The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro and Honor Play10C represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. The Poco X5 Pro arrives with a focus on speed and rapid charging, leveraging Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G. Conversely, the Honor Play10C aims for a balanced experience with MediaTek’s Dimensity 6300. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset provides a noticeable performance edge, particularly in gaming, and the 67W charging is a game-changer. While the Honor Play10C offers a respectable experience, it can't match the Poco X5 Pro's overall speed and convenience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, August 08 | 2023, February 06 |
| Status | Available. Released Exp. release 2025, August 12 | Available. Released 2023, February 07 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 75.6 x 8.4 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 162.9 x 76 x 7.9 mm (6.41 x 2.99 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 197 g (6.95 oz) | 181 g (6.38 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1604 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.61 inches, 105.3 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 120Hz, 1010 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 900 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 642L |
| OS | Android 15, MagicOS 9 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide) | - |
| Triple | - | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2 (Intl), 5.1 (India), A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band - India |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired
2.5W reverse wired | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 45 min
5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Green | Astral Black, Horizon Blue, Poco Yellow |
| Models | NIC-AN00 | 22101320G, 22101320I |
| Price | About 80 EUR | € 156.00 / $ 221.33 / ₹ 22,490 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 113h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-24.9 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 531398 (v9)
GeekBench: 2930 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play10C
- Balanced performance for everyday tasks
- Efficient MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset
- More affordable price point (likely)
- Slow 15W charging
- Likely inferior display quality
- Less powerful processor for gaming
Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro
- Blazing-fast 67W charging
- Powerful Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Potentially shorter battery life due to faster charging
- May be slightly more expensive
- Camera details are limited
Display Comparison
The Poco X5 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 912 nits, which translates to superior visibility outdoors. While the Honor Play10C’s display specifications are not provided, it’s likely to fall short of this peak brightness. The Poco X5 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests a typical AMOLED panel, offering deep blacks and vibrant colors. The absence of display details for the Play10C suggests a standard LCD panel, potentially impacting color accuracy and viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for both. However, the Poco X5 Pro’s market positioning suggests a more sophisticated camera system. The absence of sensor size or aperture information for either phone makes a direct comparison difficult. It’s reasonable to assume the Poco X5 Pro will offer better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions, due to its likely larger sensor and more advanced image processing capabilities. The 2MP macro cameras often found in this price range on both devices are unlikely to deliver significant improvements in image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Poco X5 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) features a prime Cortex-A78 core clocked at 2.4 GHz, alongside three additional A78 cores at 2.2 GHz, and four efficiency cores. This configuration provides a substantial performance advantage over the Honor Play10C’s MediaTek Dimensity 6300 (6nm), which utilizes two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.4 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. The Snapdragon 778G’s more powerful core architecture and higher core count will result in smoother multitasking and superior gaming performance. Both chips are fabricated on a 6nm process, offering good efficiency, but the Snapdragon’s architecture is more advanced.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 113 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, the charging experience is drastically different. The Poco X5 Pro’s 67W wired charging, supporting PD3.0 and QC4, can fully charge the device in just 45 minutes. This is a massive advantage over the Honor Play10C’s slow 15W wired charging. While the Play10C offers 2.5W reverse wired charging, the Poco X5 Pro’s 5W reverse charging provides slightly more utility. The faster charging of the Poco X5 Pro mitigates any potential battery life disadvantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Play10C if you prioritize a consistently smooth experience for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light multimedia consumption, and value a more conservative approach to power management. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro if you demand faster performance for gaming and demanding apps, and absolutely need the convenience of incredibly fast 67W charging, even if it means slightly shorter battery life between charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 778G in the Poco X5 Pro capable of handling demanding games like Genshin Impact?
Yes, the Snapdragon 778G is a capable chipset for gaming. While it won't deliver flagship-level performance, it can comfortably run Genshin Impact at medium settings with stable frame rates. The Adreno 642L GPU provides sufficient graphical power for a smooth gaming experience.
❓ How significant is the difference in charging speed between the 15W charging on the Honor Play10C and the 67W charging on the Poco X5 Pro?
The difference is substantial. 15W charging will take several hours to fully charge the Honor Play10C, while the Poco X5 Pro can reach 100% in just 45 minutes. This means you can quickly top up the Poco X5 Pro during short breaks, making it ideal for users who are always on the go.
❓ Does the Poco X5 Pro support 5G connectivity, and what bands are compatible?
Yes, the Poco X5 Pro supports 5G connectivity thanks to the Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset. Specific band compatibility will vary depending on the region. It's crucial to check with your carrier to ensure the Poco X5 Pro supports the 5G bands in your area.
❓ What type of storage does the Honor Play10C use, and is it expandable?
Unfortunately, the storage type and expandability options for the Honor Play10C are not specified in the provided data. However, many phones in this price range utilize UFS 2.2 storage and offer microSD card slots for expandable storage. Checking the official specifications is recommended.
