Honor’s 200 Lite 5G smartphone, a photo enthusiast’s dream, straddles the chasm between midrange and high-end devices with great success.
The phone itself features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 2 000 nits of peak brightness, making it vivid when indoors and extremely clear when exposed to sunlight.
The device features 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space, giving it enough power to do just about anything, bar seriously strenuous gaming.
Running on Android 14 on Honor’s MagicOS 8.0 (which is a really clean and simplified version of the UI), the device feels as premium as the top-end options. It responds in a slick and responsive manner to gestures and requests, with just the very occasional and brief moments of lag.
Shutterbug’s delight
In terms of shooters, the Honor 200 Lite 5G boasts a powerful 108MP Main Camera with HIGH-RES mode, ensuring exceptional clarity and detail. The triple camera system also includes a 5 MP Wide & Depth Camera for expansive scenes and a 2 MP Macro Camera for close-up shots with impressive precision.
The device is designed for portrait photography with three distinct modes: Environmental, Atmospheric, and Close-up, which offer detailed portraits with natural bokeh effects.
Additionally, the 50 MP front camera excels in any lighting condition, delivering flattering selfies. For a phone in its price range, it delivers sharp and well-adjusted photos that aren’t overexposed or oversaturated.
Sleek and light
Honor has managed to create an ultra-slim device with the Honor 200 Lite 5G, measuring just 6,78 mm in thickness and weighing only 166 g. It has a 4 500 mAh battery that lasts longer than a day, but cannot be charged wirelessly.
The 200 Lite’s compact dimensions ensure a comfortable grip, and it is available in Starry Blue and Midnight Black. This design represents an improvement over the Honor 90 Lite 5G, known for its slim and lightweight build.
Solid and robust
Rounding up its specs, the device is certified by SGS with a 5-star rating for its drop resistance. We didn’t want to test this, but it feels sturdy, thanks to the durable materials and solid build. It feels like it can take the knocks, as opposed to most glass-covered devices.
According to Honor, the smartphone has an innovative I-shaped structure at the corners, reinforced with high-toughness alloy materials. Together with high-elastic materials, these features cushion impacts from drops up to 1,65 meters.
Purchasing
The 200 Lite’s list price is R9 999. Honor says it comes with “gifts valued at R2 499″. These include an Honor SuperCharger plus cable, screen protector, free postal repair pickup and delivery service, 3-year battery health protection, and an 180-day screen accident warranty (excluding labour fees).
Conclusion and rating
The Honor 200 Lite 5G stands out as a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the 90 Lite. It offers advanced features, a premium camera system, and a sleek design. It scores 4 out of 5.
The siblings of the Honor 200 Lite 5G, the Honor 200 Pro 5G and Honor 200 5G, are available at the recommended retail price of R19 999 and R15 999 respectively, according to The Citizen.
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
