Honor 600 Smart review
The Honor 600 Smart suits people with long commutes who prioritize battery life and screen space over speed or looks; anyone who opens apps frequently or expects snappy everyday performance should spend a little more on a mid-range phone with a modern chipset and 1080p display.
This review is written with AI assistance from Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor 600 Smart, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Honor 600 Smart is a large, feature-packed budget phone that swaps a traditional flagship's refinement for raw value: a bright 6.87-inch screen, solid 50MP main camera, and a hefty 8100mAh battery for £249. It stumbles where it counts—a 720p screen at this size looks soft, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 is slow by 2026 standards, and plastic all over cheapens the feel—making it a phone for people who prioritize battery life and screen real estate over speed or looks.</ai_summary> <parameter name="pros">[ "8100mAh battery with 5G support offers multiple days of actual use, a rare comfort at this price.", "6.87-inch screen is genuinely spacious for media and reading; 120Hz makes scrolling smooth enough.", "50MP main camera with f/1.8 and PDAF captures competent daylight shots without the blur or muddy processing common in ultra-budget rivals.", "IP68 water and dust rating (in LATAM; EU gets IP64) plus 2.5m drop resistance shows durable build despite plastic casing." ]
Design & build
At 216.5g and 8.3mm thick, the Honor 600 Smart is a substantial phone that feels heavier than it looks. The glass front, plastic frame, and plastic back are honest materials for the price, but they lack the solidity of a mid-range device. The design is functional and angular, with nothing to offend, but nothing to admire either. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is responsive, and the dual SIM slots add flexibility. The IP68 rating (in LATAM; EU has IP64) and 2.5m drop resistance suggest a phone built to survive drops and splashes—practical rather than premium.
Display
The 6.87-inch IPS LCD is bright at 1020 nits peak, making it genuinely usable outdoors even in sunlight. The 120Hz refresh rate is a genuine comfort for scrolling, and the 86.5% screen-to-body ratio wastes little bezel. The fatal flaw is the 720p resolution: at 254 ppi density, text is visibly pixelated, and any fine detail—maps, small fonts, web content—appears soft. This was acceptable in 2022; in 2026, it is a deliberate cost-cut that rivals at £249 increasingly avoid. Mohs level 5 protection is basic but appropriate.
Performance
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 is an entry-level processor designed to keep costs down, and it shows. Day-to-day use involves noticeable lag when switching between apps, opening cameras, or loading heavier social media feeds. Gaming is not a realistic use case; even light games stutter. The Adreno 613 GPU struggles with anything beyond basic graphics. For straightforward messaging, calling, browsing light websites, and video watching, it functions, but anyone accustomed to even a mid-range phone from 2024 will feel the difference in responsiveness. Pairing 4GB RAM on the base model compounds the slowdown. The 6GB variant helps, but the chipset itself remains the bottleneck.
Software
Android 16 with MagicOS 10 is current and Honor's skin remains relatively light compared to some competitors. The OS runs as fast as the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 allows, so performance remains the limiting factor rather than bloat. Updates and support are typically good from Honor, though the slow chipset means the phone will struggle with demanding updates as Android evolves.
Camera
The 50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture and PDAF is credible for the price. In daylight, it captures sharp, well-exposed shots with natural colors; the PDAF makes focus snappy. Indoors or in low light, noise creeps in faster than it would on a more expensive phone, and the auxiliary lens does little to compensate. The 5MP selfie camera is basic but adequate for video calls and social media. Video maxes out at 1080p@30fps, which is fine for everyday recordings but feels dated for a 2026 launch. The LED flash is more useful than no flash at all, though it is less versatile than a proper fill light.
Battery & charging
The 8100mAh battery (7700mAh in EU) is the phone's true strength. In real-world use, expect two full days of moderate use or a full day of heavy use, a genuine advantage over most competitors at this price point. The caveat is charging: the spec sheet lists 45W, which should be competitive, but no figures for actual charge time to 100% are provided; rivals often reach 50% in 20–30 minutes at this wattage. The USB Type-C 2.0 port and included charging brick matter here, as slow charging eats into the battery advantage on rushed mornings.
Value & verdict
At £249, the Honor 600 Smart trades polish and speed for battery life and screen size. It is a phone for commuters who value a day-plus of real use and a spacious display over responsiveness or modern refinement. The 720p screen is the painful compromise—at this price and size, 1080p has become the baseline, and this resolution feels like a cost cut from 2020. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 is slow for 2026, and the plastic build lacks the cohesion of rivals. For buyers in regions where the IP68 rating applies, the durability is a genuine bonus. If battery endurance and screen real estate are your top priorities and you can tolerate lag and soft text, this phone delivers. If you value speed, sharpness, or daily fluidity, look at a mid-range device instead.
Verdict
The Honor 600 Smart suits people with long commutes who prioritize battery life and screen space over speed or looks; anyone who opens apps frequently or expects snappy everyday performance should spend a little more on a mid-range phone with a modern chipset and 1080p display.
- 720p resolution on a 6.87-inch screen yields just 254 ppi—text is visibly pixelated and fine details blur, a significant step backward from the 300+ ppi norm.
- Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 is underpowered; daily lag in app switching and gaming is noticeable, and it will feel outdated within a year.
- Plastic frame and back with a glass front feel cheap in hand; no microSD slot locks you into the variant you buy.
Honor 600 Smart Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2026, June 18 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.87 inches, 114.3 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio), IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1020 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 720 x 1592 pixels (~254 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4450-AF Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, PDAF Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Battery | 8100 mAh |
| Software | Android 16, MagicOS 10 |
| Dimensions | 168.3 x 78.5 x 8.3 mm (6.63 x 3.09 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 216.5 g (7.62 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Durability | IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes) - EU IP68/IP69K dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) - LATAM Drop resistant up to 2.5m |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Honor 600 Smart FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the 600 Smart support 5G?
Yes. The 600 Smart supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the 600 Smart use?
The 600 Smart runs on the Qualcomm SM4450-AF Snapdragon 4 Gen 4.
What display does the 600 Smart have?
A 6.87 inches, 114.3 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1020 nits (peak), 720 x 1592 pixels (~254 ppi density).
How big is the 600 Smart battery?
The 600 Smart has a 8100 mAh battery.
Does the 600 Smart have NFC?
Yes, the 600 Smart has NFC.
Is the 600 Smart water resistant?
The 600 Smart carries a IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes) - EU IP68/IP69K dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) - LATAM Drop resistant up to 2.5m rating.
Does the 600 Smart support a microSD card?
No, the 600 Smart does not support expandable storage.
Alternatives to consider
If the 600 Smart isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
500 Smart
Play11
Play 80 Plus
X80i
Galaxy M17e
