Honor has introduced an unique entry-level smartphone with the Play 20A, a device that stands out from the crowd for one very distinctive feature: it has a secondary display on the back.
While rear displays have appeared on a handful of smartphones over the years, they remain far from common, especially on non-folding budget phones. Honor has taken that idea and placed a small screen directly on the camera island of the Play 20A.
The phone also combines that unusual rear display with a huge 6.9-inch 90Hz LCD, a MediaTek Helio G81 chipset, a 6,000mAh battery, and expandable storage. On paper, those features make the Play 20A an interesting option for buyers who prioritize screen size and battery life over advanced cameras or premium hardware.
A Huge 6.9-Inch Display
The most noticeable feature when you turn the Honor Play 20A around is its large front display.
The phone comes with a 6.9-inch LCD panel featuring a 90Hz refresh rate. That is considerably larger than the screens found on many modern smartphones, giving the Play 20A a strong appeal for people who spend a lot of time watching videos, browsing websites, using social media, or playing casual games.
The 90Hz refresh rate should also make everyday scrolling and basic animations feel smoother than a traditional 60Hz panel.
Of course, the large screen comes with some compromises. The Play 20A is positioned as an entry-level phone, so buyers should not expect the same display quality, brightness, or resolution experience offered by more expensive Honor models.
Still, having a 6.9-inch panel at this end of the market is one of the phone’s biggest selling points.
The Rear Display Is the Real Talking Point
The feature that makes the Play 20A different is located on the back.
Honor has added a secondary display to the camera island, creating a small screen that can provide useful information without turning the phone over.
It can show the time, display music playback information, and identify incoming callers when the phone rings. This is particularly interesting because the Play 20A does not offer an Always-On Display mode on its main screen.
The rear screen also has another practical purpose. It can act as a preview when taking selfies with the main rear camera.
That means users can frame a self-portrait while using the primary camera instead of relying on the considerably weaker front-facing camera.
Only One Real Rear Camera
Despite the camera island’s appearance, the Honor Play 20A does not actually have a multi-camera setup.
The phone has a single 13MP rear camera, while the front-facing camera uses a 5MP sensor.
The 13MP main camera should naturally have an advantage over the 5MP selfie camera, although neither setup is aimed at photography enthusiasts. In good lighting, the rear camera should be capable of handling basic everyday photos, social media shots, and casual snapshots.
The secondary screen arguably makes the single rear camera more interesting than the specifications suggest. Being able to use the primary camera for selfies could be useful for users who care more about image quality than having a conventional front-camera experience.
However, the rear display could have been even more useful if Honor had paired it with a stronger camera system.
Entry-Level Hardware With 4G Connectivity
Under the hood, the Honor Play 20A uses the MediaTek Helio G81 chipset.
It is a budget-oriented processor designed for everyday smartphone tasks rather than demanding gaming or intensive applications. The phone is also a 4G-only device, so buyers looking for 5G connectivity will need to consider other options.
The Play 20A comes with 4GB of RAM and offers either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage.
Those storage options are fairly modest, but Honor has included a useful feature that many modern phones have abandoned.
Triple-Card Slot Supports microSD
The Honor Play 20A includes a dedicated card slot capable of holding three cards at the same time.
That means users can install:
- Two SIM cards
- One microSD card
The microSD slot supports cards with capacities of up to 1TB, giving users plenty of room to expand storage for photos, videos, music, and applications.
This is a welcome feature for a budget phone, particularly for people who do not want to pay extra for a higher-storage version.
It also means users do not have to choose between using a second SIM and expanding storage.
Large 6,000mAh Battery
Battery life could be another major strength of the Honor Play 20A.
The phone packs a 6,000mAh battery, which is considerably larger than what is found in many mainstream smartphones.
Combined with an entry-level chipset and an LCD display, the large battery should provide strong endurance for everyday users. People who mainly use their phones for messaging, browsing, video streaming, and social media could potentially go well beyond a single day between charges.
For users who spend a lot of time away from a charger, this capacity is particularly appealing.
15W Charging Is the Weak Point
The downside is charging speed.
The Play 20A supports only 15W charging, which feels modest by today’s standards. A 6,000mAh battery is useful, but it also takes a significant amount of time to recharge when charging speeds are limited.
This is one area where Honor could have made the phone more competitive. Faster charging would have made the large battery much more convenient for people who regularly need to top up their phones.
Also Read: Honor Robot Phone Launched With a 200MP Gimbal Camera
Side-Mounted Fingerprint Reader
For security, Honor has placed the fingerprint reader on the side of the phone.
A side-mounted sensor can be convenient because the user’s finger naturally rests near the power button when holding the phone. It also keeps the rear panel clean, which is particularly important here because the camera island already houses the unusual secondary display.
Face unlock may also be available depending on the software configuration and market, but the fingerprint reader provides a more traditional biometric unlocking option.
A Unique Design With a Missed Opportunity
There is no question that the Honor Play 20A is unusual.
The rear display gives the phone something that most conventional smartphones simply do not have. It is a clever way to differentiate an entry-level model in an increasingly crowded market.
However, the feature also raises the question of whether Honor could have done more with it.
The rear screen can display the time, music information, and caller details, and it can help with rear-camera selfies. Those functions are useful, but the display could have become a much bigger selling point with additional customization options, widgets, notifications, or camera-focused features.
The concept is exciting, but the implementation feels somewhat conservative.
Who Is the Honor Play 20A For?
The Play 20A seems best suited to buyers who want a large-screen budget smartphone with excellent battery capacity and don’t mind making a few compromises.
The 6.9-inch display should appeal to people who watch plenty of videos or prefer a larger screen for reading and browsing. The 6,000mAh battery is another major advantage for users who prioritize endurance.
The rear display is more of a bonus. It is certainly different, and it could be useful for selfies and quick information, but it should not be the only reason to consider the phone.
On the other hand, users who want 5G, fast charging, advanced cameras, or high-end gaming performance will likely need to look at more capable alternatives.
Also Read: Honor Band 11 and Honor Band 11 Pro Launched with 26-Day Battery and GPS
Final Verdict
The Honor Play 20A is an interesting example of a budget smartphone trying something different. Its enormous 6.9-inch 90Hz display, 6,000mAh battery, expandable storage, and secondary rear screen give it a distinctive identity.
The rear display is easily the most unusual feature. It can show the time, music information, and caller details while also helping users take selfies with the 13MP main camera. Unfortunately, the limited number of functions makes the concept feel less ambitious than it could have been.
The Helio G81 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 4G connectivity, and 15W charging also make it clear that this is an entry-level device rather than a performance-focused smartphone.
Honor has so far listed the Play 20A on its global website, but official pricing has not yet been confirmed. Its eventual price will be important in determining whether the unusual rear display and huge battery make the Play 20A a compelling budget option.
For now, the Honor Play 20A stands out as a phone with an unusual idea, a huge screen, and plenty of battery life—but also one that leaves plenty of room for a more ambitious follow-up.
Via: (Honor)
Note: Product details, pricing, and availability may change over time. While we try to keep information accurate, please verify details from the official website before purchasing. Some content may be assisted by AI tools like ChatGPT, and some articles may contain affiliate links that may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Reviews, opinions, and feature highlights are based on official specifications and publicly available information at the time of writing.
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