Honor 60 SE vs. Honor X30: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Performance and Value

The Honor 60 SE and X30 represent Honor's continued push into the competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both devices offer 66W fast charging and a similar aesthetic, they diverge significantly in their core processing power, relying on chipsets from Mediatek and Qualcomm respectively. This comparison will dissect these differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw processing power and responsiveness, the Honor 60 SE with its Dimensity 900 chipset is the better choice. However, the Honor X30’s Snapdragon 695 offers a more balanced power efficiency profile and wider 5G band support, making it a strong contender for those prioritizing connectivity and sustained performance.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 60 SE Honor X30
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41LTE
5G bands1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 78 SA/NSASA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x CDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2022, February 072021, December 16
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, February 17Available. Released 2021, December 25
Body
Dimensions161.3 x 73.4 x 7.7 mm (6.35 x 2.89 x 0.30 in)166.1 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm (6.54 x 2.98 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight175 g (6.17 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2388 pixels (~385 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.81 inches, 112.3 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDRIPS LCD, 120Hz
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUMali-G68 MC4Adreno 619
OSAndroid 11, Magic UI 5.0Android 11, Magic UI 5.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
NFCNoNo
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired, 55% in 15 min 5W reverse wired66W wired, 80% in 30 min
TypeLi-Ion 4300 mAhLi-Po 4800 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, BlueBlack, Blue, Silver, Gold
ModelsGIA-AN00ANY-AN00
PriceAbout 300 EURAbout 210 EUR

Honor 60 SE

  • More powerful CPU for demanding tasks
  • Faster initial charging speed (55% in 15 mins)
  • Potentially better performance in CPU-intensive apps

  • May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load
  • Potentially less efficient 5G connectivity

Honor X30

  • More efficient power consumption for longer battery life
  • Wider 5G band support (likely)
  • More conservative charging curve for battery health

  • Less powerful CPU compared to the Dimensity 900
  • Slower initial charging speed (80% in 30 mins)

Display Comparison

Both phones are expected to feature similar LCD panels, though specific details like peak brightness and color gamut coverage aren't provided. The focus here isn't on display quality, but rather the internal hardware driving the experience. The absence of high refresh rate panels on either device suggests a cost-saving measure, prioritizing battery life over visual fluidity.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is difficult. Both phones likely employ similar sensor configurations targeting the mid-range market. The image processing algorithms will be a key differentiator, with Honor’s software potentially optimizing for vibrant colors and enhanced detail. The absence of information regarding OIS or sensor size suggests neither phone will excel in low-light photography.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor 60 SE’s Mediatek Dimensity 900, built on a 6nm process, features a more powerful CPU configuration with 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 cores compared to the Honor X30’s Snapdragon 695’s 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold cores. This translates to faster application loading and smoother multitasking. However, the Snapdragon 695 benefits from Qualcomm’s integrated 5G modem, offering potentially wider network compatibility and more efficient 5G data usage. The Dimensity 900’s CPU architecture, while faster on paper, may exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

Both devices feature 66W wired charging, but the implementation differs. The Honor 60 SE reaches 55% charge in 15 minutes, while the X30 achieves 80% in 30 minutes. This suggests the X30’s charging curve is more conservative, potentially prioritizing battery health. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the Snapdragon 695’s superior power efficiency likely translates to longer real-world battery life for the Honor X30, especially during moderate usage scenarios.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 60 SE if you need a phone for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, and value a more powerful processor. Its Dimensity 900 provides a noticeable performance edge. Buy the Honor X30 if you prioritize 5G connectivity, longer battery life during moderate use, and a potentially more stable software experience due to Qualcomm’s optimization.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 695 in the Honor X30 struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 695 is capable of running these games, you’ll likely need to lower graphics settings to achieve a consistently smooth frame rate. The Dimensity 900 in the Honor 60 SE will provide a noticeably better gaming experience at higher settings, but may be prone to more heat buildup.
❓ Does the 66W charging on either phone support Power Delivery (PD) or Quick Charge (QC) standards?
Honor typically uses its own proprietary fast charging protocol. While the chargers may work with some PD or QC devices, full 66W speeds are only guaranteed with a compatible Honor charger. Expect slower charging speeds with third-party chargers.
❓ Which phone is better for users who frequently travel and rely on 5G connectivity?
The Honor X30, with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, is the better choice for frequent travelers. Qualcomm’s modems generally offer wider 5G band support, increasing the likelihood of a stable connection in different regions.