GSMArena team, 23 January 2019

Honor View 20 review

3. Lab tests - display, battery life, speakers, audio

All-View Display with a punch hole front camera design

There's a big, bright display on the Honor View 20 and it's one of the first smartphones to adopt the "hole-punch" style selfie camera. The camera is placed beneath a round cutout below the LCD panel as a way to maximize the display area of the phone.

The "hole-punch" camera is the evolution of the dreaded "notch" - a larger cut-out of the top edge of the screen reserved for the front camera, sensors, and the earpiece. Despite such a small bezel around the top of the display, Honor managed to cram an earpiece speaker, a proximity sensor, and an ambient light sensor into this razor-thin bezel.

You might notice some slight discoloration or shadow of pixels in the area immediately surrounding the camera hole. Honor said that this is completely normal and is a special technique used to prevent any light from leaking into the 25MP selfie camera. It isn't blatantly noticeable in person but if you really want to tickle your OCD bone, just stare at it for a while.

The display itself is a 6.4-inch IPS LCD panel. Honor has always opted to use LCD panels in its devices and really reserves AMOLED panels for its higher-end devices like the Honor Magic 2 and the Honor Note series. In any case, the lower bezel is not as thin as the top and side bezels, but we're seeing this lower bezel get thinner and thinner with every new phone that comes out.

The display's brightness is about average in terms of sunlight legibility - you may find yourself squinting to see what's on the screen on a bright summer day. The panel maxed out at 479 nits regardless of whether auto-brightness is enabled or not. You'll also be able to dim this display very low down to only 1.1 nits.

Display test	100% brightness
Display test	Black, cd/m²	White, cd/m²	Contrast ratio
Huawei P20 (Max Auto)	0.481	695	1445
Samsung Galaxy S9 (Max Auto)	0	658	∞
Xiaomi Mi 8 (Max Auto)	0.002	624	312000
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) (Max Auto)	0	606	∞
Huawei Honor View 20	0.365	479	1313
Huawei P20	0.328	477	1454
Xiaomi Mi 8	0	458	∞
Huawei Honor View 10	0.278	453	1629
OnePlus 6T	0	453	∞
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018)	0	399	∞
Samsung Galaxy S9	0	370	∞

Nevertheless, the sunlight contrast ratio score is pretty good and even beats the Huawei Mate 20 by a huge margin. We can even go further and say it enters the OLED territory.

Sunlight contrast ratio

Apple iPhone XS
5.171
Apple iPhone X
5.013
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
4.965
OnePlus 5T
4.789
Samsung Galaxy S8
4.768
Asus ROG Phone
4.765
Samsung Galaxy S8+
4.658
Samsung Galaxy S9
4.63
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
4.615
Samsung Galaxy S9+
4.537
Samsung Galaxy Note9
4.531
Apple iPhone XS Max
4.516
Sony Xperia XZ3
4.502
Motorola Moto Z2 Play
4.459
Oppo R11
4.454
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
4.439
Oppo RX17 Pro
4.434
OnePlus 3
4.424
Samsung Galaxy S7
4.376
Google Pixel 3
4.35
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018)
4.324
OnePlus 6
4.321
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3
4.291
vivo NEX Dual Display (second display)
4.289
HTC One A9
4.274
LG V40 ThinQ
4.256
Oppo R15 Pro
4.251
Samsung Galaxy Note7
4.247
Samsung Galaxy A3
4.241
Nokia 8
4.239
Google Pixel 2 XL (pre-update)
4.234
OnePlus 3T
4.232
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018)
4.22
Google Pixel XL
4.164
ZTE Axon 7
4.154
Samsung Galaxy Note8
4.148
Meizu Pro 7 Plus
4.147
OnePlus 6T
4.138
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
4.124
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
4.124
vivo V11
4.113
vivo NEX Dual Display
4.108
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (normal)
4.096
Samsung Galaxy Note5
4.09
Huawei P20 Pro
4.087
Xiaomi Mi 8
4.086
Meizu 15
4.082
Nokia 6 (2018)
4.052
Google Pixel 2 (pre-update)
4.023
LG V30
4.022
Huawei Nexus 6P
4.019
vivo NEX S
4.012
Honor Magic 2
4.01
Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro
3.998
OnePlus X
3.983
Vivo Xplay5 Elite
3.983
LG G7 ThinQ (outdoor)
3.978
Oppo R7s
3.964
Apple iPhone 7
3.964
Apple iPhone 8 (True Tone)
3.957
Huawei P9 Plus
3.956
Oppo Find X
3.954
Meizu Pro 6 Plus
3.935
Lenovo Moto Z
3.931
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
3.918
OnePlus 5
3.914
Samsung Galaxy C5
3.911
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE
3.901
Samsung Galaxy C7
3.896
Samsung Galaxy A5
3.895
Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor
3.879
Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor
3.873
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
3.865
Samsung Galaxy A8
3.859
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018)
3.842
Apple iPhone 6
3.838
Microsoft Lumia 950XL
3.837
Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018)
3.834
Sony Xperia XZs
3.818
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
3.817
Motorola Moto X (2014)
3.816
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
3.812
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
3.804
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode
3.802
Xiaomi Redmi Pro
3.798
LG V20 Max auto
3.798
Sony Xperia XZ
3.795
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
3.789
Apple iPhone 6s
3.783
Meizu Pro 5
3.781
Microsoft Lumia 650
3.772
Xiaomi Mi 6
3.767
Sony Xperia XZ1
3.765
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
3.756
Nokia 8 Sirocco
3.745
Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
3.729
Apple iPhone 8 Plus (True Tone)
3.725
Oppo F1 Plus
3.709
Vivo X5Pro
3.706
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
3.688
Huawei P20
3.683
Apple iPhone SE
3.681
Huawei Mate 9
3.68
Samsung Galaxy A7
3.679
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
3.675
Meizu PRO 6
3.659
BlackBerry Priv
3.645
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
3.597
Huawei Honor View 20
3.597
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
3.588
Sony Xperia XZ2
3.58
LG G6
3.556
Apple iPhone 6s Plus
3.53
Motorola Moto Z Play
3.526
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
3.523
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode
3.523
Acer Jade Primo
3.521
Microsoft Lumia 950
3.512
Oppo R7 Plus
3.499
Nokia 7 plus
3.479
nubia Z11
3.466
Huawei P10 Plus
3.456
HTC U Ultra
3.453
Motorola Moto G6
3.448
Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
3.445
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus
3.445
Samsung Galaxy J7
3.422
Motorola Moto G6 Play
3.419
Meizu MX5
3.416
LG V20
3.402
Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018)
3.397
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI Dual Camera
3.393
LG G7 ThinQ
3.39
Huawei P10
3.379
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
3.378
Oppo R9s
3.352
Honor Play
3.349
Honor 8 Pro
3.341
Oppo F7
3.333
Oppo R7
3.32
Lenovo P2
3.316
Archos Diamond Omega
3.305
Honor 9
3.289
Xiaomi Mi 5s
3.276
Nokia 5
3.261
Nokia 6 (Chinese version)
3.244
Xiaomi Mi 5
3.24
Nokia 6 (Global version)
3.238
Samsung Galaxy J2
3.235
Oppo Realme 2 Pro
3.235
Sony Xperia X Performance
3.234
Xiaomi Mi Note 2
3.228
Motorola Moto X Play
3.222
Oppo F3 Plus
3.218
BlackBerry KEY2
3.212
Huawei Mate 9 Pro
3.206
Huawei P9
3.195
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
3.19
ZTE Nubia Z17
3.159
Oppo R11s
3.153
Lenovo Vibe Shot
3.113
Honor 8X
3.113
HTC U11 Life
3.108
Motorola Moto X Force
3.105
LG Nexus 5X
3.092
HTC U11
3.089
Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite
3.087
HTC U12+
3.085
Xiaomi Redmi S2 (Y2)
3.077
Huawei Mate S
3.073
Oppo F9
3.069
Huawei P Smart 2019
3.069
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
3.065
Xiaomi Mi Max 3
3.061
Xiaomi Pocophone F1
3.059
Huawei Mate 20
3.052
Huawei Mate 20 Lite
3.051
Motorola One (P30 Play)
3.026
Apple iPhone 6 Plus
3.023
Asus Zenfone 4 ZE554KL
3.019
Sony Xperia XA1
3.012
Motorola Moto X4
3.012
Oppo Realme 2
3.006
Sony Xperia L1
2.994
Sony Xperia X
2.989
LG Q6
2.987
Huawei P10 Lite
2.974
Samsung Galaxy Note
2.97
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro
2.966
Huawei P20 Lite
2.952
Xiaomi Redmi 5
2.951
Huawei Mate 8
2.949
Sony Xperia XA2
2.938
Oppo Realme 1
2.932
Razer Phone 2
2.932
Xiaomi Redmi 4
2.92
Xiaomi Redmi 3S
2.913
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus
2.913
Sony Xperia XA Ultra
2.906
LG G5
2.905
Huawei Honor View 10
2.896
Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
2.893
Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
2.884
Sony Xperia XZ Premium (sRGB)
2.877
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
2.877
Sony Xperia Z5
2.876
Nokia 3
2.871
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
2.867
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite
2.862
Microsoft Lumia 550
2.851
Nokia 3.1
2.837
Realme U1
2.815
Lenovo Moto M
2.813
Nokia 7.1
2.804
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
2.803
Sony Xperia Z5 compact
2.784
Honor 10 (Vivid)
2.757
Nokia 2
2.752
Meizu MX6
2.751
LG V10
2.744
Huawei Mate 10 (normal)
2.742
Motorola Moto G5S Plus
2.737
Xiaomi Redmi 3
2.735
Huawei Honor 7X
2.734
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
2.714
Meizu M5
2.71
Xiaomi Mi A2
2.696
Sony Xperia M5
2.69
Xiaomi Mi A1
2.689
Huawei P9 Lite
2.679
Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
2.679
vivo V7+
2.671
Vivo V3Max
2.659
Xiaomi Mi Mix
2.658
Huawei Mate 10 Lite
2.654
Oppo F5
2.653
Doogee Mix
2.642
Xiaomi Mi 4i
2.641
Xiaomi Redmi 4a
2.635
Sony Xperia Z3
2.618
Xiaomi Mi 5X (Standard)
2.616
Sony Xperia XA
2.609
Motorola Moto G4 Plus
2.582
Motorola Moto G4 Plus (max auto)
2.582
Meizu M5s
2.58
Xiaomi Mi 4c
2.574
LeEco Le Max 2
2.567
Microsoft Lumia 640
2.563
Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
2.563
Huawei P Smart
2.563
Xiaomi Mi Max 2
2.561
HTC U11+
2.556
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A (Y1)
2.556
Lenovo Moto G4
2.544
Lenovo K6 Note
2.544
Oppo F1
2.528
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
2.525
Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c
2.506
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
2.503
Huawei Honor 10 Lite
2.497
BlackBerry Motion
2.494
Oppo F1s
2.481

Color accuracy out of the box was quite terrible but it can be tweaked to a far more accurate setting. The default "Vivid" color profile is saturated and bright but the whites are halfway between sky blue and gray, which, frankly, makes us want to keep the blue-light filter enabled at all times. The default color profile yielded an average deltaE of 7.3 and a max deltaE of 12.8.

There's a "Normal" color profile which makes a drastic improvement to the appearance of colors and tones down their intensity as well. This profile had a much lower 3.1 average deltaE and a Max deltaE of 6. When we played with the custom setting, we were able to achieve an even better average deltaE of 1.5 and Max deltaE of 2.3.

Most color-accurate setting

Battery life

There's a large 4,000 mAh battery in the View 20 and the included Huawei Super Charger is a great touch. The adapter pours 22.5W into the device and charges the phone up from a dead battery to 59% in our 30-minute charge test and reached 94% in one hour.

The View 20 has a larger battery compared to the View 10's 3,750 mAh. Although the battery is bigger and the 7nm Kirin 980 CPU is more efficient, the added screen size might even out any improvements to overall battery life.

Update, Jan 25: New findings lead us to re-test the battery test in standby, which turned out to be a lot better than before, so we've updated the endurance score accordingly from 88h to 96h.

The final battery score is great - 96h where the video playback, standby and 3G talk times are better than expected. However, the web browsing test is just about average, considering the huge 4,000 mAh battery. The Mate 20, which has the same SoC and battery scored better in our web browsing test. Still, the final scores of both phones are quite similar with the Honor View 20 having the edge on the Mate 20.

Our battery tests were automated thanks to SmartViser, using its viSer App. The endurance rating above denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the Honor View 20 for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern so that our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritty. You can check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.

Honor's Magic UI has come a long way and if you like to control every aspect of power consumption, the battery menu lets you allow and restrict apps from running in the background on a per-app basis. Of course, keep in mind if you limit background activity from, say, Facebook, you won't receive push notifications until you open the app.

Battery tools

Loudspeaker

The Honor View 20 has a standard bottom-firing single speaker that can get loud enough so you can hear it in a noisy pub or at a show. It's scored Very Good rating in our standard testing procedure which involves playing back three different sound sources.

Speakerphone test	Voice, dB	Pink noise/ Music, dB	Ringing phone, dB	Overall score
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3	67.9	71.6	73.7	Good
Huawei Honor View 10	68.6	69.9	77.8	Good
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018)	69.5	72.4	77.8	Very Good
Samsung Galaxy S9	68.5	74.3	81.1	Very Good
OnePlus 6T	67.2	72.5	84.5	Very Good
Honor View 20	68.0	74.3	82.0	Very Good
Huawei P20	66.6	69.8	90.0	Very Good
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE	70.5	74.1	85.2	Excellent

Audio quality

When paired with an active external amplifier, the Honor View 20's audio jack delivered an output of average loudness and mostly great clarity save for the surprisingly high stereo crosstalk.

In fact, this is arguably the only phone in the last few years that actually has better stereo quality with our standard 32ohm testing headphones than without them. The headphones performance, in general, is great as far as clarity is concerned with the average loudness being the only non-impressive bit here.

Test	Frequency response	Noise level	Dynamic range	THD	IMD + Noise	Stereo crosstalk
Honor View 20	+0.03, -0.02	-93.1	93.2	0.0013	0.0083	-64.5
Honor View 20 (headphones)	+0.05, -0.04	-92.8	92.6	0.055	0.116	-74.5
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018)	+0.04, -0.04	-90.6	90.6	0.0015	0.191	-93.8
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) (headphones)	+0.25, -0.207	-91.9	91.9	0.025	0.435	-51.2
Nokia 7.1	+0.02, -0.06	-91.0	88.6	0.0021	0.016	-94.4
Nokia 7.1 (headphones)	+0.05, -0.03	-93.8	89.6	0.0019	0.034	-54.9
Huawei Mate 20 lite	+0.01, -0.02	-94.7	94.7	0.0013	0.0086	-73.1
Huawei Mate 20 lite (headphones)	+0.12, -0.09	-93.8	93.8	0.0035	0.115	-71.7
Honor Play	+0.01, -0.03	-93.0	93.1	0.0037	0.0093	-92.9
Honor Play (headphones)	+0.12, -0.06	-92.3	92.5	0.0027	0.088	-65.7
Pocophone F1	+0.01, -0.02	-93.6	93.6	0.0010	0.0069	-93.8
Pocophone F1 (headphones)	+0.65, -0.08	-91.2	92.5	0.0082	0.359	-50.3

Honor View 20 frequency response

You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing process here.

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3. Lab tests - display, battery life, speakers, audio

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