Alright, let's break down the Xiaomi Poco M5 and the Honor 90. These two phones, while both aiming for the mid-range market, have some significant differences that will greatly impact the user experience. I’m here to give you an honest look at their strengths and weaknesses, and help you figure out which one might be the right fit for you.
1. Specifications Breakdown
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco M5 | Honor 90 | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.1 x 8.9 mm | 161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm | The Honor 90 is noticeably slimmer and more compact. The Poco M5 is larger, making the Honor 90 more comfortable for one-handed use and carrying in a pocket. |
| Weight | 201g | 183g | The Honor 90 is lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use and less tiring to hold for long periods. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.58" | 6.7" | Honor 90 provides a slightly larger display for more immersive content consumption, like watching videos or playing games. |
| Resolution | 1080x2408 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has a sharper display with more detail, enhancing the visual experience, especially when viewing high-resolution images and videos. |
| PPI | 401 | 435 | Honor 90’s higher pixel density means crisper text and images. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Honor 90's AMOLED screen offers deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors, making for a more enjoyable viewing experience, especially for dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90 provides smoother animations, which can make scrolling and gaming feel more fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90 is drastically brighter making it much more usable in direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G99 (6nm) | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4nm) | Honor 90’s chipset is faster and more efficient, leading to quicker app loads, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 414,500 | 701,227 | Honor 90 offers significantly better performance, scoring nearly 70% higher, indicating it handles demanding tasks with ease. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 644 | Honor 90’s GPU is more capable, leading to better graphics performance for gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 50MP f/1.8 | 200MP f/1.9 | Honor 90 captures much more detail with its 200MP sensor and will offer better low-light performance due to its larger sensor. The Poco M5 has a slightly wider aperture. |
| Selfie Camera | 5MP f/2.2 | 50MP f/2.4 | Honor 90’s front-facing camera is considerably higher resolution for much sharper selfies and video calls. |
| Portrait Camera | 2MP f/2.4 | 2MP f/2.4 | Similar portrait capabilities in both phones. The Honor 90 has a larger pixel size, potentially improving low-light portrait quality. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP f/2.4 | None | Xiaomi Poco M5 includes a dedicated Macro lens, for close up photography, where as the Honor 90 does not. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 12MP f/2.2 | Honor 90 has a dedicated wide angle camera for capturing a wider field of view. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps | Honor 90 records at a higher video resolution for superior quality and offers a smoother 60fps option at 1080p. It also includes video stabilization. |
| Slow-motion | No | Yes, 960fps | Honor 90 provides a significantly better slow-motion recording capability. |
| DxOMark | N/A | 122 (Mobile) | Honor 90 has a better overall camera performance as tested by DxOMark. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones offer comparable battery life, suggesting similar endurance. |
| Charging | 18W fast charging | 66W fast charging | Honor 90 charges much faster, reducing downtime significantly. |
| Other | |||
| Operating System | Android 12 | Android 13 | Honor 90 has a more modern operating system. |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Honor 90 supports newer WiFi standard, offering faster speeds, lower latency, better performance in crowded networks. |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 | Xiaomi Poco M5 has the newest bluetooth version, Honor 90 has codec support for better audio quality via bluetooth. |
| Internal Storage | 64GB or 128GB | 256GB or 512GB | Honor 90 offers significantly more internal storage space for apps, media, and files. |
| RAM | 4GB or 6GB | 8GB, 12GB or 16GB | Honor 90 has significantly more RAM for smoother multitasking and app performance, especially with demanding apps. |
| Expandable Storage | None | None | Neither phone has expandable storage. |
| Audio | Basic features | Noise cancellation | Honor 90 offers better call quality and noise cancellation in audio. |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint | Basic fingerprint | Xiaomi Poco M5 offers a more modern side-mounted fingerprint scanner for faster unlocking. |
2. Key Insights
Xiaomi Poco M5:
- Strengths: The Poco M5 holds its own in the budget category, It offers a good 90Hz refresh rate display, good battery life, and a dedicated macro lens. It has a newer version of Bluetooth 5.3, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
- Limitations: The Poco M5 is significantly behind on the performance metrics, lacks fast charging, and the display is not as vibrant. The camera system doesn't come close to the Honor 90's.
Honor 90:
- Strengths: The Honor 90 shines with its impressive display, powerful performance, and exceptional camera system. The phone also offers faster charging and much more storage and RAM. The addition of a wide angle camera and superior slow motion is also great.
- Limitations: The lack of a Macro lens, the basic security features, and the older bluetooth version are some of its downsides.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco M5:
- Best For: Budget-conscious users who need a reliable daily driver. Good for browsing, social media, and occasional gaming.
- Use Cases: Ideal for users who prioritize a good battery life and a lower cost over other features.
Honor 90:
- Best For: Users who demand high performance, a top-tier display, and advanced camera capabilities. Ideal for photography enthusiasts, gamers, and those who consume a lot of multimedia.
- Use Cases: Suitable for those who need to edit photos/videos, play demanding games, and those who want a premium visual experience.
4. Buying Decision Framework
To decide between these phones, ask yourself these three questions:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend?
- Performance: How important is raw processing power, smooth multitasking, and gaming performance?
- Camera: Do you need a high-quality camera system for photos and videos?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Basic User on a Budget If you need a simple, reliable smartphone for everyday tasks, and you want to spend the least amount of money, the Xiaomi Poco M5 is adequate.
- Scenario 2: Multimedia Enthusiast If you consume a lot of videos, play games, and appreciate a great display, the Honor 90 is much better.
- Scenario 3: Photography Fan If photography is a priority, the Honor 90 will take much better pictures, especially in low light.
- Scenario 4: Performance Driven User If having a fast and snappy experience is a must for you, then the Honor 90 is the obvious choice.
What I Would Choose and Why
If I were to pick one, I would go with the Honor 90. Yes, it comes at a higher price point but for me, the benefits outweigh the extra cost. I value a phone with a great display and good performance, I also like to take the occasional picture, and with the 200MP camera, the Honor 90 will deliver an outstanding experience. The larger storage and RAM also guarantee a smoother experience, which I need when juggling multiple applications. Although the Poco M5 does have its strengths, it's simply not enough to offset the massive advantages that the Honor 90 offers. For me, the Honor 90 would fit into my daily life much more effectively.
