The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro and Honor 9X represent compelling options in the crowded mid-range smartphone market. Both devices aimed to deliver a strong feature set without breaking the bank, but they took different approaches. The Redmi Note 8 Pro prioritized gaming performance with its MediaTek Helio G90T chipset, while the Honor 9X focused on a clean design and respectable all-day battery life. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its Helio G90T chipset provides a noticeable performance uplift, particularly in gaming, and the faster 18W charging is a significant convenience. While the Honor 9X boasts a respectable endurance rating, the Redmi Note 8 Pro offers a more well-rounded experience.
| 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, 5, 7, 8, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 400/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, October 28. Released 2019, November 14 | 2019, August 29. Released 2019, September 24 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) | 161.4 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.35 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 196.8 g (6.95 oz) | 200 g (7.05 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 (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 710F (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6785V/CC Helio G90T (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G51 MP4 | Mali-G76 MC4 |
| 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) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| 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@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm |
| 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 |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, recording |
| 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 | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue | Black, Red, Blue, White, Deep Sea Blue, Midnight Blue, Electric Blue, Twilight Orange |
| Models | STK-LX1 | 2015105, M1906G7I, M1906G7G |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.15 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.47 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -94.3dB / Crosstalk -69.8dB |
Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -91.9dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 99h | Endurance rating 114h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1285:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 1326:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 65dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 81dB |
Voice 64dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 140362 (v7), 187528 (v8)
GeekBench: 5345 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 6.5fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 224759 (v7), 279355 (v8)
GeekBench: 6999 (v4.4), 1622 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor 9X
- Longer battery endurance rating (99h)
- Clean, minimalist design
- Competitive price point
- Slower Kirin 710F chipset
- Slower 10W charging
- Less vibrant display
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
- More powerful MediaTek Helio G90T chipset
- Faster 18W charging
- Brighter display (640 nits)
- Better gaming performance
- Slightly lower battery endurance rating (114h)
- Potentially more aggressive power consumption
- May run more bloatware (typical of Xiaomi)
Display Comparison
Both the Honor 9X and Redmi Note 8 Pro feature displays with nominal contrast ratios around 1285:1 and 1326:1 respectively, suggesting similar black levels and overall image quality. However, the Redmi Note 8 Pro pulls ahead with a measured peak brightness of 640 nits, offering superior visibility in bright sunlight. This is a crucial advantage for outdoor use. While both lack high refresh rate panels, the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s brighter display makes it the more enjoyable option for media consumption.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer a photo/video experience, but details beyond that are limited. Without specific sensor information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s chipset is better equipped to handle the image processing demands of more complex camera features. Given Xiaomi’s history of incorporating larger sensors in their Redmi Note series, it’s reasonable to assume the Redmi Note 8 Pro has an edge in low-light photography. The lack of OIS information for either device suggests reliance on software stabilization.
Performance
The chipset is where the most significant difference lies. The Redmi Note 8 Pro’s MediaTek Helio G90T (12nm) utilizes a 2x Cortex-A76 and 6x Cortex-A55 core configuration clocked up to 2.05 GHz, offering a substantial performance advantage over the Honor 9X’s Kirin 710F (12nm). The Kirin 710F’s 4x Cortex-A73 and 4x Cortex-A53 cores, peaking at 2.2 GHz, are older architecture and less efficient. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more enjoyable gaming experience on the Redmi Note 8 Pro. The G90T’s GPU is also significantly more powerful, making it the clear winner for graphics-intensive tasks.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 114 hours, slightly exceeding the Honor 9X’s 99 hours. While the difference isn’t massive, the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s 18W wired charging significantly reduces downtime compared to the Honor 9X’s slower 10W charging. This means you can top up your battery much faster when needed, mitigating the impact of any slight difference in overall capacity. The faster charging is a practical benefit for users who are constantly on the go.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor 9X if you prioritize a clean, minimalist aesthetic and value extended battery life above all else, and your usage is primarily focused on everyday tasks like browsing and social media. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro if you're a mobile gamer, frequently consume multimedia, or simply want a phone that feels more responsive and charges faster. The Redmi Note 8 Pro is the better option for power users.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the MediaTek Helio G90T in the Redmi Note 8 Pro get noticeably hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Helio G90T is known to generate more heat than some other mid-range chipsets. While the Redmi Note 8 Pro includes thermal management features, prolonged gaming at maximum settings can lead to noticeable warming. However, this is generally within acceptable limits and doesn't typically cause performance throttling unless under extreme conditions.
❓ Is the 99-hour endurance rating of the Honor 9X truly representative of real-world usage?
Endurance ratings are based on a standardized test profile and may not perfectly reflect your individual usage patterns. Factors like screen brightness, network conditions, and app usage can significantly impact battery life. While the Honor 9X offers good battery life, expect slightly lower endurance in real-world scenarios, especially with heavy usage.
❓ Does the Honor 9X have a headphone jack?
While not explicitly stated in the provided data, Honor phones in this era typically included a 3.5mm headphone jack. This is a common feature for budget and mid-range devices, offering convenience for users who prefer wired headphones.
❓ What kind of storage does the Redmi Note 8 Pro use, and is it expandable?
The Redmi Note 8 Pro typically came with UFS 2.1 storage, offering faster read/write speeds compared to older eMMC storage. It also features a dedicated microSD card slot, allowing for expandable storage up to 256GB, providing flexibility for users with large media libraries.
