Honor Play 40 review
The Honor Play 40 appeals to buyers who prioritize 5G and screen size over performance and charging speed, but the 10W charger and 720p resolution weaken the value proposition at this price. If you have the budget to stretch beyond €180, you will find more capable phones; if this one checks your boxes and you do not mind slow charging, it will handle basic use without complaint.
This review is based on Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor Play 40, 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 Play 40 targets budget buyers who need 5G and a large screen, but its 720p display, weak Snapdragon 480+ chip, and glacial 10W charging hold it back. It does a job for messaging and light media, yet feels behind in 2023 at this price point.
Design & Build
The Honor Play 40 is a straightforward slab at 188 grams and 8.4mm thick—neither light nor particularly thin by modern standards, landing in the middle ground. The body feels competent rather than refined; there is nothing offensively cheap about it, but neither does it hint at luxury. Dual nano-SIM support is practical for people juggling networks or work and personal lines. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor works quickly enough for day-to-day unlocking.
Display
A 6.56-inch screen dominates the front, and the 90Hz refresh makes scrolling through social feeds and apps feel fluid. However, the 720p resolution at 269 ppi is the weak link: text, app icons, and fine detail look visibly soft compared to rivals that have moved to 1080p even in the budget class by 2023. This is not a deal-breaker for video or gaming, but it is noticeable if you spend time reading on the phone. The TFT LCD panel itself is competent; colors are neither vivid nor washed out.
Performance
The Snapdragon 480+ 5G is a workhorse for messaging, social media, and light web browsing, delivering smooth day-to-day performance with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Step into heavier territory—gaming beyond casual titles, photo editing, or heavy multitasking—and the phone slows noticeably. Apps take longer to open after switching, and demanding games drop frames or force graphical compromises. For a 2023 budget phone, this chip is acceptable, not impressive; rivals at the same price were moving to the Snapdragon 695 or 778G by mid-year. There is no storage expansion via microSD, so your choice of 128GB or 256GB matters.
Software
Android 13 with Honor's Magic OS 7.1 overlay ships clean and responsive. The software does not clutter the experience with bloat, and updates should arrive regularly given Honor's track record. Nothing here stands out as a strength or a drawback; it is a competent, familiar Android experience.
Camera
The 13MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture and PDAF takes acceptable daylight shots, with decent sharpness and pleasing detail in bright conditions. Indoors or at dusk, images turn grainy quickly, betraying the small sensor's low-light weakness. The 5MP selfie camera is basic but serviceable for video calls and casual photos. An auxiliary depth sensor rounds out the setup but rarely adds visible improvement to portrait mode. Video maxes out at 1080p@30fps, which is dated for 2023. If you do not demand sharp, detailed night photography, the camera does the job; if you do, look elsewhere.
Battery & Charging
The 5200 mAh battery gets through a typical day of moderate use—messaging, social media, some video—but does not have the endurance for heavy users or someone powering through a full workday with gaming or streaming. The real sting is the 10W charger, which ranks among the slowest in the market. A full charge takes roughly 2 to 3 hours, making quick top-ups impractical if you are heading out. By 2023, even budget rivals offered 18W or 22W; 10W feels like a deliberate constraint that forces you to plan charging around your schedule.
Connectivity & Value
5G connectivity and dual-band Wi-Fi 5 mean data speeds are solid where networks support them. Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD helps if you use wireless headphones. USB 2.0 is a disappointment—file transfers to a PC are noticeably slower than USB 3.x rivals. At approximately €180, the Play 40 occupies a crowded slot: rivals offer faster chips, higher resolution displays, or quicker charging for similar money. The 5G badge and large screen are genuine appeals, but the overall package feels like a 2023 phone compromise rather than a genuine win. It suits students and light users in areas with 5G coverage who can live with slow charging and soft-focus displays; everyone else should weigh faster alternatives at the same price.
Verdict
The Honor Play 40 appeals to buyers who prioritize 5G and screen size over performance and charging speed, but the 10W charger and 720p resolution weaken the value proposition at this price. If you have the budget to stretch beyond €180, you will find more capable phones; if this one checks your boxes and you do not mind slow charging, it will handle basic use without complaint.
- 5G connectivity at under €180
- Large 6.56-inch display with 90Hz refresh for smooth scrolling
- Decent daylight camera thanks to f/1.8 aperture and PDAF
- 3.5mm headphone jack preserved
- 10W charging is among the slowest in the market—expect 2–3 hours to full battery
- 720p resolution on a 6.56-inch screen leaves text and icons noticeably soft
- Snapdragon 480+ struggles with heavy apps and gaming beyond modest settings
Honor Play 40 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2023, July 05 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio), TFT LCD, 90Hz |
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Battery | 5200 mAh |
| Charging | 10W wired |
| Software | Android 13, Magic OS 7.1 |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Honor Play 40 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Play 40 support 5G?
Yes. The Play 40 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Play 40 use?
The Play 40 runs on the Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm).
What display does the Play 40 have?
A 6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) TFT LCD, 90Hz, 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density).
How big is the Play 40 battery?
The Play 40 has a 5200 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 10W wired.
Does the Play 40 have NFC?
No, the Play 40 does not list NFC support.
Does the Play 40 support a microSD card?
No, the Play 40 does not support expandable storage.
Does the Play 40 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Play 40 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Play 40 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
90 Lite
Play 40S
Play 40C
Play 8T
Galaxy XCover7
