Honor 70 is another new device from Honor for their mid-range segment. It has a premium design alongside some interesting key selling points. For example like the main camera with Sony IMX800 sensor, bigger battery and better processor chip. But, what else do you need to know about this smartphone? With a price tag of RM1999 which looks the same as the previous model, is it worth it for you to own one? We will tell you in the review article below.
Brief Specifications of the Device
Honor 70 Smartphone
6.67-inch OLED screen, 120Hz, FHD+, (1080 x 2400 pixels) (~395 ppi)
Snapdragon 778G+ 5G processor (6 nm)
1 x 2.5 GHz Cortex-A78
3 x 2.4 GHz Cortex-A78
4 x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A55
Adreno 642L Graphics Chip
RAM 8GB RAM
Internal Load 256GB ROM
Primary Primary Camera – 54MP (f/1.9)
Ultra-Wide Angle – 50MP (f/2.2)
Depth – 2MP (f/2.4)
32MP Selfie Camera (f/2.2)
4,800mAh battery
66W Wired Charging
SIM/Telephony SIM Nano + SIM Nano
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof None
Scan System Side finger scanner
Face Scan
Sale Price RM1,999
For this new generation, not many significant changes following the same mold as an Honor 50 can still be felt through it. The Honor 70 has a 6.67-inch screen compared to 6.57-inches on the previous model. Although slightly different but it is not a big gap. Next, it is also matched with an OLED FHD+ panel (2400 x 1080 pixels) and a 120Hz refresh rate. Optionally, a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate and a standard 60Hz refresh rate are also supported by the device through the settings to reduce battery consumption.
The curved screen on the left and right side of the series is still maintained while allowing it to look like it has a small bezel like the Honor 50. Not only that, but the chin and forehead also look small. The fingerprint scanner is also placed at the bottom of the screen. It is fast and able to detect fingerprints well when placed on the sensor icon. But, his position felt too low than usual. Optionally, the device can also be unlocked using some other security settings such as a face scan system and setting a password or pin number.
The back panel is made of glossy plastic like the Honor 50, while still having dual camera bumps. It is however taller than its predecessor, at the same time a tri-camera system is used here. All these cameras are arranged vertically with one LED Flash. The Honor 70 we received for this review article is Crystal Silver in color. More interesting, it is equipped with a beautiful diamond-shaped motif to be seen when there is a reflection of light.
All control buttons are made with robust construction. Unfortunately for those who still rely on wired earphones because the Honor 70 does not include a 3.5mm audio jack. At the same time, the purchase of some additional accessories such as wireless earphones or dongles is required. Furthermore, Honor does not provide any additional accessories in the purchase box.
The power button and audio controls are placed on the right side, while the left side is seen to be empty. The same goes for the top side which only includes a hole for the microphone. Below is the SIM card slot, USB-C port, microphone hole and speaker grill. The device also only supports dual-nano capabilities without additional support for a microSD card.
Next, the Snapdragon 778+ chip with a 6nm build is used as the mainstay of the device. This is a better update than the previous model that used the Snapdragon 778G. It also has GPU Turbo X graphics technology for a smoother gaming experience.
Memory matching is 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage, in addition to also supporting the Honor RAM Turbo feature that allows space to be expanded up to 2GB RAM virtually. It is also loaded with a larger battery capacity of 4,800mAh with a wired charging system that is still maintained with an output power of 66W.
There is no 108-Megapixel sensor, instead Honor replaces it with a 54-Megapixel Sony IMX800 Super Sensing (f/1.9) for the main sensor. Along with it, Honor also packs a 50-Megapixel (f/2.2) sensor for ultra-wide and macro capabilities. Next, a 2-Megapixel depth sensor (f/2.4) is also included as a complement to all the sensors mentioned earlier. The zoom capability can reach 10X dynamically.
On the front, a 32-Megapixel sensor (f/2.4) is used for selfies and video recording with 1080P resolution. Meanwhile, the ability to record video using the rear camera is however better with the maximum setting of 4K HDR. There is no ability to take pictures in 16:9 ratio, instead it only supports 1:1, 4:3 and full ratio.
As we have said before, each thing has its pros and cons. Just like the device itself which doesn't pass any dustproof and dustproof standards. A bit disappointing as it is necessary to ensure that the device is not easily damaged. Not only that, the audio support is also only mono and does not include wireless charging capabilities.
Usage Experience
The experience of holding the Honor 70 5G is the same as when we reviewed the Honor 50 before. Even though it's from a mid-range device family, the build doesn't feel cheap at all, it's quite elegant and premium. The body of the Honor 70 5G is equipped with a sturdy metal side frame, while the rear panel is made of polycarbonate.
True, this finish is still of high quality as seen on Honor 50 before. The device feels light and thin with the help of a curved screen on both sides making it comfortable to hold in the hand. The curve however feels a little sharp when gripped tightly.
However, it is up to the user to decide whether they like it or not. It's certainly beautiful to look at but can actually cause discomfort for some users because it's more of a hassle than an interesting extra feature. For example, images or videos overflow to the side, at the same time making it difficult to access some elements of the interface.
Not only that, it also invites the problem of accidentally touching the device screen, especially when typing a message. Screen performance is good with lively color and brightness processing. This at the same time makes every video content or preview that is displayed look very good. Use under the sun is also satisfactory because the content on the screen is easy to read.
The scrolling experience also feels smooth with the enabled 120Hz screen. We found it to work well, while matching enough memory and storage also allows a number of applications to be launched simultaneously. We used the device for various daily tasks also felt good with good animation transitions.
We also didn't experience any overheating issues during the review period. Next, any application or service that requires Google login such as Google Playstore, YouTube, Maps, Mail and so on can be accessed without problems due to the presence of GMS.
This will certainly please users who want a device with Huawei DNA but can access Google services. Furthermore, using the MagicUI 6.1 launcher based on Android 12 looks similar to EMUI with the same icons, settings menu layout, features and customization options. The interface also looks minimalistic and easy to learn.
Expandable file capabilities like ColorOS 13 are also supported and help speed up the process of opening applications. It can be done directly from the main dashboard without the need to open a folder.
Bench mark
The Snapdragon 778G+ chip used in this device is the same one used in the Nothing Phone (1) so it is compatible if both the Antutu 3D and Geekbench 5 benchmark scores of the device are compared.
AnTuTu 3D
Honor 70 5G : 554,434
Nothing Phone (1): 583,079
Geekbench 5
Honor 70 5G: 814/2926
Nothing Phone (1): 819/2935
There was no major difference in the scores recorded with the Honor 70 running smoothly with no issues running popular apps in the market.
Camera Performance
Honor 70 provides a wide range of photography and videography features with an easy-to-use camera interface. It includes Aperature, Night, Portrait, Photo, Video, Multi-Video, Pro, Slow-Mo, Panorama, HDR, Time-Lapse, Stickers, Document, Super Macro, High-Res, Solo-Cut and Story. All these features and functions are loaded working smoothly and loaded in the body of the device which is equipped with a tri-camera system of 54MP + 50MP + 2MP and a 32MP selfie camera. The maximum video recording resolution is 4K 60 FPS.
There is no support for OIS, instead the device simply comes with EIS. Among the list of functions and features mentioned earlier, the Solo-Cut feature is actually quite interesting to use. It works like dual-view recording but is more interesting with the ability to track certain objects in the video. Both recordings are seen to be able to produce high quality recordings with minimal noise problems.
The ability of the main camera can also be praised with good image reproduction without looking dull in various situations. This includes low lighting with more satisfactory results compared to the image quality on the previous Honor 50. The camera is also capable of capturing images quickly. The colors produced also appear vivid with detail on close-up subjects except when used for portrait shots. We have to admit that a significant shortcoming lies in the issue of imperfect edge detection. Not only human hair, even flat objects such as veils cannot be separated well. Another thing we noticed, switching between camera modes on our review unit also showed a slight lag. But we hope that this problem will not happen on the model that will be sold.
Next, ultra-wide image recording looks just fine with minimal image distortion. Night mode can be activated manually through the camera application and the capture time depends on the current light source. The less light, the longer it takes for the shot to be made. It shows good results with brighter coloring compared to shots using automatic mode.
Night Mode OFF
Night Mode ON
However, we noticed a slight overexposure problem when taking photos in bright areas with light sources. For example, street lights show overexposure when the focus is on the environment. But the environment begins to turn pitch black when the focus is changed on the lamp itself. The zoom capability reaches 10X digitally, but a good capability is only at 5X.
However, the camera's performance seems to start to deteriorate when zoomed in with lost detail and dull colors. Especially, pictures taken at 10X zoom setting. We are also often bombarded with the notion that the macro capabilities of a device are just a gimmick, but the built-in macro mode support does go a long way towards good macro shots.
Maybe not perfect but it's fine to use. Finally, the selfie shots also give satisfactory results, and it also provides a built-in beauty mode that can be adjusted to suit.
Battery Endurance
The 4,800 mAh battery used is larger than the 4,300 mAh used on the Honor 50. On heavy use it lasts with a SOT reading of 7 hours, while moderate use increases to 11 hours. Light usage with a dynamic 120Hz screen setting also allows the device to last a day of use. The recharging process can be done with a fast 66W charging system. The battery can be fully charged in up to 50 minutes. There is no wireless charging support provided.
Audio
The included audio system is a mono type. It's disappointing because it makes the audio power less balanced. The resulting sound effect is slightly affected especially at the highest volume. The use of earphones is recommended for a better audio experience. Again it should be noted, the device does not include a 3.5mm audio jack.
Conclusion
It is quite surprising when Honor still maintains the same selling price as the Honor 50 before. . It may not be completely perfect, but you can get a device with a good display, performance, camera and battery life. In fact, if you like to take pictures especially in low light then Honor 70 is a good choice. Honor also innovates with various photography and videography features, especially through Solo-Cut Mode.
Most importantly, it also supports GMS services and 5G connectivity for long-term use. Unfortunately, the shortcomings lie in the mono speakers, the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack and the lack of support for a micro SD card slot and OIS capabilities on the camera. In the meantime, the device also does not pass the water resistance rating and requires careful care when using it for a long time. For those interested, the Honor 70 is sold at RM1,999.
Pro
Premium design, light and thin.
The screen is pretty good with smooth scrolling.
The interface is minimalist, smooth and easy to learn.
Satisfactory performance for a middle class.
Good camera with various photography and videography features.
Large battery with fast charging.
Cons
The audio is not satisfactory.
No waterproof rating.
No 3.5mm audio jack.
No additional micro SD card space.
No OIS support.