Late last year, I flew to Hong Kong to see thethe launch of the Honor View 20first hand.
This phone was notable for three reasons.
Firstly, it was the second commercially available phone to ship with a 48MP rear camera.
Finally, it is among the first Honor phones to come with Magic UI, rather than EMUI.
Ive been using the Honor View 20 for almost two months now.
My review unit landed on my doorstep towards the start of January.
But does it quite deliver on its promise?
Thats a good question.
The decision to introduce a notch on the iPhone X, for example, was an inherently risky decision.
Although it eventually took off, there was always the distinct possibility that the public would find it unappealing.
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You have to admit, that takes balls.
I think the most telling thing is that I barely notice the phones selfie hole anymore.
Magic OS, the fork of Huaweis EMUI skin, does a good job of shifting contentawayfrom the hole.
It just doesnt get in the way.
When Im playing a game, the hole is essentially covered by my thumb.
And when Im watching a movie, the hole is where the letterbox is, making it practically invisible.
It helps that the front-facing hole-punch camera is tiny.
It measures a mere 4mm in diameter.
One thing I was curious about is durability.
Im not exactly delicate with my gear.
Over the years, Ive returned a fair few phones in a dreary state of disrepair.
As mentioned, this consists of a single 48MP lens, paired with a secondary shooter for depth perception.
Given the right conditions, it can produce some amazingly detailed shots.
Take this photo, for example.
Its from a soccer game, with Liverpool playing (nay, hammering) Leicester City at Anfield Stadium.
Thats where the View 20 shines.
The View 20 can produce some genuinely amazing cityscapes and landscapes, capturing oodles of light and detail.
Its the more off-the-cuff moments when it struggles.
And thats at least in my experience when youre most likely to take a photo.
Itll produce snaps that look dull and washed out.
You wont get the same level of quality that youll get with a Huawei Mate 20 Pro.
That includes the software.
But nearly two months after its release, I honestly cant tell the difference.
Software wise, its almost indistinguishable from EMUI.
Obviously, that can all change later down the line.
That doesnt tell you much, does it?
Its basically a flagship in everything but name.
In particular, its battery life is absolutely insane, often lasting two days between charges.
And it looks good, too.
Weve talked about the punch-hole camera.
Theres also the reflective back which, when pivoted towards the light, creates the most astonishing chevron shapes.
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