1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Size | 158.5 x 73.3 x 8.4 mm | 161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is slightly taller and thinner, while Realme GT 5G is a bit thicker but narrower. Might affect in-hand feel and pocketability. |
| Weight | 186g | 183g | Virtually identical weight; negligible difference in daily carry. |
Display
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.43" | 6.7" | Honor 90 offers a slightly larger viewing area, better for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has significantly sharper display with more detail and clarity, noticeable when viewing text and high-resolution images. |
| PPI | 409 | 435 | Honor 90 offers slightly sharper text and images; subtle but noticeable difference in pixel density. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both phones offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; no practical difference. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both phones offer smooth scrolling and animations; identical experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90 is significantly brighter, making it much more usable in direct sunlight; Realme GT 5G's brightness is unknown, so hard to assess outdoor visibility. |
Performance
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) | Realme GT 5G has a higher performance chipset, resulting in faster app loading and smoother gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 912,342 | 701,227 | Realme GT 5G performs significantly better in benchmarks, meaning smoother overall experience for demanding tasks, although the day-to-day real-world impact may not be as huge. |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 644 | Realme GT 5G's GPU is more powerful, offering a better gaming experience at higher settings. |
Camera
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 64MP | 200MP | Honor 90 captures significantly more detail, better for large prints and cropping. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.9 | Realme GT 5G's wider aperture may allow slightly more light in low-light conditions, but the difference will be minimal. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/1.7" | 1/1.4" | Honor 90's larger sensor should capture more light and detail resulting in better low-light performance and overall image quality. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 16MP | 50MP | Honor 90's selfie camera captures significantly more detail, better for social media and video calls. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.5 | f/2.4 | Honor 90's wider aperture will help with selfies in low light. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP | None | Realme GT 5G offers a dedicated wide-angle lens; useful for group photos and landscape shots. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | None | 2MP | Honor 90 has a dedicated depth sensor to improve portrait mode with better background separation. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP | None | Realme GT 5G has a dedicated macro lens, for taking close-up photos. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 12MP | Honor 90 has a wide-angle macro lens, which combines two lenses into one, which may be useful. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@60fps with EIS | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Realme GT 5G offers higher frame rate at 4k, but both offer good video capabilities. |
| Slow Motion | Up to 480fps | Up to 960fps | Honor 90 offers higher slow motion frame rate capabilities. |
| DXOMARK | Not Tested | 122 (Main), 128 (Photo), 126 (Video) | Honor 90 offers very good camera performance, as tested by a third party. |
| Camera Features | Extensive, including: Ultra stable video, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Laser AF, Panorama. | Good, including: Exposure compensation, Front Flash | Each phone offers some unique features, but the most common features are shared. |
Battery
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4500mAh | 5000mAh | Honor 90 has a larger battery, likely offering longer battery life throughout the day. |
| Charging | 65W Fast Charging | 66W Fast Charging | Both offer similar fast charging speeds; the practical difference is negligible. |
| Battery Type | Lithium | Li-Ion | No notable difference between these technologies in everyday use. |
| Removable | No | No | Neither phone offers user-replaceable battery. |
Software
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Android 11 (Upgradable to 14) | Android 13 | Honor 90 has a more recent Android version, offering the latest features and security updates, may have a longer life cycle. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Up to 802.11ac | Up to WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | Honor 90 supports newer Wi-Fi 6, offering faster speeds and more efficient network usage, and supports Wi-Fi MIMO. |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 LE | 5.2 LE | Similar bluetooth performance, though Honor 90 offers EDR. |
| GPS | More satellite systems (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), Galileo (E1+E5a) | Less satellite systems (L1), (E1), (B1) | Realme GT 5G offers potentially more accurate location tracking and reliability. |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM Dual Standby | Dual Nano SIM Dual Standby | No practical difference, both offer dual SIM support |
Storage
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal Storage | 128/256GB | 256/512GB | Honor 90 offers more storage space, useful for users who store a lot of media or use many apps. |
| RAM | 8/12GB | 8/12/16GB | Honor 90 offers 16GB option which will be better for intensive use-cases. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports storage expansion via microSD cards. |
Audio
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Noise cancellation microphone | Realme GT 5G has better audio quality for media consumption. |
Security
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Both have similar fingerprint sensor technology. |
Build Quality
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Protection | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown screen protection, so no practical difference can be deduced. |
Sensors
| Feature | Realme GT 5G | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Fingerprint, Proximity, Gravity | Accelerometer, Compass, Fingerprint, Proximity, RGB | Both offer a full range of sensors, but the Realme has Gravity, and the Honor has RGB. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Realme GT 5G Advantages:
- Higher Performance: The Snapdragon 888 chipset offers significantly better performance for gaming, demanding apps, and overall responsiveness.
- Better Audio: Features Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res audio, and stereo speakers for a more immersive audio experience.
- More GPS Satellites: Utilizes more satellite systems for potentially better location accuracy.
- Wider camera feature-set: The Realme includes more features such as Ultra stable video, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Laser AF, Panorama.
- Wide angle and Macro lenses: Dedicated lenses for a better variety of photography options.
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Larger, Sharper Display: The 6.7" display with higher resolution offers a better viewing experience, especially for media consumption.
- Significantly Brighter Display: The 1600 nits brightness makes it much more visible in direct sunlight.
- Larger Battery: Offers better battery life for all day usage.
- Higher Camera Resolution: The 200MP main and 50MP selfie cameras capture significantly more detail, better for large prints and cropping.
- Updated Software: Newer Android version, offering the latest features.
- Newer Wi-Fi: Supports WiFi 6 standard for faster wireless internet.
- Additional Portrait/Wide Angle macro lens: The wide angle macro lens provides an all in one solution.
Trade-offs:
- Realme GT 5G sacrifices camera quality and screen brightness for higher performance.
- Honor 90 sacrifices some raw performance for better camera and display technology.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Realme GT 5G Ideal Users:
- Mobile Gamers: The powerful chipset and GPU are perfect for demanding games at high settings.
- Users who value performance over camera quality: Users who require the best possible performance and are not as focused on camera results.
- Audio Enthusiasts: The Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio are beneficial for users who value music and sound quality.
- Users Who Need Reliable GPS: More satellite systems for location accuracy make it ideal for users who navigate frequently.
Honor 90 Ideal Users:
- Photography Enthusiasts: The high-resolution cameras and large sensor produce detailed photos and videos.
- Media Consumers: The larger, brighter, sharper screen provides an excellent experience for watching videos and browsing content.
- Users who value battery life: Larger battery for all-day use.
- Users who value an up-to-date experience: Newer Android version.
Use Cases:
- Realme GT 5G: Competitive gaming, video editing on the go, demanding apps, extensive GPS use.
- Honor 90: Casual photography, high-quality social media, long commutes and watching videos, and general use with extended battery life.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Realme GT 5G is the older of the two, and may offer better performance for the price, if purchased at a discount.
- The Honor 90 is the newer of the two, and offers better camera and screen tech at a potentially higher price.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is raw performance for you? (Gaming, demanding apps, etc.)
- How important are camera quality and image detail for you? (Do you need high-resolution pictures and videos?)
- Do you prioritize screen brightness and clarity, or performance and audio quality? (Sunlight legibility vs. audio fidelity)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Mobile Gamer & Power User: If you're a heavy gamer and need maximum performance, choose the Realme GT 5G for its superior chipset and GPU.
Scenario 2: Casual Photographer & Media Viewer: If you value camera quality, and a bright, sharp screen for watching videos, choose the Honor 90.
Scenario 3: Balanced User: If you need a balance of performance and quality, the choice depends on whether you lean more toward performance (Realme GT 5G) or camera and screen (Honor 90).
My Choice
If I had to choose between the two, I would pick the Honor 90. My reasoning comes down to a few key factors:
- Display Quality: The higher resolution and significantly brighter screen of the Honor 90 are critical for everyday usability, especially in outdoor conditions. This is important to me as I spend time outside each day.
- Camera Capabilities: While I'm not a professional photographer, the 200MP main camera and 50MP selfie camera on the Honor 90 offer significantly more detail and better overall image quality. I also enjoy using social media, so better image quality for these cases would be useful.
- Battery Life: The larger battery on the Honor 90 ensures that I won't have to worry about running out of power during a busy day, which is a major pain point for me when it happens.
- Software: As a user who enjoys the latest updates, the newer Android version is a big factor in favor of the Honor 90.
While the Realme GT 5G is a beast in terms of raw performance, my personal usage doesn't typically demand that level of power, and I am more likely to benefit from the areas that the Honor 90 excels in. For me, the more versatile camera, superior display and better battery life justify the trade-off in pure processing power.
