Okay, let's break down the Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022 and the Honor 90. I'll put on my tech journalist hat and get into the nitty-gritty.
1. Specifications Breakdown
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022 | Honor 90 | Real-World Implications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 162 × 75.5 × 8.9 mm | 161.9 × 74.1 × 7.8 mm | The Redmi is a bit wider and thicker, potentially feeling bulkier in hand; the Honor 90 is slimmer and more pocket-friendly. |
| Weight | 181g | 183g | Both are virtually the same weight, so not much difference in how they feel in the hand. |
| Build Quality | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Unknown | Redmi has a known screen protection technology, while the Honor's screen protection is not detailed, which could be a point of concern. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.5" | 6.7" | The Honor 90 offers a slightly larger screen for more immersive media consumption, which could feel better for videos, games, and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has a notably sharper display, making text, images, and videos appear crisper and more detailed. |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 405 | 435 | Honor 90 is a tad sharper, although the difference is subtle for regular use. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Honor 90’s AMOLED display provides richer blacks, higher contrast, and more vibrant colors, leading to a more pleasant viewing experience. It will also be more power efficient. | |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90 will have slightly smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90's screen is much brighter, making it much easier to use outdoors in sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G88 (12 nm) | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Honor 90’s chipset is much faster, more efficient, and better for gaming. Expect noticeably better performance overall. The Redmi will struggle with more demanding tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 253,600 | 701,227 | The Honor 90 is in a completely different class in terms of raw performance. Apps and games load faster, multi-tasking is smoother. |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 644 | Honor 90 has a more capable GPU, which is better for graphics-intensive tasks, like 3D gaming. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | 200MP, f/1.9, 1/1.4", 0.56µm | The Honor 90 should capture much more detailed images, and have better low light capabilities thanks to the larger sensor. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.0 | 50MP, f/2.4 | Honor 90’s selfie camera offers more resolution with comparable aperture, making it much more suitable for higher quality selfie photos and videos. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", 1.14µm | None | Redmi has a dedicated wide-angle lens for broader shots, while the Honor 90 lacks it as a standalone, but has it in a combined wide + macro. |
| Portrait (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4, 2.24µm | These are comparable in resolution, the Honor 90 will likely capture more light. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The Redmi has a dedicated macro lens, the Honor 90 does not have a dedicated lens for this purpose. |
| Wide+Macro | None | 12MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | Honor 90 has a combined wide and macro lens, which gives good versatility for a wide range of shots and use cases. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, EIS | The Honor 90 has much better video recording capabilities with 4K and electronic image stabilization (EIS). |
| DxOMark Mobile Score | Not Tested | 122 | The Honor 90 has been tested and scored reasonably well, this shows that the phone captures good quality images in a range of scenarios. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera | Triple Camera, PDAF, Front Flash, Night Mode | The Honor 90 includes PDAF for quicker focus, a front flash for better selfies in low light, and a night mode for better low light photos and videos. |
| Battery Life | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have the same battery capacity, suggesting comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 18W fast charging | 66W fast charging | The Honor 90 charges much faster, dramatically cutting down waiting time to get back up and running. |
| Other Features | Reverse charging, 9W reverse wired | Non-removable | The Redmi can be used to charge other devices, a feature the Honor 90 lacks. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 13 | Honor 90 comes with a newer version of Android, meaning it will also likely get longer software updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Honor 90 is faster and more reliable on Wi-Fi, especially in crowded networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Honor 90 has a more advanced and efficient Bluetooth connection, supports more codecs for better audio. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Honor 90 has a better GPS suite, giving more accurate location tracking and a stronger signal. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both support dual SIM cards, which allows you to use two numbers on the same device. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | Unknown | 256/512GB | Honor 90 offers significantly more internal storage for media, apps, and files. |
| RAM | Unknown | 8/12/16GB | The Honor 90 offers much more RAM to improve multitasking and performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage via microSD, so users will be stuck with the base or selected storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Stereo Speakers | Noise cancellation microphone | The Redmi 10 has stereo speakers, while the Honor 90 has a noise cancellation microphone for clear calls. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint | Basic fingerprint sensor | The side-mounted fingerprint of the Redmi 10 is more advanced than the Honor's basic fingerprint sensor. |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic Proximity | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, RGB | The Redmi has more motion sensors, and an ultrasonic sensor, while the Honor 90 has a color sensor. |
| ### 2. Key Insights |
Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022:
- Strengths: It's a budget-friendly device with a respectable display, a large battery, and a wide range of cameras that offer good versatility. Its standout features include stereo speakers and reverse charging capabilities. It offers a decent experience for general use, such as browsing, social media, and casual gaming.
- Competitive Advantages: The inclusion of a wide-angle lens and reverse charging at this price point gives it an edge over its competitors in this range.
- Trade-offs/Limitations: It has a significantly slower processor and outdated software compared to other devices on the market. The display, while decent for the price, doesn't match the quality of AMOLED panels. It lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, and video quality is limited to 1080p at 30fps.
Honor 90:
- Strengths: It boasts a very strong chipset for smooth performance, a high-quality AMOLED display with a high refresh rate, a larger storage capacity, and very fast charging capabilities. Its main camera will take very detailed and vibrant pictures.
- Competitive Advantages: The Honor 90 stands out with its very impressive camera quality, display quality, and performance in its price range. The inclusion of a combined wide and macro lens also gives it versatility for different types of shots.
- Trade-offs/Limitations: Lacks a dedicated macro lens, a separate telephoto lens and does not have expandable storage. It also lacks a known screen protection and reverse charging, which some users might miss.
3. User Profiles and Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022 is best for:
- Budget-conscious users: Those looking for a functional smartphone at a low price point.
- Casual users: Individuals who primarily use their phone for basic tasks, social media, and web browsing.
- Users who value versatility: People who want the features such as reverse charging and stereo speakers, and want to have a separate wide angle and macro lens.
Honor 90 is best for:
- Performance-driven users: Gamers and those who need fast processing for multitasking.
- Camera enthusiasts: Users who want high-quality images and videos with excellent detail and vibrant colors.
- Media consumers: Those who value a vibrant, sharp display for watching videos and consuming content.
- Professionals: Users who need reliable performance, good camera quality and a long battery life, and a fast charging feature.
4. Buying Decision Framework
Here are three questions to help you decide:
How important is performance to you?
- If you need a phone for heavy gaming or demanding apps, the Honor 90 is the only choice. For basic daily use, the Redmi is okay.
How much do you value display quality?
- If you prioritize vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and a bright display for outdoor visibility, the Honor 90’s AMOLED screen is a must-have. The Redmi’s display is fine, but nothing impressive.
What kind of camera setup do you need?
- If you want excellent quality photos, with high resolution and better low light performance, the Honor 90 has a better camera system. The Redmi has more versatile cameras and a wide angle, but the overall quality is not on par with the Honor 90.
Scenario-based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: "I'm on a tight budget and just need a phone for basic daily use."
- Recommendation: The Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022 is more than sufficient. It will cover your bases without breaking the bank.
Scenario 2: "I want to take great photos and play games on my phone."
- Recommendation: The Honor 90 offers much higher performance for gaming, and also takes much better quality pictures and videos.
Scenario 3: "I watch videos on my phone a lot, and am using my phone outdoors quite often."
- Recommendation: The Honor 90 is a much better option with a brighter and higher quality AMOLED display, that can be seen outdoors in the sunlight.
What I Would Choose and Why
After a detailed analysis, I'd choose the Honor 90. Here's why:
Performance is King: As someone who often juggles between multiple apps, edits videos and images, and occasionally indulges in some mobile gaming, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset in the Honor 90 is significantly more appealing. The difference in benchmark scores isn’t just theoretical – it translates to smoother, more responsive, and less frustrating performance daily.
Display Quality Matters: The AMOLED panel on the Honor 90, with its vibrant colors, deep blacks, and high brightness, makes a tangible difference. I watch videos and read articles on my phone a lot, and it greatly enhances my content consumption experience.
Camera Capabilities: While I do appreciate the versatility of having separate lenses, the raw image quality of the Honor 90 is significantly better. The combination of the 200MP main sensor with the larger sensor size means that it will perform better in a range of scenarios.
Future-Proofing: The newer Android version and Bluetooth support, faster charging, and much higher storage capacity makes the Honor 90 feel like a device that will remain relevant and performant for much longer. While both devices lack expandable storage, the Honor's higher base storage means that storage space will not be an immediate issue.
While the Xiaomi Redmi 10 2022 is a capable and versatile budget smartphone with some cool features, the Honor 90 is a much more capable and powerful device that fits my use cases better. The premium user experience it offers justifies the price difference.
