The Honor 9X and Huawei P Smart Z represent a fascinating intersection in the budget smartphone market. Both devices leverage the Kirin 710F chipset, aiming to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank. However, subtle differences in their specifications, particularly around battery performance, create a clear distinction for potential buyers. This comparison will dissect these nuances to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity, the Honor 9X emerges as the winner. Its impressive 99-hour endurance rating significantly surpasses what we'd expect from the P Smart Z, given the shared chipset and likely similar battery capacities. While both phones offer comparable performance, the 9X’s battery life provides a tangible advantage.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 400/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, October 28. Released 2019, November 14 | 2019, May. Released 2019, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) | 163.5 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 196.8 g (6.95 oz) | 196.8 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Kirin 710F (12 nm) | Kirin 710F (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G51 MP4 | Mali-G51 MP4 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 13mm (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | - |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue | Emerald Green, Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue |
| Models | STK-LX1 | STK-LX1 |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 280 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -94.3dB / Crosstalk -69.8dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 99h | - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1285:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 65dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 81dB | - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 140362 (v7), 187528 (v8)
GeekBench: 5345 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 6.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Honor 9X
- Exceptional 99-hour battery life
- Identical performance to P Smart Z
- Good contrast ratio (1285:1)
- Slow 10W charging
- Limited camera details available
Huawei P Smart Z
- Identical performance to Honor 9X
- Potentially more stylish design (unconfirmed)
- Likely similar price point
- Inferior battery life (estimated)
- Limited specifications available
Display Comparison
Both the Honor 9X and Huawei P Smart Z lack detailed display specifications beyond the Honor 9X’s contrast ratio of 1285:1. This suggests both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, common in this price bracket. Without knowing the resolution, brightness, or color gamut coverage of the P Smart Z, it’s difficult to assess a clear advantage. The Honor 9X’s contrast ratio indicates a reasonably good viewing experience, but a direct comparison requires further data. Users sensitive to screen flicker would benefit from knowing the PWM dimming frequencies of both displays.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, offering minimal insight into their camera systems. The absence of sensor size, aperture, or OIS details makes a meaningful comparison impossible. It’s highly probable both feature a multi-camera setup, but the quality and features will vary. Given the budget nature of these devices, image processing will likely focus on software enhancements rather than relying on high-end hardware. The presence of a 2MP macro lens on either device would likely offer limited practical benefit due to its low resolution.
Performance
The core performance of both devices is identical, powered by the Kirin 710F (12 nm) chipset featuring an octa-core CPU configuration – 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53. This means users can expect similar performance in everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming. The 12nm fabrication process suggests reasonable efficiency, but thermal throttling could become a factor during sustained, demanding tasks. Without RAM specifications, it’s impossible to determine multitasking capabilities, but both likely target the 4-6GB range typical for this segment.
Battery Life
The Honor 9X’s standout feature is its exceptional endurance rating of 99 hours. This suggests a large battery capacity and/or efficient power management. The Huawei P Smart Z lacks a specified endurance rating, making a direct comparison challenging. However, given the shared Kirin 710F chipset, it’s reasonable to assume the P Smart Z’s battery life will be noticeably shorter. The Honor 9X’s 10W wired charging is relatively slow by modern standards, but the extended battery life mitigates this drawback. Users prioritizing minimal charging downtime should consider this limitation.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 9X if you need exceptional battery life and prioritize minimizing charging frequency. This phone is ideal for users who heavily rely on their smartphone throughout the day for navigation, media consumption, and communication. Buy the Huawei P Smart Z if you prioritize a potentially sleeker design (assuming differences exist not detailed in the provided data) and are comfortable with more frequent charging. It’s a good choice for lighter users who don’t push their phone’s battery to the limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Kirin 710F struggle with demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Kirin 710F is a capable chipset for casual gaming, but demanding titles like PUBG Mobile will likely require reduced graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate. Expect playable performance at medium settings, but don't anticipate a flagship-level gaming experience.
❓ How long will it take to fully charge the Honor 9X with its 10W charger?
Given the 10W charging speed and likely large battery capacity contributing to the 99-hour endurance, a full charge from 0% will likely take over 3 hours. This is a significant drawback compared to phones with faster charging technologies.
❓ Is the camera on either phone suitable for low-light photography?
Without detailed camera specifications, it's difficult to say definitively. However, given the budget nature of these devices, low-light performance will likely be limited. Expect noise and a lack of detail in challenging lighting conditions.
