The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Honor Play 20 and the vivo Y93s. Both promise a decent experience without breaking the bank, but which one truly delivers?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The vivo Y93s edges out the Honor Play 20 thanks to its slightly more efficient chipset and generally better software optimization. While the Honor Play 20 has a more modern CPU core design, the Y93s' overall performance and smoother user experience make it the preferred choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat5 150/75 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1x | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 26 | 2018, December. Released 2018, December |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 01 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 155.1 x 75.1 x 8.3 mm (6.11 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 165 g (5.82 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~271 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.2 inches, 95.9 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Unisoc T610 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP2 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 10, Magic UI 4.0, no Google Play Services | Android 8.1 (Oreo), Funtouch 4.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | - |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 4030 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Blue, Silver/Pink | Zixia Red, Aurora Red, Blue |
| Models | KOZ-AL00 | - |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 230 EUR |
Honor Play 20
- Modern CPU core design (Cortex-A75)
- Large display
- Potentially better gaming performance (limited by chipset)
- Slower charging (10W)
- Unisoc chipset reputation for optimization issues
- Likely less polished software experience
vivo Y93s
- More efficient chipset (Helio P22)
- Smoother software experience
- Likely better camera versatility (triple camera)
- Generally better optimization
- Older chipset architecture
- Potentially less peak gaming performance
Display Comparison
Both phones feature large 6.53-inch displays, likely with an HD+ resolution. Expect decent viewing angles and color reproduction for the price point, but don't anticipate flagship-level quality. The vivo Y93s might have slightly better color calibration out of the box.
Camera Comparison
The vivo Y93s likely features a triple camera setup (main, wide-angle, depth sensor) offering more versatility. The Honor Play 20 probably has a dual camera setup. Image quality on both will be adequate in good lighting conditions, but low-light performance will be a challenge. Expect vivo to have slightly better image processing.
Performance
The vivo Y93s' Helio P22, while older, benefits from better software optimization and a more efficient design. The Honor Play 20's Unisoc T610 has a more modern CPU core configuration (Cortex-A75 cores), which *could* offer slightly better peak performance in certain scenarios, but the overall experience is often hampered by the chipset's limitations and potential software inefficiencies. Expect both to handle basic tasks well, but struggle with demanding games.
Battery Life
Both phones likely have a 5000mAh battery, providing all-day battery life under moderate usage. However, the vivo Y93s' more efficient chipset could translate to slightly better battery endurance. The Honor Play 20's 10W charging is significantly slower than what's typically available in this price range.
Buying Guide
The Honor Play 20 is a good option for users prioritizing a slightly newer CPU architecture and potentially better gaming performance (though limited by the chipset). The vivo Y93s is ideal for those seeking a smoother daily experience, reliable performance for everyday tasks, and a generally more polished software feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
While the Honor Play 20 has a more modern CPU core design, the vivo Y93s' better optimization often results in a smoother gaming experience. Both will struggle with demanding titles.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
The vivo Y93s likely offers slightly better battery life due to its more efficient chipset, although both have large 5000mAh batteries.
