HONOR has expanded its lineup by introducing the HONOR 90, its newest mid-range smartphone. The HONOR 90 boasts remarkable specifications on paper, delivering significant enhancements over its predecessor, the HONOR 70. The HONOR 90 flaunts a sleek and slender profile, exuding a well-crafted, lightweight, and harmonious build. Its rounded body provides a delightful grip when held.

Inside the box, the HONOR 90 comes packed with a 66W fast charging brick, a USB-C charging cable, a SIM ejector tool, and a transparent silicone case. In terms of design, the HONOR 90 closely follows the footsteps of its predecessor, the HONOR 70. It retains the same slim frame, reinforced glass panels on the front and back, and features a quad-curved AMOLED display with a centrally placed punch-hole for the selfie camera.

The back panel showcases a textured surface that plays with light, creating an intriguing 3D effect that enhances the overall aesthetic. Our evaluation unit boasted a Midnight Black finish, which exuded a classy appeal. However, for those seeking more eye-catching choices, there are options such as Diamond Silver, Emerald Green, and Peacock Blue.

The standout feature of the HONOR 90 that makes it a compelling choice is its display. This generously sized AMOLED panel is curved on all four sides and boasts a high refresh rate of 120Hz, approaching the standards of flagship smartphones. You also get to choose between refresh rate options such as 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz.

The display delivers exceptional clarity with its impressive resolution of 2644×1200 pixels, and its brightness makes it easily viewable in various lighting conditions. Moreover, HONOR has prioritised eye health by implementing unique measures within the display. In addition to the industry-standard feature of reducing blue light emission during the evening, the company has incorporated dynamic dimming and other technologies aimed at reducing eye strain and improving sleep quality.

As is HONOR’s way, the HONOR 90 makes its rear camera design a huge focus of its overall look, with two large camera “islands” to house the three cameras and flash. This camera setup includes a 200MP Ultra-Clear Camera with an aperture of f/1.9 that offers a 1/1.4-inch CMOS size, a 12MP Ultra Wide and Macro Camera with an aperture of f/2.2 and a 2MP Depth Camera with an aperture of f/2.4.

You also get a 50MP Front Wide Camera for all your selfie requirements. Photography and videography modes and features include Portrait Mode, High Res Mode, AI Video Quality Enhancement, HDR Enhancement, Moving Photo, AI Vlog Assistant, and Video Noise Reduction.

Overall the design and build feels about right for its price point. I still miss the IP rating and wireless charging, but this big screen feels undeniably nice in the hand, thanks to its slim 7.8mm thickness. The 6.7-inch AMOLED display offers a resolution of 1200-by-2664 pixels, a pixel density of 435ppi, up to 120Hz refresh rate, 1600 nits of brightness, HDR10+ support, and Amazon Prime Video HDR and Netflix HDR certification.

As mentioned before, similar to the HONOR Magic 5 Pro, the HONOR 90 incorporates numerous eye comfort features that prioritise the well-being of your eyes. These features include 3840Hz PWM dimming, a circadian night display, and a TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certification. This ensures that the device is gentle on your eyes, reducing fatigue and promoting a more comfortable viewing experience throughout the day.

The HONOR 90 comes packed with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition 5G chip, which is well-suited for its position in the market. The Accelerated version of the chip enables peak CPU speeds of up to 2.5GHz, delivering reliable performance. Compared to the HONOR 70, the Adreno 644 GPU in the HONOR 90 has seen a 20% increase, contributing to enhanced graphics capabilities. Additionally, the device boasts a 30% improvement in AI performance, ensuring smooth graphics and faster response times.

Our review unit also came with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage, though two other variants are also available. This includes an 8GB+256GB variant and a 12GB+256GB variant. Throughout my review period, the overall performance of the device has been commendable. The HONOR 90 efficiently handled gaming and streaming tasks without exhibiting any signs of overheating, lags, or stutters.

When it comes to camera performance, the highlight of the HONOR 90 is undoubtedly its main camera, featuring an impressive 200MP sensor with a generous size of 1/1.4-inch. This camera also utilises advanced 16:1 pixel binning technology, which greatly enhances light sensitivity, particularly in low-light situations. As a result, you can expect exceptional image quality even in challenging lighting conditions.

The 12MP ultrawide camera offers a standard but reliable wide-angle perspective, while a 2MP depth sensor assists in capturing accurate depth information for portrait shots. On the front, the selfie camera is a powerful 50MP ultrawide lens that allows for capturing selfies with a wide 100-degree field of view. This ensures that you can fit more into your selfie frames, capturing expansive scenes, or accommodating larger groups of people with ease.

The video quality of the HONOR 90 is quite impressive. The device uses AI technology to enhance the overall video experience, incorporating intelligent features and techniques to produce excellent results. Additionally, the image stabilisation feature works effectively, providing decent stabilisation for both 1080p and 4K video resolutions. This ensures that your videos come out smooth and steady, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

Thanks to its sizeable 5000mAh battery, it comes as no surprise that the HONOR 90 offers impressive battery life. Additionally, the device supports rapid 66W wired charging, allowing for quick recharging times. In fact, I found that using the included charger, I was able to charge the phone from empty to 750% in just half an hour. This ensures that you can conveniently top up your battery in a short amount of time, keeping you powered up and ready to go.

The HONOR 90 comes pre-installed with Android 13, coupled with the company’s custom MagicOS 7.1 skin. It offers a compelling choice in the mid-range segment, particularly for those enticed by its exceptional display, which stands among the best in its price range. Additionally, the option to have 512GB of storage at an affordable price further enhances its appeal.

Price: AED 1599 onwards