Huawei GR 5. Huawei GR3 • Compare prices - buy profitably! Hardware platform and performance

Chinese manufacturers have been seized by a real mania for relatively inexpensive phablets that have, if not top-end, then very decent hardware. In 2015, companies from the Middle Kingdom released quite successful devices like Meizu M2 Note and M1 Metal, or Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 and 3. Huawei also did not stand aside and created a similar device, Honor 5X or GR5. It turned out to be somewhat more expensive (from 200 to 300 dollars, depending on the version and market), but compared to competitors from Japan or Korea, this price tag looks attractive. The new product was announced in October 2015, but it appeared on the European market only in the new year.

A review of Huawei GR5 will help you figure out what the smartphone has that is not available in the mentioned competing models, and whether it’s worth overpaying about a hundred dollars for these advantages.

Huawei Honor 5X differs from other Chinese smartphones in that it is built on a chipset not from MediaTek or the Kirin core developed by Huawei itself, but from the American Qualcomm. Whether this is a plus or a minus, let’s try to figure it out.

Appearance

The device has a metal body, available in three colors: silver, gold and white. Externally, the smartphone differs little from its analogues. These are the same straight lines with slightly smoothed corners, a glass panel on the front, an aluminum cover with inserts, a fingerprint scanner and a camera.
It hardly differs from other phablets in its class either in size (151x76x8.2 mm versus 150x76x8.7 mm for RedmiNote 3) or in weight (158 g versus 164 g for competitor Xiaomi).

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 is an eight-core solution from an American manufacturer that belongs to the middle class. The processor consists of two quad-core clusters operating at 1.2 and 1.5 GHz, respectively. Both units have Cortex A53 architecture. For graphics processing, the SoC is equipped with an Adreno 405 video chip. In the AnTuTu synthetic test, the chipset scores about 34 thousand points, which is not so much.

Of course, for everyday tasks the performance will not be enough (even in budget-level quad-core processors there are no complaints about this). But in a gaming load, some users will find the power not enough. For example, in WoT on maximum graphics you can get 30 FPS without problems, but drawdowns and rare freezes are possible.

Memory

There are modifications of Huawei GR5, equipped with 2 and 3 GB of RAM. In both cases, this volume is enough for comfortable operation of the system, heavy applications and maintaining several programs in the background.

The built-in memory in all versions is 16 GB, of which about 11 are available. A separate MicroSD slot (which is not available in any version of Xiaomi Redmi Note 3) supports modules up to 128 GB.

Battery

The Huawei GR5 battery is non-removable and has a capacity of 3000 mAh. For a phablet, this figure is quite typical, but the Redmi Note 3 also has a 4000 mAh battery. The battery lasts for 3-5 hours in games, up to 10 when playing videos. With moderate use, the charge will last for the whole day, and if you don’t particularly load the smartphone, then two days is realistic.

Camera

The camera is equipped with a 13 MP matrix with F/2.0 aperture optics. Compared to the F/2.2 background of Xiaomi, the image quality should be slightly higher. In good light conditions this is indeed true, but at dusk the sensor also loses ground. But this is not a disadvantage of a specific model, but a disadvantage of mobile cameras in general. The diode flash saves the situation at close range, and in such a situation parity is established between competitors.

The 5 MP front module, on the contrary, is weaker. Limitations are imposed by the optics, which have an aperture ratio of F/2.4 and a small sensor area. But the front camera is quite suitable for selfies, and even more so for Skype.

Screen

It’s impossible to say anything non-standard about the Honor 5X screen. The 5.5-inch matrix with a resolution of 1920x1080 is no different from its competitors. The IPS display pleases with good viewing angles, decent brightness and adequate color rendition. The multi-touch sensor is ten-finger, the touch itself is glass.

Connection

When trying to figure out the list of networks supported by a smartphone, you can easily get confused. There are at least 8 modifications of smartphones on the market, differing not only in memory capacity, but also in compatible communication ranges. In general, we can safely say that Huawei GR5 supports 2G, 3G and LTE.

Depending on the region for which a particular version is intended, 3G can be represented by either WCDMA (popular in Europe) or TD-SCDMA (common in Asia). It's the same with 4G: there are models for TD-LTE and FDD-LTE. It is important to take this into account when ordering a smartphone from China, so as not to buy Huawei GR5 without support for local networks.

All common data transfer protocols are present in the smartphone: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), navigator with GPS and GLONASS support.

Sound

The smartphone has a fairly loud speaker, the grille of which is located at the bottom. The playback quality is at an acceptable level and compares favorably with its closest competitors. It’s pleasant to listen to music with headphones; even an inexpensive headset demonstrates good quality. Using the five-band equalizer, you can adjust the frequencies to suit your taste. The smartphone can play uncompressed FLAC audio without installing additional codecs and players. FM radio works only with connected headphones and demonstrates reliable reception of the terrestrial signal.

Two microphones allow you to achieve normal voice transmission in conditions of increased noise levels (for example, in the subway or near a busy highway).

operating system

Huawei GR5 OS – Android 5.1 Lolipop, with EMUI 3.1 shell. Externally, it is very similar to MIUI from Xiaomi. All program and feature icons, like iOS, are located on home screens; there is no dedicated application menu. Not everyone will like this solution, but a third-party launcher will help solve the problem of a non-standard interface. The system works smoothly, there are no brakes or glitches.

Pros and cons of Huawei GR5

Huawei GR5 stands out from its main competitors with several advantages:

• good main camera;
• separate slot for Micro SD;
• high-quality display;
• fingerprint scanner;
• good sound.

Not without its drawbacks:

• the price is higher than that of competitors;
• the battery is not the most capacious;
• Adreno 405 video processor is significantly slower than PowerVR G6200;
• The variety of versions makes it difficult to navigate.

Our review of Huawei GR5

Huawei GR5 is an attractive smartphone on the outside and functional on the inside. The review showed that it is able to compete adequately with similar devices from other companies. The price tag, which is higher than that of Xiaomi and Meizu, does not look great compared to Sony and Samsung.

The target audience of the device may be music lovers who like to keep an extensive audio library at hand. The ability to use a memory card, high-quality sound, normal battery life in player mode – these are the main advantages of the device. It is worth noting the stylish appearance of Huawei GR5. Those who may be disappointed in the purchase are game connoisseurs. The eight-core processor is generally good, but in terms of graphics performance it lags behind the MT6795.

In general, Huawei GR5 can be called balanced, and its price is justified.

Video review of Huawei GR5 (Honor 5X)

You will also like:

Review of Huawei Honor 8 – glass smartphone with dual camera

Huawei GR3 is a Chinese budget smartphone with very attractive technical features. The device from the Middle Kingdom was officially announced in January 2016. This is a balanced solution for everyday tasks and entertainment.

Appearance and ergonomics

The Huawei GR3 case is made of high quality metal. The aluminum alloy has undergone special processing, resulting in a slightly rough surface. Therefore, the all-metal body not only looks solid, but is also practical and will not slip out of your hands. Moreover, there are absolutely no fingerprints left on it. The 2200 mAh battery is non-removable. Dimensions of Huawei GR3: height - 143 mm, width - 71 mm, thickness - 7.5 mm, weight - 135 g. Color: gold, gray, silver.

Display

The Huawei GR3 smartphone is equipped with a 5-inch screen typical for its class with a fairly high resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels (HD). Wide viewing angles are complemented by good color rendition, as well as good readability in the sun. There is an oleophobic coating and tempered glass, so fingerprints do not remain on the display. The brightness reserve is not the largest, which should be taken into account.

Hardware and performance

Huawei GR3 houses an excellent processor with eight cores (Cortex-A53) - MediaTek MT6735T. The chip operates at a frequency of 1500 MHz, and the Mali-T720 3D accelerator is responsible for the graphical delights. Among other characteristics, it is worth highlighting 2 GB of RAM, as well as another 16 GB allocated for user needs. The memory is expandable thanks to the MicroSD slot up to 128 GB. The device runs on the popular Android 5.1 OS with EMUI 3.1 Lite pre-installed.

For a budget gadget, the performance of the GR3 can be called very good. Real tests show that the smartphone confidently handles games, even the most “heavy” ones. Of course, in Asphalt 8 or WoT Blitz you will have to lower the graphic settings, but you will definitely be able to play them.

Communication and sound

Huawei GR3 supports LTE Cat without any problems. 4, two SIM cards, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi. Naturally, 3G and 2G networks are also fully supported. The device works with GLONASS and A-GPS navigation systems. The sound of the external speaker can be described as ordinary. At the highest volume, wheezing appears. But talking on a smartphone is very comfortable.

Camera

The 13-megapixel rear camera in the Huawei GR3 cannot be called outstanding or bad. She belongs to the strong middle peasants. A nice bonus is the presence of laser autofocus, which is extremely clear and fast. The pictures come out good during the day and in bright sunshine. At night the quality drops significantly. The front camera here is 5-megapixel, and its capabilities are quite sufficient for portrait photography.

conclusions

For the budget class of smartphones, Huawei GR3 turned out to be a very interesting option for 15,000 rubles. There is an aluminum body, decent assembly, and high-quality hardware. The device is clearly worthy of attention from users who are planning to purchase an inexpensive phone.

Pros:

• Metal body.
• Assembly.
• Performance.
• Price.
• Display.

Minuses:

• External speaker sound.

Technical characteristics of Huawei GR3

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Historically, I have been somewhat suspicious of Huawei smartphones. It seems like the brand is excellent and they have a wide range of models, but every time I paid attention to a specific model, a conditional competitor appeared that offered a device with similar characteristics for a lower price (Meizu, Xiaomi, etc.) . However, Huawei is the third largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, so it was only a matter of time before we became familiar with their products. This smartphone was Huawei Honor 6X.

After 3 weeks of using the device as my main one, I can confidently say that this is one of the most balanced mid-class smartphones. Now I even regret that earlier my choice was not in favor of Huawei smartphones, because if their other models are just as well thought out, then there will be another fan of the Chinese brand in the world. Yes, Huawei devices are not the cheapest, but they are head and shoulders above the quality of the now popular brands Xiaomi, Meizu, not to mention the very cheap Umi, Bluboo and other “basement” brands that appear like mushrooms after the rain. I would say that Huawei is on par with Samsung, LG and other A brands.

The review will be very detailed, because the device turned out to be interesting to me and I wanted to check all its capabilities and functions. Well, let's start as expected with the technical characteristics:

Packaging and equipment.

Huawei's thick cardboard box, typical of most smartphones, is painted blue. Everything is quite simple and does not cause a “wow” effect. “Just packaging” so that you can receive your smartphone intact. There is an indication of the series - Honor and the 6X model. There are also an abundance of hieroglyphs, since this is a Chinese version of the device, but with international global firmware installed.

Included: smartphone, cable, charger, paper clip, documentation. A bonus is a protective film on the screen.

The included charger and proprietary cable provide the smartphone with fast charging with a current of 1.85A, the adapter itself supports a current of up to 2A. It does not get hot during operation and does not make any extraneous sounds. The whole process takes a little over 2 hours.

Design. Controls.

Externally, the device is unremarkable; the classic design will be appreciated by people who value simplicity and convenience. The smartphone in the store is available in two colors: silver and gold, but this only applies to the back cover. The front part will be white in any case. Also on sale you can find the color gray with a black front part.

Translated from English, honor means honor; the name of the series is printed on the panel under the screen. There are no touch buttons in the usual sense here; they are on-screen. This does not cause any inconvenience, but purely physically they could be easily accommodated; there is plenty of space.

A micro USB connector is used for charging and data transfer. I would like to see type c here, but many will not agree with this yet, arguing that it is not popular. Now type c is the province of flagships, but it is already beginning to appear in the middle class. New things are always promoted with difficulty.

Decorative grilles for the audio speaker were placed symmetrically on both sides of the connector. There is physically only one speaker here, on the right side. The sound of the smartphone is pleasant, loud and balanced. You can comfortably watch videos from YouTube or play games, the ringtones sound voluminous.

We also didn’t forget to install a color event indicator, which shows the charging status when the adapter is connected, and also shows missed events and notifications. The color of the indicator depends on the application from which the notification comes, for example, a missed event from Viber will be shown in lilac, and a new letter from mail will be shown in green. Initially, the indicator was disabled, so I didn’t find it right away. You need to go to settings - notifications and status bar - indicator blinking and move the slider to the on position.

The back looks interesting. The lid is made of a metal similar to aluminum. Plastic inserts at the top and bottom for antennas. The smartphone is not slippery and tactilely pleasant; at first you don’t want to let it go out of your hands.

The dual camera protrudes slightly from the body. This is a necessary measure, because the optics here are good and they couldn’t fit them into a thin body. Nevertheless, there is no need to worry about the camera getting scratched, since it is slightly recessed into the metal frame and the glass does not have physical contact with the surface on which you place the smartphone. In the end, even Apple doesn’t worry about this. Be that as it may, after more than 3 weeks of using the smartphone without additional protection, no scratches appeared.

There is a fingerprint scanner under the camera. It works simply fantastically accurately, during the entire time of use - not a single miss. Just for fun, I even conducted a small test: repeatedly unlocking the smartphone using a fingerprint, I changed the angle, turned it upside down, and did not place my finger completely, partially missing the scanner. And all attempts were successful. I even doubted its accuracy, but it does not respond to other fingers. Miracles. And just as importantly, the reading is instantaneous. Before I even had time to really press my finger on the sensor, the lock had already been removed. Compared to such speed, the Xiaomi Mi 5s scanner looks like complete wretchedness; after each application, it takes time (up to 1 second) to read your finger, and if you remove it ahead of time, then naturally nothing will happen.

The volume and lock buttons are according to all canons placed on the right side. They do not dangle, do not ring, and are pressed with light force and a small click.

On the back of the smartphone the model BLN AL10 is indicated - the Chinese version of the device, but the store installs international global firmware and the device is identified as BLL L22. Offline, this device can be found as Huawei GR5 2017. This is the version that is officially sold in stores, but it also costs significantly more, about $300. Among the differences - instead of the honor inscription on the front of the Huawei, and of course a local guarantee. Is it worth $120? I doubt)

The 3.5 mm headphone jack is located at the top end. Sound It really depends on the type of headphones. For example, my favorite Xiaomi Pistons 2, which plays well on most smartphones, completely folded here. Very few low frequencies and boring sound... But the mediocre ainol earbuds were able to provide more volume, bass and detail. But the smartphone with on-ear ears from Benwis, which have a slope towards the low end and will undoubtedly appeal to lovers of powerful bass, has revealed itself best. Here, volume appeared, and some kind of even unreal effect of presence, especially after activating the SWS (Super Wide Sound) function on the smartphone. The punch in the drums is still lacking, but a softness effect has appeared, which gives the music some kind of magical effect. If we sum up the audio testing, then in my opinion it will suit those listeners who are unpretentious to sound. In comparison with audio directional flagships and inexpensive HiFi players, the smartphone plays very mediocre. To get the most interesting sound, you need to use headphones that can produce powerful bass.

The device supports two nano SIM cards. The tray is hybrid and allows you to choose either the simultaneous use of 2 SIM cards, or one SIM card and a memory card. The model has 32Gb of memory, which is a comfortable minimum today. It’s better not to even think about smartphones with 16 Gb, because even an undemanding user will face a lack of memory soon after purchasing a smartphone. But you can already live on 32Gb. From time to time, you will not experience a lack of memory by downloading photos and videos to your computer or synchronizing them via the Internet with cloud storage.

Well, in addition, a small photo set in hand, so that you can more accurately assess the dimensions, thickness and design. All photos are clickable, that is, when clicked, they will open in a larger size.

Screen.

Can be considered one of the strengths of the model. Here, without exaggeration, it is the flagship. Very high-quality IPS with excellent color rendition and good maximum brightness - 450 cd/m2. The range of brightness settings is huge; at the minimum level you can comfortably use the smartphone in complete darkness. Detailing is 403 ppi, it is not possible to see individual pixels without auxiliary devices.

At an angle, the image is not distorted and remains just as bright and juicy. There are no highlights, inversions or other distortions even at sharp angles.

The screen also behaves well outdoors. In the shade, the screen does not glare, remains juicy and fully readable.

In the sun, the brightness and richness of course disappear, but all contents remain fully visible even in the open air. To find the information you need, you don’t need to cover the screen with your hand or look for shade; use it anywhere and anytime.

Sun on the right side

Just out in the open

Operating system. Shell functionality.

The smartphone runs on its own EMUI 5.0 shell, which in turn is based on Android 7.0. The software is thought out to the smallest detail, Huawei provides excellent support for the device, and updates are periodically released that can be installed via OTA. When I turned it on for the first time, I was also offered to update the software to a more recent version, which I actually did.

When the model first appeared on the market, the firmware was based on Android 6. After a while, an update to Android 7 was released, and in January 2018 the smartphone will receive an update to Android 8. Thus, we can say that the life cycle of the Honor 6X is at least 3 versions of the operating system, and not every model is capable of this. But besides the oc version, I was personally struck by the thoughtfulness of the shell, its enormous functionality and attention to detail. This was my first time getting to know EMUI closely and many things were new to me, let's look at the most interesting ones.

In the WiFi settings, you can activate the WiFi+ mode, which will automatically turn it on if you are at a given point, for example at home. The smartphone monitors the signal quality and, if necessary, will switch you to the mobile Internet. The smartphone can also be used as a bridge, expanding your home network; it supports connecting up to 4 devices. Of course, a smartphone can also work as an access point, but not simultaneously with a bridge. It is puzzling that the smartphone only works in the 2.4 Ghz band, when most devices already work in dualband mode with support for 5 Ghz.

By default, the desktop contains all the shortcuts for installed applications.

But if you are a supporter of a clean workspace, where, for example, you can set beautiful wallpapers, then in the settings you can enable a mode that will add a separate application button, as on older versions of Android.

In addition, you can turn on “simple mode”, which will be easy for children or elderly people to understand. In this mode, everything is simplified as much as possible, the fonts are large, and the icons occupy the entire desktop area.

In the screen settings, you can more finely customize the displayed image to suit your preferences: set the font size and elements, change the color temperature, set up an automatic vision protection mode (on a schedule), increase clarity when used in the sun, enable or disable the notification indicator, etc. .

There is also room to roam in the visual design. By selecting the sections you are interested in, you will receive wallpapers and covers updated daily via WiFi. When installing wallpaper on your desktop, you can apply an illusion effect by blurring the background. You can also choose the order of the navigation buttons as you wish.

But the system is interesting not only for its “decorations”. There are many functions that expand the control capabilities of a smartphone, after getting acquainted with which the question arises - why doesn’t everyone do this? Using a fingerprint, you can not only unlock your device or access a private folder, but you can take a photo, manage your gallery, answer a call, or open the notification panel. Using regular headset buttons, you can control the audio player - pause, switch tracks. And of course, voice control, which supports the Russian language - when the screen is off, you just need to hold down the volume down button for a couple of seconds and after the beep, say the name of the person you want to call. There are a lot of such “tricks” and I won’t go into detail about each one, otherwise the review will increase enormously in size. But I can list the ones I remember: gesture control, smart navigation button mode, one-handed control mode (mini window), etc. It’s all these little things and details that form the attitude towards the device. By the way, the localization is 5+, I don’t even immediately remember if there are any untranslated moments. And the translation itself is good, without mistakes in the “Java Island” style.

The smartphone comes pre-installed with all the necessary applications: Play market, applications from Google (mail, youtube, photo, disk, etc.). There are also a couple of very interesting applications from Huawei, the most useful of which is health. The smartphone is equipped with a pedometer, the data of which is displayed on the lock screen in real time. In addition, you can turn on the training mode in the application by selecting running, walking or cycling. Further, by analogy with smart bracelets, the smartphone offers you a program, collects data and displays statistics. The application records the track and the data is synchronized with the map, at any time you can see your path, distance and other indicators.

The training is accompanied by periodic comments about the distance traveled, process, etc. During training, you can listen to music; the function is available from the application. The accuracy of the pedometer is slightly less than that of bracelets, but the error is small. I noticed that if you hold the smartphone in your hands, it lies quite a lot. But if it is in your pocket, then it counts accurately. In principle, the smartphone perfectly performs the role of a “trainer”, constantly reminding you of low activity with current readings. It can easily replace a smart bracelet. Of course, he won’t count his steps around the apartment if he’s lying on the table. But when you go somewhere, your smartphone is always with you and the overall picture will be reliable. In addition, it is possible to synchronize your smartphone with heart rate monitors and smart scales; all information will also be displayed in the application.

Another interesting application is the phone manager; all useful utilities are collected here, such as: antivirus from avast, security and restricting access to individual applications, setting up applications to run in the background, memory cleaning, blacklist and energy manager.

I will also note such useful applications as: compass, creating backup copies and FM radio. The radio surprised me with its good sensitivity; even in an apartment it can pick up most stations.

Information about the hardware. Benchmarks and performance tests.

Information about the processor, memory and screen can be viewed directly from the operating system in the “about the phone” section, but we would rather use the more specialized Aida 64 utility. The heart of the smartphone is the 8-core HiSilicon 655 processor, which has a big-little dual-cluster structure. 4 cores of 1.7 Ghz are responsible for energy efficiency, and 4 powerful cores of 2.1 Ghz are responsible for performance. In fact, the processor power is enough for any task. The system works very quickly, which is also due to the good RAM. The weak link is the T830 graphics accelerator, which has a hard time with powerful modern games.

In Antutu, the smartphone scores 56,000 points. In terms of UX and CPU, the result is good; the benchmark itself classifies it as medium-high. The smartphone supports large applications and multitasking. But in the graphics - 9900 points and performance at the level of budget devices. I definitely won’t recommend it to gamers.

Results of other popular tests

But given its performance, the smartphone provides amazing performance in the system and during everyday tasks. As much as I hate it, it works faster than my Xiaomi mi 5s on Snapdragon 821. I’m sure it’s all about optimizing the firmware. Xiaomi has eternal problems with the MIUI shell - having fixed one thing in the update, they spoil another and, as a result, the most powerful hardware does not work as it should. But Huawei seems to be squeezing everything possible out of what it has, honing and finishing every little detail. The smartphone works flawlessly, background processes are not “choked” and I can be sure that I will receive an important message on Viber or Facebook. Applications open instantly, interfaces do not become dull. The device works equally fast and new even after I installed a couple of dozen applications. This is partly due to the fact that the model was equipped with good RAM and built-in flash memory. Depending on the type of tests, the built-in memory provides read speeds of 135 Mb/s - 195 Mb/s and write speeds of 73 Mb/s - 102 Mb/s. RAM level of top-end devices with copy speed of about 6000 Mb/s.

Based on this, I can recommend Honor 6X to those who need the most direct functions of a smartphone (communications, Internet, social networks) + multimedia. Games are not all bad either, but if graphics performance is a priority, then for this price you can choose a much more “gaming” device. But let's see what the Honor 6X is capable of, otherwise some may think that it can only handle a snake with Tetris.

Gaming capabilities.

To do this, I used the GameBench application, which, working in the background, collects information about such important indicators as the number of frames per second - fps and resource use - processor load, memory, etc. The first Subway Surf game is not a graphically complex 3D runner. The average fps is 59 frames per second, the graph shows that the fps level is kept almost all the time at the maximum level for the game - 60 frames per second, and the load on the processor is only 25% - 30%

The game Traffic Rider turned out to be no more difficult for a smartphone - a road simulator where you need to race a motorcycle along a busy highway. Fps floats in the range of 50 - 60 frames per second, the average fps is 52. Drawdowns in the graphics are loading levels. CPU load is a ridiculous 15%.

The more powerful and complex game Dead Trgger 2 at maximum graphics settings produced an average fps of 52; during the game there were drops of up to 40 frames per second, but visually the game works well. The load on the processor is up to 30%, for the most part the graphics accelerator works.

And of course the popular World of Tanks. Here, for a comfortable game, I had to reduce the graphics settings to low, otherwise during the moments of battle there were dips of up to 25 fps. At low settings, the average fps level is 50, but sometimes it drops to 35 - 40.

Some games perform even worse, for example the Jurassic World strategy shows only 20 frames per second in map mode and about 30 in combat mode. There you cannot reduce the display quality or disable effects. I didn’t take screenshots because the trial time of the gamebench application had expired.

As you can see, you can also play on a smartphone, but not with the best graphics settings. And not everyone needs it. But installing a couple of toys to keep yourself busy during the trip is quite possible.

Connection. Internet. Navigation.

This section will not be large, because the smartphone copes with its main tasks perfectly. The speaker is of high quality, the volume is high and the sound is pleasant, without excess high frequencies. The microphone is sensitive, you can also feel the noise reduction working - the interlocutor will normally hear you in a noisy place and in windy weather. The signal is received confidently, where other smartphones lose connection, Honor 6X manages to catch 3G. Internet speed depends on the operator; on my street, downloading takes about 10 Mbps. The WiFi receiver is sensitive, but the picture is spoiled by the lack of 5 Ghz support. My download speed on 2.4 Ghz anywhere in my apartment is about 50 Mbps. Navigation works with GPS and GLONASS satellites. In good weather, the smartphone quickly finds more than two dozen satellites, almost all of which are actively working. Connection time is from 3 to 10 seconds, positioning accuracy is 3 to 5 meters.

Camera

Here I’ll tell you in more detail, because the camera here is very cool. On a budget, you can say this about almost any smartphone, they say it takes pictures during the day - tolerably, but in the evening - terrible. It takes good pictures under any conditions. Of course, keeping in mind that this is not a DSLR, but a smartphone :) Yes, here it is, an inexpensive camera phone! For a long time there were no models costing up to $200 with a decent camera. Yes, and over $200 you still need to look for it. Flagships don’t count - the cameras are ok there, but the cost is appropriate.

For the main camera, a Sony IMX 386 sensor is installed here with a maximum resolution of 3968 x 2976 - 12 MP and a pixel size of 1.25 μm. The sensor has proven itself well and is used in many top devices, for example, the same camera is installed as the main one in Meizu Pro 7 Plus, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2, Xiaomi Mi6. In addition, the camera here is dual and allows you to change the focus of the subject after you have taken the photo. In all the time I've been reviewing, this is the first smartphone with a dual camera that produces real bokeh, rather than blurring the background in a circle!

The camera copes well with landscape photography, the sharpness is uniform throughout the entire image, even at its edges. This indicates high-quality optics. The colors look natural, accurately conveying the atmosphere. A wide dynamic range allows you to get a high-quality image under difficult lighting conditions, when some objects are in the shade and some are in the sun. Shooting at close range, for example flowers, turns out wonderful. Phase autofocus instantly catches the target, the chance of getting a blurry photo is extremely small. In good lighting, in my opinion, the camera takes pictures no worse than flagship ones.

And for the fair half of our humanity, it will be interesting that the front camera is not installed here for show. 8 megapixels, wide-angle lens and various face enhancement effects make it ideal for selfies. Guys can just use it for video communication :)

Shooting indoors under artificial light did not disappoint. If the light is not dim, then the pictures are clear and of sufficient quality even without a flash. Only when it’s completely dark does the smartphone begin to “think out” the details in the form of noise.

The hardest part for any camera is night. But even here, in my opinion, the camera worked quite well. If you increase the shutter speed, you can get a very cool night shot, but you need to shoot from a tripod so that the photo comes out sharp (see image 1, better in full screen). In the second and third photos, I took handheld photos - in-focus, fairly detailed photos.

Well, if you set a goal, then by increasing the shutter speed and using a tripod, you can get the following shot:

So, what about the second camera? Fake again? No! The camera is needed to blur the background, the so-called bokeh effect, and change the focus of the finished photo. Shoot an object in wide aperture mode, having previously marked it in the photo and selected the degree of blur. Then you can change the focus on the finished photo, even on a different shot, and choose the degree of blur. In general, I’ll show you better :) The first photo - everything is in focus, the second photo is a child in focus, the background is a little blurred, the third photo is a child in focus, the background is more blurred, the last photo is a change in focus to the background, respectively, everything that is in foreground is blurry. This is a real example of how a dual camera works. By the way, if you cover the auxiliary camera with your finger, the smartphone will start swearing, and even if you forget about it and take a photo, the effect will not work.

Overall, I really liked the camera. Including ease of use. In the settings, you can select one of the ready-made modes, or enable the professional mode, where you can change parameters such as iso value, shutter speed, exposure, white balance, etc.

There are various features, such as automatic shooting when a smile is detected, shutter release by voice command, tracking autofocus, etc.

If we talk about video shooting, then there is nothing special. Stable 30 frames per second at a resolution of 1920x1080. The camera cannot shoot 60 frames per second, just like 4K. The sensor itself is capable of this, but a smartphone is unlikely to handle such a load. There is no stabilization, so the picture is not smooth when moving. In general - at the level of “classmates”.

Autonomy. Working hours.

The battery capacity is 3340 mAh. Indirectly, the capacity was confirmed using a tester; when turned off, a regular 5V charger fills the smartphone with 3380 mAh. I have no reason to doubt the declared capacity; Huawei is not a company that will deceive its users.

Let's see how the smartphone performed in autonomy tests. The Battery Test in Geekbench 3 lasted 12 hours and 23 minutes, with a final score of 7429 points. The discharge graph is uniform, without jumps and dips.

In Antutu Battery Tester at maximum screen brightness, the smartphone scored 10577 points, the test lasted 6 hours 13 minutes. Good result.

When cyclically playing HD video at maximum brightness with sound through headphones, the smartphone worked for 7 hours 44 minutes. The main consumer is the screen.

As for actual use, on average a smartphone lives with me for 2 days (a total of more than 7 hours of screen time) with moderate activity. For example, the usage graph in my mode: screen brightness at a medium level with automatic adjustment, WiFi always on, a lot of Internet, a little 3G.

I mainly use the browser, social networks, instant messengers, watch videos on Youtube, actively use the camera and play quite a bit. With more active use, the smartphone is guaranteed to last a day. I also like the lack of self-discharge, even if you don’t turn off Wifi at night and applications are running in the background, like Viber and Skype, then no more than 2 - 3 percent are consumed overnight.

Results

Perhaps the review came out in an overly positive way, but it is very difficult to be as objective as possible when you really like the smartphone. In my opinion, Huawei has managed to release a device that does not have any significant flaws. But there are some peculiarities. Nice design, chic shell with many functions and add-ons, perfect software and an amazing camera for its price. The processor power and fast memory are enough for smooth operation of interfaces, launching even resource-intensive applications, maintaining multitasking and comfortable use of the device. The battery capacity lasts up to 2 days of normal use without recharging. The weakest link is the mediocre video accelerator, which cannot run modern games at maximum graphics settings. Also disappointing is the lack of WiFi support in the 5 Ghz range. Well, the price of the device is higher than that of similar smartphones from other manufacturers. Is it worth overpaying for the brand? I think yes. Regular updates, user support, transition to new versions of Android, polished software - this is exactly what many budget manufacturers from China lack. I’ll end here, if you have any questions, write, I’ll try to answer in the comments. At the time of writing this review, the average price for Huawei Honor 6X is $190.