front camera? 50MP selfies that’ll make your skin look suspiciously poreless. Video stabilization’s rock-solid, though—walk-and-talk vloggers will love it.
The Elephant in the Room: No Google Services
Here’s where it stumbles. No Play Store means sideloading apps or relying on Honor’s AppGallery. Need Gmail, Maps, or YouTube? You’re playing APK roulette. It’s like buying a luxury apartment… without elevators. Dealbreaker for some, adventure for others.
Who’s This For?
- Buy it if: You want flagship specs at 70% the price, don’t mind tinkering with app stores, and crave that 100W charging thrill.
- Skip it if: You’re glued to Google’s ecosystem or need IP68 waterproofing (IP65 is just splash resistance).
My Take: Great Hardware, Software Hurdles
As someone who lives in Google Docs and Google Maps? I’d hesitate. But if you’re in China or don’t mind Android’s wild west side, this phone’s a steal. That screen and charging speed alone are addictive. Honor’s built a Lamborghini—just know you’ll need to pave some of the roads yourself.
Final verdict: If you can handle the Google workaround, it’s a powerhouse. If not? The OnePlus 12R gives you 90% of this with less hassle. But man, that 100W charger is hard to forget.
