HONOR Play 20A launched with a unique rear selfie display!

HONOR’s Play series has traditionally focused on affordable smartphones that cover the essentials without pushing the price too high. The last time the company used the Play 20 name was back in 2021, when it introduced an entry-level phone aimed at everyday users.

Now, several years later, HONOR is bringing the series back with the Play 20A, but it is taking a rather different approach this time. Instead of simply upgrading the hardware, the company has added a feature rarely seen on a budget phone: a secondary display on the back.

And it is not just there for aesthetics. HONOR has designed the small rear screen to serve a practical purpose, particularly when taking selfies with the main camera. So, what else does the new Play 20A bring to the table, and how does it compare with its predecessor? Let’s take a closer look.

HONOR Play 20A Overview

Design and Display

The biggest change in the HONOR Play 20A is on its back. Unlike most phones in this price segment, the Play 20A features a secondary display next to its rear camera module.

The small screen can show information such as the time, incoming call alerts, photos, and music controls. More importantly, it can act as a viewfinder when taking selfies with the main camera.

This means you can use the 13MP rear camera for selfies instead of relying solely on the lower-resolution front camera. It is a small addition, but it gives the Play 20A a feature that is rarely seen in this segment.

Flip the phone around, and you get a 6.9-inch LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The higher refresh rate should make scrolling through social media, menus, and webpages feel smoother than a standard 60Hz panel.

The phone comes in Midnight Black, Light Blue, and Starry Purple color options. Despite having a huge battery, Honor has managed to keep the handset to a reasonable 8.4 mm thickness, and the bezels around the screen are also really slim.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the HONOR Play 20A uses MediaTek's Helio G81 chipset. This is an entry-level processor designed for everyday tasks rather than intensive gaming.

For typical use—messaging, social media, web browsing, video streaming, and light multitasking—the chipset should be adequate. However, buyers looking for a gaming-focused phone will likely need to look at more powerful options in the same price range.

The phone comes with 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage, while a microSD card allows storage expansion of up to 1TB. The three-card slot also means users can expand the storage without giving up either SIM slot.

Camera

HONOR has kept the camera hardware fairly simple. The Play 20A features a 13MP primary rear camera, paired with a 2MP secondary sensor, while selfies are handled by a 5MP front camera.

On paper, these specifications are typical of an entry-level smartphone. However, the secondary rear display changes how the camera can be used.

When taking selfies, users can use the rear screen to see a preview of themselves while shooting with the main 13MP camera. This should potentially result in better selfies than those captured with the dedicated 5MP front camera, particularly in situations where the main sensor has an advantage.

The rear display can also show notifications, incoming calls, photos, and media controls, giving it some functionality outside photography.

Battery and Charging

Another major highlight is the battery. The HONOR Play 20A packs a 6,000mAh battery, giving it one of the larger capacities you can find in this segment.

HONOR lists the typical battery capacity at 6,000mAh, while the rated capacity is 5,850mAh. Combined with the relatively modest hardware, this should make the Play 20A well suited to users who prioritize battery endurance.

Charging, however, is much less ambitious. The phone supports 15W charging, so fully replenishing the large battery will take some time.

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HONOR Play 20A Specifications

• Design, build: 8.4mm thick, IP69K rated
• Display: 6.9-inch LCD screen, 90Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G81 (12nm)
• Memory: 4GB RAM, up to 128GB storage, expandable via microSD
• Software & UI: Android 15, MagicOS 9
• Rear Camera: Dual (13MP primary + 2MP secondary)
• Front Camera: 5MP sensor
• Rear Display: Secondary display for selfies, notifications, calls, and media controls
• Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Battery: 6,000mAh (typical) with 15W charging
• Colors: Midnight Black, Light Blue, Starry Purple

HONOR Play 20A Price and Availability