Honor Play 50 Plus launches as a new 12GB RAM, 50MP camera smartphone for under US$200

The latest addition to the Honor Play series has a new (and, some might say, cleaner and more innovative) take on the higher-end 90 or 90 Pro rear panel. The dual camera hoops contain 1 lens apiece: a "50MP AI" camera and a possibly more disappointing 2MP depth sensor.

The Play 50 Plus boasts a 6,000mAh battery as one of its major selling points, the potential bulk of which is evened out by a chassis also designed to contain a 6.8-inch FHD+ display. It is not flat, although Honor backs its "63°" curve to minimize the appearance of its bezels. Unfortunately, it still does have a noticeable chin.

The 50 Plus' large screen is also LCD rather than OLED, although there is a 90Hz refresh rate as a consolation price. It boots up to show a MagicOS 7.2 UI based on Android 13. Accordingly, the Play 50 Plus will take on devices such as the Realme 11 with the same Dimensity 6020 SoC.

The smartphone has just 1 12GB RAM/256GB internal storage configuration, which come with the option of Honor's latest aurora-effect treatment for glass rear panels. It is presented in the Play 50 Plus' Star Purple and Streaming Silver colorways, although there are plain matte Ink Jade Green and Magic Night Black alternatives.

All 4 options have launched at the price of 1,399 yuan (~US$192). The Play 50 Plus is only available via Honor's Chinese sales channels at present, although that may not necessarily be the case for ever, particularly with the recent return of the OEM to the Indian market.