Honor 10 Lite is a budget offering from Huawei's sister brand. The Honor company produces interesting and inexpensive phones that are strong competitors to cheap devices from other Chinese manufacturers.
Is 10 Lite worth your attention? Find out from my review.
Characteristics of Honor 10 Lite
The heart of the Honor 10 Lite is the Kirin 710 processor, supported by 3 GB of RAM. Additionally, there is 64GB of internal data space. The smartphone is powered by a 3400 mAh battery. The main camera is dual, its lenses can take photos with a resolution of 13-megapixel and 2-megapixel.
The 6.21-inch screen of the 10 Lite has Full HD+ resolution. The small cutout at the top of the display houses a 24MP selfie camera. An important advantage of this Honor phone is the presence of NFC, which, unfortunately, is not standard in the price range. The device runs Android 9 Pie OS with the manufacturer’s proprietary shell EMUI 9.0.
Camera sensitivity
In low light conditions, the camera increases the ISO sensitivity to speed up the shutter speed and get the correct exposure. But as ISO increases, detail decreases and the amount of noise and artifacts increases.
Test Method 1:
- the smartphone is fixed on a tripod;
- white balance was set manually and did not change;
- in the “Pro” mode, shutter speeds were selected for the main ISO values at which the frames remained identical in illumination.
Below are 100% crops from the received frames.
The sharpest shots are obtained at ISO from 50 to 200 units. At ISO 400, detail is reduced. ISO values of 800 and 1600 are very close in terms of picture quality: grain appears, but there are no obvious artifacts or color spots, which is good.
Thus, values up to 1600 ISO can be considered working. Higher photosensitivity values in the “Pro” mode cannot be manually set.
Testing method 2. The selfie camera does not have manual settings, which is quite logical. To obtain frames with different ISO values, but with the same “pattern” of light, a studio constant light source was used, the power of which was gradually reduced:
- The white balance was selected by the camera.
- The main camera used Portrait mode.
- no blur or beautification effects were used.
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Warm light was used for lighting. The main camera did not change the white balance, so the eye color turned green.
The front camera, on the contrary, corrects the white balance, so colors are reproduced correctly and the skin has a natural tone. At high ISO values, both cameras have no color noise and no serious artifacts that cause the picture to crumble, which is good. The selfie camera has less shadow lapses.
The selfie camera shoots only in 24 megapixel resolution. To compare the fragments with the main camera, the frames were reduced to 8 megapixels. As a result, we can say with confidence that 24 megapixels are redundant, since there is no proper detail for such a resolution.
Up to 800 ISO, the main camera is noticeably sharper, but at higher ISO values the frames become very similar in quality. At maximum ISO values, photos from a selfie camera are more pleasant due to more correct work with color and shadows.
What is in the box?
The Honor 10 Lite smartphone comes in a light blue cardboard box with a lettering indicating which model we are dealing with. The packaging looks elegant and protects the contents well.
In addition to the device, the box contains the necessary documentation, a charger and a cable with which we can connect to a PC. The manufacturer also did not forget about a simple, transparent silicone case that fits well on the 10 Lite body and provides protection from possible damage.
Good price, but many competitors
The initial cost of Honor 10 Lite is 16,000 rubles. Previous experience shows that this smartphone should cost a couple thousand less. Not least because Honor 10 Lite, Huawei P Smart 2021 and Honor 8X compete in the same price segment of the market. With the exception of display characteristics, competing devices from the same concern perform identically or better in all test categories. The 23MP selfie camera is the only distinguishing feature of the Honor 10 Lite here. Although this entry-level smartphone can be considered a good choice in terms of performance, there is a large selection of good and better alternatives.
Design and build quality
Most of the front panel of the Honor 10 Lite is occupied by a 6.21-inch display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels with an aspect ratio of 19.5: 9. The frames surrounding the screen are very narrow, even the one located at the bottom is not too wide. However, there is a small waterdrop cutout at the top that houses the single selfie camera.
The manufacturer placed a small LED above the display for notification. The 10 Lite's earpiece sits practically on a frame surrounding the panel, the front edges of which are slightly rounded. The front of this Honor looks very modern and makes a good impression.
The side edges are made of shiny plastic. In the “Sky Blue” version, which came to me for testing, the gradient color of the back gradually changes from white at the top to blue at the bottom.
In the upper left corner, the manufacturer placed two separate camera lenses and a backlight LED. The lenses protrude slightly above the surface, but the associated inconvenience is compensated for by the included case. There is a fingerprint scanner in the central part, surrounded by a silver frame, also made of plastic.
On the top edge of the Honor 10 Lite is a tray that can hold two SIM cards or one SIM and a Micro SD card. At the bottom there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a Micro-USB port and one speaker (it’s a pity that this is not USB Type-C). On the right side there are keys for changing the volume and locking the screen.
I like the design of the Honor 10 Lite, while others will find it too forgiving and impractical. The truth is that the back panel easily picks up tiny scratches and fingerprints, and dust quickly sticks to it. However, the appearance of the 10 Lite differs from its competitors. When it comes to everyday use, I have to admit that holding the device in the palm of your hand and handling it with one hand is not a problem.
Smartphone display
The Honor 10 Lite display features a 6.21-inch IPS TFT panel with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and Full HD+ resolution. The sides are rounded and there is a small teardrop-shaped cutout at the top.
However, the software is well tuned for this cutout. You can stretch pictures and applications to the top frame of the screen so that there is no empty space. Colors look good and viewing angles are worthy of praise. Minimum and maximum brightness will allow you to work comfortably both in dark rooms and in bright sunlight.
The software allows the 10 Lite's display to be downscaled to HD+, resulting in lower power consumption. An interesting option is the so-called intelligent resolution, which reduces the standard resolution only when it does not cause discomfort to the user.
Here you can also switch between normal and expressive color modes and adjust the colors in the displayed images. The manufacturer also provides an eye protection mode, that is, a blue light filter, which makes it easier to use the smartphone at night. Everyone can adjust the strength of this effect according to their preferences.
Shovel or not?
The screen diagonal here is already 6.2 inches. It must be a huge shovel that can only be controlled with both hands. Fortunately, this is not the case.
The smartphone gives the impression of a compact device and fits perfectly in a man’s palm. And I'm not sugarcoating it. The thumb reaches 70% of the entire screen. The rest of it is not used as often, especially taking into account the most convenient gestures. I swiped from below and went to the main screen. I swiped from the right edge of the display and went back a step. Comfortable!
Honor engineers managed to squeeze in such a large IPS matrix thanks to the elongated 19.5:9 side geometry and narrow frames. By the way, they are even narrower than in the iPhone XR, and it costs about 4 times more. And there are no bangs here either. Finally, there is an understanding on the market that without real Face ID and a bunch of sensors, a huge visor is just a hindrance.
The display itself is high quality, bright and juicy. However, there is still one question for him. When night mode is activated, the picture turns noticeably green. Yes, the colors are becoming warmer, but the palette, in addition to the rich yellow glow, is also replete with green. And adjusting the color and changing profiles does not straighten out the situation.
Since they started criticizing the device, let’s continue this topic. It is important to remember that the smartphone is very slippery. And the smoothly rounded ends of the back only aggravate the situation. Fortunately, the kit included a case for the first time. No matter what, but protection.
Second oh-oh moment. At the bottom end we are greeted by a Micro USB port. In the first quarter of 2019, for a minute. All that remains is to ask... HOW LONG?!
But let’s finish with the exterior in a positive way. I like the backrest. The fingerprint scanner works perfectly and is located in the most ergonomic place on the lid. The cameras practically do not protrude above the body. And the design of the back as a whole gives the impression of a high-quality and well-thought-out device. Don't you find it?
Cameras 10 Lite
The Honor 10 Lite phone is equipped with a dual main camera. The main lens here has a resolution of 13 megapixels, the second 2 megapixel is used to collect depth data. The cameras are supported by artificial intelligence. In the case of shooting certain elements, the software effectively recognizes landscapes and automatically selects parameters for the photo.
Photos taken throughout the day are decent, the colors reflect reality well and the overall picture contains a lot of detail. However, it's worth remembering that almost every phone at this price takes good photos in adequate lighting conditions. If we want to photograph a subject that is exposed to artificial or insufficient lighting, the photographs leave much to be desired. The details are not very clear and there is a lot of noise in the photo.
The purpose of the additional lens is to collect depth data and blur the background. The strength of this effect can be adjusted even after shooting. This sounds good in theory, but in practice the device has trouble separating the foreground properly. Software cannot even process simple elements like road signs, let alone more complex ones like tree branches or plants.
During my tests, I couldn't take a single photo with the background properly blurred. There were always elements that were too sharp or blurry. But, the camera software allows you to switch to Pro mode and configure most parameters yourself. There is also a special portrait mode, the ability to take panoramas, support for HDR, filters or light painting.
As with more expensive Huawei/Honor phones, it offers an AI Photo feature that makes the colors in images more saturated. The effect can be turned off later in the gallery. The 10 Lite also has a mode for night photography. Capturing such a photo takes a little longer, but more elements are visible than in a photo in automatic mode, and the colors are displayed correctly.
Selfies are also very good. The front camera received a 24 MP lens. It offers high quality both on a clear day and in poor lighting conditions. Portrait photos have a lot of detail and the background is slightly blurred. The effect is pleasing to the eye, and the device has no problems recognizing the foreground.
The quality of videos recorded with the Honor 10 Lite during the day and after dark can be assessed as positive.
Cameras?
Traditionally, Honor-Huawei smartphones have an artificial intelligence (AI) mode in the camera settings, which is not much different from AUTO and HDR. The latter is hidden far away in the shooting settings. This seems to hint to us that it is secondary, although in reality it is not so. See for yourself the example photos from the Honor 10 Lite camera below. All photos are clickable, and in original resolution without resizing are here.
Auto
A.I.
HDR
Auto
A.I.
HDR
AI mode makes pictures more contrasty and saturated. The automatic script does not always cope with equalizing exposure across the entire frame. But that same HDR mode, despite its extremely careful attitude towards photographs, still extends the dynamic range throughout the entire frame.
Considering all this, the “Easy Ten” is one of the best smartphones in its class.
The same legendary night mode was brought to the smartphone, which takes night pictures exceptionally well when it comes to flagship devices. In the case of Honor 10 Lite, everything does not work so great. Yes, you can shoot handheld, and the photos look good on a smartphone screen. However, on the PC display there is an obvious inflection point in terms of contrast and sharpness.
Auto
Night mode
Portrait mode works quite well. There are several additional filters and parallel face decoration. Use all this goodness at your own peril and risk.
The front camera is impressive in number - as much as 24 megapixels. The resulting photos are of really nice quality. White balance, exposure point, detail - you won’t immediately suspect that this is not some kind of flagship. There is exactly one problem - in portrait mode there are often highlights. As they say, not everything is Maslenitsa for the cat.
Video recording
The smartphone pleases with video shooting in 1080p 60 fps. There were concerns that the quality in this mode would be poor. However, they were in vain - the picture as a whole is satisfactory.
The only thing that's a little frustrating is the lack of stabilization.
Software
Honor 10 Lite runs Android 9.0 Pie OS with EMUI 9 interface. The latest security patches installed on the device are dated January 2021. But the Huawei shell interferes with the system, and compared to pure Android, you may notice a lot of visual changes.
The manufacturer provides us with access to many additional features. Of course, not all of them will be of interest to everyone, but some can significantly improve and make using your phone easier. The most important are Huawei Beam screen recording, which allows you to easily transfer files between phones using NFC or Huawei Share, which allows wireless file sharing between devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
There is also a Twin Application feature that allows you to use two profiles on one site without having to log in each time. Compared to previous versions of EMUI, in the ninth version the settings have changed slightly. They are now sorted more logically, and at the bottom there are useful tips about features that we can look for.
EMUI 9 introduces the ability to control your smartphone using full-screen gestures. They work well, are convenient and intuitive. Of course, there's still the option to control the 10 Lite in a more traditional way using Android's virtual buttons.
In the EMUI 9 settings you can also find the “Digital Balance” item. This will allow you to check how long and what applications you used on a given day, limit the daily time you use the device or individual applications. Plus, you can set a bedtime if you're using your phone before bed and don't want to stay up late.
Settings for this feature can optionally be locked using a code. I am sure that many will be surprised not only by the time spent with the smartphone in hand, but also by the number of times it is unlocked. On the one hand, the opportunity can be useful for people who want to use their time more efficiently, on the other hand, it can prevent the use of a gadget that is necessary not only for entertainment, but also for work.
The Honor 10 Lite has many third-party applications installed - a set of Google tools, a phone manager, special software for working with photos, videos, music and files. Of course, Huawei couldn’t help but include its own here - HiCare, AppGallery, clock, calendar, email application, notepad, calculator, voice recorder, FM radio, flashlight, compass, as well as tips.
Among the preinstalled programs is Huawei Health, which counts the steps taken with the device. But this software is more useful if we have other Chinese physical activity measurement devices. The 10 Lite also comes with third-party applications installed out of the box - Amazon, eBay, Booking...
Performance
There are practically no questions about the operation of the system and animation. 95% of the time everything flies, starts up quickly and switches back and forth. The remaining five percent accounts for rare slowdowns. It happens, no big deal.
It would seem that the Mali-G51 graphics accelerator is capable of running only the simplest 3D titles. Not at all. PUBG Mobile runs smoothly on high settings. The game does not slow down, does not lag, and you can destroy opponents hidden in the bushes with complete comfort.
On my test instance, synthetic tests did not run. However, there are results of runs of commercial devices on the Internet. Here they are:
- AnTuTu : from 129 to 131 thousand points
- Geekbench 4 : single-core - 1527, multi-core - 5390
Hardware performance
Inside the Honor 10 Lite there is a 7-core Kirin 710 processor, which consists of four efficient Cortex A-73 cores with a clock frequency of 2.2 GHz and four energy-saving Cortex A-53 with a frequency of 1.7 GHz. The chip was manufactured using a 12nm process technology and runs Mali G-51 graphics. In addition, the 10 Lite is equipped with 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal expandable memory up to 512 GB.
In everyday use, in my tests, longer delays and less smooth transitions between application screens were noticeable more often than desired. Overall, 3GB of RAM allows you to seamlessly switch between three or four apps like Facebook, YouTube, Google Docs and Gallery.
But, previously opened programs must be rebooted from scratch when trying to do this, this is where I had problems. The manufacturer should work on optimizing this element. Probably, the situation would be improved by additional GB of RAM, but the price would no longer be so attractive.
Biometric security
In addition to traditional solutions such as a code or key, access to the Honor 10 Lite can be protected by scanning a face or fingerprint. The front camera lens is also responsible for implementing face unlocking, which is not the safest solution.
As for the function itself, it works very well. With sufficient lighting, the face is recognized quickly and without errors. When lighting conditions are worse, recognition takes noticeably longer. I advise you to set your phone to wake up after picking up the handset. Using this option will allow you to unlock the gadget even faster, you don’t even need to press a button.
Honor's 10 Lite also has a fingerprint scanner. It is located on the back panel, the location is correct, as for me, it is easy to reach with your finger. But the unlocking process takes longer than some competitors. After touching the sensor, only after at least a second of time, the main screen lights up.
As for the scanner itself, fingerprint recognition works without errors. I didn't encounter any problems even when my finger was slightly damp.
Video shooting
Video mode. There are 4 recording modes available, the most productive is FullHD with 60 frames per second.
Example 1. Sunset. The camera's white balance and exposure are correct.
When making jerks, there is no picture, the exposure is adjusted smoothly.
Example 2. Last rays of the sun, twilight. When the light decreases, it is more difficult for the camera to maintain focus.
The first video - everything is fine with focus. The sensitivity of the microphone is selected correctly - there is no overload of sound, no clicks from the violin. Voices and instruments do not merge.
Second video - the light became less, at 1:10 the camera refocused, but with a slight miss. Changes in the scene are minimal, so focus is not adjusted. At 3:04 the musician changes position slightly and the camera focuses accurately.
It is difficult to classify the defect as a critical problem, since the scene is far from the simplest - twilight and a minimum of changes in the frame. In this situation, rather, advice to users: in such conditions, be a little more attentive to focusing.
Example 3. Deep twilight. It is difficult for the camera to set the exposure correctly and not extrude areas that have virtually no details.
The smartphone overestimates the exposure by half a stop, which is not much (the video was shot with adjustments). You can correct it quickly enough by simply moving your finger down from the focal point.
When shooting at night, detail is noticeably reduced. At FullHD resolution at 60 fps there is a lot of noise, so it is wiser to choose modes at 30 fps.
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Time Lapse mode allows you to record time lapses. Resolution is only 720p. Every 14 seconds the video is compressed to 1 second. Tripod required.
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Device in games
In games like Live or Die: Survival Pro or Asphalt 9: Legends, this Honor smartphone performs very well. The gameplay is smooth and enjoyable, there is not a drop of liquidity, slowdowns or freezes.
Unfortunately, every attempt to install popular tests on the Honor 10 Lite, such as Antutu Benchmark, Geekbench 4 or PCMark for Android, ended in failure and an error message was displayed. Contacting support and following the instructions displayed in the Play Store did not bring any effect.
Device autonomy
To assess autonomy, we used the “Work 2.0 battery life” test of the PCMark for Android program.
Brightness is set to the middle of the scale:
- HD, flight mode - 11 hours 9 minutes.
- FHD, flight mode - 10 hours 22 minutes.
- FHD, geolocation and mobile data transmission - 9 hours 25 minutes.
Maximum brightness, geolocation and mobile data transmission:
- HD - 6 hours 3 minutes.
- FHD - 5 hours 49 minutes.
Communications and connections
The budget Honor 10 Lite can only support WiFi networks at the 2.4 GHz frequency. It’s a pity that the manufacturer did not provide us with a connection in the new 5 GHz standard. However, when it comes to working with WiFi networks, the gadget performed very well in tests.
I also did not have any problems with the operation of the LTE network and the GPS module. For many, an important advantage will also be the presence of an NFC module, which allows you to make contactless payments over the phone.
Sound quality
Honor 10 Lite is equipped with a single speaker on the bottom edge of the device. The sound quality is, to put it mildly, unimpressive. The driver can play very loudly, but then the sound seems especially unnatural and unpleasant noises are heard. In addition, this arrangement makes it easy to block out the sound source while playing games or watching videos.
I have no reservations about the sound from the headphones. Of course, you need to have your own “ears”, because the manufacturer does not include a headset in the kit. The quality in the headphones is no different from what I have experienced in other Honor phones.
Autonomy Honor 10 Lite
The inexpensive Honor 10 Lite is equipped with a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 3400 mAh. In everyday use, mobile data and Wi-Fi, with location and NFC enabled, and brightness set to 40%, the phone easily managed 5 hours of screen time.
When I used only WiFi and smart resolution, I was able to reach the 6 hour limit. This is a pretty good result for the 10 Lite price segment. Energy can be replenished with the included 5W/2A charger. Charging from 0 to 100% takes about two hours.
Autonomy
The capacity of the built-in battery, compared to Honor 9 Lite, has increased from 3,000 mAh to 3,400 mAh. To fully charge it via a standard adapter (5 V/2 A), it takes about 150 minutes. This is quite long and, of course, not very convenient. Fast charging in this case would not be superfluous at all. The manufacturer notes that a full charge will last for 19 hours of talk time on 3G networks or 612 hours of standby time. Scrolling MP4 videos at full brightness will last for almost 9 hours.
The settings in the “Battery” section allow you, for example, to decide on an energy saving mode, and also take advantage of tips for optimizing energy consumption. When the battery level is low, you can switch to Ultra mode, where only selected applications are available.
Bottom line
When evaluating Honor 10 Lite, you need to remember which target category it belongs to. The glossy body, good display, interesting design and a very good selfie camera indicate that the manufacturer is trying to win the hearts of teenagers. It's the youth who need a good phone that can capture a few decent selfies throughout the day, half of which will later be seen on various types of social media.
A considerable number of photos and applications will probably fit on the 64 GB of internal memory; the large display in Full HD+ resolution is also an advantage. The efficient processor is useful when browsing social applications and playing games, and the NFC module is useful when paying for daily purchases.
Teens aren't likely to care much about the lack of the latest USB Type-C port or 3GB of RAM, although you can get a phone with 4GB of RAM for that price. For some, the disadvantage may be the plastic body, not the best speaker and lack of WiFi support in the 5 GHz standard. But overall, this is a great device for the money.
Review of the budget smartphone Honor 10 Lite - video
Photography
Methodology:
- To correctly compare frames and eliminate hand shake, some of the material was shot from a tripod. Next, it was shot again handheld.
- In each mode, 5–7 frames were taken to eliminate focus misses, blur, and exposure errors.
The first set of photos in AI mode had slightly higher color saturation and contrast, but stretching out the shadows resulted in dark spots appearing around the trees.
If you are not satisfied with the final version, then it is possible to save the original image at any time without using AI. The HDR mode worked best in the first example.
The rest of the images are very close in processing, but AI and HDR work out the shadows a little better.
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Night mode allows you to expand the dynamic range by overlaying exposures and get a visually more advantageous frame, but in this mode there is less detail.
