1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Oppo Reno5 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2021-01-07 | 2023-06-07 | Honor 90 is significantly newer, potentially with longer software support and newer technologies. |
| Dimensions | 159.1 × 73.4 × 7.9 mm | 161.9 × 74.1 × 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is slightly taller and wider, but negligibly thinner. May affect in-hand feel, but the difference is minimal for most users. |
| Weight | 172g | 183g | Oppo Reno5 5G is slightly lighter, which may be noticeable during prolonged use but is not a significant difference. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.43" | 6.7" | Honor 90 has a slightly larger screen, offering more immersive experience for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has a sharper display with more detail, especially noticeable for reading text and viewing high-resolution images. |
| PPI | 409 | 435 | Honor 90 has slightly higher pixel density, leading to a crisper image quality, though the difference isn't drastic. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90's screen will feel smoother and more responsive, especially during scrolling and fast-paced animations. |
| Brightness | 750 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90 has drastically higher brightness, making it much more usable in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) | Honor 90's chipset is significantly faster and more energy-efficient. This translates to snappier app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 325,000 | 701,227 | Honor 90 delivers dramatically superior performance, making it better for resource-intensive tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 644 | Honor 90's GPU offers better gaming performance and graphics rendering. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4300mAh | 5000mAh | Honor 90 has a larger battery, likely providing longer battery life throughout the day. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging (Li-Polymer) | 66W Fast Charging (Li-Ion) | Both offer fast charging capabilities. The difference in battery technology is unlikely to be noticeable for most users. |
| Battery Features | Reverse charging, 2100mAh dual-cell battery | None | Oppo Reno5 5G can charge other devices and has a slightly different battery structure. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.7, 1/1.7", 0.8µm (Sony IMX686) | 200MP, f/1.9, 1/1.4", 0.56µm (Samsung ISOCELL HP3) | Honor 90 has a much higher resolution main sensor, potentially capturing more detail. Oppo Reno5 5G has a wider aperture, potentially better in low-light. Honor 90 has a larger sensor. |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP, f/2.4, 0.80µm pixel size | 50MP, f/2.4 | Honor 90 has a higher-resolution selfie camera, potentially providing clearer and more detailed selfies. |
| Portrait Camera | None | 2MP, f/2.4, 2.24µm pixel size | Honor 90 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, likely enabling better background blur effects. |
| Macro Camera | 2MP | None | Oppo Reno5 5G has a dedicated macro camera for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle/Macro | 8MP | 12MP | Honor 90 offers a slightly higher-resolution ultrawide lens, potentially providing more detail. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps (with HDR, EIS) | Up to 4K@30fps (with EIS) | Both offer similar 4k recording, EIS for stabilization. Honor 90 has higher slow-motion fps. |
| DXOMark | N/A | Mobile: 122, Photo: 128, Video: 126 | Honor 90 has a tested camera performance that can be used for comparison. |
| Features | Quad, Ultra stable, PDAF, CDAF, Manual Focus, Panorama | Triple, RAW, Front Flash | Oppo Reno5 5G has more camera features for manual control and stability. Honor 90 has RAW capture and front flash for enhanced photos. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 13 | Honor 90 has a newer Android version, meaning potentially better features and support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Honor 90 has faster Wi-Fi speeds, better performance in crowded networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.2 LE | Honor 90 supports more features via the newer Bluetooth version. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Oppo Reno5 5G supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual Nano-SIM | Dual Nano-SIM | Both support dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 256GB/512GB | Honor 90 offers more storage space for users with high storage needs. |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 8GB/12GB/16GB | Honor 90 offers 16 GB RAM, which is ideal for the most demanding multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports memory card expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers | Noise cancellation mic | Oppo Reno5 5G offers a more immersive audio experience with stereo speakers. Honor 90 focuses on clearer calls. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Fingerprint Sensor | Fingerprint Sensor | Both phones provide basic biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 3+ | Unknown | Oppo Reno5 5G has better known screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass | Oppo Reno5 5G has additional sensors, which can be useful for gaming and some apps. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Oppo Reno5 5G Advantages:
- Lighter weight: Easier to handle for long periods and more pocketable.
- Reverse Charging: Can act as a power bank for other devices.
- Dolby Atmos and Stereo Speakers: Better audio immersion for media consumption.
- More Camera Features: Continuous autofocus, manual focus, and a dedicated macro lens.
- Gyroscope: Better for gaming and AR applications
- Known Screen Protection: Gorilla Glass 3+
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Newer Technology: Launched over 2 years later, providing a more modern chipset, software, and features.
- Superior Performance: Significantly faster processor and GPU, making it much better for demanding tasks.
- Better Display: Higher resolution, brighter screen, and smoother 120Hz refresh rate for an enhanced visual experience.
- Larger Battery: Provides longer battery life for extended use.
- Higher Resolution Main Camera: Potentially captures more detailed images.
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: Better selfies for the user.
- More RAM: 16GB RAM variant for smoother multitasking.
- More Storage: 512GB option for heavy users.
- Newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards: Faster and more reliable wireless connectivity.
- Tested camera performance: Has scores from DxoMark for reference.
Trade-offs:
- The Oppo Reno5 5G sacrifices overall performance, display quality, and camera capabilities for a lighter body, reverse charging, slightly more camera features, and a more immersive audio experience.
- The Honor 90 sacrifices reverse charging, a known display protection, some manual camera features, and some sensors for drastically better performance, display, cameras, and battery.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Oppo Reno5 5G Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize a lightweight and compact phone with good audio.
- Users who value reverse charging capabilities.
- Users who need a device with more camera manual controls.
Users who are looking for a budget-friendly option.
Use Cases:
- Casual daily use (browsing, social media, calls).
- Users who need a device for media consumption
- Occasional photography and video capture.
- Users who frequently need to charge other devices.
Honor 90 Ideal User:
- Users who prioritize performance, screen quality, and camera capabilities.
- Users who want the latest technology and features.
- Users who demand long battery life and fast charging.
- Users who plan to use the phone for gaming or other demanding tasks.
Users who enjoy high-quality photography and videography.
Use Cases:
- Gaming and other intensive mobile gaming.
- Frequent photography and videography (especially in bright sunlight).
- Users who need smooth multitasking capabilities.
- Users who require a phone for demanding day-to-day use.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Performance Needs: How important is smooth multitasking, gaming, and responsiveness? (Honor 90 excels)
- Display Requirements: How much do you value screen resolution, brightness, and refresh rate? (Honor 90 excels)
- Specific Features: Do you value reverse charging, slightly more camera features, or better sound experience? (Oppo Reno5 5G offers these)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious User: If budget is a primary concern and you prioritize a lightweight phone with some extra features, the Oppo Reno5 5G may be sufficient.
- Performance Seeker: If you need the best performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding tasks, and a superior display is critical, the Honor 90 is the clear choice.
- Multimedia Lover: If you primarily consume media, both phones have their strengths, with the Reno5 offering immersive audio, and the Honor 90 offering a better screen.
- Photography Enthusiast: If you need a high-resolution camera, the Honor 90 is a much better choice. The Reno5 5G does have extra camera features, but the overall image quality won't be as good.
Personal Choice and Reasoning:
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Honor 90. My reasons are:
- Significant Performance Upgrade: The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition in the Honor 90 is a huge leap from the Snapdragon 765G in the Oppo Reno5 5G. This difference in performance will be noticeable in day-to-day use, especially when multitasking, gaming, and loading apps.
- Superior Display: The higher resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and much higher brightness of the Honor 90's display are major advantages. I value a crisp, smooth, and bright screen for a better viewing experience.
- Better Camera System: While the Oppo has more camera features, the higher resolution and larger sensor of the Honor 90's main camera, combined with the higher-resolution selfie camera, would lead to overall better image quality. The DxoMark results provide some evidence for this.
- Longer Software Support: Given that it's a newer phone, the Honor 90 is likely to receive software updates and support for a longer period than the Oppo Reno5 5G.
- Larger Battery: Having a 5000mAh battery ensures that the phone will last longer, especially when compared to the Oppo Reno5 5G.
While the Oppo Reno5 5G's features like reverse charging and slightly better audio are nice, the Honor 90's significant improvements in performance, display, camera, battery, and newer technology make it the better overall choice for me. I'm willing to sacrifice the reverse charging and extra camera features for a much better experience in all the areas that I care about most.
