1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Realme 8 | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160.6 × 73.9 × 8 mm | 161.9 × 74.1 × 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is slightly taller and thinner, potentially feeling sleeker. |
| Weight | 177g | 183g | Realme 8 is slightly lighter, which could be more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 6.7" | Honor 90 provides a slightly larger viewing area, better for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has a sharper display with more detail, noticeably clearer text and images. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 411 | 435 | Honor 90's slightly higher pixel density leads to a marginally crisper image. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks common to AMOLED panels. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90 provides much smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the user experience. |
| Brightness | 1000 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90 is significantly brighter, offering vastly improved outdoor visibility in sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G95 (12 nm) | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Honor 90's chip is more powerful and energy-efficient, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 409,874 | 701,227 | Honor 90 demonstrates significantly higher performance, reflecting better real-world responsiveness. |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 644 | Honor 90's GPU offers superior graphics processing capabilities for gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 64MP | 200MP | Honor 90 captures much more detailed photos due to the higher resolution sensor. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.9 | Realme 8 has a slightly wider aperture, which might be slightly better in low light scenarios. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.4" | Honor 90's larger sensor captures more light, resulting in better low-light performance and image quality. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 16MP | 50MP | Honor 90 captures much more detailed selfies with the higher resolution. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.45 | f/2.4 | Honor 90 has a slightly wider aperture, potentially letting in slightly more light. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP | None | Realme 8 has dedicated wide angle camera, suitable for landscape photos, and group shots. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | None | 2MP | Honor 90 has a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait mode pictures. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | None | Realme 8 has dedicated macro camera for close-up photography. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 12MP | Honor 90 provides a combined wide-angle and macro lens for enhanced versatility. |
| Black & White | 2MP | None | Realme 8 has dedicated B&W camera. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps | Both offer similar video recording at 4k and 1080p with EIS. Honor 90 offers more frame options for slow motion recording. |
| DXOMark Score | N/A | 122 | Honor 90 has an official score, highlighting better overall camera performance. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, Ultra stable video | Triple camera, PDAF, Continuous shooting, RAW, Front Flash, Night Mode | Honor 90 offers several more advanced photography features. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both offer similar battery capacity, resulting in comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 30W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Honor 90 charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13 | Honor 90 has a much newer version of Android, offering more features and up-to-date security. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Honor 90 supports faster and more stable Wi-Fi connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | Honor 90 has a newer Bluetooth version with additional audio codecs for superior audio quality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Honor 90 has a better GPS module for more precise location tracking. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64GB/128GB | 256GB/512GB | Honor 90 offers much more internal storage, suitable for users with lots of data, including photos, video and apps. |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB/16GB | Honor 90 offers higher RAM options for smoother multitasking and performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports external memory cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio | Noise Cancellation Microphone | Realme 8 offers high quality audio playback while Honor 90 has a better microphone for clearer voice calls. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Basic | Basic | Both phones use standard fingerprint sensors for basic biometric security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both phones lack specific screen protection information |
| Sensors | |||
| Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Proximity, Fingerprint, RGB | Realme 8 offers a gyroscope for better gaming while Honor 90 has a compass for navigation, and an RGB sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Realme 8 Advantages:
- Slightly lighter: May be more comfortable to hold for long periods.
- Dedicated Wide Angle and Macro Cameras: Offers more shooting flexibility with wide and macro lenses.
- Gyroscope: Better for gaming with motion controls and augmented reality.
- Hi-Res Audio: Offers superior audio playback with supported devices.
Practical Implications: The Realme 8 might suit users who value a lighter phone, need specialized camera options like dedicated macro and wide angle lenses, enjoy mobile gaming requiring gyroscope control, and require Hi-Res Audio.
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Newer Chipset & Higher Performance: Offers faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4nm) vs Helio G95 (12nm).
- Superior Display: Larger, sharper display with a 120Hz refresh rate for a more fluid user experience, and higher brightness for better outdoor use.
- Significantly Better Main Camera: Higher resolution (200MP vs. 64MP), larger sensor for better detail and low-light performance.
- Better Selfie Camera: Much higher resolution selfie camera than the Realme 8
- Faster Charging: 66W charging is significantly faster than 30W.
- More Internal Storage and RAM: Larger storage options and higher RAM capacity for better performance and multitasking.
- Newer Software: Comes with a newer version of Android (Android 13 vs Android 11).
- Better Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 offer faster and more reliable connections.
- Dedicated Depth Sensor and Wide Angle + Macro Lens: Offer a versatile triple camera setup with excellent image quality and portraits.
Practical Implications: The Honor 90 is ideal for users seeking better performance, a superior display, a more advanced camera system, faster charging, and modern connectivity.
Trade-offs:
- Realme 8 offers dedicated wide angle and macro lens while Honor 90 provides a Wide Angle + Macro lens.
- Realme 8 has gyroscope but lacks a compass, while Honor 90 has a compass but lacks a gyroscope
- Realme 8 has Hi-Res Audio, while Honor 90 has noise cancelling microphones.
- Realme 8 is slightly lighter but slower than the Honor 90.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Realme 8:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who value a lightweight phone, prefer dedicated wide angle and macro lens cameras, and still desire a quality AMOLED screen. Casual gamers who want gyroscope functionality.
- Use Cases: Casual photography, everyday use, basic gaming, media consumption, users who prioritize a more affordable device with some specialized camera features.
- Price-to-Value: Offers decent value for the budget segment with good base features.
Honor 90:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize performance, display quality, camera performance, faster charging, and modern features. Photographers who need a high quality camera.
- Use Cases: Heavy multitasking, gaming, high-quality photography, video recording, media consumption, power users, users who need a phone for extended use.
- Price-to-Value: Provides high-end features and performance, justifying its higher price point for demanding users.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- What is your budget? The Realme 8 is the budget option, while the Honor 90 is a more premium choice.
- How important is performance and camera quality to you? If these are high priorities, the Honor 90 is the better option.
- Do you value a lighter phone with a dedicated wide angle and macro lens or modern features like a larger screen, faster refresh rate, and better camera in one device?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User - If you are on a tight budget and need a reliable device for daily tasks, and want a dedicated wide angle and macro lens, then the Realme 8 offers good value for the price.
- Scenario 2: Performance and Camera Enthusiast - If you need a powerful smartphone with a top-tier camera and display, and value having modern and fast connections, the Honor 90 is the superior choice, given it’s higher price.
- Scenario 3: Casual User: - If you require a device for everyday tasks and multimedia consumption, and prefer a lighter device, the Realme 8 might be more suitable.
- Scenario 4: Mobile Gamer: If you play high-end games frequently, the Honor 90's superior performance, larger display and higher refresh rate will provide the best experience. Realme 8's gyroscope would be suitable for casual games, but it is the inferior choice for high-end gaming.
My Choice
I would choose the Honor 90.
Here's why:
- Future-Proofing: The Honor 90's superior performance, faster charging, and newer software make it a more future-proof investment, ensuring it remains relevant for longer.
- Superior Overall Experience: The larger, higher resolution, and 120Hz display is a noticeable improvement in everyday use. The much brighter screen will also improve outdoor visibility.
- Photography & Videography: While Realme 8 has dedicated wide angle and macro lens, the Honor 90's significantly better main camera, high quality front camera and versatile triple-lens system will provide much better image quality.
- Performance: The Honor 90's Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset offers a much smoother and more responsive experience, especially for multitasking and gaming.
- Connectivity: The newer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards are a welcome update from older technology.
While the Realme 8 is a capable phone, the Honor 90 provides a much more significant upgrade in almost every key area, which justifies it’s higher price tag. The Honor 90 offers better all-around performance and future proofing, making it a more suitable choice for me.
