1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 161.2 × 77.3 × 9.1 mm | 161.9 × 74.1 × 7.8 mm | Honor 90 is slightly taller, noticeably thinner and narrower, making it more comfortable to hold and pocket. |
| Weight | 199g | 183g | Honor 90 is lighter by 16g, making it more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard, non-folding smartphones. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.53" | 6.7" | Honor 90 has a slightly larger screen, offering more screen real estate for media consumption and productivity. |
| Resolution | 1080x2340 | 1200x2664 | Honor 90 has a sharper display with higher pixel density resulting in clearer text and images. |
| PPI | 395 | 435 | Honor 90 offers a sharper viewing experience due to its higher pixel density. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Honor 90's AMOLED screen offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and better energy efficiency, especially in dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 90 provides smoother scrolling and animations, enhancing the overall user experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1600 nits | Honor 90 provides significantly better visibility in bright sunlight due to much higher brightness. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) | Honor 90's chipset offers better performance, faster app loading, and improved efficiency due to its smaller fabrication process. |
| AnTuTu Score | 343,150 | 701,227 | Honor 90 provides significantly better overall performance for demanding apps, gaming and multitasking, based on benchmark scores. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 644 | Honor 90 has a more powerful GPU, providing a better gaming experience with smoother graphics and higher frame rates. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2" sensor | 200MP, f/1.9, 1/1.4" sensor | Honor 90’s main camera has higher resolution and a larger sensor, likely resulting in more detailed images, especially in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.25, 1/3.1" sensor | 50MP, f/2.4, sensor information missing | Honor 90 offers a much higher resolution selfie camera for sharper and more detailed self portraits, though the sensor info is missing. |
| Portrait Camera | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | 2MP, f/2.4, sensor information missing | Both phones offer a comparable 2MP depth sensor for portrait mode, sensor model on the Honor 90 is not available. |
| Macro Camera | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | None | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T includes a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, which Honor 90 does not have. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 12MP, f/2.2, sensor information missing | Honor 90 has a dedicated wide angle/macro lens that provides more versatility in different scenarios. |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@30fps with EIS | Both support 4K video, Honor 90 provides electronic image stabilization for smoother videos. |
| Slow-motion | 120 fps | 960 fps | Honor 90 has a significantly higher slow motion frame rate, allowing for more dramatic slow motion videos. |
| DxOMark Score | Not available | 122 (Mobile) | Honor 90 has a DxOMark score, providing an objective measure of its camera performance, whereas Xiaomi has none. |
| Camera Features | Many features listed, lacks PDAF, RAW, Front Flash, Night Mode | Many features listed, includes PDAF, RAW, Front Flash, Night Mode | Honor 90 has a more complete set of features with Phase detection autofocus, RAW image capture, Front Flash and Night Mode for enhanced performance in various conditions. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T | Honor 90 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both phones have a similar battery capacity, suggesting similar battery life for average usage. |
| Charging | 18W fast charging | 66W fast charging | Honor 90 offers significantly faster charging, reducing time spent plugged into the wall. |
| Charger | 22.5W charger inbox | None | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T includes a charger in the box. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T Advantages:
- In-box Charger: Includes a 22.5W charger which is a nice convenience
- Macro Lens: Dedicated macro camera for close-up shots.
- Screen Protection: Gorilla Glass 5 screen protection for better durability.
- Hi-Res Audio and Stereo Speakers: Better audio experience with more detailed sound and immersion.
Honor 90 Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with higher resolution, refresh rate, and brightness offers a richer and smoother viewing experience.
- Significantly Better Performance: A much more powerful chipset and GPU leading to smoother gaming and app performance.
- Faster Charging: 66W fast charging is a substantial advantage reducing charging time.
- Superior Camera System: Higher resolution main and selfie cameras, as well as a wide-angle/macro lens.
- Better Video Stabilization Electronic Image Stabilization and higher slow-motion frame rate.
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 13 for latest features and security updates.
- More RAM and Storage: Offers more storage and RAM options for better multitasking and storage capacity.
- Connectivity: Newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards for better speed and reliability.
Trade-offs:
- The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T has a lower price point with an in-box charger, but suffers from outdated software and significantly less powerful hardware, including a weaker camera system.
- The Honor 90 has more impressive camera capabilities, but lacks a dedicated Macro lens, and a screen protection spec.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T Ideal Users:
- Budget-conscious users: Those seeking a functional phone with basic features at a lower cost.
- Users prioritizing audio: Those who listen to a lot of music or want better quality stereo speakers.
- Users needing a macro lens: Those who enjoy taking close up shots with their camera.
Use Cases:
- Everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and calls.
- Casual photography and video recording.
- Music and audio consumption.
Honor 90 Ideal Users:
- Power users: Those who demand high performance for gaming and demanding applications.
- Photography enthusiasts: Those who prioritize a versatile and higher-quality camera system.
- Multimedia consumers: Those who enjoy watching videos, and gaming.
- Users wanting a modern smartphone: Those who want a phone with a more current OS, and advanced hardware.
Use Cases:
- Gaming and graphics-intensive applications.
- High-quality photography and videography, including low light shots.
- Viewing videos and movies.
- Everyday productivity and multitasking.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my budget? If you are on a very tight budget, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T may be suitable, but consider the performance compromises.
- How important is performance and gaming? If performance is crucial, the Honor 90 is the better option.
- What are my priorities for the camera system? If you prioritize versatility and high-quality images and videos, especially in low light, the Honor 90 is a better choice, however if you use a macro lens often, the Redmi Note 9T will have an advantage.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Budget-Conscious): If the primary concern is cost, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is the more economical choice but is going to be significantly slower and less capable.
- Scenario 2 (Performance & Gaming): For gaming, multitasking and demanding applications, the Honor 90 provides superior performance and is the better option.
- Scenario 3 (Camera Enthusiast): For better photography, the Honor 90's higher resolution sensors, wide-angle lens, EIS, and better feature set makes it much more versatile, unless macro photography is a primary concern.
- Scenario 4 (Media Consumption): If you primarily want to watch movies, the Honor 90's superior display will make it a much better option.
My Choice
I would choose the Honor 90. Although the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is more affordable and includes a charger, its aging hardware, especially the display, the camera system and the slower processing power, make it very difficult to recommend over the Honor 90. The Honor 90 provides a far superior user experience in almost every category: a much better display, superior performance, significantly faster charging, and a more versatile camera system. While the Macro lens on the Xiaomi is beneficial, the wide-angle on the Honor 90 will be useful in many more scenarios. The difference in raw power is significant based on AnTuTu benchmark scores and the Snapdragon chipset will provide a much more snappy experience.
