Honor 90 vs Xiaomi 13 Lite: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Honor 90 emerges as the stronger choice. Its significantly brighter 1176 nit display and slightly longer active use battery life (10:28h) provide a noticeable advantage in everyday usability, justifying its position as the winner.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor 90 | Xiaomi 13 Lite |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, May 29 | 2023, February 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, June 07 | Available. Released 2023, March 08 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) | 159.2 x 72.7 x 7.2 mm (6.27 x 2.86 x 0.28 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 183 g (6.46 oz) | 171 g (6.03 oz) |
| - | IP53, dust and splash resistant | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1200 x 2664 pixels (~435 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 68B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 644 | Adreno 644 |
| OS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8 | Android 12, MIUI 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 64GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.2 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 200 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 32 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.3, (depth) |
| Features | HDR | Dual-LED flash, HDR |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.4, 100˚, (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 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/ac/6, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, ultrasound proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired 5W reverse wired | 67W wired, 100% in 40 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Emerald Green, Diamond Silver, Peacock Blue | Black, Lite Blue, Lite Pink |
| Models | REA-AN00, REA-NX9 | - |
| Price | € 204.71 / $ 449.99 | About 180 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 93h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -28.5 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 534143 (v9) GeekBench: 2936 (v5.1), 2434 (v6) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor 90
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Slightly longer active use battery life
- Accelerated Edition Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 may offer minor performance gains
- Charging speed is marginally slower than the Xiaomi 13 Lite
- Lacks reverse wireless charging
Xiaomi 13 Lite
- Faster 67W charging (0-100% in 40 minutes)
- Potentially lighter and more compact design
- Infinite (nominal) contrast ratio
- Dimmer display, less ideal for outdoor use
- Slightly shorter active use battery life
Display Comparison
The Honor 90 boasts a substantial advantage in display brightness, reaching a measured 1176 nits compared to the Xiaomi 13 Lite’s 938 nits. This difference translates to significantly better visibility under direct sunlight. While both feature infinite (nominal) contrast ratios, the Honor 90’s higher peak brightness is the defining factor for outdoor usability. Neither device specifies refresh rate or panel type, but the brightness difference is a clear win for the Honor 90.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specs are absent. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a definitive comparison is impossible. We can assume both utilize multi-camera systems, but the quality will depend heavily on image processing algorithms. The absence of details suggests neither phone is positioned as a camera-centric flagship, focusing instead on balanced features.
Performance
Both the Honor 90 and Xiaomi 13 Lite are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4nm). However, the Honor 90 utilizes the 'Accelerated Edition' of the chip, featuring a slightly tweaked CPU configuration – (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) versus the Xiaomi 13 Lite’s (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510). While the real-world performance difference is likely minimal for most tasks, the Honor 90 *may* exhibit slightly faster single-core performance. Both devices share the same GPU and RAM configurations, suggesting similar gaming capabilities. Thermal management will likely be comparable given the similar chipsets and 4nm process.
Battery Life
The Honor 90 delivers 10:28h of active use, while the Xiaomi 13 Lite has an endurance rating of 93 hours (based on older testing methodology). The Honor 90’s active use score provides a more realistic assessment of daily battery performance. While the Xiaomi 13 Lite charges slightly faster at 67W (0-100% in 40 minutes) compared to the Honor 90’s 66W, the Honor 90’s slightly longer battery life offsets this advantage for many users. The Honor 90 also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Xiaomi 13 Lite.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 90 if you prioritize a vibrant, easily viewable display, especially outdoors, and value slightly longer battery endurance. It’s ideal for media consumers and users who frequently use their phones in bright environments. Buy the Xiaomi 13 Lite if you prefer a lighter, more compact design and prioritize extremely fast 67W charging, offering a full charge in just 40 minutes – a boon for those constantly on the go.