Honor is about to launch its next gaming phone.
The Honor WIN 2 goes on sale in China on October 21, 2026 at 14:30 local time. Honor's global chief marketing officer, Guan Haitao, shared the price and the main specs on October 15. Pre-orders are already open in China.
This is a China-first launch. Honor has not announced the phone for the U.S. or any other market.
Most of the numbers below come from Honor's teasers and pre-launch reports. We will update once the official specs are out.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| December 26, 2025 | Original Honor WIN launched in China |
| October 15, 2026 | Honor reveals WIN 2 price and main specs |
| October 21, 2026 | WIN 2 launch and first sale in China |
| Early November 2026 | Global RedMagic 12 Pro expected (T3 report) |
Honor WIN 2 price
Honor's CMO said the 12GB + 512GB model costs 5,499 yuan after the Chinese government subsidy. Fone Arena converts that to about $821.
Reports do not agree on the price before subsidies. Huawei Central quotes the CMO as saying Honor's "true price" is 6,299 yuan, with a limited-time discount to 5,999 yuan. It also mentions a 6,499 yuan figure for the lowest industry price. Treat 5,499 yuan as the best case, and expect the real price outside China to be higher.
Five memory options are listed:
- 12GB + 256GB
- 16GB + 256GB
- 12GB + 512GB
- 16GB + 512GB
- 16GB + 1TB
There are three colors: Quick Black, Designated Win and Red/Blue Buff.
Honor WIN 2 specs so far
| Honor WIN 2 | Honor WIN (original) | RedMagic 12 Pro+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (leak) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 |
| Screen | 2K OLED, 185Hz (about 6.89 in, per one report) | 6.83 in 1.5K OLED, 185Hz (leak) | 6.85 in 1.5K OLED, 185Hz (T3 lists 6.58 in) |
| Battery | 10,100mAh | 10,000mAh (leak) | 8,400mAh |
| Cooling | Dual-fan active cooling | One built-in fan | Air plus liquid cooling |
| Charging | 100W wired, wireless (leak) | 100W wired (leak) | Reported 120W |
| Water and dust | IP68, IP69, IP69K (leak) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| China price | 5,499 yuan (12GB + 512GB, subsidized) | 3,999 yuan (12GB + 256GB, at launch) | 6,999 yuan (12GB + 256GB) |
Other WIN 2 details from reports: a flat-edge body, RGB lighting on the back, a visible fan intake, a 200MP main camera, narrow bezels and dual speakers. Camera counts differ between reports, so we are not listing them yet.
What is new and where each phone wins
Honor WIN 2 vs the original WIN. The headline upgrades are the chip, a second fan and a slightly bigger battery (10,100mAh against about 10,000mAh). The screen moves up to 2K. Honor claims the fans can lower the phone's body temperature by up to 14.4 C and the chip's core temperature by up to 15.5 C. These are company claims, not independent tests.
Honor WIN 2 vs the RedMagic 12 Pro+. The WIN 2 wins on battery size, 10,100mAh to 8,400mAh, and on China starting price, 5,499 yuan to 6,999 yuan. The RedMagic costs more but is a dedicated gaming brand with a global version coming. T3 says the international RedMagic 12 Pro arrives around November 3. That is the practical choice for buyers outside China.
Benchmarks are not out yet, so we cannot say which one is faster.
Can you buy it in the U.S.?
Not officially. The original WIN was sold only in mainland China, and Honor has said nothing about a global WIN 2. Imports are possible but come with risks: no U.S. warranty, possible missing Google services, and band support that may not match U.S. carriers. Check those before you buy a grey-market phone.
Which should you buy?
- Buy the WIN 2 if you live in China or can import safely and want the biggest battery and the strongest cooling in a gaming phone.
- Buy the original WIN if you find it on sale in China. It has most of the same ideas at a lower price (3,999 yuan at launch).
- Choose the RedMagic 12 Pro+ or the global RedMagic 12 Pro if you want a gaming phone with an international release and warranty.
- Skip gaming phones and pick a mainstream flagship if you want better software support and a U.S. warranty.
- Wait until October 21. Final specs, the unsubsidized price and early reviews will show if the claims hold up.
Comparing flagships for the U.S.? Try our phone compare tool or read OnePlus 16 vs iPhone 18 Pro.
Other tech news this week
- RedMagic announced the 12 Pro+ in China with an 8,400mAh battery and air plus liquid cooling (Fone Arena).
- Verizon said it will charge $10 a month for iOS 27's iPhone Handoff feature (Engadget, October 17).
- Honor also teased the WIN RT 2 and WIN Turbo 2 for the same October 21 event (Notebookcheck).
Sources
- Huawei Central: Honor reveals WIN 2 series price
- Fone Arena: Honor WIN 2 with 2K 185Hz OLED display, dual-fan cooling, 10100mAh battery
- Fone Arena: RedMagic 12 Pro+ price and specifications
- Huawei Central: Leaked specs reveal what to expect from Honor WIN phones
- Notebookcheck: Honor gaming phone opens pre-orders
- Engadget: Verizon will charge you $10 a month for iPhone Handoff
Image: Honor teaser image of the WIN 2, via Huawei Central.
