1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Realme 8 | Honor X8a | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160.6 × 73.9 × 8 mm | 162.9 × 74.5 × 7.5 mm | Honor X8a is slightly taller, thinner; Realme 8 is slightly thicker, better for hand grip |
| Weight | 177g | 179g | Both feel similarly light in hand |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 6.7" | Honor X8a offers slightly more screen real estate for content consumption |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2388 | Both offer similar sharpness |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 411 | 391 | Realme 8 has slightly sharper display |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | Realme 8 has better colors, contrast, and deeper blacks, better for viewing media in dark environments |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | Honor X8a offers smoother scrolling and animations |
| Brightness | 1000 nits | 0 nits (Spec not available) | Realme 8 will be much easier to view in bright sunlight; Honor X8a outdoor visibility is unknown |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G95 | Mediatek Helio G88 | Realme 8 offers faster processing speed for smoother gaming, app loading, and multi-tasking |
| AnTuTu Score | 409,874 | 253,700 | Realme 8 will perform significantly better in demanding tasks and overall performance |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Mali-G52 MC2 | Realme 8 has a more powerful GPU, better for gaming and graphics-intensive apps |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera Resolution | 64MP | 100MP | Honor X8a captures more detailed images in good lighting, larger print size |
| Standard Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.9 | Realme 8 gathers more light, performing better in low light |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 16MP | 16MP | Both perform similarly for selfies |
| Wide Angle Lens Resolution | 8MP | 5MP | Realme 8 captures more detail in wide-angle shots |
| Wide Angle Lens Aperture | f/2.25 | f/2.2 | Honor X8a slightly better low light capability |
| Macro Lens Resolution | 2MP | 2MP | Both perform similarly for macro photography |
| Black & White Lens | 2MP (Present) | Not Present | Realme 8 has an additional black & white sensor for creative photography |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps | 1080p@30fps | Realme 8 captures higher resolution videos, suitable for better quality recordings |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4500mAh | Realme 8 likely provides longer battery life |
| Charging | 30W Fast Charging | 22.5W Fast Charging | Realme 8 charges faster |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12 | Honor X8a offers a newer version of android with updated security features |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | Both support similar wifi bands, but Realme 8 has Wi-Fi MiMO |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.1 LE | Both have Bluetooth 5.1 LE and similar features |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 64/128 GB | 128/256 GB | Honor X8a offers more maximum storage |
| RAM | 4/6/8 GB | 6/8 GB | Honor X8a provides more base RAM |
| Expandable Storage | Not Supported | Not Supported | Both phones cannot expand storage |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio | Basic audio | Realme 8 provides better audio playback |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor | Honor X8a offers better and more responsive sensor placement |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer, Proximity, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Proximity, Fingerprint | Realme 8 offers more motion-related sensors |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Realme 8 Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED technology offers better colors, contrast, and deep blacks, enhancing the overall viewing experience and great for dark environments. Significantly better peak brightness.
- Higher Performance: The Helio G95 chipset and Mali-G76 GPU provide faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance.
- Better Camera Features: Offers 4K video recording, wider aperture for low light shots, and additional black and white sensor enhancing shooting capabilities.
- Larger Battery & Faster Charging: 5000mAh battery combined with 30W fast charging leads to longer battery life and faster top-ups.
- Better Audio Quality: Has a better quality playback and is Hi-Res audio
- Additional Sensors: Includes gyroscope and magnetometer sensors for better gaming and AR apps.
Honor X8a Advantages:
- Larger Display Size: The 6.7" display offers more screen real estate for content consumption, making it better for browsing and media viewing.
- Smoother Display: 90Hz refresh rate offers a more fluid visual experience when scrolling and navigating.
- Higher Main Camera Resolution: 100MP sensor captures more detailed images in well-lit conditions, larger print size.
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 12 offering newer software experience.
- Higher Internal Storage Option: 256GB internal storage option provides more storage for media and applications.
- Side Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Offers faster and more reliable access to the phone.
Trade-offs:
- Realme 8 sacrifices refresh rate and a newer OS for an AMOLED display and better performance.
- Honor X8a compromises on processing power and battery capacity for a larger display and newer OS.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Ideal User for Realme 8:
- Multimedia Consumers: Those who watch videos or play games often, benefiting from the AMOLED display, powerful GPU and High-Res Audio.
- Gamers: The more powerful processor, GPU, and gyroscope sensor makes it a better gaming device.
- Photographers: Those who want a more versatile camera setup, including 4K video and a wider-aperture lens, and want the black and white lens.
- Users that want better outdoor viewabilty: With 1000 nits of brightness, the Realme 8 is great for outdoor use.
Ideal User for Honor X8a:
- Social Media Users & Casual Browsers: Those who prefer a larger screen for browsing and consuming content, appreciate the smoother display.
- Casual Photographers: Those who value detailed shots in good lighting due to the 100MP camera, but don't need many additional lenses.
- Users that want a newer Operating System: Android 12 is the newer operating system for security and features.
- Users that want more storage: The 256GB option is better for users that want to store more apps and media files.
- Users that prefer a side mounted fingerprint sensor: For faster and easier access to the device.
Specific Use Cases:
- Realme 8:
- Gaming: High-performance chipset and GPU enable smooth gameplay.
- Content Creation: 4K video recording and versatile camera features for social media content.
- Outdoor Use: Great peak brightness for bright sunlight viewing.
- Honor X8a:
- Social Media Browsing: Larger screen and smooth display are great for scrolling and content consumption.
- Casual Photography: High-resolution camera captures detailed shots during day-to-day use.
- Daily driver: Good overall experience with a sleek design and smooth display.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Prioritize Display Quality vs. Refresh Rate? Do you prefer vibrant colors and deep blacks (Realme 8 - AMOLED) or smoother scrolling (Honor X8a - 90Hz)?
- Need High Performance or Casual Use? Do you need a powerful processor for gaming and multitasking (Realme 8) or is a smooth everyday experience sufficient (Honor X8a)?
- Camera Versatility or High Resolution? Do you value additional camera features and better low-light performance (Realme 8) or high resolution for well-lit conditions (Honor X8a)?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Gaming and Media Consumption: Choose Realme 8 for its superior performance and AMOLED display.
- Scenario 2: Casual Use and Content Browsing: Choose Honor X8a for its larger screen, smoother display and more internal storage.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast: Choose Realme 8 for its versatile camera features, or Honor X8a if high-resolution images in daylight are most important.
- Scenario 4: Users who want the newer version of Android: Choose Honor X8a for Android 12.
My Choice
I would choose the Realme 8.
While the Honor X8a offers a larger display and a smoother 90Hz refresh rate, the Realme 8’s AMOLED display with its superior color accuracy and much better peak brightness would be a much better option for me as I use the phone a lot for content consumption. Additionally, the better performing chipset, faster charging and better camera specs of the Realme 8 makes it the ideal option for me. The improved audio and additional sensors also make it the better option for the things that I do daily.
