At a glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Excellent 200Mp main camera
- Strong two-day battery life
- Bright, punchy display
- Stylish design
Cons
- No wireless charging
- Pre-installed bloatware
- Basic ultrawide camera
Our Verdict
The Honor 600 is equipped with a robust camera, long-lasting battery, and vibrant display. It stands out not only for its capabilities but also for its resemblance to Apple’s flagship. Depending on one’s viewpoint, this could be seen as either an advantage or a drawback.
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The Honor 600, a new mid-tier smartphone from Honor, a former Huawei subsidiary, could easily be mistaken for the iPhone 17 Pro at first glance.
The device features a prominent camera module occupying the top third of its back, while internally, it mimics iOS 26 with translucent box effects and simulated depth settings.
Positioned at a price point that aligns more closely with mid-range offerings from companies like Google and Samsung, the Honor 600 competes effectively in its category.
With its impressive display, competent camera, durable battery, and smooth operation, the Honor 600 is a notable option for those seeking an Android device that resembles an iPhone, priced at £549.
Design & Build: Flagship-esque, but familiar
The Honor 600’s design leaves little room for complaint. Weighing 185g, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro, it feels comfortable to hold. The golden white finish of the review unit evokes the elegance of a luxury hotel lobby.
Adam Smith / Foundry
A noteworthy feature is the dedicated AI button located below the volume and power buttons on the right side, drawing inspiration from the iPhone but offering improvements without any complex touch elements.
However, to make it more user-friendly, positioning the AI button higher and switching the volume controls to the left could enhance its usability.
Further thoughts:
- The back panel is crafted from translucent fiber, while the frame boasts a matte metal finish.
- It holds IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings for water and dust resistance.
- Available colors include Black, Golden White (tested), and Orange.
Screen & Speakers: Bold and bright
The Honor 600’s display is impressive, featuring a 6.57-inch AMOLED panel that is bright and vivid. It captures intricate details, such as the bags under Homelander’s eyes in a recent episode of The Boys, with finesse.
Adam Smith / Foundry
While the colors can be slightly oversaturated, and skin tones may appear a bit pale, the overall image quality remains unaffected. In terms of audio, the Honor 600 performs well in the midrange, but, like most phones in its price range, it lacks the low-end depth to provide a truly immersive musical experience.
Further thoughts:
- The display resolution is 2728 x 1264 with a 120Hz refresh rate.
- It boasts an impressive peak brightness of 8000 nits.
Specs & Performance: Keeps pace
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, the Honor 600 comes with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage in the reviewed unit.
It handles everyday tasks smoothly, from scrolling through Instagram to sending emails and connecting to a Plex server. The device remains responsive, even with multiple apps running simultaneously.
Whether playing Fortnite or more demanding games like Genshin Impact, the Honor 600 delivers satisfactory performance. While flagship devices with more RAM might offer better performance, this phone holds its ground well at its price point.
Further thoughts:
- The phone offers 8GB or 12GB RAM configurations, with storage options of 256GB or 512GB.
Honor 600 benchmarks
Cameras: Detailed and delicate
The decision to allocate so much space to the camera pays off, as the 200Mp main lens captures details with impressive clarity. It accurately portrays the subtle texture of flower petals without requiring adjustments or high-resolution modes.
The 30x maximum zoom is surprisingly effective. While most mid-range Android devices struggle with zoom, the Honor 600 produces usable results, even when capturing distant objects like planes or birds.
Compared to other Android phones, the Honor 600’s cooler color palette results in more neutral images. However, this can sometimes diminish the warmth and character of certain scenes, such as the yellow light reflecting off white petals.
Despite its strengths, the camera system has some quirks. It performs reasonably well with small creatures but struggles with focus. Capturing a small caterpillar on a finger proved challenging, as the focus shifted with every movement.
The secondary rear camera is a basic 12Mp ultrawide, so the main camera is likely to be the primary choice for most users.
Further thoughts:
- The 50Mp selfie camera delivers bright and detailed results with minimal complaints.
- Honor’s AI zoom mode for photos beyond 6x struggles to capture detailed information, and its lack of manual toggling in the camera app is frustrating.
Battery Life & Charging: Weekend-long
With a 6400mAh capacity, the Honor 600 impresses with its battery life, easily lasting two days on a full charge. This makes it a reliable workhorse for users seeking extended battery performance.
Adam Smith / Foundry
While the phone supports 60W wired charging, Honor does not include a charger in the box. Testing with an adaptive Huawei charger and the provided USB-C cable, the 600 achieved 34% in 15 minutes and 63% in 30 minutes, which is respectable.
Further thoughts:
- The battery is 7000mAh in China; the EU version is smaller to comply with local operator requirements.
- The lack of wireless charging on the EU model is a missed opportunity.
Software & Apps: AI-first
The Honor 600 runs on MagicOS 10, Honor’s skin layered over Android 16. It includes Honor’s suite of applications alongside Google defaults, offering a user interface reminiscent of Apple’s iOS. The notification center is accessed by swiping down on the left, while the control center is on the right.
When the software functions smoothly, it feels modern and responsive, though it comes with the expected pre-installed bloatware.
Adam Smith / Foundry
Honor’s software emphasizes AI functionality, particularly in the Gallery app, offering tools like an AI eraser, upscaler, cutout, and outpainting. While generally competent, extensive use can lead to AI-induced distortions, such as merging a wooden post with a rocky wall.
Additional features include ‘AI Memories,’ allowing for easy search of home screen content, and AI screen suggestions offering task recommendations. Booking.com contributes an AI trip planner, which, while functional, has limitations, such as the inability to select flights.
Honor’s choice to let users customize the AI button is appreciated, but practical applications for these features are limited, and some tasks, like generating AI video, take a while to complete.
Further thoughts:
- The Honor 600 will receive six years of Android upgrades and security patches in Europe.
- AI deepfake and voice cloning detection adds an extra layer of protection against scams.
Price & Availability
In the UK, the Honor 600 is available exclusively on Honor’s official website, starting at £549.99. It is also available for purchase on Amazon.
Competing at this mid-range price point are devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, OnePlus 15R, Google Pixel 10a, and Xiaomi 15T Pro.
Adam Smith / Foundry
Should you buy the Honor 600?
Despite its affordable price, the Honor 600 offers a range of impressive features. Its camera captures detailed images, the battery lasts through the weekend, and the bright display ensures easy content viewing in various conditions.
While there are a few areas for improvement, such as its AI features, and heavy gamers might desire more processing power, the phone has few significant drawbacks.
For those seeking an Android phone with an iPhone-like appearance, the Honor 600 presents an excellent choice.
Specs
- MagicOS 10 (Android 16)
- 6.57-inch AMOLED, 2728 x 1264, 120Hz refresh rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
- 8/12GB RAM
- 256/512GB storage
- 200MP f/1.9 main sensor (OIS)
- 12MP ultrawide/macro
- 50MP selfie camera
- 6400mAh battery
- 80W wired charging
- 50W wireless charging
- Stereo speakers
- Nano-SIM + eSIM
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Bluetooth 5.4
- USB-C
- 156.0 x 74.7 x 7.8mm
- IP68 / IP69 / IP69K certified
- 185g
- Colours: Black, Golden White, Orange
