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REVIEW: Honor 10 Lite

Huawei's budget-friendly sub-brand, Honor, has provided a nice parallel. It will be kicking off 2019's smartphone season next week with the Honor View20 launch in Paris, but it also closed last year with the device we're about to check out here: the Honor 10 Lite. From the name, you'll guess that this is a toned-down version of the Honor 10 - but, in truth, there's more than meets the eye.
For starters, despite the Lite tag, the Honor 10 Lite is actually bigger than the 10 at 6.21 inches (versus 5.84 inches). Here's where the 10 Lite beats out its predecessor in this category: the chin is now really slim - but not yet all the way down - compared to the 10, which has a thicker bezel below that housed the fingerprint scanner. Eliminating a thick bezel makes a phone look quite odd nowadays and truly gives it an edge-to-edge feel - which is made even more so by the fact that it doesn't have a full notch, but rather a teardrop - or, what I like to call a cyclops - one that's just enough for the front snapper. Its shiny gradient finish, fast becoming a signature of Honor, is also back to mesmerise. The fingerprint scanner, meanwhile, has been relocated to the rear, neatly positioned at the centre.
Going back to the front, you'll find the volume and power buttons to the right, SIM tray on top and micro-USB-B and 3.5mm audio ports below. It has 'only' 64GB of internal storage, but you can slot in an up-to-512GB microSD card on the SIM 2 slot. A USB-C port could've made it more in line with the times. The cameras remain a dual-lens system, but not only has it been rearranged into a vertical stack, its resolution has also been significantly brought down to a 13MP-plus-2MP combo, from the 10's 24MP-plus-16MP (it's 'Lite', remember?).
That doesn't mean Honor compromised image quality, though: it held up pretty well in good light levels, but get ready for grainy images in darker conditions. The dimmer it is, the longer it takes for the focus to lock on to the subject. That could be a major issue if you want to take successive snaps. There is no auto HDR function; you'll have to toggle it yourself manually. Albeit at times inconsistent, the bokeh effect gives out decent results, depending on the light surrounding your subject.
If there's any consolation on this end - especially for selfie lovers - the front camera has been held steady at a generous 24MP. And, as usual with Honor and Huawei phones, you don't have to worry, because selfies come out bright on the 10 Lite. It does tend to get a bit overexposed, and that smoothing feature on most smartphones - you know, that 'beauty' thingy to make you look apparently nicer - remains, which I am not exactly a fan of. It doesn't actually result in a natural look, to be honest.
What's an Honor (or Huawei) phone without AI? Scene recognition is at your disposal in the 10 Lite, but there are times you may be better off using auto mode, as AI recognition sometimes takes away natural colours from your shots.
Battery, meanwhile, is at a decent level. Our standard test showed that the device yielded 14 per cent of power, which isn't the best but still holds its ground. It's good for an entire day but will likely be gasping for electric breath the following morning.
AND SO.
It's sizeable and nice, but most of all, it's a friend to your wallet. The Honor 10 Lite is a worthy alternative to opt for if you're looking to replace your old mid-ranger, or even go down from a flagship. I'm concerned about the camera; however, it still manages to eke out the performance you'd expect from today's middle-of-the-pack devices. Best of all, it's a very reachable upgrade - budget-wise - if you've been using an entry-level device for some time.
alvin@khaleejtimes.com