A Rear Display That Might Double as a Health Monitor
The Honor 700 series rear screen may track your vitals. Honor teased the idea ahead of a November 13 launch in China.
This is a hands-off look at the teaser, not a hands-on review. I can’t judge accuracy or comfort yet. I can explain what Honor showed, what it didn’t confirm, and what to watch.
What Honor Has Shown So Far
Honor revealed the design of the 700, 700 Pro, and 700S a few days ago. All three phones carry a small display inside the camera plateau.
According to Notebookcheck, official images show a square rear panel. It displays heart rate and blood oxygen levels. It also shows rear-camera selfies and flight reminders.
Honor confirmed the launch date. The phones arrive in China on November 13.
The Caveat That Matters
As GSMArena notes, Honor hasn’t confirmed the health feature in words. The idea comes from a teaser image. That leaves open how the phone gets the readings.
This gap is the key detail. A screen that displays a number is easy to build. A sensor that measures it well is harder.
How a Phone Could Measure Heart Rate
Phones have tried this before. Most use optical sensing. A light shines into your fingertip, and a sensor reads the reflected light.
Blood oxygen works in a similar way. It compares red and infrared light absorption. That needs the right hardware and a steady finger.
A sensor near the camera plateau would fit this approach. Your finger naturally rests there. Still, Honor has not named any sensor.
Why Accuracy Needs Context
Fingertip readings change with pressure, motion, and skin tone. Cold hands also affect results. Wearables with continuous contact usually do better.
I would treat any phone reading as a spot check. It should not replace a medical device. Honor will likely add a similar disclaimer.
Why the Rear Screen Idea Makes Sense
Rear displays have struggled to prove their worth. Many serve as novelty widgets. Honor’s mix of uses looks more practical.
Consider the three uses shown in the teaser:
- Vitals: Quick glances at heart rate and oxygen.
- Rear-camera selfies: The main sensors make better selfies than the front camera.
- Flight reminders: Useful info without unlocking the phone.
The selfie use is the strongest. Previewing yourself with the main camera improves framing and quality. Many creators already use rear screens for this.
Workflow and Comfort Questions
Small details decide whether a feature sticks. A rear screen drains battery if it stays on. It also adds a surface that can scratch.
Here is what I will check when units arrive:
- How long a vitals reading takes.
- Whether the screen stays readable in sunlight.
- How much the camera plateau adds to thickness.
- Whether the health data syncs to a companion app.
Data handling matters too. Health readings are sensitive. Honor should explain where the data lives and who can see it.
Three Phones, Three Likely Buyers
Honor hasn’t published specifications for the 700, 700 Pro, or 700S. The sources confirm only the shared rear display. I won’t guess at chips, cameras, or prices.
Still, the naming points to a familiar ladder. The Pro should sit at the top. The S likely targets a lower budget. We will learn if all three get the same health sensor.
That detail will shape value. If only the Pro measures vitals, the feature becomes a upsell. If all three have it, it becomes a series hook.
How It Compares to Wearables
A smartwatch or ring tracks health all day. It records trends, sleep, and workouts. A phone cannot match that.
Shoppers who already own a watch may not care. Others might value a basic check without extra hardware. If you want continuous data, a fitness tracker (paid link) remains the better tool.
Who Should Wait and Who Should Watch
The launch is days away, so patience is cheap. Here is my guidance by profile.
- Health-curious buyers: Wait for accuracy tests.
- Content creators: Watch the rear-camera selfie tools.
- Budget shoppers: Check whether the 700S gets the same screen.
- Travelers: The flight reminders could save a few unlocks.
Takeaways
Honor’s teaser is promising but incomplete. Here is what we know.
- The 700, 700 Pro, and 700S share a rear display.
- Teaser images show heart rate and blood oxygen readings.
- Honor hasn’t confirmed the health feature in words.
- The China launch happens on November 13.
The idea is smart if the sensor is good. A rear screen with real daily uses beats a gimmick. I will test the claims once Honor shares full details.
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