New HONOR 600 Lite S First Impressions: Big-Battery Mid-Ranger Smartphone Tested for 24 Hours

New HONOR 600 Lite S First Impressions: Big-Battery Mid-Ranger Smartphone Tested for 24 Hours

I got the opportunity to review the HONOR 600 Lite S ahead of its November rollout, and this is my 24-hour first impression. It is built around endurance: a long-lasting battery, a big screen, and a body rated for water, dust, and drops. Most mid-range phones chase cameras and slim designs, so I was curious how this one feels. Honor has not yet listed an official price, but the phone sits in the mid-range.

The HONOR 600 Lite S 5G
The HONOR 600 Lite S 5G is pictured in Desert Gold colour. Image: Briefly News
Source: Original

The Lite S comes in Velvet Black and Desert Gold. The box includes the phone and a charging cable, but no adapter. It charges at up to 45W with Honor’s charger.

The standout is the 7,700mAh battery. Moving from a phone that needs a top-up by mid-afternoon to this one is a relief. The 6.87-inch 120Hz display suits video, reading, and multitasking, and scrolling is smooth. It is bright enough to read in sunlight, which isn’t a given in the mid-range segment. One-handed use takes effort, which is the trade-off for the size.

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Smartphone camera setup delivers where it counts

The 108MP main camera does what a mid-range phone needs to do, capturing plenty of detail in everyday shots, and 256GB of storage leaves room for them. Double-pressing the AI button opens the camera, even from the lock screen. AI tools can extend a photo, sharpen detail, or cut out a subject. Honor says Image to Video 2.0 arrives by update and may cost after a free trial.

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Honor's MagicOS 10 operating system

The phone runs Honor’s MagicOS 10 on Android, with Google Gemini and Circle to Search built in. Coming from legacy brands means a short adjustment, because menus and gestures sit in different places. Honor’s Phone Clone tool moves your data wirelessly, and the Tips app helps you get settled. The AI button can be customised to launch your favourite apps and tools.

The Lite S takes two SIMs, handy for a personal and a work number, and NFC handles contactless payments, so it is worth setting up security properly. You can unlock the phone with a fingerprint, your face, or a PIN. The fingerprint and face options are quick, and the PIN is the fallback when they fail, such as with wet fingers.

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Durability: IP68, IP69K and drop-rated

The phone is rated IP68, IP69, and IP69K for water and dust, with a 2.5m drop rating. It also has wet-hand touch and an underwater photo mode. Honor notes that protection fades with wear, so treat the ratings as a safety margin and skip the experiments.

First verdict: who is it for?

  • Heavy streamers and commuters
  • People who work outdoors or are hard on their phones
  • Parents and the butterfingered
  • Anyone juggling two numbers
  • Casual photographers and content creators
  • Students and travellers on long days without a plug

Other detailed reviews of the HONOR X7e

The HONOR X7e combines practical smartphone features with a long-lasting battery, making it a compelling choice for everyday use. In a detailed review, Briefly News explored the phone's performance, design, and standout features to determine whether it offers good value for money.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Hilary Sekgota avatar

Hilary Sekgota (Human Interest Head of Desk) Hilary Sekgota is the Head of the Human Interest desk at Briefly News. She completed a BA in Communication Science from Unisa in 2018 and a Diploma in Journalism from Varsity College in 2010. She also passed a set of trainings by Google News Initiative. Hilary joined the Briefly News team in 2022 and started her journalism career at Tshwane Sun. She has 14 years of experience covering current affairs and human interest topics. Email: hilary.sekgota@briefly.co.za