Specifications
- Screen: TFT IPS, 5.5", 1280×720, capacitive, multi-touch
- Processor: eight-core HiSilicon Kirin 620, 1.2 GHz
- Graphics accelerator: Mali-450 MP4
- Operating system: Android 4.4.2
- RAM: 2 GB
- Built-in memory: 8 GB
- Memory card support: microSDHC up to 32 GB
- Communication: GSM 900/1800 MHz, UMTS 900/2100 MHz, LTE: 1, 3, 7
- SIM: mini-SIM + micro-SIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS)
- Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
- Navigation: GPS/GLONASS
- Cameras: main - 13 MP (flash, autofocus), front - 5 MP
- Sensors: light sensor, gyroscope, motion sensor
- Battery: 3000 mAh, non-removable
- Dimensions: 152.9x77.2x8.65 mm
- Weight: 165 grams
Huawei Honor 4X - when it's cheaper in Russia
Review of the new product of 2015 - Huawei Honor 4X. This is especially relevant in light of recent exchange rate fluctuations. The smartphone plays in the middle price segment and for its price offers very good characteristics... The Honor line is receiving more and more new devices under its “banners”, now Huawei has decided to release an inexpensive and productive phablet - Honor 4X. In terms of characteristics, it is as close as possible to Honor 4C.
Characteristics
OS:
Android 4.4.2 with EUI 3.0 shell
Processor
: 64-bit HiSilicon Kirin 620, 8 cores ARM Cortex-A53, 1.2 GHz
GPU:
ARM Mali-450 MP4 (500 MHz)
RAM
: 2 GB
Data memory:
8 GB, microSDHC card support (up to 32 GB)
Networks and communications:
2 microSIM, GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE (TDD-LTE: B38, B39, B40, B41; FDD-LTE: B1, B3, B7 , IN 20).
Communications:
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0 + EDR, microUSB (USB 2.0) for charging/syncing, 3.5 mm headphone jack, USB-OTG
Screen:
capacitive, IPS, diagonal 5.5 inches, resolution 1280x720 (HD),
Cameras:
main - 13 MP, f/2.0 aperture, autofocus, flash, video recording [email protected] fps, front - 5 MP, viewing angle 88 degrees, video 720p
Navigation:
GPS/GLONASS
Battery
: non-removable, lithium-ion, 3000 mAh
Dimensions:
152.9x77.2x8.7 mm
Weight:
165 grams I draw your attention to the existence of Chinese and Russian versions of the smartphone, the difference is simple - in the Chinese version 2 radio module (that is, both SIMs are on the network at the same time, even if they call one), in the PCT model there is one radio module, but the Chinese version does not support most Russian 4G LTE standards, from FDD LTE there are only B1/B3, while in the PCT — full range of 4G LTE frequencies. And taking into account exchange rate fluctuations, at the time of purchasing the smartphone in Russia it was even cheaper than the less interesting version in China.
Design
Design is one of the many advantages of this device; despite the seemingly calm and universal design, the appearance can be called attractive.
The corrugated back cover also adds charm - it is much prettier and more convenient than gloss.
On the front side there are 3 non-backlit touch keys, on the left - “back”, on the right - “menu”. Above the screen there is a slot for the voice speaker and a peephole for the front camera, proximity and light sensors, as well as a notification LED.
The back cover is ascetic - the Honor inscription, camera and LED flash.
On the top edge there is a 3.5 mm headset jack, on the bottom - microUSB, a microphone and a ringing speaker slot.
The left side of the smartphone is clean, and all the keys are located on the right. The volume control keys are made of the same color and material as the back cover, and the power/lock key is made of silver metal or plastic.
The back cover is removable, but the 3000 mAh battery is non-removable. There are also slots for 2 microSIM and a microSD card. The housing layout is identical to that of the 4 Play and 4C.
Despite all the ergonomics of the case, using the smartphone with one hand will still be problematic - after all, the screen is 5.5. Although it is worth praising Huawei for its efforts in the field of ergonomics. Size comparison with Honor 4C (5 inches) and ZTE Red Bull V5 (5 inches):
Size comparison with Mlais M52 (5.5 inches):
The build of the smartphone is traditionally excellent; there are no questions for Huawei here. Due to the rough cover and small thickness, as well as sloping edges, the smartphone fits perfectly in the hand and is really pleasant to use.
Screen
The smartphone has a 5.5-inch screen with HD resolution. Considering the presence of competitors with FullHD resolution for this and lower prices, this could be written down as a minus... But the screen in Honor 4X is really good. The picture quality is excellent, nice color rendition, no pixelation... Honor 4X - left, right - Mlais M52
Compared to other models
Honor 4X - on the left, Honor 4C - on the right
ZTE Red Bull V5 - right, Honor 4X - left
At angles, the picture is distorted only with very strong deviations, otherwise, again, no complaints about the screen.
The screen brightness is high, there is auto adjustment. However, in the sun the screen fades quite strongly, despite this the information remains readable.
The screen is protected by glass, but the manufacturer is unknown. However, despite the presence of protective glass, it is still better to use a film for protection.
Battery
A lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh is used, the battery is non-removable. The capacity is quite normal for this price category and size of the smartphone, but in the Antutu tester the smartphone received an impressive 9000 points. In everyday life, you should count on 1-1.5 days of active use of a smartphone; on average, a smartphone “lives” 2-3 days without a charge, which is an excellent indicator.
Communications and connectivity Huawei Honor 4X
I note that disabling the 4G mode greatly extends the life of the smartphone.
There were no problems with communication; on the latest official firmware the signal was smooth and clear. There were no dropped calls. Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0 with OTG function are also supported, but NFC is not here.
Navigation
The Kirin 620 processor supports GLONASS, in addition to standard GPS. And in general, there are no questions about the quality of navigation, positioning is fast, the signal on the road is clear, and does not lead through forests.
The smartphone can be used for navigation.
Camera
13 and 5 megapixel cameras are used, similar to Huawei Honor 4C.
There is a flash, autofocus and a whole host of additional functions such as improving skin color, etc. The auto mode is good - all the settings are set perfectly, the pictures come out very nice. However, in low light conditions, the photos may not turn out so interesting; the camera does not have enough aperture. Photo examples
Uncompressed photo with a couple more shots
Performance
The smartphone uses an 8-core HiSilicon Kirin 620 platform and 2 GB of RAM, which is quite standard for this price segment.
Kirin 620 is produced using a 28-nanometer process technology and consists of eight Cortex-A53 processor cores with a frequency of up to 1.2 GHz and a Mali-T450MP4 GPU. Kirin 620 is a competitor to Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 and MediaTek MT6752. Although Antutu favors processors from MediaTek, in real life the advantages are on the side of Qualcomm and Kirin.
Software features
The smartphone operates on Android 4.4 OS. with a graphic add-on from Huawei - Emotion UI 3.0. Android 5.0 already exists for Chinese versions of the smartphone, but I’m waiting for Russification to appear. In principle, I don’t know whether the update will make much sense - EMUI has left almost nothing from Android and I personally like it even more. I consider EMUI one of the most convenient graphical shells; it is thanks to it that you can basically use a 5.5-inch smartphone with one hand, it becomes easier than on the same Lenovo with VibeUI. You can read more about EMUI here.
Multimedia
Honor 4X is equipped with two microphones, one for voice and one for cutting off “extra” sounds, so that the interlocutor will hear you perfectly in almost any conditions.
The smartphone itself is not too loud, but not quiet either. The location of the speaker on the bottom edge is a little unusual, so sometimes it can be accidentally muffled. In general, the volume of both the voice and ringing speakers is sufficient. The volume in the headphones is excellent; listening to music at maximum is no longer comfortable. There is support for DTS mode - the smartphone “raises” the high frequencies and mixes the sound of the channels, creating a 3D sound effect. Overall, the sound quality in the headphones is excellent, just like for a smartphone.
Video review
Comparison of Honor 4X, Mlais M52 and Lenovo S8 A7600
conclusions
Honor 4X turned out to be very, very pleasant, this applies to both the design and ergonomics, and the set of characteristics.
Yes, the price is quite high compared to a number of competitors, but in the case of Honor 4X, first of all, you get... confidence. And this is worth a lot. Pros: - High-quality screen - Excellent build - Support for 2 SIM and 4G LTE - GLONASS support and excellent navigation - Good battery life - Good sound quality
Cons: - Weight - Android 4.4 in the current firmware
One of the downsides would be the price - in China it costs as much as 200+ dollars. We are talking specifically about the version with 2 GB of RAM, since on the same Aliexpress there are better prices, but for a model with 1 GB of memory. But
in Russia it sells for only 12 thousand rubles (August 2015), which makes the smartphone a very interesting option for those who want a high-quality phablet at a low price. In Russia, delivery is free for purchases over 10,000 rubles, and they are delivered by courier service. However, I note that the official Huawei store has adopted the “Chinese” practice of selling in batches, which is inconvenient - you have to wait for the smartphone to become available. You can, of course, go and buy it at some Eldovideo, but the price there will be 1-2 thousand more expensive. Although still cheaper than in China)
That's all, thanks for your attention, read my reviews here
Appearance
The design is quite standard without copying well-known brands and without any pretense of originality.
The body is completely made of dense matte plastic, the back panel has a textured surface that is pleasant to the touch. On top of the back panel there is a main camera lens and an LED flash, and just below there is a neat Honor logo.
The front panel is glossy, it is completely occupied by a 5.5-inch display, framed by a fairly wide frame - 5 mm on the side, 15 mm on the top and 16.5 mm on the bottom. Above the screen is the speaker grille and front camera lens, and below are the Android touch control keys.
The physical keys are placed on the right side as standard - the volume keys and the power button, which, by the way, has a different color from the body.
At the bottom, off-center, there is a microUSB connector, at the top is a 3.5mm audio output for a headset.
The back panel is removable, under it there is a monolithic battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh, as well as slots for two microSIM cards and a slot for a microSD memory card.
The build quality leaves much to be desired - the plastic is flimsy, creaks and bends when compressed. Quite logically, the test sample contained chips in the plastic.
The dimensions of the smartphone are quite significant: 152.9x77.2x8.65 mm and weighing 165 grams.
The smartphone is available in five colors: black, white, red, blue and gold, but only three are available in Russia: classic black, white and gold.
Battery
The battery is capacious - 3000 mAh. The average result of battery tests is 145% of the standard. Which is very good.
| Full discharge time | Discharge in an hour | |
| Video | 10:30 | 9.5% |
| Video HD | 8:20 | 12.1% |
| Easy game | 6:50 | 14.8% |
| Telephone | 19:10 | 5.2% |
| Music | 33:00 | 3.0% |
| GPS on 3G window | 8:00 | 12.6% |
| GPS on Wi-Fi window | 11:30 | 8.7% |
| White screen | 14:10 | 7.0% |
| White screen 100% | 8:00 | 12.6% |
| White screen 0% | 21:30 | 4.6% |
| Internet 3G | 8:20 | 12.1% |
| Internet Wi-Fi | 12:30 | 8.0% |
| Slow 3G torrent | 15:30 | 6.5% |
| Slow torrent Wi-Fi | 33:50 | 3.0% |
Display
Honor 4X received a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1280x720 and a pixel density of 267 per inch, despite the low resolution, pixelation is not obvious. The IPS matrix should provide the screen with wide viewing angles, however, they are average, noticeable shifts in shades depending on the position of the smartphone.
Multi-touch technology supports up to ten simultaneous touches, the brightness can be set either independently or rely on auto-tuning. The maximum brightness level is enough for comfortable reading of information from the screen outdoors. But the minimum brightness is not even enough for reading in the dark, so you can set it higher. I like it even better.
There is an oleophobic coating, which is quite weak: fingerprints remain, but are quickly and easily erased.
operating system
The smartphone runs Android 4.4.2 with a proprietary EMIU 3.0 shell, which is almost similar to the standard Android interface.
It has its own “tricks”, for example, the “Do Not Disturb” mode turns off any type of notifications - even the indicator will not blink, and the “Protected Applications” menu allows you to select the programs you need, which will be available even when the screen is locked.
There are practically no pre-installed applications; all Google utilities are collected in one folder.
In general, if you have already worked with Android, then you will not have any questions, but even for beginners the interface remains intuitive and as simple as possible.
Iron
As a platform, Honor 4X received an 8-core HiSilicon Kirin 620 processor, clocked at 1.2 GHz, a Mali-450 MP4 graphics processor, 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory, of which no more than 5 GB is available to the user, expandable memory via microSD card up to 64 GB.
This kind of hardware is enough for the interface to work smoothly, but as for launching heavy games, everything is not so smooth.
Camera
Honor 4X is equipped with a 13 MP main camera with autofocus and flash and a 5 MP front camera with F2.4 aperture.
The main camera takes very good photos, even in the dark the noise is minimal, the detail and sharpness are high.
The 5 megapixel front camera also copes well with pictures, suitable for both video chats with a good image and selfies.
The main camera shoots video in FullHD 1920x1080 format, the front one - HD.
Huawei Honor 4X as a photo and video camera
| Rear: | 13 MP (4160×3120) |
| Video: | FullHD (1920×1088), 30 fps |
| Front: | 5 MP (2592×1952) |
The camera, despite a fair number of megapixels, is, to put it mildly, mediocre. The pictures are dull, there are a lot of blurs, a lot of obvious defects. If close objects turn out successfully quite often, then it’s better to forget about photographing landscapes for memory altogether.
But I really liked the ability to quickly take photos by double-pressing the volume down button. You grab the phone, you don’t even need to unlock it, click-click - the camera application automatically launches and a photo is automatically taken.
12 more photos
Several dozen more photos.
The video quality is also not outstanding.
Example video
But the front camera for its 5 MP is very good.
The camera interface is strange. It's vertical. Those. When you take pictures, you naturally hold your smartphone horizontally. And if you want to quickly change the setting, you will have to turn the device 90 degrees. Strange decision. Inconvenient.
Battery
Honor 4X is equipped with a non-removable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh. It is enough for intensive use throughout the day without recharging, and with moderate use it will last for two days.
In the settings, you can choose two of the battery-saving modes: “energy saving” and “smart”.
The latter optimizes only the basic parameters, while the “energy-saving” one minimizes energy consumption to the maximum, thereby extending the life of the smartphone almost twice.
In our test at 50% brightness with Wi-Fi turned on and Google Chrome in Normal mode, the smartphone lasted 7 and a half hours of continuous operation. With energy saving modes turned on, this figure should increase quite well.
Communication with the outside world
| 4G | LTE cat.4 150/50 Mbit/s Bands 3,7,8,20 |
| WiFi | b/g/n, 2.4 GHz |
| Bluetooth | v4.0, A2DP |
| USB modes | MTP + Storage |
| USB-OTG | + |
| MHL | — |
| NFC | — |
LTE can be assigned to any of the SIM cards.
Wi-Fi, alas, is single-band. The smartphone does not see the 5 GHz network.
Otherwise, everything that is works as it should work.
When accessing via USB in storage mode, only the Micro-SD memory card is visible.
