What’s to like: Fans of a stock Android experience will enjoy the Huawei Honor’s clean interface atop Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The battery delivers on its promises of considerably longer standby and talk times.
What’s to be desired: A US carrier would help; without one, buyers are stuck purchasing the phone unlocked at a steep price. The 8-megapixel camera looks good on paper but pictures don’t match the competition.
Out of the Box
In the era of 4.3 and 4.5-inch smartphones, the 4.0-inch Huawei Honor feels refreshing in hand. Slightly thicker than most phones in its class, it stays on the right side of clunky. The Elegant White model looks sharp with a silver rim that frames the display, and the plastic battery cover keeps weight down. The Honor comes in six colors: Glossy Black, Textured Black, Burgundy, Elegant White, Vibrant Yellow, and Cherry Blossom Pink.
The battery cover removes easily without feeling cheap. To access the microSD card slot you need to remove the battery, and the SIM card isn’t particularly easy to pull out either. Volume rocker is on the left; power button and 3.5mm jack are on top; micro-USB is on the bottom.
At a Glance
The 480×854 display looks bright and clear with icons that seem to pop. Huawei’s minimal custom UI over Gingerbread responds well, and the phone was already confirmed for an Ice Cream Sandwich update at the time of review. The lock screen offers quick access to phone, camera, call log, and texts. The pull-down notification includes quick toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and auto-rotate.
Apps and Performance
Four keyboards come preloaded: Android keyboard, Huawei IME, MobiDiv, and TouchPal. Standard Google apps are all present along with Facebook, Twitter, Cloud+ Drive, a backup app, and Safety Guard. Bloatware is light given the lack of carrier branding.
The 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor impressed. Swiping, animations, app launches, and camera access were all fast. Heavy enthusiasts might balk at the single-core chip but it’s more than adequate for everyday use, including social apps and browser multitasking.
Camera
Camera performance was acceptable but not class-leading. 720p HD video looked good but not at 1080p quality. Photos and video that looked fine on the phone’s display lost clarity and sharpness when viewed on a larger monitor.
Conclusion
Huawei has an uphill battle in the US against Samsung and HTC, but the Honor demonstrates they belong in the conversation. The biggest obstacle is the lack of a US carrier deal, which makes the unlocked price hard to justify. For Cricket Wireless subscribers in markets where the Huawei Mercury is available, there’s a more accessible path into the brand.
