Honor recently launched the its new Honor 200 Pro, co-engineered with Studio Harcourt Paris, which offers professional studio portrait photography and is the first to receive the world’s renowned portrait effect as its exclusive mode, the Harcourt Portrait Mode.
Midrange device that packs a punch
When Honor introduces the ‘N’ series, the company aims to release smartphones that, while being in the mid-range category, also consist of current innovations. In the past, the series has released notable photography functions.
And with its latest release, the Honor 200 series, co-engineered with Studio Harcourt Paris — which comes in the Pro and standard variants — offers professional studio portrait photography and is the first to receive the world’s renowned portrait effect as its exclusive mode, the Harcourt Portrait Mode.
In addition to that, the Honor 200 Pro also features several AI technology functions to aid daily usage.
Having been given the opportunity to experience the Pro variant, I was impressed by its overall performance for a mid-range smartphone. The Honor 200 Pro comes in two colours — Moonlight White and Ocean Cyan — for the price of RM 2,699 (12GB RAM, 512GB memory).
Whenever I switch to a new phone, there are a few priorities that I will take into account, and I need to consider all of them in my daily work life as a feature writer.
To me, camera performance is important, and how portrait photography can capture a subject is essential. Here is where the Honor 200 Pro camera performs well: it captures photos in authentic colour, which isn’t too bright yet not dull.
The main camera features a customised 50 MP, 1/1.3-inch ultra-large H9000 sensor. The phone also uses a Sony IMX856 50MP Telephoto Camera Sensor — the first in Malaysia to be equipped with it — completed with an OIS+EIS Dual Anti-shake system, allowing users to have enhanced zoom capabilities, improved low-light performance, as well as fast and accurate autofocus.
Crème de la crème — Harcourt portrait mode
The Honor 200 Pro’s Harcourt Portrait Mode aims to capture scenes with the sophistication of a professional photo studio. Studio portraits are highly popular these days, and I’ve recently grown to appreciate this method of photography. However, paying a studio several hundred ringgits for regular portraits is not feasible for many.
Honor’s latest Harcourt Portrait Mode provides users with an alternative to studio photography. With just a plain or aesthetically pleasing background, taking a high-quality portrait shot is now easier and more accessible with this feature.
As a mother, this feature has helped me produce high-quality, studio-like shots of my children’s milestones.
The Harcourt Portrait Mode includes Harcourt Vibrant, Harcourt Colour, and Harcourt Classic, each with its own unique characteristics that enhance the photo’s appearance. The Vibrant mode makes photos vivid; the Colour mode adds an aesthetic touch; and the Classic mode offers a beautiful black-and-white effect that gives photos a timeless feel.
Each mode provides a distinct atmosphere, allowing for a different emotional impact in the photos taken. During my time experiencing the Honor 200 Pro, I was most impressed by this feature, as it significantly enhanced my photography experience.
An integration of modern AI
Advertised as a phone that offers a flagship-level experience, the Honor 200 Pro is powered by Honor’s latest software, MagicOS 8.0, based on Android 14. The feature allows users the following AI capabilities — Magic Portal, AI Natural Tone 2.0, AI Blur Privacy Info, AI Motion Sensing Capture, Smart Folder and Magic Capsule. I can safely say that each feature allows is fairly easy to use and utilise.
For those with short-sighted and astigmatism vision, the AI Circadian Night Display helps ease the eye while scrolling through the phone in low-light settings. The eye comfort display automatically adjusts screen colour temperature based on the user’s body rhythm to help prepare for a better night’s sleep.
I liked that the brand takes into consideration heavy users — those who scroll on social media or rely heavily on their devices — and their eye health. These days, we are regularly glued to our devices with little consideration about the 20-20-20 eye rule. Having the 3,840Hz risk-free PWMN Dimming Display helps lower screen flicker renders, thus improving eye comfort.
The Pro version also has the added function of AI Natural Tone 2.0, which adjusts the screen’s colour temperature according to the user’s lighting for a comfortable viewing experience.
The technicalities
The Honor 200 Pro is equipped with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform and the Honor C1 + RF Enhanced Chipset, which are key components that enhance the performance and network capabilities, improving connectivity and the overall user experience of the Honor 200 Pro.
Powered by a 5,200 mAh battery, there is little worry about the phone’s battery depleting during the day after a full charge. It is equipped with a 100W wired supercharge, which can go from zero to 100 per cent within 41 minutes, and also supports a 66W wireless supercharge.
Overall, the Honor 200 Pro is great for heavy users such as myself, who, if not working, would endlessly scroll on social media. And when I am not, I will spend my time capturing memories with the camera.
