As technology continues to advance, smartphone brands are finding ways to bring more value to consumers, making once-premium features more accessible across different price segments. Features previously reserved for mid-range and flagship devices are now making their way to budget-friendly smartphones. Who would've thought that a phone priced under P10,000 could come with a secondary screen? But then again, it's 2026 and we're living in a time when things we once thought were only possible in a Black Mirror episode are becoming reality. Enter the HONOR Play20A. Let's take a closer look.
 |
| HONOR Play 20A |
Design and build:
Let's start with the HONOR Play20A's main highlight: its secondary screen. Given that this is a budget smartphone, we initially thought it would be nothing more than a gimmick. Turns out, we were wrong. It's actually a functional addition that serves a few practical purposes.
 |
| HONOR Play 20A secondary screen |
The 2-inch display, with its 240 x 296 resolution, is built into the camera module. It doubles as a standby screen where you can view the clock and music previews. More interestingly, it also works as a viewfinder, letting you preview your shots and videos when using the rear camera.
See also: HONOR Play 20A hits Shopee this 11.11 for P8,099
Our review unit comes in a pleasant Light Blue colorway. The overall rear design is easy on the eyes, with the camera module and its secondary screen adding a distinct touch to the look. It has a semi-matte finish that can attract fingerprints and smudges, although these are easy enough to remove with a quick wipe. Meanwhile, the sides sport a shiny, metallic blue finish that ties the entire design together.
 |
| HONOR Play 20A in Light Blue |
At the bottom of the phone, you'll find a single speaker grille that delivers decent volume, although its output may not be loud enough for some users. The same panel also houses the USB-C port, microphone, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a welcome addition for those who still prefer wired audio.
On the right side are the volume rockers and a simple power button. However, the latter doesn't double as a fingerprint scanner, which is a bit odd considering that even some entry-level smartphones already offer this feature. Over on the left side, you'll find the SIM card tray. The HONOR Play20A has a tall form factor, but its lightweight build makes it comfortable to hold and use with one hand.
Display:
The HONOR Play20A's budget positioning becomes apparent when you look at its display, particularly its thick bezels and dated raindrop notch. That said, there's still plenty to appreciate for its price point. Screen quality is decent, with respectable detail sharpness and color reproduction. The main drawback, however, is the noticeably sluggish screen animations, which can make navigating the interface feel less fluid.
Related: HONOR Play 10 Launches for Only P6,999
.webp "HONOR Play 20A 6.9-inch display") |
| HONOR Play 20A 6.9-inch display |
On the upside, the phone packs a massive 6.9-inch display, giving you plenty of screen real estate for watching videos, browsing content, and viewing files and documents. Its large screen is certainly one of its more practical advantages, especially for users who prefer a more spacious viewing experience.
Performance:
Smooth performance on HONOR Play20A is achievable as long as you keep your usage light. In our experience, having more than five apps running simultaneously in the background can already push its Helio G81 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage to their limits. That said, the phone remains usable if you know how to manage your apps and prioritize the ones you use most throughout the day. In other words, it's best to keep your app library lean and avoid running too many tasks at once.
Casual gaming is also manageable, provided you stick to just one game. Not one game at a time, but just one. We tried playing Mobile Legends, and while we did experience occasional lags, these were expected given the phone's entry-level hardware. Overall, the experience was decent enough for casual gaming, as long as you keep your expectations in check.
Read: HONOR 600S Now Available for ₱19,999
On the bright side, the HONOR Play20A comes with very little bloatware. This is a welcome move, especially for a device with limited internal storage, as it leaves more room for apps and files you actually need. It also comes with an FM radio app, a feature that's slowly becoming a rarity in modern smartphones.
Camera:
The HONOR Play20A is equipped with a 13-megapixel main camera and a 5-megapixel selfie shooter. For people working with a smartphone budget of just P8,999, its camera performance could be decent enough to get the job done. There are, of course, noticeable areas for improvement, particularly in image sharpness and color accuracy, even when shooting in daylight. Video recording is also limited to 720p HD, which may be a drawback for those who frequently capture videos. Still, given its price point, these are reasonable compromises to consider.
 |
| The HONOR Play 20A has only two shooting modes: photo and video. |
Check out our sample shots on Teknogadyet's Facebook page.
Battery:
Now, let's talk about HONOR Play20A's strongest suit: battery life. Its massive 6,000mAh battery lasted us two and a half days on a single charge with moderate usage. That's certainly impressive for a budget smartphone. Recharging, however, takes a bit of patience, as it took us 2 hours and 18 minutes to get the battery back to full capacity. Here's a breakdown of our charging test:
15 minutes — 11% to 23%
30 minutes — 34%
45 minutes — 48%
1 hour — 59%
1 hour 15 mins — 67%
1 hour 30 minutes — 74%
1 hour 45 minutes — 82%
2 hours — 91%
2 hours 18 minutes — 100%
Conclusion:
HONOR Play20A is a textbook example of an entry-level smartphone. Its capabilities are understandably limited, but HONOR makes an interesting attempt to set it apart from the competition by adding a secondary screen to the camera module. It's a novelty that, surprisingly, serves practical purposes rather than being just a decorative addition.
At P8,999, the HONOR Play20A doesn't promise more than what its hardware can deliver, and that's perfectly reasonable. Its biggest strengths are its large display, distinctive secondary screen, and impressive battery life. Just keep your expectations in check when it comes to performance and camera capabilities.
 |
| HONOR Play 20A |
Priced at P8,999, the HONOR Play20A is available exclusively on Shopee in the Philippines. It comes in three colorways: Light Blue, Starry Purple, and Midnight Black.
Next read: HONOR 600S Review; A Battery Monster Built for Everyday Adventures