Honor Play 3 Specs Prices Pros & Cons Unveiled

Introduction to Honor Play 3

The Honor Play 3 is a mid-range smartphone that was launched by Honor in September 2019. Targeted towards budget-conscious consumers, this device aims to offer a decent balance between performance, camera capabilities, and battery life. With various specifications suited for everyday usage, it serves as an attractive option for those looking for a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank.

Design and Build Quality

The Honor Play 3 has a design that features a modern look with its glass front, plastic back, and plastic frame construction. The dimensions stand at 159.8 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm, making it suitable for one-hand use while maintaining a substantial feel. Weighing in at 176 grams, it's relatively lightweight for its size. The phone supports a Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), offering versatility for users who may require two separate mobile numbers.

Display

The device comes equipped with a 6.39-inch IPS LCD display. With a resolution of 720 x 1560 pixels and a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, the phone delivers satisfactory visual quality for its class, with a pixel density of approximately 269 ppi. The screen-to-body ratio is about 82.4%, providing a broad viewing experience without excessive bezels. The use of an IPS LCD ensures good color reproduction and viewing angles, although the resolution may not be as sharp as higher-end models.

Camera Capabilities

For photography enthusiasts, the Honor Play 3 offers a triple-camera setup on the rear. The primary sensor is 48 megapixels with an f/1.8 aperture, wide-angle lens, and PDAF support, providing substantial detail across images. Accompanying this is an 8 megapixel ultrawide camera with an f/2.4 aperture and a 13mm lens for expansive shots. Lastly, a 2 megapixel depth sensor helps achieve better portrait shots by effectively blurring backgrounds. The camera system supports LED flash, HDR, and panorama shooting modes.

The front camera features an 8 megapixel sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, capable of capturing decent selfies. Video recording on both rear and front cameras is possible at 1080p at 30 frames per second. While not the most advanced camera phone, Honor Play 3 provides sufficient camera functionalities for everyday photo and video shooting.

Performance

Under the hood, the Honor Play 3 is powered by the Kirin 710F chipset, built using the 12 nm process. It features an Octa-core CPU composed of four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7 GHz, along with a Mali-G51 MP4 GPU. This configuration provides a balanced performance to handle daily tasks and moderate gaming activities with relative ease.

Regarding memory allocation, the device offers several variants: 64GB storage with 4GB RAM, 64GB storage with 6GB RAM, and 128GB storage with 4GB RAM options. Additionally, it supports microSDXC cards via a shared SIM slot, allowing for additional storage expansion when needed.

Operating System and Software

Honor Play 3 operates on Android 9.0 (Pie) with the EMUI 9.1 user interface. While not the latest version available at the time, it offers a user-friendly experience with several customization options and features to improve usability. Users can enjoy features such as gesture controls, enhanced privacy settings, and a streamlined interface.

Battery Life

The device is equipped with a non-removable 4000 mAh Li-Po battery, which is a significant capacity for its class. The Honor Play 3 promises extended usage without frequent recharges, making it a reliable companion for a full day on a single charge under typical usage conditions. It supports 10W wired charging, which is standard but efficient enough to recharge the phone without excessive delay.

Network and Connectivity

The Honor Play 3 provides reliable network capabilities, supporting various technologies such as GSM, CDMA, HSPA, and LTE, with detailed compatibility across multiple frequency bands for 2G, 3G, and 4G. This ensures broad signal support and faster data speeds, with LTE (2CA) Cat6 offering download speeds up to 400 Mbps and upload speeds of 50 Mbps.

Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with Wi-Fi Direct support, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS with GLONASS, and BDS for accurate positioning, as well as FM radio. However, the device does not support NFC, which may be a limitation for those relying on contactless payment solutions. The phone uses a microUSB 2.0 port with OTG support, which is a standard feature for devices in this category.

Sound and Multimedia

The Honor Play 3 comes with a loudspeaker and retains the 3.5mm headphone jack, maintaining compatibility with a wide range of audio accessories. This feature is particularly appreciated by those who frequently use traditional wired headphones or audio systems. The device supports standard audio playback and functionality suitable for everyday media consumption.

Sensors and Additional Features

In terms of sensors, the phone is equipped with an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass. While the device lacks more advanced sensors like a fingerprint reader or gyro sensor, it includes essential functionalities that cater to general needs. Some software features include basic customization options, improved battery management, and user-friendly tweaks offered by the EMUI interface.

Color Variants and Pricing

The Honor Play 3 is available in multiple attractive colors, including Magic Night Black, Aurora Blue, and Charm Red, providing options for users to express their personal style. The pricing is competitive, approximately 130 EUR, making it an affordable choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking a phone with practical features and a reliable performance.

Conclusion

In summary, the Honor Play 3 offers a balanced package with a good combination of features, performance, and a competitive price point. Designed for those who require a smartphone that can handle daily tasks with ease while also offering adequate camera and battery performance, it stands as a valid choice within the mid-range segment. Although it doesn’t boast the most cutting-edge capabilities, it represents a solid option for consumers prioritizing cost-effectiveness and reliability.