Honor Smartphones on the Rise: What Repair Businesses Need to Know in 2025

The world of smartphones is changing rapidly. One brand that has notably been on the rise in recent years is Honor. What began as a budget-friendly sub-brand of Huawei has now grown into an independent player competing with giants like Samsung, Xiaomi, and even Apple. For entrepreneurs in the telecom industry (especially mobile phone repair shops) this is the moment to tap into the growth of this brand. In this blog, you'll learn all about Honor’s rebranding and what it means for your repair services.

What is Honor? From Huawei Sub-Brand to Independent Smartphone Brand

Honor was launched in 2013 as a subsidiary of Huawei. The brand focused on affordable smartphones for young users, with a strong emphasis on style and performance. In 2020, Honor was acquired by a group of Chinese companies (a so-called consortium) that joined forces to take over the brand from Huawei.

This acquisition didn’t come out of nowhere. Huawei had been under scrutiny for some time due to concerns about espionage and national security, especially from the United States. The U.S. government accused Huawei of having close ties to the Chinese government and consequently banned American companies from working with Huawei. This meant that Huawei could no longer use key American technologies, such as Google Mobile Services (GMS), Android updates, and chips from companies like Qualcomm.

By separating Honor from Huawei, the brand was able to avoid the American sanctions. After the acquisition, Honor regained access to essential technologies like Google Mobile Services (GMS)—exactly what it needed, particularly in the European market where users simply don’t want to live without their trusted Google apps.

Why Are Honor Smartphones So Popular?

Honor smartphones have grown increasingly popular in recent years, especially since 2021, when the brand separated from Huawei. While Honor used to be somewhat overshadowed by its parent company, it began to truly flourish once it regained access to Google services. It’s no coincidence that Honor is now on the rise. These factors contribute to their rapid growth:

Google Services Are Back on Honor Phones

One of the main reasons Honor is doing so well is that its phones once again fully support Google services. While Huawei still faces trade restrictions and cannot access essential tools like the Play Store or Google Maps, the latest Honor models run Android with full Google integration. That alone makes them a much more appealing choice for many users.

Excellent Value for Money

Honor consistently strikes a great balance between performance, design, and price. This is exactly what appeals to a lot of users. In a market where smartphones are becoming increasingly expensive, Honor offers models that look and feel premium—without the premium price tag. You often get a beautiful AMOLED display, high refresh rates for smooth scrolling, a solid camera setup, and a battery that easily lasts a full day or more.

High-End Models with Premium Specs

Honor no longer focuses solely on the mid-range market. With the Honor Magic 6 Pro, the brand proves it’s playing seriously in the high-end segment. This device features the lightning-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, a stunning 120Hz OLED display, and an impressive camera system that can compete with the top players in the market.

Innovation: Foldable Smartphones and More

Honor isn’t afraid to innovate. With devices like the Honor Magic V2—thinner and lighter than many competitors—the brand shows that it's not holding back when it comes to foldable smartphones. These kinds of models are helping to create fresh market demand.

What Does the Rise of Honor Mean for Repair Shops?

If you run a mobile repair shop, now is the perfect time to prepare for the growing demand for Honor repairs. Since the brand's comeback, devices like the Honor 70 and the Honor Magic 5 Lite are increasingly showing up on repair benches. More devices simply mean more customers—and more opportunities for repair businesses. Thanks to Honor’s rising popularity, repair technicians can now cater to a wider range of models and meet growing demand.

To keep up with this influx, it’s essential to have the right spare parts in stock. Think of models like the Honor 200 and the Honor 90 Lite, each one a popular device with rising demand. Make sure to order your parts from us in time so you won’t have to turn customers away. With a well-stocked inventory, you can respond quickly, serve your clients more efficiently, and take your service to the next level.

Common Honor repairs that you’ll be seeing more and more often include:

• Screen replacements (OLED/AMOLED)
• Battery replacements
• Issues with the USB-C connector
• Software errors and soft bricks

Be well-prepared and make sure you have the necessary parts in stock—this is how you stay one step ahead of the competition.

Make sure you're fully equipped with the right parts for the most popular Honor models. Below, you'll find an overview of highly requested displays for popular models, including manufacturer codes and model numbers:

Honor 70 Display (Service Pack)

• Manufacturer Code: 0235ACMF

• Model Codes: FNE-AN00, FNE-NX9

• View Display

Honor 200 Display (Service Pack)

• Manufacturer Code: 0235AKHV

• Model Codes: ELI-AN00

• View Display

Honor Magic 5 Lite (Service Pack)

• Manufacturer Code: 0235AEMW

• Model Codes: RMO-NX3

• View Display

Honor 90 Lite (OEM-Equivalent)

• Model Codes: CRT-NX1

• View Display

Conclusion

What once started as an affordable offshoot of Huawei is now a fast-growing, independent brand making serious waves—especially in Europe. With full support for Google services once again, and a strong focus on price, performance, and design, more and more people are choosing Honor smartphones. And as a repair technician, you're definitely noticing the shift. Honor devices are increasingly appearing on your workbench, and that brings new opportunities.

Make sure you're prepared with the right parts for the most popular models. That way, you'll never have to say "no," you’ll help your customers faster, and stay ahead of the competition. In short: Honor is growing, so make sure you grow with it!

Stay up to date with the latest developments and updates by following our blogs and connecting with us on LinkedIn.