Okay, let's dive deep into the comparison between the Xiaomi Poco M5s and the Honor 90. I'm putting on my tech journalist hat, and we're going to break down these phones like the engineering puzzle they are.
1. Specifications Breakdown
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco M5s | Honor 90 | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Launch Date | 2022-09-06 | 2023-06-07 | Honor 90 is newer, potentially with more up-to-date features and longer software support. |
| Dimensions | 160.5 × 74.5 × 8.3 mm | 161.9 × 74.1 × 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is slightly taller and thinner; the Poco M5s is a tad more bulky. |
| Weight | 178.8g | 183g | Both phones are very similar in weight; a minor difference won’t be noticeable in daily use. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphones; no fancy foldable tech here. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.43" | 6.7" | Honor 90 offers a slightly larger screen, great for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has a sharper, more detailed display with significantly more pixels. |
| PPI | 409 | 435 | Honor 90 has a slightly higher pixel density, resulting in slightly clearer visuals. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks; expect similar visual quality with AMOLED tech. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90’s 120Hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling and animations, which is noticeably more fluid. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90’s higher brightness significantly improves outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G95 (12 nm) | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Honor 90’s Snapdragon chip is more modern, offering better performance and energy efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 418,627 | 701,227 | Honor 90 has a substantially higher benchmark score, indicating significantly better overall performance. |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 644 | The Honor 90's GPU is more powerful; expect better gaming performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have similar battery capacities; expect comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging (Li-Polymer) | 66W Fast Charging (Li-Ion) | Honor 90’s faster charging will refill the battery significantly quicker. |
| Features | Reverse Charging, Non-removable | Non-removable | Poco M5s has the added capability of reverse charging, acting like a power bank for other devices. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 64MP, f/1.9, 1/2" | 200MP, f/1.9, 1/1.4" | Honor 90 has a much higher resolution main sensor and larger sensor for capturing more detailed and higher quality photos. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.4, 1/3.06" | 50MP, f/2.4 | Honor 90 has a substantially higher resolution front-facing camera for better selfies and video calls. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" | None | Poco M5s has a dedicated wide-angle lens for more expansive shots. |
| Depth Sensor | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both have depth sensor for portrait mode shots. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" | None | Poco M5s has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 12MP, f/2.2 | Honor 90 has a dedicated wide angle + macro lens that could be convenient for multiple shooting situations. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Both record 4K footage; Honor 90 provides video stabilization for smoother recording. |
| Features | Quadruple camera | Triple camera, PDAF, Continuous Shooting, RAW, Front Flash | Honor 90 includes advanced features like PDAF, RAW support, and a front flash; Poco M5s includes a quadruple camera, which the other phone lacks. |
| DXOMARK | None | Main Score (122), Photo (128), Video (126) | Honor 90 has a higher score. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 12 | Android 13 | Honor 90 has a newer version of Android, offering more up-to-date features and security updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Honor 90 has a newer Wi-Fi standard for faster and more reliable connections. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Honor 90 has a newer Bluetooth version with potentially more stable and faster connections and added audio codec support. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Honor 90 has slightly better GPS features for navigation. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both feature dual SIM, but none have eSIM. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64 GB/128 GB/256 GB | 256 GB/512 GB | Honor 90 offers more internal storage options for more apps, media and files. |
| RAM | 4 GB/6 GB/8 GB | 8 GB/12 GB/16 GB | Honor 90 has higher RAM options, ensuring better multitasking and app performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for storage expansion via SD card. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Noise cancellation microphone | Xiaomi Poco M5s gives better audio quality experience; Honor 90 focuses on calls. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Xiaomi Poco M5s side mounted sensor may be slightly easier to reach than a sensor on the front or rear. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Unknown | Xiaomi Poco M5s offers better screen protection from scratches and minor damage. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass | Xiaomi Poco M5s offers a better array of sensors for added functionality such as gyro for gaming. |
2. Key Insights
Xiaomi Poco M5s Strengths:
- Versatile Camera System: It has a dedicated wide-angle and macro lens, which some users might find incredibly useful for diverse shooting needs.
- Reverse Charging: This phone can act as a power bank, a convenient feature for charging other devices on the go.
- Hi-Res Audio and Stereo Speakers: Provides enhanced audio playback, suitable for music and video enjoyment.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: May be more intuitive to some users.
- Gyroscope: Gives the user added functionality such as enhanced gaming.
- Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 offers added protection against scratches.
Honor 90 Strengths:
- Superior Display: The higher resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and brighter screen offer a more immersive visual experience and great outdoor visibility.
- Significantly Better Performance: The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip provides a noticeable boost in performance for demanding apps and gaming.
- Higher Resolution Cameras: The 200MP main camera and 50MP selfie camera capture far more detailed images and videos, making it suitable for serious photography.
- Faster Charging: 66W fast charging gets the battery back up quicker.
- Up-to-date Software: Android 13 offers the latest features and security improvements.
- Better Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 offer faster and more reliable connections.
- More RAM & Storage: Higher storage options and RAM allow for greater multitasking.
Trade-offs and Limitations:
- Poco M5s: The Mediatek chipset is a generation behind in terms of performance and power efficiency, its display is less crisp, and has a lower refresh rate.
- Honor 90: It lacks dedicated macro and wide-angle lenses, offers slightly lower quality audio, and screen protection is unknown. It does not have reverse charging.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco M5s is best for:
- Budget-conscious users: Looking for a reliable phone with good battery life and a decent camera system.
- Users who prioritize convenience: The reverse charging feature and its wide-angle and macro lenses are great for versatility.
- Casual media consumers: Those who prefer good audio experience with stereo speakers.
Honor 90 is best for:
- Power users: Those who need a phone that can handle demanding tasks and gaming.
- Photography enthusiasts: Those who want to capture high-resolution photos and videos.
- Users who value display quality: The brighter and sharper display is ideal for media consumption and outdoor use.
- Tech enthusiasts: Who appreciate the latest software and faster connectivity.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three practical questions to guide your decision:
- How much do you prioritize performance and display quality? If your answer is "A lot," the Honor 90 is the better choice due to its superior processor, refresh rate, and screen brightness.
- Do you need a versatile camera system with macro and wide-angle lenses, or prefer high-resolution images? If versatile camera system, the Poco M5s is more suitable. However, for high resolution photos the Honor 90 is better.
- How important are the features like reverse charging, gyro sensor, and Hi-Res Audio? If they are significant to you, the Poco M5s will be the way to go.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For a student on a budget: The Xiaomi Poco M5s is a reliable, functional device that covers all the essentials without breaking the bank.
- For a content creator: The Honor 90 with its superior camera quality, performance, and display makes it the ideal tool for creating and consuming media on the go.
- For a casual user wanting a dependable daily driver: Both devices will perform reasonably well; the choice will depend on individual priorities, but in general the Honor 90 would be a better choice.
My Choice and Why
If I were choosing between these two, I'd go for the Honor 90. Here's why:
As a tech journalist and enthusiast, I place a high value on performance and display quality. The Honor 90's Snapdragon chip, 120Hz display, and higher brightness offer a significantly better user experience for my use case, which involves a lot of multitasking, media consumption, and gaming. While the Poco M5s has a more versatile camera system, I prioritize overall image and video quality with the Honor 90's 200MP main sensor and better selfie camera. The faster charging and updated software are the icing on the cake. While the reverse charging feature of the Poco M5s is an interesting feature, the Honor 90’s speed and enhanced display are more useful in my day to day. Ultimately, I think the Honor 90 is a more powerful device for my daily needs.
