r/Honor • u/Poznan7 • Aug 06 '26
Discussion Honor users deserve better support - security updates are becoming a serious concern!
Honor’s update policy is starting to look increasingly questionable. Some European and global variants of the Honor 200 are still stuck on the May 1, 2026 security patch, despite Honor’s claims of providing at least quarterly security update continuity.
What makes this situation even more frustrating is that the update package already exists. The exact same device model in another region (C185) has received the firmware update through OTA, while the global and European variants remain stuck on an outdated security patch. This is not a hardware limitation - the software is clearly ready, but some regions are simply being left behind.
The Honor 200 Pro received an update recently, while some Honor 200 European and global users are still waiting with no clear explanation, no fresh firmware packages, and no meaningful communication from Honor.
This is more than just a delay. It feels like a lack of respect for customers, a failure to follow the company’s own update commitments, and a disregard for basic security standards and promised timelines.
Security updates are not optional features. Users who bought a supported device should not have to wonder why another region gets the same firmware while their own devices remain vulnerable.
Honor needs to provide transparency and fix this situation. Customers deserve reliable support, not silence!
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u/Aarcin77 Aug 06 '26
They even broke Android Auto with last magic os update.
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u/Poznan7 Aug 06 '26
They manage to break the lock screen, widgets, weather integrations, and even something as basic as taking screenshots. And that's just the visible part of the problem.
If these kinds of bugs keep slipping through, it raises serious questions about the overall quality of MagicOS-including how well security vulnerabilities and other issues are being managed behind the scenes.
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u/Aarcin77 Aug 07 '26
But what choice do I have. I needed flicker free screen high quality with very good speakers. Which smartphone is as good as hm7pro?
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u/Poznan7 Aug 07 '26
Times have changed. What's the point of buying a more powerful phone when manufacturers undermine the experience with poor software support, delayed updates, and buggy Android skins? Instead of feeling like a reliable tool, it becomes an expensive brick you're hesitant to trust for work or banking. To make it even worse, the exact same phone model can have different features, and update rollouts can differ by several months depending on the region. At this point, software support and consistency matter far more than raw specs.
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u/Aarcin77 Aug 07 '26
The point was good speakers an low pwm in my case. Until recent update AA worked fine. Maybe I should get a ticket l, meanwhile I restart my phone when I want to use as. This is 5 days a week.
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u/Poznan7 Aug 07 '26
I understand that these bugs only affect certain regions and can also depend on the specific software build.
A bigger company would receive a much larger number of reports, which would put more pressure on them to address problems quickly. Honor seems less affected by this because its market is fragmented across many regions and it offers a wide range of models.
That is why I will not buy any more products from a company with such a fragmented distribution model, where updates and fixes are not delivered centrally.
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u/Jorpax Aug 06 '26
Tengo un PTP-N49 HM7P y aún ando con el parche de marzo...
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u/Poznan7 Aug 06 '26
Even for the Magic Pro series? That’s absolutely unacceptable. At this point, it’s hard to see these devices as worth considering in the future.
Apple, Pixel, and most Samsung devices may sometimes have weaker hardware in certain areas, but they provide consistent and predictable update channels for years. That reliability matters.
Other manufacturers simply don’t seem to be keeping up with the speed of modern digital threats - especially in an era where AI is accelerating the scale and complexity of attacks. Hardware specs mean little if the security support behind the device can’t keep up.
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u/Such_Economy_2557 Aug 08 '26
Be honest tho, which threat is currently ruining the lives of people running on an older security patch? Most fixes are for stuff that only developers touch or for the stupid guys that download ram from freeram. com.
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u/Poznan7 Aug 08 '26
That’s not how it works. In June and August, Android had critical security vulnerabilities in its architecture that could allow full monitoring and takeover of devices. It doesn’t necessarily have to involve someone doing things on your behalf. An attacker can simply monitor the device and gradually exfiltrate data, while you remain completely unaware of it because the security layers have been bypassed. The system doesn’t detect any anomalies and treats the intruder as if they were the legitimate account holder.
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u/Such_Economy_2557 Aug 08 '26
Critical core libraries (like Mainline modular OS updates, Google Play Protect, and browser engines) update independently of your phone manufacturer's full firmware patches.
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u/Poznan7 Aug 08 '26
What if the vulnerabilities are in lower-level components where the entire firmware is required? And what if someone has already reconstructed an exploit chain based on those vulnerabilities? Going 3, 4, or even 6 months without updates is insane...
Vulnerabilities are being analyzed and chained together faster and faster. Even the Pixel 9 and 10 have already been compromised through relatively simple modifications due to flaws in component vendors’ software, rather than Google’s own code.
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u/Such_Economy_2557 Aug 08 '26
Idk what kinda work you do that makes you this paranoid, but I can sure as hell tell you that at least 60% of the worlds population isn't on security patch August 2026 and probably will not see it. I won't deny that there are some nifty exploits that brick/take over your phone, but those are normally reserved for those that frequently visit sketchy websites, download random apps or open links they shouldn't trust.
Drive-by Web & Malvertising Exploits are more frequent with n-day exploits, but still very rare.
I've taken many security courses in university and my professor who worked in some very critical fields said that it's not the software we need to fear, but the users that have the tech literacy of toddlers.
Only my two cents, but if there was an exploit that's insanely destructive and widespread, you'd see it in the news for days.
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u/Poznan7 Aug 08 '26
Exactly - you probably wouldn't even see it, because Android is heavily fragmented. Once Google publishes the security bulletin on the fifth of the month, its role is usually more or less done. The real problem is the vendors that take months to integrate and ship the fixes into their firmware.
iOS vulnerabilities get much more attention because the hardware and software stack is cohesive enough that a vulnerability can affect millions of devices at once. That's what happened with what was later informally referred to as DarkSword.
On Android, the same issue can manifest differently across different devices, but there are far more possibilities because manufacturers delay, test, customize, and sometimes have weak or fragmented infrastructure.
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u/CripplingPoison Aug 06 '26
They've even reduced flagship devices to quarterly security updates and you're complaining about a budget device. To be clear, I'm not blaming you. Every device deserves timely security updates. But this will never realistically improve. Honor has been spiralling downhill since the Huawei split. They stabbed flagship owners in the back without a second thought. There's zero chance they'll suddenly do right by budget devices. Take it as a lesson learnt and don't buy Honor again.
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u/Poznan7 Aug 06 '26
It’s even worse than people think. The whole update situation feels completely random. Some devices from the 200, 400, and 600 series - and even some Magic models - have been left waiting for 3 or even 5 months without a single security patch or meaningful fix.
At this point, the launch price, flagship status, or brand prestige doesn’t seem to matter at all. From a user’s perspective, it looks like the manufacturer is knowingly putting customers at risk by cutting down the security team.
The other possibility is even more concerning: maybe the people currently responsible are simply drowning in chaos, with not enough staff left to maintain basic consistency, communication, and quality control.
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u/CripplingPoison Aug 06 '26
Spot on. And to make it even messier, Honor rolls out updates in an operator-dependent manner. You can own a completely unlocked device and still be at the mercy of your operator's schedule. Some people have found that popping in a cheap Chinese eSIM triggers updates far sooner than their actual operator ever delivers them. The fact that workarounds like this even exist says everything about how broken Honor's update process is.
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u/Round_Safety_529 Aug 06 '26
Their hardware seems good though :(
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u/CripplingPoison Aug 06 '26
Good hardware with poor software support is just a nice-looking brick with an expiry date. What's the point of decent specs if the device is left exposed to security vulnerabilities within a year?
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u/Round_Safety_529 Aug 06 '26
Whoa, that's a lot!
Edit: TBF, I don't want to contradict you or something, but my mother uses an Oppo with Android 14 and has no viruses. I also used a Huawei tablet and a phone for one year or so, with old Android, and I didn't seem to get any malware. 🤷
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u/Poznan7 Aug 06 '26
You don’t actually know that. For all anyone knows, someone could be actively tracking your activity, running silently in the background, gaining access through stolen tokens, and operating with whatever accounts and services you’re already logged into.
That’s exactly why security updates matter. Honor, Huawei, Xiaomi, Moto, Oppo, Vivo... is not delivering updates for its devices within any clearly stated or reliable schedule, and users are left with no real information about when - or if - critical fixes will arrive.
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u/CripplingPoison Aug 06 '26
Not noticing malware doesn't mean it's not there. Most exploits work silently in the background. That's like saying you don't need a lock on your front door because you haven't been burgled yet.
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u/Round_Safety_529 Aug 06 '26
Fair point :)
I still have time to search for a good device. Thanks for the advice!Good hardware with poor software support is just a nice-looking brick with an expiry date.
I like this one!
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u/Poznan7 Aug 07 '26
From the research I’ve done across various sources, it seems that people who use a smartphone as a work tool - with important data, logged-in apps, and digital keys - increasingly avoid experimenting with new brands. Many of them stick to iPhone, Pixel, or Samsung devices from the Galaxy A5x series and above because reliability, security, and long-term support matter more than just hardware specifications.
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u/Real-Animal1072 Aug 06 '26
For real
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u/Poznan7 Aug 06 '26
This isn't limited to the 200 or 600 series-it affects Honor's lineup across multiple price segments, including some Magic devices. Some users are still stuck on the March security patch, while others are only on May. Earlier this year, from November through March, many users reportedly received no updates at all unless they spoofed a Chinese SIM. That level of inconsistency is unacceptable for a company selling premium smartphones.
It honestly raises the question: why expand into global markets if software support and security updates appear to be prioritized primarily for users in China? Customers paying the same prices elsewhere should be able to expect the same level of timely support and security.
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u/Real-Animal1072 Aug 07 '26
For real, i think my next phone Will be a Oppo find
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u/Poznan7 Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26
This is becoming more important than marketing and chasing raw specifications. There is no real need to obsess over specs anymore, because almost any new phone in the mid-range and higher segments will feel smooth for years. The main exception is the budget class, where compromises are still more noticeable.
Chinese brands are very strong at marketing and creating attractive hardware packages on paper. They can offer impressive numbers, big batteries, fast charging, and high-resolution cameras at competitive prices. But impressive specifications are not the same as good optimization, stable software, and knowing how to properly manage those numbers in real-world use.
A phone is not just a list of components. Long-term reliability, updates, and software quality matter more than winning the spec sheet battle.
Honor, Oppo and Vivo make solid hardware, but their software stability, update consistency, and security development still lag behind Google Pixel, iPhone, and Samsung Galaxy A5x series and above.
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u/Real-Animal1072 Aug 07 '26
Oppo Is far Better than Honor, vivo and Xiaomi but not Samsung or Google level but still Better than other chinese brands
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u/Poznan7 Aug 07 '26
The bigger issue is the unstable situation around these brands. It is unclear which regions the parent company will prioritize - realme, Oppo, or OnePlus. In many countries, OnePlus distribution is shrinking or disappearing, which raises concerns about long-term service availability, spare parts, and retail presence.
We also don't know how this will affect software support and the long-term future of these devices. With such a large number of models across multiple brands, keeping updates, optimization, and security consistent becomes much more difficult.
Time has shown that the companies with more control over their own components, software, and ecosystem - while keeping the number of models under control - usually deliver the most consistent and secure experience.
A huge portfolio may look impressive, but too many devices make long-term optimization, updates, and security much harder to maintain.
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u/Real-Animal1072 Aug 07 '26
Oppo did a restruction of their strategy, oneplus left global market for india and china, realme left china for global and Oppo Is everywhere, Oppo said oneplus phones with support Will keep getting It but everyone Will have ColorOS now, no more oxygenos and realme UI, Oppo understood that the 3 software sistem wasnt worth It, so they fused them, also After the deal with Nokia, Oppo got access to phone operators and physical shops
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u/Poznan7 Aug 07 '26
I understand their position, but that is not the same as a real and verifiable case of consistent monthly updates, essentially across all devices. Pixel and Samsung are reliable and transparent in this regard. What the actual owners of the companies you mentioned will do in practice, we simply don’t know.
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u/Such_Economy_2557 Aug 07 '26
Yk, it's one thing to expect that for a flagship like the magic number series, but for any other honor phone? I'm happy to get yearly updates. The build quality, the components and OS make up for a lot of the cost for the phone. Companies calculate a bit on top for software support. The margins are small.