HONOR has been making bold moves lately, and the HONOR 600 Pro is perhaps the boldest yet. Starting at RM2,599, this phone arrives with a chip, a camera system, and a display that genuinely have no business being in this price bracket. After spending time with the device, we can say that this is not a case of inflated spec sheets. The HONOR 600 Pro earns its reputation as a flagship killer in every meaningful category.
Here is our full breakdown.
Editor
Denise chevron_right
Table of Contents
AI Features & Ecosystem
We want to start here because HONOR's AI integration on the 600 Pro has matured in ways that actually matter to daily use, and not just in ways that look impressive on a slide deck.
Their AI Image to Video 2.0 feature now accepts up to three photos at once, with custom prompts and an expanded library of cinematic templates. We tested this across a variety of subjects — portraits, architecture, food — and the results are genuinely fun to share. The output quality has improved noticeably over what we saw on previous HONOR devices, and the dedicated AI button on the side of the phone makes accessing these tools feel natural rather than buried in a menu.
What impressed us more, however, was the cross-ecosystem improvement. HONOR Share now works seamlessly not just on Android devices but also on iPhones, MacBooks, and Windows laptops via NFC and a drag-and-drop interface. We tested the iPhone file transfer specifically, since that tends to be the pain point for most of us who mix Android phones with Apple laptops or tablets, and the one-tap experience held up consistently. This feature is the kind of practical interoperability that wins over real users, not just reviewers.
One caveat worth noting: the AI Image to Video feature requires an OTA update after purchase and includes a region-dependent trial period, so do make sure to check the terms applicable in Malaysia before you build your workflow around it.
Camera System: The Headliner
The camera upgrade from the 400 Pro to the 600 Pro is a meaningful generational leap, not simply a minor spec bump.
The main sensor comes in at 200MP with a 1/1.4-inch sensor size and CIPA 6.0 optical image stabilisation. That sensor size puts it in true flagship territory, and the stabilisation shows. Handheld shots in mixed lighting came out sharp, and video footage while walking remained smooth without needing to plant our feet.
On to the periscope telephoto lens. It extends from 3x optical on the previous generation to 3.5x optical here, with digital zoom reaching up to 120x. We tested the zoom range extensively, with the 3.5x and even 10x shots retaining strong detail and colour accuracy. Pushing past 30x reveals the limitations of digital processing, as you would expect, but the 120x mode works well enough for picking out distant signage or architecture when you need it.
Low-light performance stands out as one of the most improved areas. HONOR has brought the Magic 8 Pro's night engine algorithm into the 600 Pro, and the results speak for themselves. Night shots retain colour tones without overcooking the brightness, and the noise reduction feels natural rather than the waxy, over-processed look that plagues many competitors at this price point.
If we had to flag one thing, ultra-wide camera performance, while competent, does not quite match the consistency of the main and telephoto lenses. In high-contrast scenes, we noticed some edge softness. It is still a good ultra-wide camera — just not the standout performer of the three.
Design & Build Quality
The HONOR 600 Pro measures 7.88mm thin and weighs 200 grams. In hand, it feels dense and well-balanced rather than heavy — the kind of weight that reads as quality rather than bulk.
In the durability department, the build quality surprised us the most. The 600 Pro carries an IP69K rating, a certification previously reserved for HONOR's higher-end Magic flagship series. IP69K goes beyond the standard IP68 water resistance you see on most premium phones; it adds resistance to high-temperature, high-pressure steam jets. That means this phone can handle a kitchen splashback, a rain caught off-guard, or a poolside fumble with genuine confidence. On top of that, HONOR has earned SGS 5-Star certification for both crush and drop resistance.
We also like how HONOR positions the AI button along the side frame, enhancing functionality while preserving the uncluttered design. The result is a clean, thoughtfully balanced aesthetic that avoids the glossy maximalism embraced by some competitors.
Display & Performance: No Compromises Here
The display on the 600 Pro is a 6.57-inch OLED panel that reaches a peak brightness of 8,000 nits. To put that in perspective, it is 60 per cent brighter than the 400 Pro and sits ahead of most competitors in this price segment.
Outdoor visibility in Malaysia's direct sunlight — which is very much a real daily use case here — is exceptional. The screen stays legible and vibrant even at noon. Colour accuracy is strong, and the panel's response to HDR content delivers noticeably richer visuals on streaming apps that support it.
Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is the headline upgrade that no one expected HONOR to make at this price point. Bear in mind that this is the same flagship chipset powering top-tier devices from Samsung and Xiaomi that cost RM1,000 to RM2,000 more. HONOR claims a 45% improvement in CPU performance and a 44% improvement in GPU performance over the previous generation — and in practice, the difference shows.
Demanding games run at high frame rates without throttling, multitasking between heavy apps stays fluid, and the UI's overall responsiveness feels genuinely flagship-grade. Note that this is the first time an HONOR N-series phone has received a flagship chipset, and it changes the device's competitive positioning entirely.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite also helps with thermal management. Extended gaming sessions pushed the phone warm but not uncomfortable, and we did not observe significant performance throttling during sustained loads.
Battery Life & Charging
The phone's 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery is large by any measure, and paired with the Snapdragon 8 Elite's power efficiency, the combination delivers real multi-day battery life under normal use. We went through full work days — including navigation, streaming, social media, and camera use — and consistently finished with 30 to 40 per cent remaining.
To add, HONOR includes an AI battery scheduling engine that learns your usage patterns over time and optimises charging and discharge cycles accordingly. It is a background feature you will not notice consciously, but it contributes to the consistent battery performance over longer periods of ownership.
The 600 Pro also supports 27W reverse charging, which means it can act as a wireless charging pad for other devices — including iPhones. This feature is genuinely useful for travel or situations where you are down to one charged device and need to share some power.
HONOR’s main trade-off lies in wired charging speed. The 600 Pro supports 80W wired charging, down from the 100W offered on the 400 Pro. In everyday use, 80W remains quick enough to deliver a meaningful top-up before heading out — but if you’re upgrading directly from the 400 Pro and value that extra 100W boost, it’s worth noting. The slower wired charging is likely a thermal management decision given the silicon-carbon battery chemistry, and we consider it a reasonable trade-off for the battery longevity benefits.
Final Verdict
The HONOR 600 Pro does something that we find genuinely difficult to argue against: it delivers flagship-grade performance, a top-tier camera system, a class-leading display, and flagship-level durability — all from RM2,599.
Inclusion of Snapdragon 8 Elite alone disrupts the pricing logic of the premium segment. Add the 200MP periscope camera, the 8,000-nit OLED, the IP69K rating, and a 7,000mAh battery that lasts more than a day under real-world conditions, and you have a phone that forces much more expensive devices to justify their price tags.
The trade-offs are real but minor: the step down from 100W to 80W charging is noticeable on paper more than in daily life, and the AI Image to Video 2.0 feature requires a post-launch OTA update with a region-dependent trial window. We personally feel that neither of these significantly affects the overall package.
If you are shopping in the RM2,500 to RM3,500 range and want the closest thing to a flagship experience without crossing into flagship pricing, the HONOR 600 Pro belongs at the top of your shortlist. With current launch promotions active, it becomes even harder to overlook.
Watch our full review here if you're too lazy to read!
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