1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm | 161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm | iPhone 12 mini is significantly smaller and easier to handle with one hand; Honor 90 is larger and may require two hands for comfortable use. |
| Weight | 135g | 183g | iPhone 12 mini is much lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and portability. |
Display
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 5.4" | 6.7" | Honor 90 provides a much more immersive viewing experience, better for media consumption, gaming and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2340 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has a sharper display with more detail. |
| PPI | 476 | 435 | iPhone 12 mini has a slightly higher pixel density, leading to slightly crisper text and images, though the difference is not drastic. |
| Technology | OLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90 offers a much smoother user interface, animations, and scrolling experience. |
| Brightness | 1200 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90 is significantly brighter, offering better outdoor visibility under direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) | iPhone 12 mini's A14 chip provides more raw power for demanding tasks. The Honor 90's Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is a capable mid-range chipset. |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,072,354 | 701,227 | iPhone 12 mini demonstrates significantly better performance in benchmarks, resulting in snappier multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming experiences. |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 644 | The A14 GPU on the iPhone 12 mini generally provides better graphics performance for gaming. |
Camera
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 12MP | 200MP | Honor 90's main camera has much higher resolution, allowing for greater detail in photos and cropping flexibility, though not indicative of overall image quality. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.6 | f/1.9 | iPhone 12 mini has a slightly wider aperture, which could lead to better low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2.55" | 1/1.4" | Honor 90 has a much larger sensor, potentially capturing more light and detail in images. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 12MP | 50MP | Honor 90's selfie camera offers significantly higher resolution for detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.4 | iPhone 12 mini's selfie camera has a slightly wider aperture, which could help with low-light selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | Yes | No | iPhone 12 mini has a dedicated wide-angle lens for landscape shots and group photos, the Honor 90 doesn't have this. |
| Portrait Mode (depth) | No | Yes | Honor 90 includes a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode performance. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | No | Yes | Honor 90 offers a combined wide-angle/macro lens for versatility. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K 60fps | Up to 4K 30fps | iPhone 12 mini offers more versatile video recording options, including 60fps 4K HDR. |
| Video Stabilization | OIS | EIS | Both have stabilization, OIS is generally more effective. |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | 117 | 122 | Honor 90 has a slightly higher overall score, though the video capabilities of the iPhone 12 mini are rated slightly higher than the Honor 90. |
Battery
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 2227 mAh | 5000 mAh | Honor 90 has a much larger battery, which should provide significantly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 20W | 66W | Honor 90 charges much faster, reducing downtime. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi | No | iPhone 12 mini offers wireless charging options. |
Other
| Feature | Apple iPhone 12 mini | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Operating System | iOS 14.1 (upgradeable to iOS 18) | Android 13 | Different OS ecosystems; iOS offers tight integration and security; Android offers flexibility and customization. |
| RAM | 4GB | 8/12/16GB | Honor 90 offers much more RAM, leading to better multitasking and handling resource-intensive apps. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage, so users are limited to the internal storage purchased. |
| Audio | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Noise cancellation microphone | iPhone 12 mini has a superior audio experience, while the Honor 90 includes noise cancellation for calls. |
| Security | Basic security features | Fingerprint sensor | Honor 90 has a fingerprint sensor for convenient biometric unlocking. |
| Connectivity | eSIM support | No eSIM support | iPhone 12 mini offers eSIM for flexibility with multiple carriers. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Apple iPhone 12 mini Advantages
- Smaller & Lighter: Significantly more pocketable and comfortable for one-handed use.
- Stronger Performance: A14 Bionic chip offers better processing power and graphics capabilities.
- Superior Video Recording: Offers more frame rate and HDR options as well as OIS
- Wireless Charging: Supports MagSafe and Qi wireless charging.
- Wider Aperture main camera Potentially capturing more light in low-light.
- Wider Aperture selfie camera Potentially capturing more light in low-light.
- Wide Angle Camera Versatile camera option.
- More Satellite Navigation Systems Better location accuracy.
- eSIM Support Additional flexibility.
- Dolby Atmos Audio Superior sound quality.
Honor 90 Advantages
- Larger Display: Better for media consumption, gaming, and multitasking.
- Higher Resolution and Brighter Display: Sharper and more visible in bright conditions.
- Smoother Refresh Rate: 120Hz display provides a fluid user experience.
- Higher Resolution Main Camera: More detail and flexibility.
- Much Larger Battery: Longer battery life throughout the day.
- Faster Charging: Significantly reduces charging times.
- More RAM: Better multitasking.
- Portrait Camera Better bokeh effect.
- Wide Angle + Macro Camera Versatile camera option.
- Fingerprint Sensor: Secure biometric unlocking.
- Newer Bluetooth Version Improved Bluetooth connectivity.
Trade-offs
- iPhone 12 mini: Smaller battery and slower charging, higher initial cost, smaller display and slightly worse low-light camera performance (compared to Honor 90)
- Honor 90: Bulkier design, weaker benchmark performance, no wireless charging, no wide angle camera.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Apple iPhone 12 mini
- Ideal User: Those who prioritize compact size, strong performance, iOS ecosystem, and wireless charging.
- Use Cases:
- Users who want a small phone for easy carrying and single-handed use.
- Apple ecosystem users who prioritize performance over battery life.
- Users who enjoy wireless charging convenience.
- Users who take advantage of Apple's ecosystem and software.
Honor 90
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize battery life, large display, faster charging, and a smooth user experience.
- Use Cases:
- Users who consume a lot of media, play games or frequently multitask.
- Users who need extended battery life and fast charging throughout the day.
- Android users who prefer the flexibility and customization of the Android OS.
- Users who take frequent selfies and use the camera as part of their daily routine.
Price-to-Value Ratio
- iPhone 12 mini: Usually higher price point, but has a high-performance chip and other premium features such as wireless charging and an eSIM.
- Honor 90: Often a more budget-friendly option, with a strong emphasis on features like the display, battery, and charging speed.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider
- Size and Portability: How important is it for your phone to be small and light for one-handed use?
- Battery Life and Charging: Do you prioritize a long battery life and fast charging, or can you tolerate a shorter battery life for other benefits?
- Ecosystem Preference: Are you more comfortable with iOS or Android, and is having access to features such as wireless charging or eSIM important to you?
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Scenario 1: Frequent Traveler and Commuter
- Recommendation: Honor 90 for its significantly longer battery life and fast charging, making it more reliable when you are on the go and may not always have immediate access to a power outlet.
- Scenario 2: Multimedia Consumption and Gaming
- Recommendation: Honor 90 for the large, high-resolution, and smooth 120Hz refresh rate display.
- Scenario 3: One-Handed Use and Performance on a Budget
- Recommendation: Apple iPhone 12 mini for its compact design and high performance.
- Scenario 4: Photography/Videography Enthusiast
- Recommendation: Apple iPhone 12 mini for its superior video quality and wide angle camera.
What I Would Choose
Based on my personal priorities, I would choose the Honor 90. While I appreciate the compact design and performance of the iPhone 12 mini, the larger, brighter, and smoother display of the Honor 90 is far more appealing for my daily usage, which includes a lot of media consumption, web browsing, and some gaming. Moreover, the significantly longer battery life and faster charging are critical for my needs. The improved camera features are also a welcome addition. While the performance may be a little bit behind the iPhone 12 mini, the trade-off is well worth it for me.
