Smartphone Comparison: Realme 8 vs. Huawei Mate X3
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Realme 8 | Huawei Mate X3 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Form Factor | Standard | Foldable | Mate X3 offers a larger screen that can be folded for portability, Realme 8 is a standard candy bar design. |
| Dimensions | 160.6 × 73.9 × 8 mm | 156.9 × 141.5 × 5.3 mm (Unfolded) | Mate X3 is significantly wider when unfolded and thinner, Realme 8 is taller and thicker, Mate X3 has a larger overall volume. |
| Weight | 177g | 239g | Realme 8 is much lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use. Mate X3 feels heavier and more substantial. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.4" | 7.85" | Mate X3 offers a substantially larger viewing area, ideal for media consumption and multitasking, Realme 8 is more compact. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 2224x2496 | Mate X3 has a significantly sharper and more detailed display due to higher pixel density. |
| Pixel Density | 411 PPI | 426 PPI | Both phones have very similar pixel density, leading to similar sharpness of the display |
| Technology | AMOLED | Unknown | Realme 8 has superior contrast and color vibrancy with its AMOLED panel. Mate X3 display technology is unknown and cannot be compared directly. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Mate X3 offers smoother animations and scrolling, making the user experience more fluid, Realme 8's is less fluid with a lower refresh rate |
| Brightness | 1000 nits | 0 nits | Realme 8 is much brighter and more visible in direct sunlight, Mate X3's brightness is unknown. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G95 (12nm) | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4nm) | Mate X3 offers much higher processing power, faster app loading, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 409,874 | 1,238,400 | Mate X3 has significantly higher benchmark score, indicating superior performance in all aspects. |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 730 | Mate X3's Adreno 730 offers better graphics performance than Realme 8's Mali-G76 MC4. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4800mAh | Realme 8 offers slightly better battery capacity, potentially offering slightly longer battery life; difference is negligible. |
| Charging | 30W fast charging | 66W fast, 50W wireless | Mate X3 charges much faster with both wired and wireless options, making it more convenient, Realme 8 has slow charging compared to Mate X3. |
| Features | Non-removable | Non-removable, 50W wireless | Both phones have non-removable batteries. Mate X3 offers faster and wireless charging which enhances convenience. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2", 0.7µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.56", 1.0µm | Mate X3's main sensor with larger pixels and sensor size should capture better low-light images, though Realme 8 has slightly higher resolution. |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.13", 1.0µm | 8MP, f/2.4, Unknown µm | Realme 8 captures higher resolution selfies, Mate X3 has a wider aperture. |
| Telephoto | Not Available | 16MP, f/3.4, 1/3.09", 1.0µm | Mate X3 offers optical zoom capabilities, a feature missing on Realme 8. |
| Wide Angle | 8MP, f/2.25, Unknown µm | Not Available | Realme 8 offers a dedicated wide-angle lens, Mate X3 does not. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, Unknown µm | Not Available | Realme 8 has a macro lens for close-up shots, feature missing in Mate X3 |
| Wide Angle + Macro | Not Available | 12MP, f/2.2, Unknown µm | Mate X3 has a combined wide angle + macro lens, feature missing in Realme 8 |
| Black & White | 2MP, f/2.4, Unknown µm | Not Available | Realme 8 has a dedicated black and white lens, feature missing in Mate X3. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, EIS | 4K@60fps, EIS | Both phones record high-quality video, but Mate X3 has the edge with 60fps recording for smoother footage, Mate X3 has better stabilization than Realme 8. |
| Features | 4K, Digital Zoom, Quad Camera | 4K, Digital & Optical Zoom, Triple Camera, OIS, Main Camera for Selfies | Mate X3 has more advanced camera features like optical zoom and OIS, Realme 8 has a quad camera while Mate X3 is a triple camera. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Unknown | Realme 8 is confirmed to have Android 11 while Mate X3 OS is unknown. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | Mate X3 has faster and more reliable WiFi connectivity with WiFi 6, leading to better performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | Mate X3 has a slightly newer Bluetooth version, and offers more audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Mate X3 offers more advanced GPS system for greater accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Full Active | Mate X3 offers fully active dual sim, allowing both to be used simultaneously; Realme 8 only allows one to be active when the other is in a call. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64/128 GB | 256/512/1024 GB | Mate X3 offers significantly more storage for users with large media libraries or many apps. |
| RAM | 4/6/8 GB | 8/12 GB | Mate X3 has higher RAM options for smoother multitasking. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio | Stereo Speakers | Mate X3 has stereo speakers, which provide a more immersive audio experience, Realme 8 has Hi-Res Audio. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Mate X3 provides a more convenient and faster fingerprint sensor; both phones provide biometric security |
| Build | |||
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Both phones use similar screen protection, details are missing. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer, Gravity, Hall, RGB | Mate X3 includes more sensors (Barometer, Compass etc); these improve the functionality of the phone in multiple use cases, particularly in apps that rely on environmental data |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Realme 8 Advantages:
- Lighter and more compact: Easier to handle and pocketable.
- Brighter Display: Better outdoor visibility in sunlight.
- Dedicated Macro and Wide Angle: Versatile photography options.
- Hi-Res Audio: Better audio for audiophiles.
- More affordable: Usually available at a lower price point.
Huawei Mate X3 Advantages:
- Foldable Display: Larger screen when unfolded for immersive experience.
- Significantly More Powerful: Superior performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Faster Charging: Both wired and wireless options for quicker charging.
- Better Main Camera Sensor: Better low light photo performance due to larger sensor size.
- Telephoto Lens: Optical zoom capabilities, lacking on the Realme 8.
- More RAM and Storage: Better multitasking and ample storage.
- Advanced Connectivity: WiFi 6 and newer Bluetooth standards for faster connection.
- More Sensors: Barometer etc.
Trade-offs:
- Realme 8 trades processing power and camera features for affordability and compact size.
- Huawei Mate X3 is heavier, larger (when unfolded) and more expensive, but offers superior performance and camera features.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Realme 8 Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users: Looking for a good all-around phone without breaking the bank.
- Users who prioritize a compact and lightweight phone: For easy handling.
- Users who prefer a brighter display: For clear visibility in sunlight.
- Users who value a wide-angle lens: For flexible photography.
- Everyday users: For social media, browsing, and basic productivity tasks.
Huawei Mate X3 Ideal User:
- Power users and gamers: Looking for top-tier performance.
- Users who prioritize a large screen: For media consumption, multitasking, and productivity.
- Users who value premium camera capabilities: Including telephoto lens and good low light performance.
- Users who need a larger storage capacity: To store large media files.
- Users who need a phone for productivity and complex tasks.
- Early adopters: Interested in cutting-edge foldable technology and premium features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Realme 8 is significantly more affordable than the Mate X3.
- What are your priorities? (Size, performance, camera quality, or battery)
- What are your primary use cases? (Gaming, media consumption, photography, productivity)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For a user on a tight budget: The Realme 8 is the clear choice for its affordability.
- For users who primarily use the phone for browsing, social media and basic tasks: The Realme 8 will perform more than adequately, and will be lighter and more comfortable in the hand.
- For avid gamers or performance-focused users: The Huawei Mate X3 is the better option due to its superior processing power and faster refresh rate.
- For users who consume a lot of media and need a large display: The Huawei Mate X3, with its foldable screen, is the ideal choice.
- For photography enthusiasts who need optical zoom and good low-light performance: The Huawei Mate X3 is the clear winner.
- For users who need a more portable phone for everyday use: The Realme 8 will be easier to carry around.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Huawei Mate X3, despite its higher price and larger size. The significant performance increase, the much faster charging capabilities, the impressive camera system including the telephoto lens, and the larger, foldable screen makes it the more appealing option for my needs. While the Realme 8 is a solid option at a lower price, the Mate X3's advantages are too substantial to ignore for someone who prioritizes performance and productivity. I also value the better camera performance and the larger storage capacity for my personal use. The folding design, although adding bulk, gives a more immersive user experience while also being able to become more compact and pocketable. Ultimately, the Mate X3's powerful feature set and cutting edge technology justify the increased price for my use case.
