Honor Play6C vs. iPhone 12 mini: A Clash of Titans (and Budgets)
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone 12 mini unequivocally wins on performance, camera quality, and overall user experience thanks to its A14 Bionic chip and iOS ecosystem. However, the Honor Play6C offers incredible value for money, providing 5G connectivity and decent performance for everyday tasks at a significantly lower price point.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Honor Play6C | Apple iPhone 12 mini |
| 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 | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - A2176 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79, 260, 261 Sub6/mmWave - A2176 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 Sub6 - A2398, A2399, A2400 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 13 | 2020, October 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 15 | Available. Released 2020, November 13 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 75.1 x 8.7 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.34 in) | 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm (5.18 x 2.53 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 194 g (6.84 oz) | 135 g (4.76 oz) |
| - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Ceramic Shield glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~476 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.4 inches, 71.9 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.9 GHz Kryo 460) | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4x1.8 GHz Icestorm) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm) | Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 5 | iOS 14.1, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| - | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6" |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 30fps), stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | Lightning, USB 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/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| - | Ultra Wideband (UWB) support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) - requires iOS 17.4 update |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 2227 mAh (8.57 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Silver | Black, White, Red, Green, Blue, Purple |
| Models | VNE-AN40 | A2399, A2176, A2398, A2400, A2399, iPhone13,1 |
| Price | About 150 EUR | $ 165.79 / C$ 268.99 / £ 155.00 / € 178.00 |
| SAR EU | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 69h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -24.6 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 589616 (v8) GeekBench: 4174 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play6C
- Affordable price
- 5G connectivity
- Decent performance for basic tasks
- Large display (relative to size)
- Lower performance compared to flagship phones
- Mediocre camera quality
- Less premium build quality
- Slower charging
Apple iPhone 12 mini
- Exceptional performance (A14 Bionic)
- Premium build quality
- Excellent camera system
- Compact and pocketable design
- Fast charging (PD2.0) and wireless charging (MagSafe/Qi2)
- High price
- Smaller battery capacity (though efficient)
- Limited port options
Display Comparison
The iPhone 12 mini boasts a significantly brighter display (627 nits) with an infinite contrast ratio, offering vibrant colors and excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Honor Play6C's display is adequate but lacks the same level of brightness and color accuracy. The iPhone's smaller size also contributes to a more pocketable experience.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone 12 mini's camera system is a clear winner, delivering superior image quality, dynamic range, and video recording capabilities. While the Honor Play6C's camera is capable of taking decent photos in good lighting conditions, it falls short in low-light scenarios and lacks the advanced features of the iPhone.
Performance
Here, the iPhone 12 mini dominates. The A14 Bionic chip is vastly more powerful than the Snapdragon 480+, resulting in noticeably faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience. The Honor Play6C is sufficient for basic tasks, but struggles with demanding games or applications.
Battery Life
Despite the iPhone 12 mini's smaller size, it achieves an impressive endurance rating of 69 hours. The Honor Play6C's battery life is respectable, but likely won't match the iPhone's longevity, especially with moderate to heavy usage.
Buying Guide
The Honor Play6C is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize 5G connectivity and basic smartphone functionality. The iPhone 12 mini is perfect for those seeking a premium, compact phone with exceptional performance, a top-tier camera, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, regardless of price.