The Huawei nova 5T and Honor 9X represent a fascinating intersection of value and performance. Both leverage Huawei’s Kirin chipset expertise, but target slightly different audiences. The nova 5T, with its Kirin 980, aimed for a near-flagship experience at a competitive price, while the Honor 9X (China variant) focused on delivering solid performance with the newer, more efficient Kirin 810. This comparison dissects the key differences to help you choose.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Huawei nova 5T offers a more compelling package. Its Kirin 980 provides a noticeable performance uplift in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming, and the 22.5W fast charging significantly reduces downtime. While the Honor 9X’s Kirin 810 is efficient, the nova 5T’s overall speed advantage justifies the price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, July. Released 2019, July | 2019, August 27. Released 2019, September 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.1 x 77.2 x 8.8 mm (6.42 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) | 154.3 x 74 x 7.8 mm (6.07 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 206 g (7.27 oz) | 174 g (6.14 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~412 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.26 inches, 96.2 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 810 (7 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP6 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1"
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@60fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 32-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 22.5W wired, 50% in 24 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3750 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Magic Night Black, Charm Sea Blue, Charm Red, Icelandic White | Black, Crush Blue, Midsummer Purple, Crush Green |
| Models | HLK-AL00, HLK-TL00 | YAL-L21, YAL-L61, YAL-L71, YAL-L61D |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 340 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 313024 (v7), 395503 (v8)
GeekBench: 10013 (v4.4), 2504 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor 9X (China)
- More efficient Kirin 810 chipset
- Potentially lower price point
- Honor’s typically cleaner software experience (though this varies by region)
- Significantly slower 10W charging
- Less powerful CPU for demanding tasks
- Likely a less sophisticated camera system
Huawei nova 5T
- Faster and more powerful Kirin 980 chipset
- 22.5W fast charging for quick top-ups
- Likely a better camera system with more features
- Potentially lower battery life under heavy load
- May be slightly more expensive
- Huawei’s software can sometimes be more cluttered
Display Comparison
Neither device’s display specifications are provided, so a direct comparison is limited. However, given the nova 5T’s positioning, it likely featured a higher-quality panel with potentially better color accuracy and peak brightness. Both likely utilized IPS LCD technology common in this price bracket. The absence of high refresh rate panels (90Hz or 120Hz) is expected for devices in this segment.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specifications, a precise comparison is difficult. However, Huawei’s nova series historically emphasizes camera capabilities. The nova 5T likely featured a more sophisticated camera system with a larger main sensor and potentially optical image stabilization (OIS). The Honor 9X, while capable, likely prioritized cost savings in this area. Image processing algorithms also differ; Huawei’s typically lean towards vibrant, saturated colors, while Honor’s tend to be more natural. The absence of information prevents a detailed analysis of low-light performance or video recording capabilities.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Huawei nova 5T’s Kirin 980, built on a 7nm process, boasts a more complex CPU configuration: two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.6 GHz, *two additional* Cortex-A76 cores at 1.92 GHz, and four Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. This contrasts with the Honor 9X’s Kirin 810, which has two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.27 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.88 GHz. The Kirin 980’s additional A76 cores provide a significant advantage in multi-threaded workloads and sustained performance. While both are 7nm chips, the 980’s architecture is more robust. The nova 5T will exhibit smoother performance in graphically intensive games and faster app loading times. The Honor 9X’s 810 will be more power efficient, potentially leading to slightly longer battery life during less demanding tasks.
Battery Life
Battery capacity isn’t specified for either device. However, the charging speeds are a key differentiator. The Huawei nova 5T’s 22.5W fast charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 24 minutes, is a substantial advantage over the Honor 9X’s slow 10W charging. This means significantly less time tethered to a wall outlet. While a larger battery capacity on the 9X could partially offset the slower charging, the convenience of the nova 5T’s rapid charging is a major benefit for power users.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 9X (China) if you prioritize long-term efficiency and are less demanding in terms of raw processing power, primarily using your phone for everyday tasks like social media, browsing, and light multimedia consumption. Buy the Huawei nova 5T if you frequently engage in demanding activities like gaming, video editing, or multitasking, and value faster charging speeds to minimize interruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Kirin 810 in the Honor 9X sufficient for playing demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The Kirin 810 is capable of running these games, but you’ll likely need to lower graphics settings for a consistently smooth experience. The Kirin 980 in the nova 5T offers a more comfortable gaming experience at higher settings due to its more powerful CPU and GPU.
❓ How much faster is the 22.5W charging on the Huawei nova 5T compared to the 10W charging on the Honor 9X in real-world use?
The difference is substantial. The nova 5T can gain a significant charge in a short amount of time – 50% in 24 minutes. The Honor 9X will take considerably longer, potentially over two hours for a full charge, making it less convenient for users who need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Will I notice a difference in app loading times and multitasking between these two phones?
Yes, you will. The Kirin 980’s more powerful CPU and additional cores in the nova 5T will result in faster app loading times and smoother multitasking, especially when switching between multiple demanding applications.
