HONOR 500 PRO 5G

Honor 500 Pro priced at Ksh.85000  steps into the spotlight as a high-performance “sub-flagship” that perfectly balances mid-range affordability with premium capabilities. Aimed at content creators and power users in 2026, this device shines with its impressive 8,000mAh silicon-carbon battery—one of the largest ever packed into such a sleek design—and the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. With a design that draws inspiration from modern minimalism and a strong emphasis on AI-enhanced portrait photography, the 500 Pro is Honor’s key contender against rivals like the Xiaomi 15 and OnePlus 13.

Core Features at a Glance

Marathon Endurance: The enormous 8,000mAh battery supports 80W wired and 50W wireless charging, easily providing two full days of heavy usage.

Flagship Power: With the Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) and up to 16GB of RAM, it effortlessly tackles high-end gaming and AI multitasking.

Portrait Mastery: The triple-camera setup features a 200MP main sensor and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, all enhanced by Honor’s innovative “All-Scenario Live Photo” engine.

Dazzling Display: Enjoy a 6.55-inch AMOLED screen that boasts a peak brightness of 6,000 nits and 3840Hz PWM dimming for exceptional eye comfort.

Rugged Elegance: Its slim 7.8mm aluminum body comes with an IP68/IP69K rating, ensuring it can withstand both deep water immersion and high-pressure water jets.

DESIGN AND DISPLAY.

HONOR 500 PRO display is an impressive 6.55-inch AMOLED panel that strikes a perfect balance between immersive visuals and top-notch eye protection. With a sharp 1.5K resolution (1264 x 2736) and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, everything from animations to scrolling feels incredibly fluid. What really makes it stand out is its astonishing brightness, reaching up to 6,000 nits in HDR mode, which means it’s super easy to read even in bright sunlight. To help reduce eye strain, Honor has included a high-frequency 3840Hz PWM dimming system along with “Oasis Eye Protection,” which minimizes flicker during those low-light moments. The screen is safeguarded by tough aluminosilicate glass and boasts impressively slim 1.05 mm bezels, giving it a screen-to-body ratio of over 91%. Underneath, Honor has packed in a 3D ultrasonic under-display fingerprint sensor that’s quicker and more dependable than the usual optical sensors, especially when your fingers are wet or greasy. Plus, the device comes in a range of stylish finishes like Aquamarine, Starlight Pink, Moonlight Silver, and Obsidian Black.

PERFORMANCE AND HARDWARE.

Honor 500 Pro is crafted to be a high-performance powerhouse, striking a balance between premium mid-range and true flagship status. Let’s dive into the details of its impressive performance and hardware features.

Core Processing Power

At the core of the Honor 500 Pro lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is built on an advanced 3nm architecture. This processor boasts the new Oryon V2 CPU architecture, achieving clock speeds of up to 4.32 GHz. It’s designed to tackle extreme multitasking and demanding applications effortlessly, delivering a remarkable boost in both speed and energy efficiency compared to earlier models.

Memory and Storage

This device comes with top-tier memory standards to ensure smooth performance even under heavy loads. It features LPDDR5X RAM, available in 12GB or 16GB configurations, allowing for nearly instantaneous app switching. For storage, it employs UFS 4.0 technology (or UFS 4.1 in select high-end models), which offers incredibly fast data read and write speeds. Storage options range from 256GB to a whopping 1TB, but keep in mind that there’s no option for expandable storage via microSD.

Gaming & Thermal Management

To maintain its high performance during extended gaming sessions, the Honor 500 Pro is equipped with the Honor Phantom Engine. This AI-driven software works alongside the Adreno 830 GPU to keep frame rates stable—often reaching as high as 120fps in popular games—while reducing any “jitter” or frame drops. The hardware is backed by an advanced VC-Liquid cooling system, which effectively manages heat from the 3nm chip to prevent thermal throttling.

Connectivity & Specialized Chips

Honor has included several specialized hardware components to enhance the overall user experience: Honor C1+ RF Chip: This dedicated radio frequency enhancement chip significantly boosts signal stability and 5G performance, especially in challenging areas like elevators or underground transit. Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor: Unlike standard optical sensors, this technology offers a more reliable and secure way to unlock your device.

CAMERA.

The camera system on the Honor 500 Pro is designed to compete with flagship devices, blending high-resolution hardware with sophisticated AI-driven portrait features.

Rear Camera Configuration

The device features a triple-lens setup anchored by a high-resolution primary sensor and professional-grade zoom capabilities:

• 200MP Main Camera (Wide): This sensor uses a large 1/1.4-inch Samsung ISOCELL sensor with an f/1.9 aperture. It is equipped with CIPA 5.0-level Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which provides gimbal-like stability for low-light photography and steady video recording.

• 50MP Periscope Telephoto: Utilizing the Sony IMX858 sensor, this lens offers 3x optical zoom (68mm focal length). It is specifically tuned for portrait photography, featuring its own OIS to ensure sharp close-ups and a natural “bokeh” background blur.

• 12MP Ultrawide: This lens provides a 117° field of view, ideal for landscapes. It also includes Autofocus (AF), allowing it to double as a macro lens for extreme close-up shots of small objects.

Selfie and Video Capabilities

On the front, the phone houses a 50MP “AI Selfie” camera with an f/2.0 aperture. It supports HDR photography and is capable of recording 4K video, making it a strong choice for vloggers and content creators. For the rear cameras, the Snapdragon 8 Elite ISP enables advanced video features, including 8K recording, gyro-EIS for electronic stabilization, and a cinematic portrait video mode that tracks subjects in real-time.

AI Imaging & Portrait Engine

Honor has integrated several proprietary AI technologies to enhance the photographic experience:

• All-Scenario Live Photo: Users can capture “Live Photos” (similar to Apple’s version) which can be edited with various film-like filters or even converted into 3D-effect portraits after the shot is taken.

• Yundan AIGC Portrait: This AI engine optimizes skin tones, textures, and lighting specifically for human subjects, aiming to mimic the look of professional studio photography.

• Cloud AIGC Enhancements: For photos where the framing isn’t perfect, the device can use cloud-based AI to “reframe” or expand the background of a shot intelligently.

BATTERY AND CHARGING.

Honor 500 pro battery and charging system  stands out as its most impressive engineering achievement, featuring a robust 8,000mAh Silicon-carbon battery. By opting for silicon-carbon technology instead of the usual lithium-ion, Honor has successfully crammed a much higher energy density into a sleek 7.8mm body. This means the device can easily handle two full days of heavy use, even while powering the stunning 1.5K display and the demanding Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. To handle such a hefty capacity, the phone comes equipped with an 80W wired fast-charging system. While it may not be the absolute fastest in terms of sheer wattage, it’s designed for thermal efficiency, ensuring the long-term health of that high-density battery. You can expect to get about 30% charge in just 15 minutes, which is quite impressive considering the battery’s size. For those who enjoy a wireless experience, the phone also supports 50W wireless charging, a speed that competes with many wired options from other brands. Plus, it features reverse wireless charging, so you can tap into that massive 8,000mAh battery to charge up accessories like your wireless earbuds or smartwatch when you need a quick boost.