Honor 90 vs Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Power

The Honor 90 and Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. The Honor 90 focuses on a balanced experience with a modern design, while the Poco F5 Pro aggressively targets performance with a flagship-level chipset. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset delivers a significant performance uplift over the Honor 90’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, and the inclusion of 30W wireless charging adds convenience. However, the Honor 90 offers a brighter display and a more refined aesthetic.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor 90 Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro
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) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2023, May 292023, May 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, June 07Available. Released 2023, May
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions161.9 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)162.8 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.34 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight183 g (6.46 oz)204 g (7.20 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1200 x 2664 pixels (~435 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.9 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (peak)AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 644Adreno 730
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 14, MagicOS 8Android 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple200 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single50 MP, f/2.4, 100˚, (ultrawide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
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
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, ultrasound proximityFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired67W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 50% in 15 min 30W wireless, 50% in 32 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5160 mAh
Misc
ColorsMidnight Black, Emerald Green, Diamond Silver, Peacock BlueBlack, White
ModelsREA-AN00, REA-NX923013PC75G
Price€ 204.71 / $ 449.99$ 449.99 / € 241.85
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.00 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 99h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.2 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1057977 (v9) GeekBench: 4001 (v5.1), 4009 (v6) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor 90

  • Brighter display for outdoor visibility
  • Sleek and modern design
  • Balanced feature set

  • Less powerful chipset compared to the Poco F5 Pro
  • No wireless charging

Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro

  • Flagship-level Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
  • Faster wired and wireless charging
  • Superior gaming capabilities

  • Slightly dimmer display
  • Potentially less refined design

Display Comparison

The Honor 90 boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 1176 nits, compared to the Poco F5 Pro’s 1059 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED panels, the Honor 90’s higher peak brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor use. The Poco F5 Pro, however, advertises an infinite contrast ratio, typical of OLED technology, which contributes to deep blacks and vibrant colors. Both lack official refresh rate information, but are expected to be 120Hz. The difference in brightness is the key differentiator here, favoring the Honor 90 for outdoor viewing.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable photo and video capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing. The Poco F5 Pro’s chipset benefits image processing, potentially leading to faster capture and better low-light performance. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s superior ISP (Image Signal Processor) gives the Poco F5 Pro an edge in computational photography and video stabilization. The absence of detailed camera specs makes a direct comparison challenging, but the chipset advantage leans towards the Poco F5 Pro.

Performance

The Poco F5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Honor 90’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Accelerated Edition (4nm). The 8+ Gen 1 features a Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, compared to the 7 Gen 1’s Cortex-A710 core at 2.5 GHz. This architectural difference, combined with higher clock speeds, results in significantly faster CPU and GPU performance on the Poco F5 Pro. While both chipsets are built on a 4nm process for efficiency, the 8+ Gen 1’s superior architecture provides a clear advantage in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The Poco F5 Pro will exhibit less throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

The Poco F5 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 99 hours, slightly exceeding the Honor 90’s 95-hour rating. While the difference is marginal, the Poco F5 Pro’s 67W wired charging, with a claimed 50% charge in 15 minutes, is faster than the Honor 90’s 66W charging. Furthermore, the Poco F5 Pro adds 30W wireless charging, a feature absent on the Honor 90. The Honor 90 offers 5W reverse wired charging, while the Poco F5 Pro offers none. The Poco F5 Pro’s faster charging speeds and wireless charging capability provide a more convenient user experience.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor 90 if you prioritize a vibrant, bright display for media consumption and a sleek design. It’s ideal for everyday users who value aesthetics and a balanced feature set. Buy the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro if you’re a gamer, power user, or anyone who demands maximum performance from their smartphone. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 ensures smooth multitasking, demanding game performance, and future-proofing.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 in the Honor 90 struggle with graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is a capable chipset, it will likely require reduced graphics settings in demanding games like Genshin Impact to maintain a stable frame rate. The Poco F5 Pro’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 will handle these games with ease at higher settings.
❓ How significant is the difference in charging speed between 66W and 67W, and does the Poco F5 Pro's wireless charging make a real-world difference?
The difference between 66W and 67W is minimal in terms of absolute charging time. However, the Poco F5 Pro’s 30W wireless charging is a significant convenience feature, allowing for cable-free top-ups. The 50% charge in 32 minutes with wireless charging is a practical benefit for users who prefer not to deal with cables.
❓ Given the similar battery endurance ratings, will I notice a real-world difference in daily battery life between these two phones?
The endurance ratings are close, but the Poco F5 Pro’s more efficient chipset and potentially optimized software could translate to slightly longer real-world battery life, especially with moderate to heavy usage. However, both phones should comfortably last a full day for most users.