Hands-On

Honor 10 Lite Hands-on: Toning it down

When Honor 8X meets Honor 10

Published

January 22, 2019

Daniel Morial

After impressing us with the Honor 8X, the Huawei sub-brand now has a new midrange phone: the Honor 10 Lite. As its name implies, this is a toned-down version of the Honor 10, even though that phone is already a bang-for-the-buck device.

Is the Lite version any good? To answer that, let’s get on to our hands-on. You know the drill; we first take a look at the phone’s physique.

It’s got a 6.2-inch Full HD+ display

It’s an IPS LCD with wide viewing angles

It sports a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera

Less obtrusive than a conventional notch

The chin houses the other sensors

Because there’s no more space on top

On its right are the physical buttons

One for adjusting volume and another for power

On top is the hybrid card slot

Users need to choose between a second SIM or a microSD card

The good old micro-USB is still present

Along with the 3.5mm port and loudspeaker

The back has curved sides for better grip

It’s still not made from glass, though

There are two AI-powered rear cameras

Feels good in your hand

The Honor 10 Lite inherits the design of the Honor 10, but there are changes to keep its price down. To be honest, the Lite version is a blend of the main Honor 10 model and its midrange cousin the Honor 8X.

If you find notches to be a distraction, the Honor 10 Lite’s minimal notch might win you over. It’s not a totally new solution since Vivo and OPPO already have their own versions, but it’s nice to see it available on more affordable phones.

The display, with its Full HD+ resolution, is sharp and has good color reproduction. It’s not as bright as I’d want it to be, but it’s still usable even outdoors. The overall quality of the screen is one of the best you can have at this price point.

The curved back of the Honor 10 Lite makes it more natural to hold. This little design choice has a great impact on day-to-day use, unless you put on a case. It’s not perfect though, because I find the position of the rear fingerprint reader hard to reach using the index finger. Maybe its position is a bit higher than what I am used to.

It’s got the Kirin prowess

The presence of the Kirin 710 processor among midrange Huawei and Honor phones has become the norm. The Honor 10 Lite is no different and that’s a good thing. The Kirin 710 processor from Huawei’s own chipset factory proved itself to be a good contender. It’s not the best in the business, but it’s efficient and can deliver good performance.

The Honor 10 Lite will be available in multiple memory and storage configuration; I strongly advise to get the highest possible. My review unit only has 3GB of memory which isn’t much, but it was still able to run apps and games smoothly. I had no issues with the general performance of the Honor 10 Lite. The phone runs the latest EMUI 9.0 (based on Android 9 Pie) with all the customizations you’d expect. I am not a fan of EMUI because of how it looks, but that’s just me.

Gaming performance is good, even though my unit only has 3GB of memory to share with other opened apps. Both Asphalt 9: Legends and PUBG: Mobile are playable on high graphics settings. It’s worth pointing out that the phone gets a bit warm while playing.

AI-powered front and rear cameras

Equipped with a total of three cameras, the Honor 10 Lite is more than capable of shooting quality photos. The phone has a pair of 13- and 2-megapixel shooters on the back. As always, the secondary sensor enables the phone to shoot portrait photos. Not only that, the staple AI feature is here as well. Thankfully, you can turn off AI even after taking the shot just in case you don’t like how it processes the image.

Here are some samples taken using the rear cameras:

With a 24-megapixel front camera, there’s no doubt that the Honor 10 Lite is going after selfie lovers. To top that, AI and scene-detection capabilities are also turned on when taking selfies. The usual beautification feature is available, but there’s no AI beauty like on other phones

Check out these samples:

: With Selfie Flash

: With Bokeh Effect

: With Bokeh and Beauty Effect

Even with a high-resolution front sensor, I find the selfies taken with the Honor 10 Lite to be lacking. The rear cameras are quite good though, even in low-light scenarios.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

The Honor 10 Lite is a welcome addition to the growing midrange segment. The Honor 8X is already a compelling offering from Huawei’s sub-brand. This places the Honor 10 Lite in a confusing position.

Since the Honor 8X and the Honor 10 Lite practically offer the same value for your money, choosing the latter over the former has to be justified — aside from being the newer one of the two. What makes the Honor 10 Lite preferable over the Honor 8X are its improved selfie camera, slimmer profile, and updated software. The Honor 8X, on the other hand, appeals more to power users.

Are those enough to knock over the Honor 8X? Well, it’s a matter of preference. You may read our review of the Honor 8X to help you make the choice between the two.

The Honor 10 Lite is sold in different memory and storage configurations. It has a starting price of INR 13,999 in India and PhP 9,990 in the Philippines.

Accessories

Marshall Major V: Reasons Why I Love It

After a month of using

Published

April 17, 2024

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

I’ve got a new favorite pair of headphones.

They look good, sound good, last long, are compact and portable.

Most of all? They are from a brand that I truly love.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Here’s are V Major reasons why I love the new Marshall Major V!

Hands-On

ZTE nubia Neo 5G: Decent for gaming

But needs improvement

Published

April 4, 2024

GadgetMatch and Levi Verora Jr

Photos c/o Deric Claveria

If you’re looking to buy a smartphone specifically for gaming, you’ll typically need to shell out more. You have to spend extra for capable hardware and software to fuel the mobile gaming experience. That doesn’t mean manufacturers aren’t trying their best to bring more affordable gaming phones to customers. Enter the ZTE nubia Neo 5G.

Known for their higher-end devices like the Redmagic series, ZTE introduced a budget-level choice that promises better gaming for all. Appearance-wise, it straight up looks like a gaming phone. But does it really deliver on being a great value device for mobile gamers?

ZTE nubia Neo 5G specs

Unisoc T820 chipset, up to 2.7GHz
Android 13
8GB+10GB RAM
256GB RAM
6.6-inch FHD+ display
120Hz refresh rate
50MP main camera + 2MP depth camera, 8MP front camera
4,500mAh battery
22.W fast-charging
3.5mm jack
2 SIM card slots

On paper, the ZTE nubia Neo 5G has the usual specs expected of a smartphone of its price point. There’s the usual 50MP main camera, FHD+ display, and and even a 3.5mm jack. On the positive end, it differs from other competitors by offering a higher refresh rate and a more spacious internal storage. However, it has a smaller battery capacity and a slightly slower “fast-charging” output.

WATCH: ZTE nubia Neo 5G Unboxing Reel

Appearance, feel

This budget gaming phone immediately stands out with its gold-and-black, Mecha-like finish at the back. The protruding camera lenses somehow mimic machine gears. The unit we tested came in War-Damaged Yellow. It somehow reminds us of Bumblebee from the Transformers franchise. There is also a Phantom Black option for those wanting black to be the dominant color.

The phone itself has just the proper amount of sleekness into it. It’s not slippery. It’s comfortable to hold. However, the placement of its speakers on the lower left does not help when holding the phone horizontally. Fingers tend to have it blocked, lessening the gaming experience.

Camera

As usual, this budget offering has as 50MP main shooter, with the 2MP extra camera standing in vain. The main camera works well with stills, and leans more on the natural side when it comes to color. Not too saturated, not too pale, just about right. Of course, you’ll need to be ultra steady when capturing as this phone does not support advanced stabilization features.

Additionally, you’ll need sufficient lighting to retain details. Shoot against the light, and the camera’s low dynamic range won’t help in preserving details in the darker parts. Shake your hand a bit, and you’ll get blurred captures. It’s pretty much expected for a handset in this segment.

Check out these sample photos:

Usage

The ZTE nubia Neo 5G does have a simple user interface that’s familiar long-time for Android users. It is able to work well for casual browsing, switching from one app to another, and having a few apps open.

On the downside, there are a few instances that hopping from one app to the other takes a bit more than a split second. I kind of expected that already, especially with watching livestreams or apps involving videos like YouTube and TikTok.

Of course, for optimal performance, it’s best to have just a few apps running at a time. And even with its slightly “smaller” battery, the phone can last you up to a full day for light to moderate use.

Gaming

We tested multiple titles on the ZTE nubia Neo 5G, ranging from slightly to highly demanding, to check its promise of better gaming on an affordable device. Apparently, games will run on the phone under low settings by default.

The phone held its own quite smoothly for usual MOBA and FPS titles, for as long as the graphics settings are set to low.

But where there are more simultaneous things going on, like in a mad Call of Duty scramble, that’s where the effects begin to experience lagging.

Moreover, with titles like Asphalt 9: Legends and Genshin Impact, which both push capabilities to the limit, the phone barely was able to support high settings.

To be fair, the phone did not get very hot throughout about an hour of gameplay, which is quite a plus. All things considered, including its price point and aesthetic that screams gaming, the ZTE nubia Neo 5G can be a decent gaming choice for those who are on a budget but still want to enjoy such games.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Overall, the ZTE nubia Neo 5G is a serviceable budget phone, especially when it comes to usual performance. There are, however, some aspects that need to be improved. It wouldn’t hurt to improve the fast-charging capabilities, change the placement of its speakers, or sneak an extra ultra-wide lens to the setup.

But we fully understand that this device was meant for gaming. Higher-end models aren’t perfect either. This is a decent choice, considering that incorporating better specs to cheaper devices is still an ongoing process. It can only get better from here.

The ZTE nubia Neo 5G is available starting at PhP 9,999 on ZTE’s official Shopee store.

Hands-On

Found: Cute smartphone to match your coquette aesthetic

The OPPO Reno11 F 5G deserves that cute, pink bow

Published

March 4, 2024

MJ Jucutan

If you like it, then you should’ve put a ~pink bow~ on it!

At least, that’s what we did with the newest OPPO Reno11 F 5G painted in Coral Purple.

That soft, lilac hue bodes well with the coquette aesthetic — social media girlies’ cute (and crazy) obsession now.

Originally, the term “coquette” means “a woman who flirts,” which is also referenced at Robert Greene’s book called “The Art of Seduction.”

But the Generation Z knows how to put a spin on everything, with the trend now leaning into more playful and romantic approach to everything they see.

Think: pastel, pink, bows, and everything about girlhood.

The OPPO Reno11 F 5G fits in that dainty aesthetic. It’s a smartphone that looks playful from the get-go.

The frame’s slender, and it’s light enough for some chicly usage. Taking mirror selfies like a supermodel can be an achievable flex.

The flat sides look polished, befitting someone who looks bejeweled and ready to step into the world with confidence.

The buttons on the right side are easily reachable — for adjusting your music’s volume and for taking quick selfies.

It also comes in USB-C sitting on its bottom side along with mic and speakers.

Forget 11:11

Up front, the Reno11 F 5G comes with a flat display. Just like the coquette aesthetic, flat displays are being revived.

Curves are getting overrated, though. The flat, 6.7-inch AMOLED display is easier for watching and streaming your favorite shows and films.

Streaming a 2000s film like Mean Girls in 2024 didn’t feel like I was watching a movie from two decades ago. The visuals look as punchy and vibrant as it gets.

I enjoyed rewatching Devil Wears Prada as well, which can be streamed on Netflix. Even when I was sitting by the windows during noontime, the phone’s brightness kept up with the harsh light coming through.

It maintained that dynamic color despite struggling with glares.

What surprised me was the Ultra Volume mode, which boosts the audio up to 300%. The bimbo in me thought it was specifically for Netflix’s content, but I was wrong.

While using TikTok to think of new coquette style and watching my mother Taylor Swift’s performance since I wouldn’t be able to go to the Eras Tour, I activated the ultra volume once more.

The speaker’s as powerful as it gets but frankly, it might hurt your ears. It’s a back-up feature for when you forget your cute, full-toned speakers.

Living life like you’re in a rom-com film

Having a playful smartphone doesn’t end with putting pink bows and looking cute. It should let you romanticize life and let you live like you’re in a rom-com film.

We got to take the smartphone out for a whole day and its 5000mAh battery capacity didn’t even drop to one-fourth. Yup, even with mobile data on, taking pictures and videos, and browsing endlessly on TikTok and Instagram.

The 256GB internal storage is also sufficient for storing all your favorite moments. And more importantly, it’s got a camera that lets you record your everyday life.

The OPPO Reno11 F 5G comes with a 64-megapixel Ultra-Clear Triple Camera, which is also capable of recording a 4K Ultra-Clear Video apt for your TikTok and Instagram Reels.

There’s an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera using a Sony IMX355 sensor, if you want to capture your views.

And for some details, there’s a 2-megapixel macro camera for when you want to zoom in a little. Up front, you can enjoy a 32-megapixel selfie camera which uses a Sony IMX615 sensor.

Moreover, there are built-in filters that you can select for your photos. Here are glimpses of our lives romanticized.

A match made for coquette girlies

The OPPO Reno11 F 5G takes anyone easily in their lover era, thanks to its playful vibe. The coquette aesthetic may fit it well, but it’s still a versatile phone that any girlies and their oomfs can take advantage of.

It’s just like any midrange phone, capable of multi-tasking from morning to night. Powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7050, you can certainly swipe continuously and power through the day.

You can even play some games if you’re bored from doomscrolling.

And when you’re in dire need of recharging, you can let it charge with its 67W SUPERVOOC. Before you’re done with your makeup, the phone’s already back to a hundred.

So, if you’re up for a smartphone that can easily take on your day-to-day life while looking coquette, the OPPO Reno11 F 5G just might be the dainty gizmo of your dreams.

Pricing and availability for the OPPO Reno11 F 5G will be announced soon. Stay tuned.