Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone that doesn't compromise too much? The Honor 50 SE and Infinix Hot 9 Pro are both contenders, offering attractive features at accessible price points. But which one truly delivers the best value? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor 50 SE is the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster chipset, faster charging, and likely a better camera. While the Infinix Hot 9 Pro offers decent value, the Honor 50 SE's superior performance and modern features make it the more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, June 16 | 2020, May 29. Released 2020, June 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 02 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.7 x 75.6 x 8 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.31 in) | 165 x 76.8 x 8.7 mm (6.50 x 3.02 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~387 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | IPS LCD, 480 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm) | Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MC4 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 4.2 | Android 10, XOS 6.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Quad-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lenses |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | - |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 8 MP, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 75% in 20 min | - |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Silver | Violet, Ocean Wave |
| Models | JLH-AN00 | X655F |
| Price | About 310 EUR | About 50 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) |
Honor 50 SE
- Significantly faster chipset
- 66W fast charging
- Likely better camera quality
- Modern design
- Smoother performance
- Potentially higher price
- May have limited availability in some regions
Infinix Hot 9 Pro
- More affordable
- Decent battery life
- Multiple rear cameras
- Outdated chipset
- Slow charging
- Lower performance
- Less vibrant display
- Potentially lower camera quality
Display Comparison
The Honor 50 SE likely features a higher resolution display and potentially a more vibrant color profile, given its more recent release and higher price point. The Infinix Hot 9 Pro's display is likely adequate but may lack the same level of visual fidelity. Expect the Honor 50 SE to offer a slightly better viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer multiple rear cameras, the Honor 50 SE's more advanced chipset and likely better image processing algorithms should result in superior photo and video quality. Expect better low-light performance and more detail in images captured with the Honor 50 SE.
Performance
This is where the Honor 50 SE truly shines. The Dimensity 900 chipset is significantly more powerful than the Helio P22. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Honor 50 SE. The Infinix Hot 9 Pro will struggle with more demanding tasks.
Battery Life
Both phones likely have similar battery capacities (around 5000mAh). However, the Honor 50 SE's 66W fast charging is a game-changer, allowing it to charge much faster than the Infinix Hot 9 Pro. This provides a significant convenience advantage.
Buying Guide
The Honor 50 SE is ideal for users who prioritize performance, fast charging, and a more modern design. The Infinix Hot 9 Pro is a good option for those on a very tight budget who primarily need a phone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Honor 50 SE is significantly better for gaming due to its much more powerful chipset.
❓ How long does it take to fully charge each phone?
The Honor 50 SE charges much faster with its 66W charging, likely reaching a full charge in around 35-40 minutes. The Infinix Hot 9 Pro will take considerably longer, potentially over 2 hours with standard charging.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Honor generally provides better software updates and support compared to Infinix, although this can vary by region.