Smartphone Comparison: OnePlus 9 vs. Honor X8a
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | OnePlus 9 | Honor X8a | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160 × 74.2 × 8.7 mm | 162.9 × 74.5 × 7.5 mm | Honor X8a is slightly taller and thinner, while OnePlus 9 has a larger volume. This impacts the feel in hand; Honor X8a might feel more svelte. |
| Weight | 192g | 179g | Honor X8a is slightly lighter, potentially more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.55" | 6.7" | Honor X8a offers a slightly larger screen for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2388 | Both offer sharp displays, with only a minimal difference in pixel count that is practically unnoticeable. |
| PPI | 402 | 391 | Both have similar pixel densities, resulting in comparable display clarity. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | OnePlus 9's AMOLED provides superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, enhancing viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz | OnePlus 9's 120Hz display offers smoother scrolling and animations, resulting in a more fluid user experience. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 0 nits | OnePlus 9 offers significantly better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight due to much higher peak brightness. Honor X8a brightness is unknown. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Helio G88 (12 nm) | OnePlus 9's chipset is significantly more powerful, resulting in much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. |
| Antutu Score | 880,900 | 253,700 | OnePlus 9 provides a vastly superior user experience in terms of overall performance compared to the Honor X8a. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Mali-G52 MC2 | OnePlus 9's GPU offers much higher performance for graphics-intensive tasks like gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Res | 48MP | 100MP | Honor X8a has a higher megapixel count, which theoretically allows for more detail in images; actual image quality depends on many other factors. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.9 | OnePlus 9's wider aperture allows more light in, which may result in better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera Res | 16MP | 16MP | Both have the same resolution, resulting in similar detail capture. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.4 | f/2.45 | OnePlus 9's slightly wider aperture may allow for slightly better low light selfies. |
| Wide Angle Camera Res | 50MP | 5MP | OnePlus 9 offers significantly higher resolution in the wide angle images resulting in more detailed photos. |
| Macro lens | None | 2MP | Honor X8a includes a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. |
| Black & White | 2MP | None | OnePlus 9 includes a dedicated black and white lens |
| Video | Up to 8K@30fps | Up to 1080p@30fps | OnePlus 9 can record much higher resolution videos, great for content creators. |
| Video Features | 4K, 8K, EIS, HDR, Slow Motion 480fps | EIS, HDR, Slow Motion 120fps | OnePlus 9 has much more versatile video recording options including HDR and better slow motion, offering much more options for video recording. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 4500mAh | Both have comparable battery capacity, suggesting similar battery life. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 22.5W Fast Charging | OnePlus 9 charges much faster, allowing for quicker top-ups. |
| Wireless Charging | 15W | None | OnePlus 9 offers convenient wireless charging. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
OnePlus 9 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset offers significantly higher performance for all tasks, from gaming to multitasking.
- Better Display: AMOLED technology with 120Hz refresh rate and 1100 nits brightness provides a much more vibrant, smoother, and visible screen, especially in sunlight.
- Faster Charging: 65W fast charging and 15W wireless charging offer much greater convenience and faster top-ups.
- Higher Quality Video Recording: Supports 8K video, significantly better slow motion and 4K recording with HDR and EIS for professional-looking video recording.
- Enhanced Audio Features: Includes Dolby Atmos, noise cancellation, and stereo speakers for superior audio experience.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6 and advanced Bluetooth codecs for better wireless performance.
- More Satellites Supported for GPS: Supports L1+L5, B1, E1+E5a and B2 for more accurate location services.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 5 offers greater durability and scratch resistance.
- Additional Camera features: Better wide angle camera and additional black and white lens, 4k and 8k video, night mode and RAW 12 bit mode.
Honor X8a Advantages:
- Newer Release Date: 10 months and 16 days newer than the OnePlus 9.
- Potentially Lighter and Thinner: Slightly lighter and thinner design may feel better in some hands.
- Macro Lens: Includes a dedicated macro lens for close-up photos.
- Higher Megapixel Main Camera: Has a higher megapixel main camera, but that does not equal better quality.
- Lower Price: Likely priced lower than the OnePlus 9.
Trade-offs:
- The OnePlus 9 sacrifices the macro lens in favor of a better display, faster charging, and significantly more powerful performance.
- The Honor X8a provides a macro lens and a slightly larger screen and newer release date while sacrificing performance and display quality.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
OnePlus 9 Ideal User:
- Power Users: Users who prioritize performance for demanding tasks, gaming, and multitasking.
- Media Enthusiasts: Those who consume a lot of video content and want the best possible display quality, like photographers or videographers.
- On-the-Go Professionals: Users who need fast charging and good outdoor visibility and a flagship performance.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who appreciate the latest technology and features, including wireless charging and better connectivity.
Honor X8a Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Users looking for a capable phone at a more affordable price.
- Casual Users: People who primarily use their phone for social media, browsing, and basic photography.
- Users Wanting Macro Photography: People who like to take close up photos.
Specific Use Cases:
- OnePlus 9:
- High-end gaming with demanding titles
- Editing 4K video on the go
- Navigating in bright sunlight
- Fast charging during busy days
- Enjoying High Definition media content with better audio immersion
- Honor X8a:
- Casual social media browsing
- Taking close up photos
- Basic everyday phone usage.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget? The Honor X8a is a budget-focused phone and is likely much cheaper than the OnePlus 9.
- How important is performance and gaming to you? If performance and gaming are critical, then the OnePlus 9 is the clear winner.
- Do you need the best possible display quality and fast charging? The OnePlus 9 has a significantly better display and much faster charging speeds.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Performance and Gaming are Top Priority: Choose the OnePlus 9 for its superior processor and GPU.
- Scenario 2: Budget is the Primary Concern and basic use is acceptable: Choose the Honor X8a as the more affordable option.
- Scenario 3: Balanced use and general features: Choose the OnePlus 9 for its better display and better features if it fits your budget.
My Choice and Why
If I had to choose, I would pick the OnePlus 9. While the Honor X8a is a newer and potentially more affordable option, the overall package offered by the OnePlus 9 is significantly better, especially considering its vastly superior performance, high-quality AMOLED display, much faster charging, and enhanced features. The Snapdragon 888 chipset makes it a true flagship, whereas the Honor X8a has a much less powerful mid-range chip.
While the macro lens on the Honor X8a is a nice-to-have, the overall camera system is better on the OnePlus 9 due to its much higher quality wide angle camera. The difference in display quality, battery charging speed, and performance is substantial enough to outweigh the advantages of the Honor X8a for my personal use, which is media consumption, gaming, photography and fast charging.
