Honor 600 Review: Why Skip the Pro and Save Big on This Mid-Ranger

Hands-on testing of the Honor 600 over a full week raises questions about dropping thousands on flagships. This year’s Honor 600 lineup includes both standard and Pro models, but availability tilts heavily toward the base Honor 600 over the pricier Pro variant in most markets. Practical experience suggests sticking with the cheaper option makes sense for many buyers.

Buy€399

4.6 / 5

Honor 600

The Honor 600 ranks among the top mid-range phones available, challenging the usual limits of this category. Its display and build quality rival flagships, pairing perfectly with the large battery capacity and quick charging capabilities. Higher-quality haptic motors would round out the package nicely, while Magic OS has made clear strides in recent years despite offering less UI customization than some rivals. At its price point, the Honor 600 delivers exceptional value and an experience that approaches flagship levels.

Design4.2 out of 5

Display4.9 out of 5

Battery5 out of 5

Performance4.5 out of 5

Camera4.3 out of 5

Features4.6 out of 5

Good Stuff

• great display
• massive battery
• IP69K rating
• 200MP main camera with good dynamic range
• AI features

Bad Stuff

• weak haptics
• no wireless charging
• can get warm
• camera plateau

The Honor 600 shares the Pro’s slim-bezel 8,000-nit OLED screen, oversized battery, and rugged design with IP69K rating for drop and crush resistance. With electronics prices climbing sharply, holding onto older phones feels tempting, yet the Honor 600 stands out as a mid-range contender that could change minds. Testing shows it matches or beats rivals in build and certain specs.

Honor 600 Specs

The IP69K construction ensures durability while keeping a polished appearance over time. An AI button sits below the power key on the right edge, doubling as a customizable camera shutter. The aesthetic echoes the iPhone 17 but swaps Apple’s stark finish for refined elegance. The camera bump uses a distinct composite with a pearlescent, semi-transparent glow against the matte rear panel. Flat edges feel off, though the brushed aluminum texture redeems them. At a compact size and 190g weight, the phone took adjustment but proved refreshing.

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The standout element remains the near-bezelless display with the industry’s first sub-1mm bezel at a uniform 0.98mm all around. A mid-ranger claiming this milestone feels unexpected. The true 10-bit panel avoids dithering and packs eye-care tools like DC dimming, 3840Hz PWM, motion sickness reduction, defocus mode, and personalized contrast checks. Full color tweaks cover saturation, contrast, and more options often skipped by others.

Honor rates peak brightness at 8,000 nits in a limited area. HDR tests hit around 3,000 nits routinely, outshining even Samsung flagships at 2,600 nits. Performance jumps 40 percent over the Honor 400 in Geekbench and 3DMark benchmarks.

Despite its slim profile and light 190g build, a 6,800mAh battery (7,000mAh in China) delivers multi-day endurance. Charging at 60W adds convenience. Haptics disappoint as usual for Honor—weak enough to disable entirely, though this remains the main drawback.

Honor pushes AI hard via the side key, which triggers contextual tools on long press for screen-specific actions like screenshot-to-notes in AI memories. Gallery upgrades include AI Photo to Video V2.0, turning up to three images plus a prompt into 3-8 second clips.

Such gimmicks entertain but rarely prove essential—authenticity in photos and videos holds more appeal, even if execution impresses. Moving Photo Eraser refines object removal while preserving motion in photos, matching top magic eraser tools. Moving Photo Breakout Collage blends stills and motion shots into shareable layouts that shine on social media.

The 200MP main sensor produces sharp images with solid dynamic range and true-to-life colors. Zoom lacks detail natively, but AI kicks in past 6x to sharpen results effectively, filling gaps left by absent telephoto lenses. Availability proves inconsistent, with no toggle option—users can disable it outright if needed. Motion handling ranks high for the segment, trailing only Honor flagships.

The Honor 600 builds smartly on the 400 series and holds strong value barring post-launch hikes. It leads mid-rangers in screen, durability, and stamina while challenging flagships selectively. Google, Nothing, and Samsung compete closely, yet Honor edges them on core elements. Rivals promise extra software years, but at this tier, Honor’s reliable updates, battery prowess, fast charging, tough build, and screen comfort tip the scales.