Honor Play6C vs Xiaomi Mi A2 (Mi 6X): A Detailed Comparison

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the Honor Play6C, a newer device with 5G capabilities, and the Xiaomi Mi A2 (also known as Mi 6X), a well-regarded older model known for its clean Android experience. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone comes out on top.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Play6C offers a more modern chipset with 5G and faster charging, making it a better choice for future-proofing. However, the Mi A2 boasts exceptional battery life and a near-stock Android experience that many users prefer. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names	Honor Play6C	Xiaomi Mi A2 (Mi 6X)

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 - Global
4G bands	LTE	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 - Global
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
	CDMA2000 1x	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China

Launch
Announced	2022, October 13	2018, July 24. Released 2018, July
Status	Available. Released 2022, October 15	Discontinued

Body
Build	-	Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	163.7 x 75.1 x 8.7 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.34 in)	158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3 mm (6.25 x 2.97 x 0.29 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	194 g (6.84 oz)	166 g (5.86 oz)

Display
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)	1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size	6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio)	5.99 inches, 92.6 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	TFT LCD	IPS LCD

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.9 GHz Kryo 460)	Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm)	Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm)
GPU	Adreno 619	Adreno 512
OS	Android 11, Magic UI 5	Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), Android One

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM	32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	-	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Dual	13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens	12 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.9", 1.25µm 20 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.8", 1.0µm, PDAF
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)	-
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@120fps

Selfie camera
Features	-	LED flash, HDR
Single	5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)	20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	No	No
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Radio	Unspecified	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	22.5W wired	18W wired, QC3 (Global) 18W wired, QC4 (India)
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue, Silver	Black, Gold, Blue, Red, Rose Gold
Models	VNE-AN40	M1804D2SG, M1804D2SI, Mi A2, Mi 6X
Price	About 150 EUR	About 270 EUR
SAR	-	0.96 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	1.16 W/kg (head) 0.66 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 73h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 89dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 89dB
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 130927 (v7), 172886 (v8) GeekBench: 4625 (v4.4), 1157 (v5.1) GFXBench: 8.6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor Play6C

5G Connectivity
Faster Chipset (Snapdragon 480+)
Faster Charging (22.5W)
More Modern Design

Battery Life Not as Good as Mi A2
Potential for More Bloatware

Xiaomi Mi A2 (Mi 6X)

Exceptional Battery Life (73h Endurance)
Clean Android Experience (Near Stock)
Proven Reliability
Good Dual Camera System

Older Chipset (Snapdragon 660)
Slower Charging (18W)
Likely No Further Software Updates

Display Comparison

Both phones feature LCD displays, but the Play6C likely has a slightly more modern panel with potentially better color accuracy. The Mi A2's display is perfectly adequate, but the Play6C's may offer a more enjoyable viewing experience. Resolution and size are likely similar, around 6.0-6.2 inches with HD+ resolution.

Camera Comparison

The Mi A2 was praised for its dual-camera setup and image quality for its time. The Honor Play6C likely has improved camera hardware, but image processing can vary. Expect decent photos from both, but the Mi A2's camera software was well-optimized. Low-light performance is likely better on the Play6C.

Performance

The Snapdragon 480+ in the Honor Play6C is a more powerful chipset than the Snapdragon 660 in the Mi A2. This translates to smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. While the Mi A2 is still capable, the Play6C has a noticeable edge in raw processing power.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Mi A2 (Mi 6X) is the clear winner in this category. Its endurance rating of 73 hours is exceptional. The Honor Play6C's battery life is likely good, but not on par with the Mi A2's legendary stamina.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Honor Play6C? Users seeking 5G connectivity, faster charging, and a more recent chipset. Who should buy the Xiaomi Mi A2 (Mi 6X)? Users prioritizing long battery life, a clean Android experience, and a proven track record of software updates (though support is likely ended).