Honor 10 review

GSMArena team, 1 June 2018.

Display

The Honor 10 seems to be sharing the same notched display with the Huawei P20, but looks are often deceiving. Brace yourselves for the technicalities!

Honor 10 reviewHuawei P20 and Honor 10

The unit on the Honor 10 is a 5.84" IPS LCD of 2,280 x 1,080 pixels - this means 19:9 aspect and 432 ppi. The P20 has a 5.8" LTPS IPS LCD screen of 2,240 x 1,080 pixels with 18.7:9 aspect and 429 ppi. See? There is a minor difference - the Honor 10 has 40 additional rows of pixels probably accounting for that 0.04" growth in size.

The Honor 10 has three different color temperature presets for its display - Default, Warm, and Color. Each of those has Normal for accurate and Vivid option for punchy colors. By default the Honor 10 is set at Default + Vivid. This is also where the screen achieves the maximum brightness of 500 nits. Elsewhere the Honor 10 won't light up north of 450 nits.

The black levels are quite deep no matter the color mode, and thus the contrast is always excellent.

Display test 100% brightness
Black, cd/m2 White, cd/m2 Contrast ratio
Honor 10 (Normal) 0.32 449 1403
Honor 10 (Vivid) 0.326 508 1558
Honor 9 0.353 522 1479
Honor 8 0.37 460 1243
Honor 8 Pro 0.399 560 1404
Huawei Honor View 10 0.278 453 1629
Huawei Honor View 10 (Max Auto) 0.311 507 1629
Huawei P20 0.328 477 1454
Huawei P20 (Max Auto) 0.481 695 1445
Huawei P10 0.416 592 1423
Oppo R15 Pro 0 410
Oppo F7 0.228 446 1956
Sony Xperia XA2 0.401 532 1327
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) 0 390
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) (Max Auto) 0 590
Nokia 7 plus 0.254 432 1701

The Honor 10 doesn't offer maximum brightness boost for better sunlight legibility, and we got a rather mediocre average score for sunlight contrast. You would need the maximum the screen can offer to see what's happening on it.

Sunlight contrast ratio

  • Apple iPhone X
    5.013
  • OnePlus 5T
    4.789
  • Samsung Galaxy S8
    4.768
  • Samsung Galaxy S8+
    4.658
  • Samsung Galaxy S9
    4.63
  • Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+
    4.615
  • Samsung Galaxy S9+
    4.537
  • Motorola Moto Z2 Play
    4.459
  • Oppo R11
    4.454
  • Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
    4.439
  • OnePlus 3
    4.424
  • Samsung Galaxy S7
    4.376
  • HTC One A9
    4.274
  • Oppo R15 Pro
    4.251
  • Samsung Galaxy Note7
    4.247
  • Samsung Galaxy A3
    4.241
  • Nokia 8
    4.239
  • Google Pixel 2 XL (pre-update)
    4.234
  • OnePlus 3T
    4.232
  • Google Pixel XL
    4.164
  • ZTE Axon 7
    4.154
  • Samsung Galaxy Note8
    4.148
  • Meizu Pro 7 Plus
    4.147
  • Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)
    4.124
  • Samsung Galaxy S6 edge
    4.124
  • Huawei Mate 10 Pro (normal)
    4.096
  • Samsung Galaxy Note5
    4.09
  • Huawei P20 Pro
    4.087
  • Nokia 6 (2018)
    4.052
  • Google Pixel 2 (pre-update)
    4.023
  • LG V30
    4.022
  • Huawei Nexus 6P
    4.019
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro
    3.998
  • OnePlus X
    3.983
  • Vivo Xplay5 Elite
    3.983
  • Oppo R7s
    3.964
  • Apple iPhone 7
    3.964
  • Apple iPhone 8 (True Tone)
    3.957
  • Huawei P9 Plus
    3.956
  • Meizu Pro 6 Plus
    3.935
  • Lenovo Moto Z
    3.931
  • Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)
    3.918
  • OnePlus 5
    3.914
  • Samsung Galaxy C5
    3.911
  • Samsung Galaxy C7
    3.896
  • Samsung Galaxy A5
    3.895
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor
    3.879
  • Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor
    3.873
  • Motorola Moto G6 Plus
    3.865
  • Samsung Galaxy A8
    3.859
  • Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018)
    3.842
  • Sony Xperia XZs
    3.818
  • Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016)
    3.817
  • Motorola Moto X (2014)
    3.816
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)
    3.812
  • Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
    3.804
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode
    3.802
  • LG V20 Max auto
    3.798
  • Xiaomi Redmi Pro
    3.798
  • Sony Xperia XZ
    3.795
  • Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
    3.789
  • Apple iPhone 6s
    3.783
  • Meizu Pro 5
    3.781
  • Microsoft Lumia 650
    3.772
  • Xiaomi Mi 6
    3.767
  • Sony Xperia XZ1
    3.765
  • Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)
    3.756
  • Nokia 8 Sirocco
    3.745
  • Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
    3.729
  • Apple iPhone 8 Plus (True Tone)
    3.725
  • Oppo F1 Plus
    3.709
  • Vivo X5Pro
    3.706
  • Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)
    3.688
  • Huawei P20
    3.683
  • Apple iPhone SE
    3.681
  • Huawei Mate 9
    3.68
  • Samsung Galaxy A7
    3.679
  • Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
    3.675
  • Meizu PRO 6
    3.659
  • BlackBerry Priv
    3.645
  • Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra
    3.597
  • Apple iPhone 7 Plus
    3.588
  • Sony Xperia XZ2
    3.58
  • LG G6
    3.556
  • Apple iPhone 6s Plus
    3.53
  • Motorola Moto Z Play
    3.526
  • Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode
    3.523
  • Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016)
    3.523
  • Acer Jade Primo
    3.521
  • Microsoft Lumia 950
    3.512
  • Oppo R7 Plus
    3.499
  • Nokia 7 plus
    3.479
  • nubia Z11
    3.466
  • Huawei P10 Plus
    3.456
  • HTC U Ultra
    3.453
  • Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
    3.445
  • Samsung Galaxy J7
    3.422
  • Motorola Moto G6 Play
    3.419
  • Meizu MX5
    3.416
  • LG V20
    3.402
  • Huawei P10
    3.379
  • Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)
    3.378
  • Oppo R9s
    3.352
  • Honor 8 Pro
    3.341
  • Oppo F7
    3.333
  • Oppo R7
    3.32
  • Lenovo P2
    3.316
  • Archos Diamond Omega
    3.305
  • Honor 9
    3.289
  • Xiaomi Mi 5s
    3.276
  • Nokia 5
    3.261
  • Nokia 6 (Chinese version)
    3.244
  • Nokia 6 (Global version)
    3.238
  • Samsung Galaxy J2
    3.235
  • Sony Xperia X Performance
    3.234
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 2
    3.228
  • Motorola Moto X Play
    3.222
  • Oppo F3 Plus
    3.218
  • Huawei Mate 9 Pro
    3.206
  • Huawei P9
    3.195
  • Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
    3.19
  • ZTE Nubia Z17
    3.159
  • Oppo R11s
    3.153
  • Lenovo Vibe Shot
    3.113
  • HTC U11 Life
    3.108
  • Motorola Moto X Force
    3.105
  • LG Nexus 5X
    3.092
  • HTC U11
    3.089
  • Huawei Mate S
    3.073
  • Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
    3.065
  • Apple iPhone 6 Plus
    3.023
  • Asus Zenfone 4 ZE554KL
    3.019
  • Sony Xperia XA1
    3.012
  • Motorola Moto X4
    3.012
  • Sony Xperia L1
    2.994
  • Sony Xperia X
    2.989
  • LG Q6
    2.987
  • Huawei P10 Lite
    2.974
  • Samsung Galaxy Note
    2.97
  • Huawei P20 Lite
    2.952
  • Xiaomi Redmi 5
    2.951
  • Huawei Mate 8
    2.949
  • Sony Xperia XA2
    2.938
  • Oppo Realme 1
    2.932
  • Xiaomi Redmi 4
    2.92
  • Xiaomi Redmi 3S
    2.913
  • Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus
    2.913
  • Sony Xperia XA Ultra
    2.906
  • LG G5
    2.905
  • Huawei Honor View 10
    2.896
  • Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime
    2.893
  • Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
    2.884
  • Sony Xperia XZ Premium (sRGB)
    2.877
  • Sony Xperia XZ Premium
    2.877
  • Sony Xperia Z5
    2.876
  • Nokia 3
    2.871
  • Microsoft Lumia 550
    2.851
  • Lenovo Moto M
    2.813
  • Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
    2.803
  • Sony Xperia Z5 compact
    2.784
  • Honor 10
    2.757
  • Nokia 2
    2.752
  • Meizu MX6
    2.751
  • LG V10
    2.744
  • Huawei Mate 10 (normal)
    2.742
  • Motorola Moto G5S Plus
    2.737
  • Xiaomi Redmi 3
    2.735
  • Huawei Honor 7X
    2.734
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)
    2.714
  • Meizu M5
    2.71
  • Sony Xperia M5
    2.69
  • Xiaomi Mi A1
    2.689
  • Huawei P9 Lite
    2.679
  • Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
    2.679
  • vivo V7+
    2.671
  • Vivo V3Max
    2.659
  • Xiaomi Mi Mix
    2.658
  • Huawei Mate 10 Lite
    2.654
  • Oppo F5
    2.653
  • Doogee Mix
    2.642
  • Xiaomi Mi 4i
    2.641
  • Xiaomi Redmi 4a
    2.635
  • Xiaomi Mi 5X (Standard)
    2.616
  • Sony Xperia XA
    2.609
  • Motorola Moto G4 Plus (max auto)
    2.582
  • Motorola Moto G4 Plus
    2.582
  • Meizu M5s
    2.58
  • Xiaomi Mi 4c
    2.574
  • LeEco Le Max 2
    2.567
  • Huawei P Smart
    2.563
  • Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL
    2.563
  • Microsoft Lumia 640
    2.563
  • Xiaomi Mi Max 2
    2.561
  • HTC U11+
    2.556
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A (Y1)
    2.556
  • Lenovo Moto G4
    2.544
  • Lenovo K6 Note
    2.544
  • Oppo F1
    2.528
  • Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
    2.525
  • Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c
    2.506
  • Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
    2.503
  • BlackBerry Motion
    2.494
  • Oppo F1s
    2.481
  • Motorola Moto G
    2.477
  • Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
    2.473
  • Huawei G8
    2.471
  • Huawei nova
    2.467
  • Sony Xperia Z
    2.462
  • Lenovo Vibe K5
    2.459
  • Meizu m3 max
    2.447
  • Xiaomi Mi 4
    2.424
  • Xiaomi Mi 5X (Auto)
    2.417
  • HTC 10 evo
    2.407
  • Huawei Honor 7
    2.406
  • Vivo V7
    2.404
  • Sony Xperia E5
    2.386
  • ZUK Z1 by Lenovo
    2.382
  • HTC 10
    2.378
  • Oppo F3
    2.376
  • vivo V5 Plus
    2.371
  • Meizu m1 note
    2.362
  • Huawei nova plus
    2.329
  • Razer Phone
    2.328
  • HTC One E9+
    2.305
  • Alcatel One Touch Hero
    2.272
  • Sony Xperia L2
    2.266
  • Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
    2.254
  • Sony Xperia C5 Ultra
    2.253
  • HTC U11+ (EU)
    2.253
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek)
    2.249
  • Sony Xperia C4 Dual
    2.235
  • Xiaomi Mi Note
    2.234
  • Motorola Moto G (2014)
    2.233
  • LG Nexus 5
    2.228
  • Huawei P8
    2.196
  • Meizu M5 Note
    2.189
  • Huawei Honor 6
    2.169
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
    2.166
  • OnePlus Two
    2.165
  • HTC One X
    2.158
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (X20)
    2.145
  • LG Aka
    2.145
  • Archos 50 Diamond
    2.134
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note
    2.119
  • Xiaomi Mi 4S
    2.095
  • Acer Liquid X2
    2.084
  • Huawei P8lite
    2.078
  • vivo V5
    2.059
  • Moto G 3rd gen max manual
    2.026
  • Xiaomi Mi 3
    2.001
  • Xiaomi Mi Max
    1.996
  • Sony Xperia E4g
    1.972
  • OnePlus One
    1.961
  • Sony Xperia Z2
    1.944
  • Meizu m3 note
    1.923
  • BlackBerry Leap
    1.892
  • Meizu m2 note
    1.892
  • HTC Butterfly
    1.873
  • ZTE Nubia Z9 mini
    1.759
  • Sony Xperia U
    1.758
  • Asus Zenfone Selfie
    1.68
  • Motorola Moto E (2nd Gen)
    1.675
  • ZTE Nubia Z9
    1.659
  • Jolla Jolla
    1.605
  • Motorola Moto E
    1.545
  • Sony Xperia M
    1.473
  • Sony Xperia L
    1.351
  • Xiaomi Redmi 2
    1.311
  • HTC Desire C
    1.3
  • Nokia X
    1.291
  • Meizu MX
    1.221
  • Sony Xperia E
    1.215

Now let's talk about color accuracy. Having so many different screen modes is probably confusing, so we'd try to keep it short.

Honor sells you the 10 set at Default + Vivid. We measured an average deltaE of 7.1 and maximum deviation of 11.6 at point white, which is more like blue. There is noticeable blue tint on the screen no matter what you are looking at.

Opting for Default + Normal works much better for average deltaE of 3.5 and maximum deviation of 8.3 also at point white. The blue tint is gone, but the whites are still kind of bluish.

Finally, if you are all about color accuracy - then just pick Warm + Normal. With an average deltaE of 0.8 and maximum deviation of 1.8 - the Honor 10 easily became the phone with the best calibrated display in our database, sharing the first place with Galaxy S7 edge. The colors will probably look a bit dull if you are coming from a punchy screen, but it's better to have that option rather than not, so good job!

Battery life

The Honor 10 has the same sealed 3,400 mAh battery used for the Huawei P20. It offers Huawei's custom solution SuperCharge that requires using a compatible charger and special cable combo, which is kind of a bummer in 2018. Those two pieces come bundled with the Honor 10, so at least you don't have to go shopping.

The 4.5V/5A SuperCharge adapter can bring the Honor 10 from 0% to about 65% in around 30 minutes without making the battery hot and thus prolonging its life. And that's why we can live with the proprietary solution just fine.

The Honor 10 posted a good battery score of 74 hours in our standardized test - in line with the Huawei P20's 75h achievement (same chipset, same battery, similar screen). The standby endurance is just average, just as it was on the P20.

Honor 10 review

Our endurance rating denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the Honor 10 for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern so our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks. The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritties. You can also check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.

Loudspeaker

There is one speaker on the Honor 10, and it's at the bottom. It scored an Excellent mark in our loudness test. The sound quality is very good, too, almost the same as on the P20 models.

Speakerphone testVoice, dB Pink noise/ Music, dB Ringing phone, dB Overall score
Huawei P8 66.7 66.0 68.5 Average
Huawei P9 72.1 66.6 75.6 Good
Honor 8 67.1 66.2 82.6 Good
Xiaomi Redmi 5 66.1 68.4 82.1 Good
Sony Xperia XA2 68.7 72.7 78.3 Very Good
Oppo R15 Pro 69.7 73.5 76.6 Very Good
Honor 9 68.5 71.7 80.3 Very Good
Huawei P10 67.7 70.0 83.6 Very Good
Huawei P20 66.6 69.8 90.0 Very Good
Oppo F7 68.0 73.8 84.8 Very Good
Honor 10 69.3 72.6 87.3 Excellent
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 71.1 72.7 87.7 Excellent
Huawei P20 Pro 71.8 69.2 91.0 Excellent

Audio quality

The Honor 10 delivered flawless accuracy when hooked to an active external amplifier. Its loudness was rather disappointing so we won't be giving full marks, but you can rest assured that all tracks will sound exactly the way they were meant to.

Volume was equally disappointing with headphones, but we also observed very little quality degradation so it's mostly good news. Stereo crosstalk was pretty solid for the case and while a tiny bit of intermodulation distortion crept in, that's impossible to detect outside a lab. A great performance all in all, but lacking in power.

TestFrequency responseNoise levelDynamic rangeTHDIMD + NoiseStereo crosstalk
Huawei Honor 10+0.01, -0.04-95.696.20.00400.054-94.6
Huawei Honor 10 (headphones)+0.01, -0.08-94.695.50.1180.138-74.1
Huawei P20 lite+0.03, -0.03-87.987.80.0110.022-82.1
Huawei P20 lite (headphones)+0.16, -0.03-87.687.60.0200.102-77.5
Motorola Moto G6 Plus+0.00, -0.03-93.693.50.00500.011-94.6
Motorola Moto G6 Plus (headphones)+0.02, -0.02-93.593.40.00670.033-81.0
Oppo F7+0.01, -0.10-92.592.70.00190.0077-91.2
Oppo F7 (headphones)+0.50, -0.20-91.491.80.00790.402-51.5
Nokia 6.1+0.10, -0.20 -37.580.40.00184.735-93.3
Nokia 6.1 (headphones)+0.05, -0.03-94.390.20.00270.019-58.6
Nokia 7 Plus+0.02, -0.31 -38.881.70.00134.690-95.9
Nokia 7 Plus (headphones)+0.25, -0.23-93.390.40.00450.227-53.9
Honor View 10+0.02, -0.01 -92.692.60.00210.012-94.4
Honor View 10 (headphones)+0.17, -0.03-92.092.10.00230.092-52.8

Huawei Honor 10 frequency response
Huawei Honor 10 frequency response

You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing process here.

Reader comments

  • Sayf
  • 27 Oct 2022
  • 6vW

I have got Huawei Honor 10i in 2018 and I have been using it. It's fantastic with high performance, high resolution display, high resolution still pictures and video recording having most of the capabilities (dicovered new techniques every new ...

Agree with the last few comments, bought this phone on launch May 2018 and still using it now. Battery rarely lasts the whole day, but a quick 15 min or so charge on the evening usually sees me through. I recently bought the Xiaomi Mi 11 on impu...

  • Taofiq
  • 17 May 2021
  • awp

too much Heating