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Rumors surrounding the upcoming Honor 500 series are intensifying, painting a picture of a significant performance and capability leap for Honor's mid-range lineup. Recent leaks, including a Geekbench listing and insights from industry tipsters, suggest that the new phones will abandon mid-tier chipsets in favor of flagship-level Snapdragon 8-series processors. Combined with a potential massive battery and high-end camera systems, the Honor 500 and 500 Pro appear poised to challenge the very definition of a mid-range device as their expected launch at the end of the year approaches.A New Design Direction Inspired by PixelThe first glimpse of the Honor 500's design came from a leaked sketch shared by tipster Digital Chat Station. The image reveals a significant departure from previous Honor designs, featuring a prominent horizontal rear camera bar that bears a strong resemblance to the design language popularized by Google's Pixel smartphones. This new aesthetic is coupled with a flat display that features rounded corners, suggesting a focus on modern ergonomics and a premium in-hand feel. This design shift indicates Honor's intention to make the 500 series stand out in a crowded market with a bold and recognizable visual identity.Surprising Chipset Upgrades Revealed in BenchmarkInitial speculation suggested the standard Honor 500 would be powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset. However, a recent Geekbench run tells a different story. A prototype identified as model number MEY-AN00, now confirmed to be the standard Honor 500, was listed with the more powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC. This chipset propelled the device to a single-core score of 2,113 and a multi-core score of 6,539 in Geekbench 6.3. The device was also shown running Android 16 with a substantial 16GB of RAM, signaling a major performance uplift that blurs the line between mid-range and flagship performance tiers.Benchmarking results showcasing the powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset performance in the Honor 500Flagship-Grade Specifications Across the BoardFurther leaks from sources like tipster Fixed-focus Digital and an Honor engineer have solidified the speculations, indicating the entire Honor 500 series will utilize Snapdragon 8-series chips. The Pro model is rumored to feature the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, while the standard model will house the powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. Perhaps the most staggering rumor is the claim of an 8-something battery capacity for the standard model, strongly hinting at a nearly 8,000mAh cell that would offer exceptional battery life. Both models are also expected to support 100W wired charging, with the entire lineup potentially gaining wireless charging and full water resistance with an IP68/69 rating.Advanced Camera Systems and DisplayThe photographic capabilities are also set for a substantial upgrade. Reports suggest the standard Honor 500 will feature a dual-camera system headlined by a 200-megapixel main sensor paired with an ultra-wide lens. The 500 Pro is expected to take it a step further by adding a third sensor—a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto camera—enabling high-quality optical zoom. Both phones are said to share a 6.5-inch flat AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring a sharp and fluid visual experience for all content.Positioning and Market ImpactThe collective leaks point to a dramatic repositioning of the Honor 500 series. By equipping what is traditionally a mid-range line with flagship processors, colossal batteries, and advanced camera hardware, Honor seems to be creating a new category of super mid-rangers. An Honor engineer's comment that their standard model should be significantly stronger than the competitor’s Pro variant directly challenges rivals like the Oppo Reno 15 Pro. This aggressive strategy, coupled with an expected price increase, suggests Honor is aiming to offer unparalleled value and performance, potentially redefining user expectations for the segment when the phones launch in China before the end of the year.