Huawei Honor 5X Best Fingerprint & Holly 2 Plus Budget Smartphone Review

It hasn’t been so long since Huawei Honor entered into the Indian Smartphone market ! Nevertheless, as of now, the brand is said to be quite successful in creating a good reputation among customers — as Honor has managed to bring devices that have lower price range and impressive specifications. Along with that, the wide range of support centers, a good UI etc make Honor Smartphones quite different from others.
Honor 5X and Honor Holly 2 plus are indeed two of the most popular Smartphones launched by Huawei Honor. Honor 5X did have a superb launch a few weeks before, while Honor Holly 2 plus is a device in the latest range of Honor. There is a high demand for both the device, and you too might be interesting in going for Honor 5X and Honor Holly 2 plus. In this article, we’ll have a brief review of both the devices, so that you can choose well.
Honor 5X and Honor Holly Plus 2 — about Devices
Honor 5X is one of the most notable devices in the mid-range category of Honor Smartphones. Priced at 12,999₹, it is packed with several features and a high-end hardware configuration. The device, made in full metal body, is one meaningful combination of style and performance — and a No-Nonsense Smartphone, as Honor calls it. Just as many other mid-range devices from Honor, 5X too has a classy finish, and the design may sometimes resemble Apple’s. In short, it’s a device that is meant for pro Smartphone users.
Honor Holly 2 plus comes from another sector of Honor — and this sector deals with affordability and nice specifications. In shorter words, Honor Holly 2 plus should be the choice when you have a short budget and need a feature-rich smartphone with standard specifications. Of course, Honor Holly 2 plus is not meant to let you play or do some dev-based stuff. On the other hand, if you want to play a few attractive games, use WhatsApp or Facebook, Honor Holly 2 plus is the best choice. At a rate of 8,499₹, it should work flawless for geek like me 🙂 .
Design
As we said, Honor 5X has a classy, professional and well-finished design, as seen in some other Honor devices. It has to be noted, however, that Honor has included a full metal body in this mid-range Smartphone. With this, what you’ll get is a durable construction and the secure feel when you hold the device. However, the advanced modifications by Honor has created a plastic-like feel for the device, and Honor 5X weighs less than even some plastic-based devices. In spite of all these, design of Honor 5X is commendable.
Honor Holly 2 plus especially designed for Indian market, and the design prioritizes the easiness of use and productivity. It offers a curved back and has a screen-to-body ratio of 68%. Despite the sturdiness of the design, the weight has been kept as low as possible. From the usability point of view, and given that you are using Honor Holly 2 plus for day-to-day purposes, the design philosophy of this low-budget affordable Smartphone is quite appreciable, we would say. Moreover, the controls & handling would be easier.
Display
Attributes | Honor 5X | Honor Holly 2 Plus |
Screen Size | 5.5 Inches | 5.0 Inches |
Display Type | Full HD IPS capacitive touchscreen with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution | IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution |
Honor 5X is packed with a 5.5-inched screen, which is suitable for awesome viewing, and at the same time, gives the best handling. Talking of the display, the device has a full HD IPS display and the screen-to-body ratio is 72.5%, which is good. The multi-touch sensitive screen is also worth mentioning in Honor 5X.
Honor Holly 2 Plus is equipped with a 5-inched IPS display with 1280p. Of course, this is what you can expect from a lower-budget smartphone from this. Despite this, the IPS display of Honor Holly Plus 2 is said to offer better viewing angles and a better visual output too.
Performance
Attributes | Honor 5X | Honor Holly 2 Plus |
Processor | Octa-core CPUs 1.2Ghz + 1.5Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 SoC,64-bit | 1.3 GHz. MTK MT6735P Cortex A53 quad core processor,64-bit |
GPU | Adreno 405 GPU | Mali T720 GPU |
RAM | 2 GB | 2 GB |
Storage | 16GB, Expandable upto 128GB | 16GB, Expandable upto 128 GB |
Battery | 3000mAh with SmartPower 3.0 technology | 4000mAh with SmartPower 3.0 technology |
There’s no question asked about the performance of Honor 5X. The device is packed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 SoC, which is an upgrade from the previously-used 615. The SoC offers a combination of Octa-Core processors in the 64-bit architecture. Also, Honor has integrated a PC-grade GPU into this Smartphone, letting you unleash all the capabilities of gaming. The performance sector of Honor 5X is quite promising, thanks RAM of 2GB. Also, it needs to be noted that the processor and UI of Honor go hand-in-hand. Talking of storage, the internal storage is 16GB but it’s possible to expand the storage up to 128GB using a Micro-SD card. A 3000mAh battery has been packed into board of Honor 5X, which is claimed to offer a backup time of 1.46 days in the mediocre use scenario — thanks is due to the SmartPower 3.0 technology from Honor.
Honor Holly 2 Plus relies on MediaTek for the performance aspect. The budget-friendly smartphone is powered by 1.3 GHz processing power. It uses MTK MT6735P Cortex A53 quad core processor from MediaTek, which is a best choice you can get in available price range. For graphics, Honor Holly Plus 2 has a Mali T720 GPU, which is very good for image processing . When combined with a RAM of 2GB, Honor Holly 2 Plus can offer an exceptionally well performance, even in gaming. The device also has internal storage space of 16GB, which can be expanded to 128GB via MicroSD card. In the first look, the specifications are just the best for the price you pay. Honor Holly 2 plus's battery capacity is 4000mAh, very promising backup time is expected from this beast, as there is SmartPower 3.0 in use.
Camera
Attributes | Honor 5X | Honor Holly 2 Plus |
Rear Camera | 13MP with SmartImage 3.0 | 13MP |
Front Camera | 5MP with SmartImage 3.0 | 5MP |
Honor 5X does not disappoint you when it comes to capturing your moments. It has a 13MP shooter on the rear and a 5MP front camera for stunning selfie shots. Talking about the rear camera, it is powered by SmartImage 3.0 Image Processor. Just as any other Smartphone from Honor, quality photos are assured in Honor 5X. In addition, the front camera has been enriched with a wide-angle lens along with the blue glass infrared filter. Altogether, you can have a set of stunning shots with Huawei Honor 5X.
The primary camera of Honor Holly Plus 2 is of 13MP while the front-facing camera is a 5MP shooter. Along with its standard options such as Full HD (720p) recording and all, you get features such as Auto Focus, Burst Shooting, HDR Mode and one Panorama mode. If compared with other devices in the same price range, camera aspect of Honor Holly Plus 2 is quite a lot satisfying, not to mention the not-so-bad quality output.
Fingerprint Sensor
Fingerprint sensor is a noteworthy feature of Huawei Honor 5X, we’d say. It’s quite impressive to have a fully-fledged fingerprint sensor facility in a mid-range device like this. Fingerprint sensor of is not just about unlocking the device in single touch. On the other hand, you can use the feature for a variety of purposes, such as to make calls or encrypt some files or capture photographs using your camera.
Thanks to the advanced technology in use, sensor of your Honor 5X is quite accurate. Depending upon the fingers you use and frequency of touch, Honor 5X can make your life easier. In addition, the placement of fingerprint sensor is also worth mentioning. It has been placed just below the camera and you can easily put your finger on the place to unlock.
As you know, Honor Holly Plus 2 does not have a fingerprint sensor; nor can you expect that in a device priced lower than a rate of 8,499₹
Software & UI
Attributes | Honor 5X | Honor Holly 2 Plus |
Operating System | Android v5.1.1 Lollipop | Android v5.1
Lollipop |
User Interface | Emotion UI 3.1 | Lite Emotion UI 3.1 |
If you are expecting the Android-like experience in Honor 5X, you are going to get something more. Although running on Android v5.1.1 Lollipop, material design is a distant dream in Honor 5X. If you have used Honor 7 or so, you will not need an introduction to the User Interface. So, we are saying, Honor 5X has on its top EMUI 3.1. Customization isn’t a deal with Honor 5X. That having said, when you are a basic user, you can get accustomed to the UI in a few days or so and there won’t be issues with day-to-day uses. If you are fond of the real Android experience, the icon sets may be very new for you . If we are supposed to sum up, we would say that Honor 5X has a User Interface that is good for the common folks, but fails to satisfy the Pro Android Smartphone user.
Being a low-budget Smartphone and a notable rival phone others like Moto E and Xiaomi Redmi 1S, Honor Holly Plus 2 has a simplified UI on top. You have many options for customizations or in-depth changes. On the other hand, you get almost all options in a conveniently accessible manner. Holly Plus 2 runs on Android 5.1, with update sign of real Android on top. The manufacturer has put Emotion UI 3.1 Lite Skin on top, which is loved by many users. One thing to be noted is that you don’t have much bloatware in Honor Holly Plus 2, thus saving space and resources. Altogether, if we take simplicity and easier management as top priorities, the Software aspect of Honor Holly plus 2 doesn’t disappoint us.
Connectivity Options
Attributes | Honor 5X | Honor Holly 2 Plus |
Connectivity | 4G, Dual SIM,1Micro & 1 Nano SIM slot | 4G, Dual micro SIM |
Sensors | Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor | Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor |
USB OTG | YES | YES |
Price Tag | 12,999₹ | 8,499₹ |
In case if you didn’t notice, Honor 5X is a dual-SIM Smartphone, where you can insert two 4G-enabled SIM cards. The SIM tray consists of space for one Micro-SIM and another Nano-SIM. This is a convenient option, because you do not have to get all your SIM cards into the Nano format. As we come to the other aspects of connectivity, there is Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.1, A-GPS and GLONASS and Micro-USB v2 connectivity.USB OTG is supported but you need to have 3rd party file explorer app like ES File Explorer . If we take the case of sensors, there are all the required sensors such as accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor and digital compass.
Honor Holly Plus 2 is a dual-SIM Smartphone, and both slot can support a 4G SIM. so, you might have to put the right 4G SIM. That having said, the 4G connectivity of Honor Holly Plus 2 is good in such a price range. Other connectivity options of Honor Holly Plus 2 are Bluetooth v4.1, Wi-Fi and A-GPS and the Micro-USB along with OTG. The device also has standard sensors packed into the hardware, such as accelerometer, ambient light sensor and proximity sensor. This is the standard package of connectivity you would get in a sub-8,499₹ Smartphone, for sure.
The Bottom Lines on Honor 5X and Honor Holly
At an affordable rate of 12999₹, Honor 5X never disappoints us! What you get is a high-performance SoC with one sufficient amount of RAM, internal storage and other hardware support. Also, since Honor has a simplified UI on top, you won’t have any issues with performance or speed. On top of all these, at such a rate, you get fingerprint sensor feature in Honor 5X, using which you can unlock your phone and do different tasks such as opening particular apps. In the same line, the powerful battery and camera need to be mentioned. So, we repeat, Honor 5X is just the best if you want a good-enough Smartphone for Pro daily use.
Honor Holly Plus 2 does the job very well — efficiently well if we take into notice its price of 8,499₹. You 'll get many features but the provisioned features are just the best. For instance, you have all the required connectivity options such as WI-Fi and Bluetooth, and the Quad-core is delivering a powerful performance options for you.
In short, the budget-friendly device has been packed with sufficient features and compatible hardware so that the journey is supposed to go smooth. The camera section may disappoint if you expect ultra-quality output; otherwise, it is just a fine thing. Altogether, if you are looking for a common phone for common user, just go and pick Honor Holly Plus 2.
