Huawei announces Honor 5X for U.S.

At CES 2016, Huawei’s subsidiary, Honor, announced that the Honor 5X will be released in the U.S. on January 31, 2016. The Honor 5X, not to be confused with Google’s recently released Nexus 5X, marks the continued march of Huawei into U.S. consumer markets. Sporting some impressive specs considering the $199 price tag for an unlocked device, Huawei is hoping to make an impression on smartphone shoppers that have become more sensitive to off-contract pricing now that traditional two-year contracts are on the decline.

With a metal build and fingerprint sensor on the back and a 1080p 5.5 inch screen up front. you’d be right in assuming you’re dealing with a device that punches well above its price range. Powering the device, you’ll find a Snapdragon 615 processor and 2GB of RAM along with a 3,000 mAh battery. Finally, the Honor 5X comes with 16GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot for expandable storage, and a 13 MP camera.

However, specs aside, the software has some problems the least of which is the “inspiration” it takes from Apple’s iOS. While eschewing many staple Android features such as the app drawer, Huawei’s EMUI Android skin is running atop Lollipop as opposed to the newer Marshmallow build. While EMUI seems clean and unobtrusive, a pure Android Marshmallow build would be preferable if only to satisfy consumers who have become more and more accustomed to stock Android.

The Huawei Honor 5X comes in Gold, Silver, and Gray and can be preordered on Amazon and Newegg for $199.99 for shipping on January 31, 2016.