Between the affordable, but low-quality entry-level, and the overpriced premium for many useful features and innovations, mid-range smartphones have done well for several years.
More attractive by lowering high-end features in devices under 600 euros, mid-range models no longer have much to envy the latter with OLED screens, high-definition cameras, power and autonomy.
Often, it is in the details that the difference is hidden for those who do not need to push the capabilities of their phone too far (ultra-fast charging, high-performance processor, adaptive image refresh rate, more secure and system updates, etc.). ). For smaller budgets, the mid-range -between 250 and 600 euros- is becoming rich in proposals and more and more players are coming. Now they are an important market that arouses all desires.
For a long time, Honor has made this rate and legal positioning its main objective: devices around 250-300 euros to target young, urban, connected users, in tune with the times; models between 500 and 600 euros to show their know-how (formerly inherited from Huawei, the former big sister) and target the most demanding with designer and complete smartphones. After having tackled the high-end with the Magic 5 Pro and the Magic Vs, the Chinese brand returns to France with the launch this Thursday of its Honor 90 range.
Light premium for half the budget
The Honor 90 clearly wants to play the leading roles in the mid-range. It is equipped with a 200MP main photosensor that claims to be “best in class” with a larger sensor to capture more light. This will allow for brighter, more detailed HDR photos, especially in low-light conditions and at night. The idea is clearly to seduce young adults for their nocturnal shots.
To this is added an ultra-wide angle capable of also making a macro sensor (12 Mpx) and a depth sensor (2 Mpx). On the front, a 50MP selfie camera with a 100° field of view for group photos and the ability to shoot in 4K.
Honor completes its operation to seduce content creators with some small functions that they will love: the BeReal-inspired multi-video mode to film yourself and another person at the same time, the Solo Cut mode, the stabilized dynamic photo in movement and the Bokeh effect with effective background blur. In addition, the Honor 90’s AI can also detect that multiple photos have been taken of the same subject or in the same place and automatically offer instant video editing (changeable) and even turn certain shots or videos into GIFs.
The Honor 90 also shines with its careful design and finesse that allows you to hold it well in the hand. Its 6.7-inch curved AMOLED screen overflows on each side to enhance immersion. And it has a 1-120Hz image refresh rate to keep up with activities and save battery life. Added to that is a 5,000 mAh battery with 66W super fast charging. And for a mid-range model, it should prove ultra-efficient with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor inside with 12GB of RAM for 512GB of storage.
The Honor 90 runs Android 13 with the Magic OS 7.1 internal overlay. On the other hand, due to its positioning, it is satisfied with two years of Android updates and three years of security updates, where the top of the range allows you to keep your device updated for longer.
The newcomer is available for pre-order at €599.90 in black, cyan and silver (with a reduction of €100, a pair of Honor Earbuds 3 Pro headphones are on offer). For lighter budgets, but users tempted by design, Honor declines its concept in a Lite version. The main photosensor goes to 100 Mpx, much more than other competing devices, associated with a macro sensor (2 Mpx) and an ultra-wide angle (5 Mpx).
The Honor 90 Lite is a little less powerful, with a 6.7-inch 90 Hz LCD screen, and it charges less quickly (35 W), but that also lowers its price to 299.90 euros (256 GB of storage). /8 GB of RAM). Again with only the possibility of porting the smartphone to Android 14 in the future, with three years of security updates.
Vivo plays everything in the mid-range
With the same ambitions to tease Samsung’s Galaxy A54 5G or the Oppo Reno8, and an even more competitive price, Vivo is testing it, where the brand previously wanted to target the high-end. The V29 Lite promises to be full of promise and quite aggressively: offering premium specs for less than 350 euros that are actually used on a day-to-day basis.
This can already be seen in the design with a micro-engraved texture on the back. Like its Honor 90 competitors, the V29 Lite plays up the fancy game with a curved back and a 6.78-inch 120Hz Full HD+ Amoled display that’s also curved to enhance immersion, especially in video. It is quite thin (7.89 mm) and light (177 g). On the back there are three photo sensors in circular modules (64 mpx with optical stabilization as in the premium + 2 Mpx Bokeh sensor + 2 Mpx Super Macro sensor), like in Honor, but set in a domino shape.
At the front, the selfie sensor shows 16 Mpx. Vivo promises high-quality photos with enhanced processing for Portrait modes (Night, Bokeh, Multi-Style, Double Exposure, etc.). Like Honor, Vivo targets a young audience and multiplies features that can appeal to beginners or experienced vloggers (double view video, cinematic mode, filters, etc.).
The device is IP 54 certified to resist water and dust, supports eSIM (up to 8 profiles, but one at a time). The Chinese manufacturer equips its smartphone with a 5,000 mAh battery so that it can easily last a day and recharges quite quickly (44 W adapter included). If on paper it is less powerful than the Honor 90 with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, Vivo promises to optimize functions to avoid slowdowns with the addition of RAM (8 GB + 8 GB taken out of storage when necessary for more fluidity).
The Vivo V29 Lite is offered in black or gold at €349 for 128GB of storage, with two years of Android updates and three years of security updates.
Source: BFM TV
