The Honor Play 3 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 represent compelling options in the ultra-competitive budget smartphone market. Both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price point, but they take different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device offers the best value for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 emerges as the slightly better choice. While both phones share a 102-hour endurance rating, the Redmi Note 8 2021’s faster 18W charging and marginally more efficient Helio G85 chipset provide a more convenient and responsive user 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, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 400/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, September. Released 2019, September | 2021, May 25 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, May 27 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 159.8 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm (6.29 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) | 158.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm (6.23 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 176 g (6.21 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| | IP5X (dust), IPX4 (water) resistance | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1560 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~82.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Kirin 710F (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G51 MP4 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 | Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Magic Night Black, Aurora Blue, Charm Red | Neptune Blue, Moonlight White, Space Black |
| Models | ASK-AL00x | M1908C3JGG |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 160 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.97 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.57 W/kg (head) 0.94 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 102h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1487:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.6 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 180195 (v8), 165779 (v9)
GeekBench: 5259 (v4.4), 1314 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 8.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play 3
- Potentially smoother multitasking with Cortex-A73 cores.
- Competitive endurance rating of 102 hours.
- Affordable price point.
- Slow 10W charging.
- Older CPU architecture compared to the Redmi Note 8 2021.
- Lack of detailed camera specifications.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021
- Faster 18W charging for quicker top-ups.
- More modern CPU architecture with Cortex-A75 cores.
- Higher peak brightness for better outdoor visibility.
- Similar endurance rating to the Honor Play 3, but with faster charging.
- Basic camera specifications.
- May not outperform the Honor Play 3 in heavily multi-threaded tasks.
Display Comparison
Both devices feature similar contrast ratios at 1487:1, suggesting comparable image quality in terms of black levels. However, the Redmi Note 8 2021 boasts a measured peak brightness of 620 nits, which is a significant advantage in outdoor visibility compared to the Honor Play 3, which lacks published brightness data. While both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, the Redmi Note 8 2021’s higher brightness makes it the better choice for users who spend a lot of time outdoors.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image processing. Given the budget nature of these devices, it’s unlikely either will excel in low-light photography. The absence of details suggests a focus on basic functionality rather than advanced camera features. It's reasonable to assume both will rely heavily on software processing to enhance image quality, and the quality will be similar.
Performance
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021’s Mediatek Helio G85 utilizes two Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz, alongside six Cortex-A55 cores. This architecture is generally more efficient and offers better single-core performance than the Honor Play 3’s Kirin 710F, which features four older Cortex-A73 cores at 2.2 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores. While the Kirin 710F’s higher clock speed might offer a slight edge in certain heavily multi-threaded tasks, the Helio G85’s more modern design will likely translate to a snappier experience in everyday use and gaming. Both chipsets are fabricated on a 12nm process, suggesting similar power consumption characteristics.
Battery Life
Both the Honor Play 3 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 achieve an impressive endurance rating of 102 hours, indicating similar battery life under typical usage. However, the Redmi Note 8 2021’s 18W wired charging is a significant advantage over the Honor Play 3’s slower 10W charging. This means the Redmi Note 8 2021 can be topped up much faster, reducing downtime and providing greater convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Play 3 if you prioritize a potentially smoother experience with everyday tasks due to the Cortex-A73 cores in its Kirin 710F chipset, and are comfortable with slower charging speeds. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 if you value faster charging, a slightly more modern CPU architecture with the Cortex-A75 cores, and a proven track record of battery endurance, making it ideal for users who are frequently on the go.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Helio G85 in the Redmi Note 8 2021 handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Helio G85 is a capable gaming chipset for its price range. While it won't deliver flagship-level performance, it should be able to run PUBG Mobile at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. Expect some frame drops during intense action, but overall, the gaming experience should be acceptable.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Honor Play 3 with its 10W charging?
With 10W charging, a full charge for the Honor Play 3 will likely take around 3-4 hours, depending on the initial battery level. This is significantly slower than the Redmi Note 8 2021’s 18W charging, which can fully charge the device in approximately 1.5-2 hours.
❓ Is the camera on either of these phones good enough for casual social media use?
Both phones should be adequate for casual social media photography in good lighting conditions. However, don't expect exceptional image quality, especially in low light. The lack of detailed camera specifications suggests a focus on basic functionality rather than advanced features.
❓ Does the Redmi Note 8 2021 support fast charging protocols beyond 18W?
While the Redmi Note 8 2021 supports 18W charging, it doesn't support the latest fast charging standards like Power Delivery or Quick Charge. Using a charger with higher wattage than 18W won't result in faster charging speeds.
