Honor 50 vs OnePlus 9RT 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Powerhouses

The Honor 50 and OnePlus 9RT 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, they take distinctly different approaches. The Honor 50 prioritizes a balanced experience with a focus on design and efficient charging, while the OnePlus 9RT 5G leans heavily into raw processing power with the Snapdragon 888.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing everyday tasks and efficient charging, the Honor 50 is the better choice. However, the OnePlus 9RT 5G is the clear winner for gamers and power users who demand the highest possible performance, despite its slightly less optimized battery endurance.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 50 OnePlus 9RT 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Global
5G bands1, 3, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, June 162021, October 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, June 25Available. Released 2021, October 19
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions160 x 73.8 x 7.8 mm (6.30 x 2.91 x 0.31 in)162.2 x 74.6 x 8.3 mm (6.39 x 2.94 x 0.33 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight175 g (6.17 oz)198.5 g (7.02 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~397 ppi density)
Size6.57 inches, 106.0 cm2 (~89.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.62 inches, 106.3 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120HzAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 660
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 4.2Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 17mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56”, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro)
Single-16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/3.14"16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired, 70% in 20 min, 100% in 45 min65W wired, 100% in 29 min
TypeLi-Po 4300 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsFrost Crystal, Amber Red, Emerald Green, Midnight Black, Honor CodeHacker Black, Nano Silver, Blue
ModelsNTH-AN00, NTH-NX9MT2110, MT2111
PriceAbout 180 EURAbout 590 EUR

Honor 50

  • Faster overall charging time (45 mins vs 29 mins)
  • Potentially longer battery life due to efficient chipset
  • Stylish design and balanced feature set

  • Less powerful processor than the OnePlus 9RT
  • Limited camera details available

OnePlus 9RT 5G

  • Significantly more powerful Snapdragon 888 processor
  • Faster full charge time (29 mins)
  • Likely superior gaming performance

  • Snapdragon 888 can throttle under heavy load
  • Potentially shorter battery life due to power-hungry chipset

Display Comparison

The Honor 50 boasts a 748 nits max brightness, a respectable figure for outdoor visibility. While the OnePlus 9RT’s display specifications aren’t provided, OnePlus typically equips its devices with high-brightness panels. The Honor 50’s display technology isn’t specified, but its brightness suggests it’s likely an OLED panel. The lack of information on the 9RT’s panel type makes a direct comparison difficult, but the 9RT likely targets similar color accuracy and viewing angles. Both phones likely feature high refresh rates, common in this price bracket, but the Honor 50’s brightness gives it a slight edge in direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are described as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details are lacking. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is challenging. However, the OnePlus 9RT, being positioned as a performance-focused device, likely prioritizes image processing speed and potentially features a larger main sensor. The Honor 50, with its emphasis on overall balance, may focus on color accuracy and a more natural image profile. The absence of details on optical image stabilization (OIS) on either device makes it impossible to assess low-light performance differences.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Honor 50 utilizes the Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm), while the OnePlus 9RT 5G packs the more powerful Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm). The Snapdragon 888, built on a 5nm process, offers significantly higher peak performance thanks to its Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.84 GHz, compared to the Honor 50’s 2.4 GHz Cortex-A78. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance on the 9RT. However, the 5nm node of the 888 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, though the 888 is still known to throttle under sustained load. The Honor 50’s 6nm Snapdragon 778G provides excellent efficiency and is more than capable for most users, but it won’t match the 9RT’s raw horsepower.

Battery Life

The Honor 50 boasts a 100-hour endurance rating, suggesting a relatively large battery capacity. It supports 66W wired charging, achieving 70% charge in 20 minutes and 100% in 45 minutes. The OnePlus 9RT 5G, with 65W wired charging, reaches 100% in 29 minutes. While the wattage is similar, the 9RT’s faster full charge time suggests optimized charging algorithms. The Snapdragon 888’s higher power consumption in the 9RT will likely offset some of the charging speed advantage, resulting in slightly shorter battery life compared to the Honor 50 under similar usage scenarios.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 50 if you need a stylish phone with consistently fast charging and a smooth experience for daily use, social media, and casual gaming. It’s ideal for users who value battery longevity and a balanced feature set. Buy the OnePlus 9RT 5G if you prioritize gaming, demanding applications, and future-proofing. It’s the better option for those who frequently edit videos, play graphically intensive games, or simply want the fastest possible performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 888 in the OnePlus 9RT 5G overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 888 is known to generate more heat than some other chipsets, and can experience throttling under sustained heavy load. OnePlus likely implemented thermal management solutions, but prolonged gaming at maximum settings may still result in reduced performance over time. The Honor 50's Snapdragon 778G is less prone to overheating.
❓ How does the 66W charging on the Honor 50 compare to the 65W charging on the OnePlus 9RT 5G in real-world use?
While the wattage difference is minimal, the Honor 50 reaches 70% charge in 20 minutes and 100% in 45 minutes, while the 9RT reaches 100% in 29 minutes. This suggests the Honor 50 charges slightly faster initially, but the 9RT completes the full charge quicker. Both offer incredibly fast charging speeds compared to older standards.
❓ Is the difference in chipset performance between the Snapdragon 778G and Snapdragon 888 noticeable for everyday tasks?
For typical daily use like browsing, social media, and streaming, the difference will be minimal. Both chipsets are more than capable of handling these tasks smoothly. The Snapdragon 888’s advantage becomes apparent in demanding applications like video editing, graphically intensive games, and multitasking with numerous apps open.