Honor Bee Specs Pricing Pros & Cons Unveiled

Design and Build

The Honor Bee, released in May 2015, was an entry-level smartphone by Honor, a sub-brand of Huawei. It featured a relatively compact and straightforward design, measuring 134.3 x 66.7 x 10 mm. This made it easy to handle and operate with one hand—a feature appreciated by many users at the time. The body was constructed from quality plastic, available in classic colors of black and white, which added to its durable and understated aesthetic.

Display

The device came with a 4.5-inch TFT display, supporting a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of about 218 ppi. While it wasn't the highest resolution display available, it was adequate for daily tasks such as browsing, messaging, and calling. The 62.3% screen-to-body ratio highlighted the era's typical design, where screen size was balanced with physical button placements and bezels.

Performance

Under the hood, the Honor Bee was powered by a Spreadtrum SC7731 chipset, equipped with a Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 CPU and Mali-400MP2 GPU. Though not designed for intensive gaming or multi-tasking, it handled basic smartphone functions decently. Paired with 1GB of RAM, the performance was more than sufficient for running simple apps and Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS with EMUI Lite 3, providing users with a neat and lag-free experience for everyday use.

Storage

With internal storage of 8GB, the device supported microSDHC cards via a dedicated slot, allowing users to expand storage further for media files, photos, and apps. This was a critical feature for users looking to maximize their storage without compromising on performance.

Camera

The Honor Bee featured an 8 MP rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture and autofocus capabilities, sophisticated for entry-level standards of the time. It offered dual-LED flash and panorama features, capable of capturing 1080p videos at 30fps. These features enabled users to document moments with reasonable clarity and quality. The front camera, while modest at 2 MP, sufficed for video calls and basic selfies.

Battery

A removable Li-Ion 1730 mAh battery powered the Honor Bee, offering considerable flexibility given the device's price point. Its standby time was up to 280 hours on 2G and 220 hours on 3G, whereas talk time could reach up to 6 hours on 2G and 7 hours on 3G. This battery life was respectable and aligned with the needs of users who predominantly utilized their phones for basic communication tasks.

Connectivity and Sensors

The Honor Bee supported GSM and HSPA network technologies, ensuring connectivity across 2G and 3G bands. It featured dual SIM functionality (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) which enabled users to manage personal and professional contacts efficiently. The phone's connectivity options included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and FM radio, providing a solid connectivity suite for day-to-day requirements.

Sensors like the accelerometer and proximity sensor enhanced the device’s usability by enabling functions like auto screen rotation and adjusting the display during calls.

Price and Availability

At launch, the Honor Bee was priced at about 70 EUR, making it an affordable choice for consumers looking for basic smartphone functionalities without breaking the bank. Over the years, this device has been discontinued, but at the time of its release, it was a viable option for budget-conscious buyers or those seeking a secondary mobile device.

Conclusion

The Honor Bee offered a balanced set of features tailored to the entry-level market of its time. Despite being discontinued, it remains a testament to Honor's tradition of delivering well-rounded smartphones even at lower price points. Its reasonable performance, adequate camera, and expandable storage made it a practical choice for those entering the smartphone ecosystem in 2015.