Honor is making a name for itself as the brand to turn to when you want a bang-up budget phone. The $200 7X ticks all the right boxes, including a brilliant 18:9 screen, skinny bezels and a sleek metal design. A dual camera captures stunning images and the Kirin processor keeps apps and games humming.
But the most surprising thing about the Honor 7X is how well it looks and feels in the hand. It’s the result of 28 prototypes and 15 months of design development work, and it shows. It’s light, comfortable to hold and – in the bright blue or red versions we tested – it really stands out.
It’s an international unlocked phone, meaning it works on T-Mobile and AT&T as well as other GSM networks. And it’s cheap, at $200 for the 3GB/32GB model (the U.K version costs 270 pounds) without a contract.
Battery life is good enough, too, although you’ll probably find yourself charging the 7X by evening if you use it for gaming. The phone’s 3340mAh cell is capable of delivering ten hours of video playback. And a partnership with GameLoft means the Honor 7X’s taller 18:9 screen is optimized for certain mobile games, allowing for wider field of view and greater immersion.
The only real downer is that it doesn’t support either wireless charging or fast charging, which is a shame for a 2018 phone. But if you don’t mind that and can live with the microUSB port, this is a great choice for a big-screen budget phone.