Alright, let's break down the Huawei P50 Pro and Honor X8b. I'll try to cut through the spec jargon and give you a clear idea of what these phones offer in the real world.
1. Specifications Breakdown
Here's a detailed comparison, keeping it practical:
| Feature | Huawei P50 Pro | Honor X8b | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 158.8 × 72.8 × 8.5 mm, 195g | 161.1 × 74.6 × 6.8 mm, 166g | P50 Pro is thicker and heavier, might feel more substantial. X8b is slimmer and lighter, better for one-handed use and carrying around. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.6" | 6.7" | Negligible difference; both offer ample screen real estate. |
| Resolution | 1228x2700 | 1080x2412 | P50 Pro's higher resolution results in sharper images and text. Noticeable if you're picky about screen clarity. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 450 | 394 | Similar to resolution, P50 Pro offers more detailed visuals. |
| Technology | OLED | AMOLED | Both are vibrant and offer excellent contrast. The difference is subtle, mostly marketing jargon here. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | P50 Pro's 120Hz is noticeably smoother when scrolling and playing games. The Honor X8b's 90Hz is still quite fluid, though. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2000 nits | X8b's much higher brightness makes it far more usable outdoors in bright sunlight. The P50 Pro's listing of 0 nits is likely an error, but the X8b is still likely to be brighter. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Kirin 9000 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | P50 Pro's Kirin 9000 is a powerhouse, handling demanding apps and games with ease. X8b's Snapdragon 680 is more basic, fine for everyday tasks but will struggle with heavy gaming or video editing. |
| AnTuTu Score | 697,566 | 250,000 | Reflects the chipset difference – P50 Pro is significantly faster in synthetic benchmarks. |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP24 (Adreno 660) | Adreno 610 | Again, P50 Pro's GPU is vastly superior for graphics-intensive tasks. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.8 | 108MP, f/1.75 | Higher megapixel count on the X8b can mean more detail, but sensor size and processing matter more. P50 Pro likely takes better photos overall due to superior optics and processing. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.4 | 50MP, f/2.1 | X8b offers a higher resolution selfie camera with a wider aperture. |
| Telephoto Lens | 64MP | None | P50 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities which is missing on the X8b. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP | 5MP | Honor X8b has a dedicated wide-angle lens, which the P50 Pro lacks, although it has a wide angle lens on the front. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP | Honor X8b has a macro lens. |
| Black and White Lens | 40MP | None | Huawei's black and white lens on the P50 Pro could contribute to better contrast and detail in monochrome photography. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | P50 Pro captures significantly higher quality video. |
| DXOMark Score | 143 (Mobile), 144 (Selfie) | N/A | Indicates the P50 Pro has a very capable camera system. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 4360mAh | 4500mAh | Similar capacity, but real-world battery life depends on usage and software optimization. |
| Charging | 66W Wired, 50W Wireless | 35W Wired | P50 Pro charges much faster, especially with wireless charging. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 5 | P50 Pro supports faster and more efficient WiFi. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.0 | P50 Pro has a newer Bluetooth version. |
| Storage | |||
| RAM | 8/12GB | 8GB | The P50 Pro can have more RAM, which helps with multitasking and running demanding apps. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports microSD cards. |
| Software | |||
| Operating System | N/A | Android 13 | Software details matter a lot, but info on the P50 Pro is missing. |
2. Key Insights
Huawei P50 Pro:
- Strengths: Exceptional performance, superior camera system (especially video), faster charging (wired and wireless), higher resolution display.
- Competitive Advantages: Top-tier chipset, flagship-level camera features, faster wireless connectivity.
- Trade-offs: Older model, potential software limitations (depending on the OS), potentially heavier and thicker.
Honor X8b:
- Strengths: Newer, lighter, brighter display, higher resolution selfie camera, includes wide and macro lenses.
- Competitive Advantages: More affordable (likely), potentially better battery life due to less demanding hardware.
- Trade-offs: Significantly weaker performance, lower video recording capabilities.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Huawei P50 Pro:
- Ideal For: Tech enthusiasts, photographers, videographers, users who demand the best possible performance and don't mind the older model and potential software quirks.
- Use Cases: High-quality photography and videography, demanding mobile gaming, running resource-intensive apps, professional use.
Honor X8b:
- Ideal For: Budget-conscious users, casual smartphone users, those who prioritize a lightweight device and a bright screen for outdoor use.
- Use Cases: Everyday social media, browsing, casual gaming, taking selfies, basic photography.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to help you decide:
- How important is performance? If you need a phone that can handle anything you throw at it, the P50 Pro is the clear winner. If you just need the basics, the X8b will suffice.
- What's your budget? The X8b will almost certainly be cheaper.
- How important is camera quality for video? If you want to shoot high-quality video, the P50 Pro is the only real choice. If video isn't a priority, the X8b's higher resolution main and selfie cameras might be appealing.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Photography Enthusiast: Huawei P50 Pro (superior image quality and zoom)
- Budget-Conscious Student: Honor X8b (affordable, functional)
- Mobile Gamer: Huawei P50 Pro (best performance)
- Frequent Traveler: Honor X8b (lightweight, decent battery)
Which would I choose and why?
For me, it's the Huawei P50 Pro. While it's an older device, the raw processing power of the Kirin 9000 and the superior camera system are too compelling to ignore. I'm a heavy user, often multitasking between demanding apps, and I value high-quality photos and videos. Yes, the Honor X8b is newer and has a brighter screen, but those advantages don't outweigh the P50 Pro's performance and camera prowess in my use case. Also, I really like the Optical zoom on the P50 Pro. Although I value having a wide angle lens as well, I would pick having the P50 Pro instead.
