It’s been a while since we’ve covered an Honor launch but today we have the Honor 50 series that marks the first mobile product from the brand since it separated from Huawei in late 2020. Consisting of the Honor 50 and the Honor 50 Pro, the series is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G chipset and boasts 5G connectivity, up to 100W fast-charging, and 120Hz displays. The Honor 50 series launched in China earlier today, but we can confirm that the new handsets will be launched in the west with the Google Play Store preinstalled.
Updated October 26: The Honor 50 has finally launched in Europe, marking the first device from the brand since its split from Huawei. The familiar-looking handset features the all-important GMS and will be available to pre-order from October 27-November 11 from Honor’s online storefront, Amazon, Argos, Currys, Very, and more. Those who pre-order the Honor 50 will get an Honor MagicWatch 2 bundled, with pricing as follows:
Honor 50:
- 6/128GB: €529/£449
- 8/256GB: €599/£529
The Honor 50 goes on general sale from November 12th. Are you picking one up or have you already decided to order the Pixel 6?
GMS Statement
Let’s get the Google stuff over with first, with the following statement issued to TalkAndroid by Honor when we asked if the Honor 50 series would have access to Google’s apps and services:
“HONOR has succeeded in confirming cooperation with a number of supplier partners in the early stage. HONOR devices will undergo Google’s Play Protect certified security review and compatibility testing process to ensure they are ready to run apps from Google and the Google Play Store. HONOR devices will therefore have the option to have Google Mobile Services (“GMS”) preinstalled on compatible devices, in accordance with Google’s licensing and governance models. Consumers will be able to experience HONOR smartphones and tablets equipped with GMS.“
“HONOR is committed to developing a global iconic technology brand, we believe the cooperation between Google and HONOR will further promote the development of the Android ecosystem and further serve global consumers.”
So that’s confirmation of the presence of the Google Play Store and all the usual goodies we in the west expect to see on our Android smartphones.
Honor 50 Series
Honor hasn’t revealed the RAM and storage numbers yet, so we’ll update the article when they do, but we know that the Honor 50 has a curved 6.57-inch display and the 50 Pro a larger 6.72-inch panel 120Hz refresh rates. The Honor 50 Pro’s display also boasts a 300Hz touch sampling rate and a dynamic refresh rate that should help with battery life. Keeping the lights on is a 4,000mAh battery in the Honor 50, and a 4,300mAh battery in the Honor 50 Pro, with 66W and 100W Super Charging. Both phones will run Android 11 with the Magic UI 4.2 running on top,
You’ll have noticed the big camera housing on the rear panels of the two phones, which both feature a 1100MP Main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP Macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera. The Honor 50 Pro also sports dual selfie cameras with a 12MP Ultra-wide-angle lens and a 32MP sensor that retains more picture details.
Honor flagship smartphones tend to feature incredible finishes and the Honor 50 series is no different thanks to the stunning Frost Crystal, Amber Red, Emerald Green, and Midnight Black colorways. The Frost Crystal is the pick of the bunch with its diamond-like finish that glimmers and sparkles in the light.
Finally, the Honor 50 Pro is on sale now in China for RMB 3,699 which works out to around $580 while the Honor 50 will go for RMB 2,699 ($420). Honor has confirmed that the new phones are coming to the west but a specific date hasn’t yet been announced, we do have the list of countries (above) that the Honor 50 and 50 Pro will be sold in.
