The Honor Play10 and Realme 2 Pro represent a fascinating intersection of budget smartphone design. Released in different eras, both aimed to deliver a compelling experience without breaking the bank. This comparison revisits these devices, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses in the context of today's mobile landscape, focusing on chipset performance and overall value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and a slightly more modern chipset, the Honor Play10 emerges as the better choice. While both phones offer similar 10W charging and endurance ratings, the Helio G81's architecture provides a noticeable edge in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, September 08 | 2018, September. Released 2018, October |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, September | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 167.7 x 77.7 x 8.6 mm (6.60 x 3.06 x 0.34 in) | 156.7 x 74 x 8.5 mm (6.17 x 2.91 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 174 g (6.14 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G81 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Android 15 (Go edition) | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, Realme UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 16 MP, f/1.7, 1/2.8", 1.12µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), AF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired
Reverse wired | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Ocean Cyan, Starry Purple, Midnight Black | Black, Deep Blue, Light Blue |
| Models | ELA-LX3 | RMX1801, RMX1807, RMX1803 |
| Price | - | About 150 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 97h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1755:1 (nominal), 3.235 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 69dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 81dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 132958 (v7)
GeekBench: 5531 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 7.2fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play10
- More modern CPU architecture (Helio G81)
- Potentially better efficiency with 12nm process
- Slightly improved responsiveness for everyday tasks
- 10W charging is slow by today's standards
- Camera specs are unknown, potentially average
Realme 2 Pro
- Proven Snapdragon 660 platform with stable performance
- Good display contrast ratio
- Solid battery endurance (97h)
- Older 14nm process node
- Less powerful CPU compared to Helio G81
Display Comparison
Both the Honor Play10 and Realme 2 Pro share a similar display profile, boasting a contrast ratio of 1755:1 (nominal) and 3.235 (sunlight). This suggests comparable visibility in bright outdoor conditions. However, the context data lacks specifics on panel type (IPS vs AMOLED) or resolution for either device. Given the price point, both likely utilize IPS LCDs. The Realme 2 Pro’s display contrast ratio, while good, doesn’t necessarily translate to a superior visual experience without knowing the peak brightness levels, which are not provided.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This makes a direct comparison difficult. It’s reasonable to assume both phones feature a multi-camera setup common in this price range, potentially including a main sensor, a depth sensor, and possibly a macro lens. Without further information, it’s impossible to determine which phone offers superior image quality or video recording capabilities. The absence of details suggests neither phone is a standout performer in the camera department.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor Play10’s Mediatek Helio G81 (12nm) utilizes a more modern CPU architecture – Cortex-A75 cores – compared to the Realme 2 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 (14nm) with Kryo 260 Gold cores. While both are octa-core, the G81’s architecture generally delivers better single-core performance, crucial for app launch speeds and general responsiveness. The 12nm process node of the G81 also offers a slight efficiency advantage over the 14nm Snapdragon 660, potentially leading to better battery life under load. The Snapdragon 660, however, benefits from Qualcomm’s established software optimization and potentially better GPU drivers, which could translate to smoother gaming experiences in some titles.
Battery Life
Interestingly, both the Honor Play10 and Realme 2 Pro achieve an endurance rating of 97 hours. This suggests similar real-world battery life despite the differences in chipset efficiency. Both phones also support 10W wired charging, indicating relatively slow charging speeds compared to modern standards. The identical endurance rating suggests that software optimization and battery capacity are well-matched, offsetting the potential efficiency gains of the Helio G81.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Play10 if you need a phone capable of handling everyday tasks and light gaming with reasonable efficiency. Its Mediatek Helio G81 chipset offers a more modern architecture for improved responsiveness. Buy the Realme 2 Pro if you prioritize a proven, stable platform and are less concerned with pushing the phone to its performance limits; its Snapdragon 660 is a reliable performer, and the display contrast ratio is a strong point.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Helio G81 in the Honor Play10 handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Helio G81 is capable of running PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. The Snapdragon 660 in the Realme 2 Pro can also run PUBG, but may struggle with higher settings. Expect a more consistent experience on the Honor Play10 with optimized settings.
❓ Is the 10W charging on either phone a significant drawback in 2024?
Yes, 10W charging is considerably slower than the 18W, 33W, or even 65W charging found on many modern smartphones. Expect a full charge to take over 3 hours. This is a significant inconvenience if you frequently need to top up your battery quickly.
❓ Given the similar battery endurance, does the chipset matter for daily use?
While both phones last roughly the same on a single charge, the Helio G81's more efficient architecture in the Honor Play10 means it will likely maintain performance for longer under sustained load, like during extended video playback or multitasking. The Snapdragon 660 might exhibit more throttling in these scenarios.
