Honor 90

Honor 90 Review: A Stylish Mid-Ranger That Gets the Essentials Right

I've spent the past few weeks putting the Honor 90 through its paces, and it's a device that's left me with a generally positive impression. At a price point that squarely targets the competitive mid-range market, the Honor 90 aims to deliver a premium experience without breaking the bank. After using it as my daily driver, pushing its capabilities in various scenarios, I have a good sense of who this phone is for and where it truly shines.

Navigating the Mid-Range Maze

The mid-range smartphone segment is a battlefield, with manufacturers vying for attention with increasingly impressive features at competitive prices. Honor, since its separation from Huawei, has been carving its own path, and the 90 feels like a confident step in that direction. Their strategy seems to be focusing on design and core user experience, and in my opinion, it’s largely paying off. The pricing feels right for what's on offer, placing it in direct competition with devices from Samsung, Xiaomi, and others. It's a segment where compromises are often necessary, and the key is choosing which compromises matter most to you.

Design That Catches the Eye

Picking up the Honor 90 for the first time, the design immediately stands out. The Emerald Green variant I tested is undeniably eye-catching. It has a subtle shimmer that plays with the light, drawing compliments and sparking curiosity. At just 7.8mm thin and weighing a comfortable 183g, it feels remarkably light and well-balanced in the hand. The curved edges aren’t just for aesthetics; they genuinely enhance the in-hand feel, making extended use comfortable. The materials feel good quality for this price point, and while I haven't intentionally tested its durability with any drops (and wouldn’t recommend you do either!), it feels solid enough for everyday life.

A Display That Pops

The 6.7-inch AMOLED display is undoubtedly one of the Honor 90's strongest assets. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through feeds and navigating the interface incredibly smooth – it’s a feature that, once you get used to, is hard to live without. Media consumption is a treat on this screen; the colors are vibrant and punchy, and the deep blacks of the AMOLED panel make videos and photos really come alive. I watched quite a few YouTube videos and even a movie on it, and the experience was genuinely enjoyable. The peak brightness of 1600 nits is impressive, and I can attest to its effectiveness – even under direct sunlight, visibility was excellent, a crucial factor for outdoor photography and general use. The inclusion of eye comfort features is also a welcome addition. As someone who spends a significant amount of time looking at screens, I appreciated the reduced eye strain, particularly during nighttime browsing.

Performance That Keeps Up

Under the hood, the Honor 90 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 "Accelerated Edition." While it’s not the absolute top-tier silicon, it provides more than enough power for the vast majority of tasks. In my testing, everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and communication were handled without a hitch. Gaming was also a surprisingly smooth experience. I played a few rounds of demanding games, and while it's not going to rival flagship performance, the Honor 90 held its own admirably, with only occasional minor frame drops in the most graphically intensive moments. Multitasking was seamless, with apps launching quickly and switching between them feeling fluid. I didn't notice any significant overheating during normal use, although extended gaming sessions did result in some noticeable warmth on the back of the device, which is fairly typical.

The 200MP Camera: More Than Just Megapixels

The camera system is where the Honor 90 makes a bold statement, headlined by that impressive 200-megapixel main sensor. And in practice, it delivers. The detail captured in good lighting is remarkable. Those sunset photos I took? You could really zoom in and see the individual leaves on distant trees. The colors were generally accurate and pleasing, often requiring minimal editing. The 12MP ultrawide lens is a useful addition for capturing wider scenes, although I noticed a slight dip in detail compared to the main sensor. The 2MP macro lens, while present, is probably the least impressive of the bunch – it's functional for occasional close-ups but lacks the sharpness and detail of dedicated macro lenses found on some other phones. On the front, the 50MP selfie camera performs admirably, capturing sharp and detailed selfies, and video calls looked crisp and clear. The ability to shoot 4K video with electronic image stabilization (EIS) is a nice touch, helping to keep videos steady even when you're on the move.

All-Day Battery and Speedy Charging

Battery life is a definite strong point of the Honor 90. The 5000mAh battery consistently got me through a full day of moderate to heavy use, including social media, browsing, some gaming, and photography. There were even a few occasions where I had a bit of charge left over at the end of the day, which is always reassuring. The 66W fast charging is a lifesaver. When you're in a rush, plugging in for even a short period can quickly top up the battery enough to get you through several more hours. I found it incredibly convenient for those times when I needed a quick boost before heading out.

Software: Clean and Functional

The Honor 90 runs on MagicOS 7.1, which is based on Android 13. My experience with the software has been generally positive. The interface is clean and relatively uncluttered, and navigation is straightforward. I appreciate that Honor includes the Google Play Store and Google services out of the box, which is essential for most users. While MagicOS has its own unique features and customizations, it doesn’t stray too far from the core Android experience. The promise of two years of software updates and three years of security patches is decent for a mid-range device, though some competitors offer longer support.

Value Proposition: Where Does the Honor 90 Fit?

Analyzing the value of the Honor 90, I believe it strikes a good balance between features and price. You're getting a stunning display, a capable camera system, solid performance, and excellent battery life – all wrapped in a stylish design. If you're someone who prioritizes aesthetics, enjoys mobile photography, and consumes a lot of media on your phone, the Honor 90 is definitely worth considering. It’s a phone that feels good to use and look at.

However, if you’re a heavy gamer pushing the limits of mobile processing, or if a top-tier macro lens and guaranteed longer-term software updates are crucial for you, you might find other options more compelling. Competitors like the Samsung Galaxy A series or certain Xiaomi devices offer slightly different strengths and weaknesses, so it's worth comparing your specific needs against what each phone offers.

Final Verdict: A Solid Mid-Range Contender

Overall, the Honor 90 is a well-rounded mid-range smartphone that delivers on its core promises. It’s not without its minor shortcomings – the lack of a headphone jack will be a disappointment for some, and the macro lens could be better. But, the strengths, particularly the display and main camera, outweigh these drawbacks for many users. If you're looking for a stylish phone with a great screen and a reliable camera for everyday photography, the Honor 90 is a strong contender and one that I would certainly recommend checking out. It's a phone that gets the essentials right and offers a genuinely enjoyable user experience.