HONOR 200 Pro REVIEW: Impressive Portrait Photography and New Battery Technology

The HONOR 200 Pro is a premium midrange smartphone priced at ₱29,999 in the Philippines. Its standout features include a 50MP triple camera system optimized for portrait photography, a stunning quad-curve display, a new Silicon-Carbon battery, and 100W fast charging.

After several weeks of testing its camera quality, gaming performance, battery longevity, multimedia capabilities, and overall user experience, here’s my full review of the HONOR 200 Pro:

 

What’s in the Box?

The HONOR 200 Pro comes in a minimalist white box. Inside, you’ll find the following:

• HONOR 200 Pro smartphone with a pre-installed screen protector
• Transparent phone case (included for free)
• SIM ejector pin
• 100W charger
• USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable
• Quick start guide

 

Note: The charger has three prongs, so an adaptor may be necessary if you only have 2-prong electrical outlets.

 

Design

 

HONOR describes the design of the HONOR 200 Pro as “Elegant Coastline”. The phone features curves throughout, from the oval camera island to the dual-tone back texture and the edges of both the front and back panels.

The HONOR 200 Pro feels sturdy and well-built in the hand, boasting a slim profile and lightweight body that enhances its overall ergonomics. It also has IP65 ingress protection rating which means it is dust proof and can withstand rain and splashes.

However, the design might look a bit too simple for some users. It lacks the unique materials and standout aesthetics found in some competitors, such as eco leather finishes.

 

Display

The HONOR 200 Pro features a large 6.78-inch quad-curve AMOLED display with a 120Hz maximum refresh rate. The display is bright, with vibrant colors and crisp details, thanks to its 1224 x 2700 pixel resolution and 437 ppi pixel density.

While some users may not prefer curved-edge displays, HONOR’s quad-curve implementation is among the best, offering an elegant look.

A pill-shaped cutout houses the selfie cameras and dynamically expands to show notifications, compatible with apps like Spotify, YouTube, and the clock. HONOR refers to this feature as Magic Capsule.

 

When watching videos on Netflix or YouTube, the device supports HDR, providing a bright and immersive experience. Some glare is visible on the display edges, but it is not overly distracting. Outdoor legibility is good, even under bright sunlight, though the peak brightness of 4000 nits is only achievable when viewing HDR content.

The display also includes several eye protection features, such as risk-free dimming certification, hardware-level low blue light emission, and a dual ambient light sensor. I’ve enabled the Circadian Night Display option, which automatically adjusts the eye comfort display mode based on sunrise, sunset, and general device usage.

 

Camera Quality and Portrait Photography

The HONOR 200 Pro is equipped with a versatile triple-camera setup on the back: a 50 Megapixel main camera, a 50 Megapixel telephoto camera, and a 12 Megapixel ultra-wide camera.

The main camera captures high-quality images in both daylight and low-light conditions, thanks to its H9000 camera image sensor—the same technology found in the flagship HONOR Magic6 smartphone.

Here are some sample pictures:

 

 

 

 

Where the HONOR 200 Pro truly excels is in portrait photography. The AI Portrait Engine automatically enhances pictures of people, making them look more pleasing. HONOR has partnered with Harcourt Studio Paris to offer three portrait styles: Vibrant, Color, and Classic. The Vibrant style offers natural colors, while the Classic style produces distinctive black-and-white portraits reminiscent of Harcourt’s celebrity photos.

The camera defaults to 2x zoom in Portrait Mode to reduce lens distortion, with an option for 2.5x zoom using the 50MP telephoto camera for sharper close-up portraits in well-lit conditions. In low-light situations, the default zoom level tends to work better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HONOR has integrated an AI-enhanced Night Portrait algorithm, resulting in impressive low-light portraits with vibrant colors and sharp details, though not as sharp as those taken in daylight.

The telephoto and ultra-wide cameras also perform well in their specialized tasks. The telephoto camera can capture 50x zoom moon shots, while the ultra-wide camera handles wide field shots with decent quality.

 

 

The front of the HONOR 200 Pro features a 50 Megapixel selfie camera and a 2 Megapixel depth sensor. These cameras produce similarly good-looking pictures, with a dedicated Portrait mode offering a bokeh background effect and beautification.

While the subject outline separation isn’t as polished as on the rear cameras, overall selfie quality is very good. It also supports up to 0.8x ultra-wide mode, allowing you to capture more people in group selfies.

 

 

 

 

The HONOR 200 Pro can shoot up to 4K videos with autofocus using both the front and rear cameras. Video quality is impressive, with sharp details, vibrant colors, and decent dynamic range.

The device features Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for smooth handheld videos. It automatically switches to the telephoto camera when shooting zoomed-in videos still with stabilization, ensuring fluid, jitter-free results.

See more sample pictures here: HONOR 200 Pro: Sample Portraits from The Portrait Master

 

Performance and Storage

The HONOR 200 Pro is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor with 12GB of RAM. This is more than enough for a smooth performance in basic tasks like opening apps, scrolling social media feeds, and browsing mobile websites.

There’s plenty of storage at 512GB for storing files, 4K videos, and heavy games.

Speaking of games, the device can run popular games smoothly including titles like Mobile Legends, Call of Duty Mobile, and Genshin Impact. However, there are still a few frame drops during team fights.

Its GPU Turbo X technology improves image quality in games and touch response. It feels snappy and responsive when playing games. Here are some benchmark scores:

 

 

Geekbench 6 (single-core): 1,569 points
Geekbench 6 (multi-core): 4,519 points
3DMark Wildlife: Maxed Out!
3DMark Wildlife Extreme: 2,956 points

 

Software, UI, and AI Capabilities

The HONOR 200 Pro runs on Android 14 with Magic UI 8.0 overlay, offering a clean and intuitive user interface. The UI features large app folders on the home screen and includes AI-suggested apps based on usage frequency.

Key features include a full-screen Always-On Display, the Magic Capsule dynamic display cutout, and quick note-saving with a three-finger swipe down. Additionally, it offers automatic text recognition in images for added convenience.

 

Meanwhile, the Air Gestures feature allows you to perform actions like scrolling and capturing screenshots with palm movements about 8 inches from the front camera. It can be intriguing but may come across as gimmicky for some users.

The software is rich with AI capabilities, from personalized suggestions to advanced picture enhancements. Upcoming updates will include additional features such as the ability to erase unwanted objects in images.

 

Connectivity and Security

The HONOR 200 Pro supports dual SIM functionality and 5G connectivity for fast and reliable mobile internet speeds. It is also equipped with the dedicated HONOR C1+ RF enhanced chip, which improves signal reception for more stable connections.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the device offers Wi-Fi 6, NFC, infrared remote control capabilities, and Bluetooth 5.3. It also supports HONOR’s MagicRing technology for seamless interconnectivity with other HONOR devices.

For security, the HONOR 200 Pro features an under-display fingerprint scanner that provides quick and secure unlocking. The Face Unlock feature uses the front camera for facial recognition, though it lacks the dedicated 3D TOF sensor found in some higher-end smartphones with similar pill-shaped cutouts.

 

Battery Life and Charging Time

Despite its slim profile, the HONOR 200 Pro houses a substantial 5,200mAh battery. Leveraging advanced Silicon-Carbon (Si/C) anode technology, it provides impressive battery capacity within a compact design.

The battery performs exceptionally well, typically lasting through a full day with around 30% charge remaining by nightfall with moderate usage. Continuous gaming will deplete the battery in approximately 9 hours which is already impressive compared to other smartphone’s I’ve reviewed.

When it comes to recharging, the HONOR 200 Pro impresses with its bundled 100W fast charger, which restores the battery to 100% in about 50 minutes only — remarkable given the large capacity.

 

Conclusion

If portrait photography is a priority for you, the HONOR 200 Pro is an exceptional choice. It delivers one of the best portrait photography experiences available in its price range.

While its design might not be as eye-catching as some competitors, the HONOR 200 Pro excels in display quality, performance, and AI capabilities. I’m particularly impressed by its high-quality stereo speakers and the impressive longevity of its Silicon-Carbon (Si/C) battery.

Priced at ₱29,999, the HONOR 200 Pro offers excellent value. It’s available at HONOR stores, authorized retailers, and through official online channels on Shopee and Lazada. For those seeking a well-rounded smartphone with standout photography features, the HONOR 200 Pro is a highly recommended option.