The Honor 20S and Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro represent a fascinating crossroads in the mid-range smartphone market. Both devices, released around the same time, aimed to deliver flagship-like experiences without the flagship price tag. However, they took different approaches, with Honor opting for its in-house Kirin 810 chipset and Xiaomi leveraging the proven Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. This comparison dissects those choices and reveals which phone ultimately delivers more for the user.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 855 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage, particularly in demanding tasks like gaming, and the 27W fast charging with Quick Charge 4 support significantly reduces charging times. While the Honor 20S is a capable device, it can't match the Mi 9T Pro's raw power.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, October | 2019, August 21. Released 2019, August 21 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 154.3 x 74 x 7.9 mm (6.07 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) | 156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 191 g (6.74 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~412 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.26 inches, 96.2 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, HDR |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Kirin 810 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP6 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Magic 2.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 13mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom
13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | Motorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| |
32-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 20W wired | 27W wired, QC4 |
| Type | Li-Po 3750 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, White | Carbon black, Red flame, Glacier blue |
| Models | YAL-AL50 | M1903F11G |
| Price | About 250 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.03 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.30 W/kg (head) 1.51 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 103h |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 368846 (v7), 437823 (v8)
GeekBench: 10684 (v4.4), 2732 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 36fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor 20S
- Potentially more compact design
- Clean software experience (typical of Honor)
- Competitive price point
- Less powerful Kirin 810 chipset
- Slower 20W charging
- Likely inferior gaming performance
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro
- More powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Faster 27W charging with Quick Charge 4
- Superior gaming performance
- MIUI software can be polarizing
- Potentially larger and heavier design
- May be slightly more expensive
Display Comparison
Both the Honor 20S and Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels typical of AMOLED panels. However, detailed specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given Xiaomi’s history with vibrant displays, it’s likely the Mi 9T Pro offers a slightly more saturated and visually striking experience. The lack of high refresh rate support on either device is a notable omission compared to some competitors, but common for this price point at the time of release.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs beyond the presence of sensors, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Mi 9T Pro likely benefits from Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 855, which generally delivers excellent image quality and processing speeds. The Honor 20S’s Kirin 810 ISP is capable, but typically lags behind Qualcomm’s offerings in dynamic range and low-light performance. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and optical image stabilization (OIS) makes a definitive judgment impossible, but the Mi 9T Pro’s chipset gives it a likely advantage.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro’s Snapdragon 855, built on a 7nm process, boasts a more powerful CPU configuration – a single Kryo 485 core clocked at 2.84 GHz, supported by three at 2.42 GHz and four at 1.78 GHz. This contrasts with the Honor 20S’s Kirin 810, featuring a dual-core Cortex-A76 setup at 2.27 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.88 GHz. While both are 7nm chips, the Snapdragon 855’s architecture provides a significant edge in both single-core and multi-core performance, translating to smoother multitasking and faster app loading times. The Snapdragon 855 also has a more capable Adreno 640 GPU, offering superior graphics performance for gaming.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 103 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities (not specified). However, the Mi 9T Pro’s 27W wired charging with Quick Charge 4 support is a clear advantage over the Honor 20S’s 20W charging. This faster charging speed translates to significantly reduced charging times, allowing users to quickly top up their battery when needed. The Mi 9T Pro’s support for QC4 also offers broader compatibility with various chargers.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 20S if you prioritize a clean, minimalist software experience and are looking for a slightly more compact form factor. It's a solid all-rounder for everyday tasks. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro if you're a gamer, a power user, or simply want the fastest possible performance in this price bracket. The faster charging and more powerful chipset make it the clear winner for those demanding more from their smartphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 810 in the Honor 20S struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG or Fortnite?
While the Kirin 810 is a capable chipset, it will likely exhibit more frame drops and require lower graphics settings in demanding games like PUBG or Fortnite compared to the Snapdragon 855 in the Mi 9T Pro. The Snapdragon 855’s more powerful GPU provides a smoother and more consistent gaming experience.
❓ How much faster is the 27W charging on the Mi 9T Pro compared to the 20W charging on the Honor 20S?
The 27W charging on the Mi 9T Pro, combined with Quick Charge 4 support, can reduce charging times by approximately 30-45 minutes for a full 0-100% charge compared to the Honor 20S. This difference is significant for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the software experience on the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro significantly different from the Honor 20S?
Yes. The Mi 9T Pro runs Xiaomi’s MIUI, which is a heavily customized Android skin known for its extensive features and sometimes aggressive battery management. The Honor 20S typically offers a cleaner, more stock-Android-like experience, which some users prefer for its simplicity and responsiveness.
❓ Which phone is better for taking photos in low-light conditions?
The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro is likely to perform better in low-light photography due to the Snapdragon 855’s superior image signal processor (ISP), which generally captures more detail and dynamic range in challenging lighting conditions.
