Huawei introduced two smartphone models a few days ago – Honor Play 3 and Honor 20s, but today I would like to talk about the first model in this review.
The first thing that catches your eye is the hole-punch in the screen for the front camera and according to the manufacturer, this is the cheapest smartphone on the market with this design.
It is not surprising that right now you can buy a smartphone at an interesting price of $199.99 with a small discount at the link below.
For this amount, you will receive a modern 6.39-inch frameless smartphone with a large screen, an updated Hisilicon Kirin 710F processor, 4 and 64 GB memory versions. Also, an important feature is a triple camera with a new sensor at 48 megapixels.
Therefore, let’s get down to the main features of the smartphone and we will start with the look.
Huawei Honor Play 3: Specifications
| Huawei Honor Play 3: | Specs |
|---|---|
| Display: | 6.39 inches IPS with 1560 x 720 pixels |
| CPU: | Hisilicon Kirin 710F Octa Core 2.2GHz |
| GPU: | ARM Mali-G51 MP4 GPU |
| RAM: | 4GB |
| Internal memory: | 64GB |
| Memory extension: | up to 512GB |
| Cameras: | 48.0MP + 8.0MP + 2.0MP main and 32MP front camera |
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band,3G, 4G, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC and GPS |
| Battery: | 4000mAh (9V/2A) |
| OS: | Android 9.0 |
| Connections: | micro USB and 3.5 mm audio jeck |
| Weight: | 176 grams |
| Dimensions: | 159.8 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm |
| Price: | $199 |
Huawei Honor Play 3: Design and Screen
Appearance for a budget smartphone in its segment looks pretty and at the same time modern.
Huawei Honor Play 3 received 2.5D glass on the back with iridescent texture. The manufacturer called this texture “Starlight Rhythm”. Indeed, the back panel looks stylish and unique in the hands of the user.
Also, a camera with three sensors in the upper left corner was installed on the rear panel. The flash is located a little lower and the company logo is at the bottom.
As you can see, there is no fingerprint scanner on the rear panel, since the manufacturer decided not to install it in this model at all. But you can protect your smartphone thanks to the presence of face recognition through the front camera.
On the front, there is a 6.39-inch bezel-less screen and there is a round hole-punch for the front camera screen, like flagship models.
At first glance, the quality of the screen may not seem like a strong point, since Honor Play 3 installed a screen with a resolution of HD + or 1560 x 720 pixels. The pixel density per inch is 269 PPI. But in real life, this resolution is enough and with the naked eye, it is difficult to say whether it is Full HD or HD resolution.
The frames around the screen are small, but the bottom is slightly larger than the edges.
The brightness and color reproduction at a decent level, even with a bright sunny day, the screen is readable.
At the top is a speaker.
A micro USB port for charging, a 3.5 mm audio jack, a microphone and the main speaker were installed on the bottom edge. Yes, yes there is a micro-USB port, quite primitive and I would like to forget about its existence once and for all.
On the right side are the power button and volume rocker.
Accordingly, on the opposite side, there is a hybrid slot for SIM and a memory card.
The dimensions of the Huawei Honor Play 3 are 159.8 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm and weighs 176 grams.
In the hand, the smartphone lies well, the edges of the device are rounded and convenient to use.
Huawei Honor Play 3: Performance and Software
The manufacturer of Huawei has installed an updated processor called Hisilicon Kirin 710F on the new model, which has shown in practice with good efficiency and low power consumption.
The maximum frequency of the Kirin 710F chipset is 2.2 GHz and works in conjunction with the ARM Mali-G51 MP4 GPU.
In terms of memory, the Honor Play 3 offers 4GB of RAM and 64/128 GB of internal memory. You can also use a slot for a memory card.
In the AnTuTu test, our hero scored about 170,000 points and as a class, this is a good indicator.
In-game tests, on the example of PUBG Mobile, the smartphone played on average graphics settings without any delays or hesitations. As for overheating, it is practically absent.
The device is running Android 9.0 and with the user interface EMUI 9.1.1.
Stable operation and a large number of pre-installed applications are the usual and typical solution for this system. Of course, I do not want to say that pre-installed applications are superfluous, but they will be useful for everyday use.
Huawei Honor Play 3: Camera
Another main feature of the Huawei Honor Play 3 is the camera, namely three sensors on the rear panel.
The first at 48-megapixels with an f/1.8 aperture with a Sony IMX582 Exmor RS sensor. The second 8-megapixel sensor with f/2.4 aperture for ultra-wide shots with a 120º angle. And the last third 2-megapixel sensor with f/2.4 aperture for macro shooting.
A 32-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture was installed on the front panel.
Below you can see examples of photos and evaluate the quality of images. As for me in the daytime – photos with good detail and with the right colors. But night photos are a little worse. I also liked the ultra-wide lens, which can capture more space in one photo.
In general, the camera as for a modern budget smartphone is the main indicator for today and the Huawei Honor Play 3 has a pretty good camera, as for its price.
Huawei Honor Play 3: Battery
In the case of the device, Huawei Honor Play 3 installed a large 4000 mAh battery, which is able to work on a single charge for about 2 days with active use.
Thanks to the updated Kirin 710F processor, which received small power consumption and low screen resolution, it will allow using Honor Play 3 for a very long time.
The charging time will be about 3.5 hours via micro USB port and 10W power adapter.
Huawei Honor Play 3: Conclusions and Reviews
Undoubtedly, the new generation of Huawei Honor Play 3 has an attractive appearance with good performance for little money.
But the Redmi line will be the first competitor for the Honor Play 3 and it will be very difficult to compete. The other day we wrote a review about Redmi Note 8 Pro, which is a bit more expensive, but on the technical side a little higher, you can read the link here.
The main features of the Huawei Honor Play 3 have a large screen with a hole-punch for the front camera, like the flagship models. It is also worth noting good performance, a 48-megapixel camera and a 4000 mAh battery.
Huawei Honor Play 3: Price and Where to buy cheaper?
The Huawei Honor Play 3 model is now on sale and you can buy it at an interesting price for $199.99.
Given its technical specs and attractive, modern appearance, the Honor Play 3 model is worth its attention.