The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The Honor X8a, with its Mediatek Helio G88 chipset, presents a known quantity. However, the Cubot X3 enters the arena with limited publicly available specifications, making a direct comparison challenging but crucial for informed buyers seeking the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Honor X8a is the safer bet. Its Mediatek Helio G88 chipset provides a documented level of performance and the 22.5W charging is a significant advantage. The Cubot X3's lack of published specs makes it a gamble, despite potentially offering a lower price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | N/A | LTE |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | No | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, March | 2023, February 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March | Available. Released 2023, February 11 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Zinc alloy frame and rear | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 53.8 x 53.8 x 13.5 mm (2.12 x 2.12 x 0.53 in) | 162.9 x 74.5 x 7.5 mm (6.41 x 2.93 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | No | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 94.6 g (3.35 oz) | 179 g (6.31 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 466 x 466 pixels (~381 ppi density) | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.73 inches | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | - | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | - | Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm) |
| GPU | - | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Proprietary OS | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 16MB | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.5 |
| Triple | - | 100 MP, f/1.9, (wide), AF
5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.5 |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (CRT-LX1 only) |
| Positioning | Unspecified | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, heart rate, SpO2, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 22.5W wired, 50% in 30 min |
| Type | 900 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Cyan Lake, Titanium Silver, Midnight Black |
| Models | - | CRT-LX1, CRT-LX2, CRT-LX3 |
| Price | - | About 170 EUR |
Cubot X3
- Known and tested Mediatek Helio G88 chipset
- Fast 22.5W charging
- Established brand reputation
- Performance limited for demanding games
- Potential for thermal throttling
Honor X8a
- Potentially lower price point
- Unknown features could offer unexpected value
- Completely unknown specifications
- Uncertain software support and updates
- Potential for lower build quality
Display Comparison
The Honor X8a's display specifications are currently unavailable, but Honor typically equips its 'X' series with large, high-resolution panels. The Cubot X3 lacks any display information, making it impossible to compare brightness, color accuracy, or refresh rates. Without knowing the panel technology used in the Cubot X3, it's difficult to assess its suitability for outdoor use or media consumption. We can assume the X8a will likely have a higher peak brightness given Honor's typical display calibration.
Camera Comparison
The Honor X8a's camera specifications are not fully detailed, but it's reasonable to expect a multi-camera setup. The Cubot X3's camera system is entirely unknown. Given the budget nature of both devices, image quality will likely be dependent on software processing rather than cutting-edge sensor technology. Without knowing the sensor sizes or apertures of either phone, it's impossible to assess low-light performance or dynamic range. We can expect the X8a to have a more refined image processing pipeline due to Honor's experience.
Performance
The Honor X8a is powered by the Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm). This chipset features an octa-core configuration with 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 and 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, offering a balance between performance and efficiency. The Cubot X3's processor remains unknown. The Helio G88 is capable of handling everyday tasks and light gaming, but it won't excel at demanding titles. The 12nm process node of the Helio G88 is relatively mature, meaning thermal throttling is a potential concern during extended gaming sessions, but it's a known quantity. The Cubot X3's performance is entirely speculative without chipset details.
Battery Life
The Honor X8a supports 22.5W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes. The Cubot X3's charging capabilities are unknown. Battery capacity for both devices is also unspecified. The faster charging speed of the Honor X8a is a significant advantage, reducing downtime and providing more flexibility. Without knowing the battery capacity of the Cubot X3, it's impossible to determine its endurance, but the X8a's charging speed offers a clear benefit.
Buying Guide
Buy the Cubot X3 if you prioritize absolute lowest price and are comfortable with an unknown quantity, potentially accepting compromises in performance and software support. Buy the Honor X8a if you value a known chipset, reliable fast charging, and a more established brand reputation, even if it means spending slightly more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Mediatek Helio G88 in the Honor X8a capable of running demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Helio G88 can run Genshin Impact, you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to medium or low to achieve a playable framerate. It's not a gaming-focused chipset, so don't expect a flagship gaming experience.
❓ What kind of software updates can I expect on the Honor X8a?
Honor has improved its software update commitment in recent years. The X8a is likely to receive at least one major Android update and regular security patches, but the exact duration of support is not guaranteed. Cubot's update track record is less predictable.
❓ Given the lack of information on the Cubot X3, is it worth the risk to save money?
That depends on your risk tolerance. If you're comfortable with potentially receiving a device with lower performance, build quality, and software support, the Cubot X3 might be worth considering if the price is significantly lower. However, the Honor X8a offers a more predictable and reliable experience.
