The Honor 500 with attractive design in four colors similar to the Pro version and three configurations was announced on November 24, 2025. Now I want to review its specifications and performance with you and compare it to the 500 Pro to see if it’s worth buying or not.
Design
Physical Dimensions & Feel
The Honor 500 measures 155.8 x 74.2 x 7.75 mm and weighs 198g, just 3 grams lighter than the Pro version. This is a great weight for a device with a large battery, making it comfortable for single-handed use.
Colors and Durability
You can get the Honor 500 in four colors: Starlight Pink, Aquamarine, Moonlight Silver, and Obsidian Black.
This phone gives me total peace of mind. It has IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings. Yes, that’s IP69K, which means it can handle dust, full immersion, and even high-pressure, hot water jets.
Display
Size, Resolution, and Fluidity
You get a 6.55-inch AMOLED flat screen with FHD+ resolution (2736 x 1264 pixels). The display supports a 120Hz Refresh Rate, ensuring that all motion, from scrolling to gaming, is fluid and responsive. It’s incredibly bright, hitting a staggering 6000nits peak brightness. For dark rooms, the minimum brightness is reduced to 1 nit at the hardware-level.
My favorite feature is the 3840Hz eye-protecting dimming. It’s a huge plus for you that you, as you can read my first look reviews at night without eye strain.
Camera
Honestly, the camera is where the Honor 500 truly earns its flagship status. Forget the number game for a second, and look at the results. This isn’t just a camera; it’s an entire imaging suite that makes shooting feel effortless, whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just grabbing a quick photo of your lunch.
200MP Main Camera and Stability
The star of the show is clearly that monstrous 200MP AI Ultra-HD sensor (f/1.9 aperture). What does 200MP really mean for me? It means detail. You can take a wide shot of a landscape, crop into a tiny corner, and still have a high-resolution, sharp photo. It’s like having a digital zoom that doesn’t ruin the image. The built-in OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is the silent hero here; it keeps those massive files tack-sharp, even when you’re shooting quickly or in tricky light.
The system is super versatile too, backed up by a great 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.2 aperture, 112° FOV) that lets you capture those sweeping shots you love, and it doubles as an excellent macro lens, letting you get impossibly close (down to 2.5cm) to small details, like dewdrops on a flower. Photos top out at 16384×12288 pixels, and 4K video recording is maxed out at 30x digital zoom, though it has less digital zoom than the Honor 500 Pro.
50MP Front Camera
The front-facing camera isn’t an afterthought. It’s a powerful 50MP wide-angle lens (f/2.0) that also shoots 4K video. Crucially, the stabilization is rock solid on both sides, thanks to the CIPA 4.5 level image stabilization (OIS + EIS).
Capturing the True Night Mood
The camera also performs well after sunset. With the Enhanced Nighttime Atmosphere feature isn’t just brightening shadows; it captures the actual mood of the scene. You get the light spots, the deep blacks, and the specific colors of the city lights without turning everything into a harsh, over-processed image. It actually feels atmospheric.
Performance
4th Generation Snapdragon 8s
The Honor 500’s processor is the 4th Generation Snapdragon 8s octa-core chipset, built on a 4nm process. Its GPU is the Adreno 825.
Honor didn’t just drop in a good chip, they supercharged it with their own optimization tech. The numbers are frankly huge: a 131% jump in AI computing and GPU performance, a 70% boost in general single and multi-core tasks, and 25% faster memory access. In practice, this means the phone never feels like it’s taking a deep breath before executing a command. It’s just instant.
Memory Configuration
Complementing the powerful Snapdragon 8s, when you decide to grab one of these, you get some excellent options. You can pick up the Honor 500 in three main configurations: the ample 12GB+256GB model, the boosted 12GB+512GB variant, or the ultimate powerhouse with 16GB+512GB.
Honestly, even the base model offers serious memory headroom, making the whole experience feel incredibly fluid, no matter how intense your multitasking gets. Just keep in mind there’s no memory card slot, so the internal storage you choose is what you’re stuck with.
Battery
Capacity and Charging
You won’t have to worry about constantly searching for an outlet, as the Honor 500 comes with a large 8000mAh battery. What’s even better is the battery’s longevity; it’s specifically designed to last for a full 6 years, ensuring you can trust this phone to hold up for the long haul.
When it does finally need a charge, you’ll benefit from the incredibly fast 80W Honor wired SuperCharge. This wired charging is supported by a smart charging mode to protect the battery, but the sheer speed means you’re back to 100% in a flash.
And if a friend’s device or your earbuds need a boost, you can use the device’s 27W wired reverse fast charging feature, effectively turning your phone into a powerful emergency bank.
Connectivity, Security and OS
Wireless Standards and Ports
Connectivity is modern, supporting 5G networking and including modern wireless standards such as Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. It also supports dual SIM dual standby (Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM) and Its physical port is USB Type-C (USB 2.0).
Audio-wise, the stereo speakers with HONOR sound effects are loud and clear.
Biometrics and NFC
Security is quick and seamless with the under-display fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication. And of course, NFC functionality is included for mobile payments, which you can use constantly.
MagicOS 10 (Android 16)
The Honor 500 runs on MagicOS 10 based on Android 16, and the AI integration is central to the experience.
In the Box
I always appreciate a company that gives you everything you need right away. In the box, you get the Honor 500 itself, HONOR SuperCharge charger, USB Type-C data cable, screen protector (pre-applied), ultra-thin transparent case, SIM ejector pin, and quick guide. Everything you need to get started is in the box.
