The HONOR 600S 5G comes with a massive 8,100mAh battery, a durable build, and a more affordable price tag compared to the other phones in the HONOR 600 series.
It sounds like a phone that’s built to last. But after using it as my daily driver, there are a few things about it that surprised me, both in good and not-so-good ways.
So, what’s it really like to use the HONOR 600S 5G? Here’s what I found after spending some time with it.
Display and Multimedia
Right off the bat, I noticed that the HONOR 600S 5G felt heavy. The HONOR 600 was compact, portable, and light despite having a decent battery capacity, so the 600S felt like the opposite in terms of size and weight. Although the 600S’s bigger battery explains this, the 216.5g weight was easily noticeable.
I also noticed its strong resemblance to the HONOR X8d. The 6.87-inch screen is large, which is nice for watching videos and browsing, but the big bottom bezel takes away a bit from the overall look. To be honest, I wish HONOR had used at least an AMOLED display instead of an LCD.
Durability-wise, of course, the HONOR 600S holds up well. Like other durable HONOR phones, it comes with IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings. It has experienced not just a few, but several accidental drops due to my clumsiness, but it’s still intact, working, and looking as good as before.
The phone has dual stereo speakers, but sadly, the audio quality isn’t great, even for someone like me who isn’t particularly critical about speakers. Whether I was playing music or watching a movie, the sound was average. It can get loud with its advertised volume boost of up to 400%, but louder doesn’t necessarily mean better.
Battery Life
Of course, the HONOR 600S 5G’s main feature is its battery life. With its massive 8,100mAh battery, it can last for days without needing a charge, even with frequent use throughout the day.
And when it’s finally time to charge, the phone supports 45W HONOR SuperCharge. It doesn’t support wireless or reverse charging, though.
Performance
For casual use, the HONOR 600S performs well with its 8GB of RAM and Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 processor. Everyday tasks and casual games run decently, but heavier games like Genshin Impact are a different story.
Genshin Impact was playable at the lowest settings, but the experience took some of the fun out of playing. On the other hand, I didn’t notice any heating issues, even with several apps running in the background while gaming.
The 120Hz refresh rate also helps make everyday use feel smoother, particularly when switching between apps and navigating the interface. Multitasking with casual apps shouldn’t be a problem, making it suitable for regular day-to-day use.
For a closer look at its performance, here are the PCMark and AnTuTu benchmark results from the HONOR 600S 5G.
Camera
The HONOR 600S 5G’s 50MP main camera and 5MP front camera provide a fairly regular camera experience. In good lighting, the camera produces nice, kinda detailed, and vivid photos.
However, as someone with shaky hands, I noticed that some of my photos turned out blurry, which was a little disappointing since this rarely happens with other phones I’ve tried.
The front camera is also pretty standard, but both cameras perform better in good lighting. One thing I did appreciate, however, was the rear camera’s night mode. It captures better colors and helps reduce glare and unwanted light pollution, so it’s a useful option for taking photos at night.
Overall, the cameras are fine for casual photography, though there’s room for improvement, particularly when it comes to capturing sharper shots.
Here are some sample photos taken with the HONOR 600S 5G for reference.
Verdict
The HONOR 600S 5G is a good option for people who prioritize long battery life and durability in a smartphone. Its large battery can keep up with a full day of use and beyond, while its durable build gives some peace of mind for users who are prone to accidental drops.
However, it’s important to remember that the 600S is the more affordable model in the HONOR 600 series. While it delivers on battery life and durability, its camera, display, and multimedia experience aren’t its strongest points. It’s also an entry-level phone, so it’s worth weighing your priorities before making a decision.
If you’re mainly after a phone that can last long and handle everyday use, the HONOR 600S 5G can get the job done. But if camera quality, display technology, or gaming performance matter more to you, its compromises are worth keeping in mind.
HONOR 600S 5G Specifications
- Display: 6.87-inch TFT LCD, 120Hz refresh rate, 1,010nits peak brightness
- CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen4 octa-core processor
- GPU: Adreno 613
- RAM: 8GB
- ROM: 128GB, 256GB
- Rear Camera: 50MP Main Camera (F1.8)
- Front Camera: 5MP (F2.2)
- Battery: 8,100mAh, 45W HONOR SuperCharge
- OS: MagicOS 10.0
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz & 5GHz WiFi, 4G 5G LTE, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, A-GNSS, NFC, Dual SIM (nano)
- Sensors: Gravity, Fingerprint, Compass, Acceleration, Ambient Light, Proximity
- Colors: Misty Purple, Desert Gold, Velvet Black
- Weight: 216.5g
- Others: OTG, USB Type-C, USB 2.0, Type C Earjack, 5-Star SGS Premium Drop Resistance, IP68/69/69K ratings, 2D face recognition
Price and Availability
The HONOR 600S 5G is priced at PHP 19,999 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant, and there’s also a more affordable 8GB + 128GB variant priced at PHP 18,999, which is available exclusively online. You can purchase from HONOR’s official Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok stores.
For comparison with its family series, the HONOR 600 starts at PHP 28,999, while the HONOR 600 Pro retails for PHP 49,999.
Overall, the HONOR 600S 5G offers a more accessible entry into the 600 series, with its long-lasting battery and durability at the forefront. Just be sure its strengths match what you’re looking for in a phone.
