The Honor 9X (China) and Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro represent a fascinating intersection of value and performance from 2019. Both devices aimed to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, but they took different approaches. The Honor 9X relied on Huawei’s in-house Kirin 810 chipset, while the Mi 9T Pro leveraged the proven Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which phone offers the best experience today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing performance and future-proofing, the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 855 chipset offers a significant performance advantage over the Kirin 810, coupled with significantly faster 27W charging. While the Honor 9X offers a competitive price, the Mi 9T Pro delivers a more robust and versatile experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 |
| 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 21. Released 2019, August 21 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.1 x 77.2 x 8.8 mm (6.42 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) | 156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 206 g (7.27 oz) | 191 g (6.74 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, HDR |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Kirin 810 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP6 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 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 | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom
13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | Motorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | FM radio | Yes |
| 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 27W wired, QC4 |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Magic Night Black, Charm Sea Blue, Charm Red, Icelandic White | Carbon black, Red flame, Glacier blue |
| Models | HLK-AL00, HLK-TL00 | M1903F11G |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.03 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.30 W/kg (head) 1.51 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 103h |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.9 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 368846 (v7), 437823 (v8)
GeekBench: 10684 (v4.4), 2732 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 36fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor 9X (China)
- Potentially lower price point
- Clean user interface (depending on ROM)
- 7nm chipset offers decent efficiency
- Significantly slower 10W charging
- Less powerful Kirin 810 chipset
- Limited gaming performance compared to the Mi 9T Pro
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro
- Powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset
- Fast 27W charging with QC4 support
- Superior gaming performance
- Potentially higher price
- MIUI software can be polarizing
- May exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load (though still better than 9X)
Display Comparison
Both the Honor 9X and Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro boast displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels typical of AMOLED panels. However, detailed specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given Xiaomi’s history with vibrant displays, the Mi 9T Pro likely offers a slightly more saturated and visually striking experience. The absence of high refresh rate technology on either device is notable, a common trait for phones in this price bracket at the time of release.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs beyond the presence of sensors, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Snapdragon 855’s image signal processor (ISP) is generally more advanced than the Kirin 810’s, potentially leading to better image processing, dynamic range, and low-light performance on the Mi 9T Pro. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and optical image stabilization (OIS) makes a definitive judgment impossible, but the Mi 9T Pro’s superior processing power likely translates to a more refined camera experience.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro’s Snapdragon 855 (7nm) is a flagship-level processor, featuring an octa-core configuration with a prime Kryo 485 core clocked at 2.84 GHz. This architecture is designed for sustained performance and efficient multitasking. In contrast, the Honor 9X’s Kirin 810 (7nm) utilizes a different core arrangement – 2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55. While both are 7nm chips, the Snapdragon 855’s more powerful cores and optimized GPU provide a noticeable advantage in gaming and demanding applications. The Mi 9T Pro will handle graphically intensive games at higher settings with less throttling.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 103 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the charging capabilities are drastically different. The Honor 9X is limited to 10W wired charging, resulting in a significantly longer charge time. The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro, with its 27W wired charging and Quick Charge 4 (QC4) support, can replenish the battery much faster – a crucial advantage for users who prioritize convenience and minimal downtime. A full charge on the Mi 9T Pro will take considerably less time than on the Honor 9X.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 9X (China) if you prioritize a potentially lower price point and are comfortable with the limitations of its 10W charging and less powerful chipset for basic tasks. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro if you value performance for gaming and demanding applications, appreciate the convenience of fast charging, and want a device that will likely hold its value longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Kirin 810 sufficient for playing demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty Mobile?
While the Kirin 810 can run these games, you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. The Snapdragon 855 in the Mi 9T Pro offers a significantly better gaming experience, allowing for higher settings and more consistent performance.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Honor 9X with its 10W charging?
Expect a full charge from 0% to 100% on the Honor 9X to take approximately 3-4 hours, depending on usage during charging. This is considerably slower than the Mi 9T Pro's 27W fast charging, which can achieve a full charge in around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
❓ Does the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro support 90Hz or higher refresh rates for smoother scrolling?
No, neither the Honor 9X nor the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro feature high refresh rate displays. Both are limited to the standard 60Hz refresh rate, which was common for phones in this price range at the time of their release.
❓ What kind of software updates can I expect on these phones in 2024?
Given their age, major Android updates are unlikely. However, both Honor and Xiaomi may still provide occasional security patches. The Mi 9T Pro may have a slightly more active community for custom ROM development, offering potential for extended software support.
