The Honor 9X and Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW represent different approaches to the mid-range 5G market. The Honor 9X, an older model, prioritizes endurance and value, while the A51 5G UW leverages Qualcomm's 5G modem and a more modern chipset for improved performance. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 765G chipset delivers a noticeable performance uplift over the Honor 9X’s Kirin 710F, making it better suited for multitasking, gaming, and future-proofing. While the Honor 9X boasts impressive battery endurance, the A51 5G UW’s faster charging and overall responsiveness are more compelling.
| 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 | 2, 4, 5, 13, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 260, 261 mmWave |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 400/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, October 28. Released 2019, November 14 | 2020, August 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, August 14 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) | 158.8 x 73.4 x 8.6 mm (6.25 x 2.89 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM (pre-installed) |
| Weight | 196.8 g (6.95 oz) | 188.8 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 710F (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G51 MP4 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 | Android 10, One UI 2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 5 MP, AF |
| 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 | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; 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/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@60fps | 4K@30fps, 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 |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 672 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 5 h |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue | Prism Bricks Blue |
| Models | STK-LX1 | SM-A516V |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 470 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.70 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.32 W/kg (body) |
| 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 battery endurance (99h rating)
- Lower price point (likely)
- Decent contrast ratio for an IPS LCD
- Outdated Kirin 710F chipset
- Slow 10W charging
- Likely inferior camera performance
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW
- Powerful Snapdragon 765G chipset
- Faster 15W charging
- Integrated 5G modem for reliable connectivity
- Battery life may be shorter than Honor 9X
- Potentially higher price
- No detailed display specifications available
Display Comparison
Both devices lack detailed display specifications beyond the Honor 9X’s reported 1285:1 contrast ratio. Given the A51 5G UW’s market positioning, it likely utilizes a Super AMOLED panel, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks, a significant advantage over the Honor 9X’s likely IPS LCD. The A51 5G UW’s display is also expected to have a higher peak brightness, improving visibility in direct sunlight. The Honor 9X’s contrast ratio suggests a decent viewing experience, but it won’t match the dynamic range of an AMOLED display.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, given Samsung’s camera expertise, the A51 5G UW likely features a more sophisticated image processing pipeline and potentially larger sensor sizes. While the Honor 9X may offer acceptable image quality in good lighting conditions, the A51 5G UW is expected to excel in low-light scenarios and provide more detailed and dynamic photos. The absence of sensor details makes a precise comparison impossible, but Samsung’s track record suggests a clear advantage.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Honor 9X’s Kirin 710F (12nm). The 7nm process node allows for greater transistor density and improved power efficiency, translating to better performance and reduced heat. The Snapdragon 765G’s octa-core CPU, with its Kryo 475 architecture, offers a more balanced and powerful configuration than the Kirin 710F’s Cortex-A73/A53 combination. This difference will be most noticeable in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The A51 5G UW also benefits from a dedicated 5G modem integrated into the chipset, providing faster and more reliable 5G connectivity.
Battery Life
The Honor 9X boasts an impressive endurance rating of 99 hours, indicating exceptional battery life. However, the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW compensates with faster 15W wired charging, compared to the Honor 9X’s slow 10W charging. While the Honor 9X may last longer on a single charge, the A51 5G UW can replenish its battery more quickly. The actual battery capacity of the A51 5G UW is not specified, but the Snapdragon 765G’s improved power efficiency helps mitigate any potential capacity disadvantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 9X if your primary concern is maximizing battery life and you operate on a very tight budget. It’s a solid option for basic smartphone tasks and media consumption. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW if you prioritize performance, 5G connectivity, and a more responsive user experience. It’s ideal for users who enjoy gaming, streaming, and demanding applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 765G in the A51 5G UW powerful enough for demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
Yes, the Snapdragon 765G is capable of running PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile at medium to high settings with stable frame rates. While it’s not a flagship-level chipset, it provides a smooth gaming experience for most mobile titles. The Kirin 710F in the Honor 9X will struggle with these games at higher settings.
❓ How much faster is the 5G connectivity on the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW compared to 4G LTE?
The A51 5G UW utilizes Qualcomm’s integrated 5G modem, offering significantly faster download and upload speeds compared to 4G LTE, *where 5G infrastructure is available*. Expect speeds several times faster than 4G, enabling quicker downloads, smoother streaming, and lower latency for online gaming. However, 5G coverage varies greatly by location.
❓ Does the Honor 9X support fast charging at all, or is 10W its only option?
The Honor 9X is officially rated for 10W wired charging. While some third-party chargers might offer slightly faster speeds, the phone itself is limited to 10W input, resulting in a considerably longer charging time compared to the A51 5G UW’s 15W support.
