The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two strong contenders against each other: the Honor Play7T and the Xiaomi Poco M5s. Both promise a lot, but which one delivers the best overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Poco M5s edges out the Play7T thanks to its faster charging, brighter display, and generally more established camera reputation. While the Play7T boasts a newer chipset, the M5s offers a more well-rounded package for most users.
| 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, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, March 28 | 2022, September 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, April 04 | Available. Released 2022, September 06 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 167.5 x 76.9 x 8.3 mm (6.59 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) | 160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm (6.32 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 178.8 g (6.31 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | AMOLED, 450 nits (typ), 700 nits (HBM), 1100 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 6020 (7 nm) | Mediatek MT6785V/CD Helio G95 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G76 MC4 |
| OS | Android 12, Magic UI 6.1 | Android 12, MIUI 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 33W wired, 64% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 6000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Silver | Gray, Blue, White |
| Models | RKY-AN10 | 2207117BPG |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 120 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.00 W/kg (head) 0.65 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.87 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 132h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.4 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 360681 (v9)
GeekBench: 1831 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play7T
- Newer chipset (Dimensity 6020)
- Clean software experience
- Potentially better efficiency
- Slower charging (22.5W)
- Likely dimmer display
- Less established camera reputation
Xiaomi Poco M5s
- Faster charging (33W)
- Brighter display (756 nits)
- Reputable camera system
- Excellent battery life
- Older chipset (Helio G95)
- Potentially more MIUI bloatware
Display Comparison
The Poco M5s takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 756 nits, significantly brighter than the Play7T's likely lower brightness. While the Poco M5s boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio (a nominal claim), both phones likely offer decent viewing experiences for the price, though the Poco M5s will be more visible in sunlight.
Camera Comparison
The Poco M5s has a reputation for a more reliable camera system, particularly in well-lit conditions. While both phones offer 'Photo/Video' capabilities, the Poco M5s likely has better image processing and potentially more versatile camera features. The Play7T's camera is likely adequate but may not match the Poco M5s' quality.
Performance
The Honor Play7T's Dimensity 6020 (7nm) has a slight edge over the Poco M5s' Helio G95 (12nm) in terms of raw processing power and efficiency. However, real-world performance differences might be minimal for everyday tasks. Gaming performance will likely be similar on both devices.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with the Poco M5s boasting an endurance rating of 132h. The Poco M5s also has a significant advantage in charging speed, with 33W wired charging compared to the Play7T's 22.5W. This means the Poco M5s will charge considerably faster.
Buying Guide
The Honor Play7T is ideal for users prioritizing a slightly newer chipset and a clean software experience. The Xiaomi Poco M5s is a better choice for those who value fast charging, a brighter display for outdoor use, and a more proven camera system.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
Both phones offer decent gaming performance for their price range. The Play7T's newer chipset might offer a slight advantage, but the Poco M5s' display brightness could be beneficial for visibility.
❓ Is the Honor Play7T worth buying over the Poco M5s?
It depends on your priorities. If you value a newer chipset and a clean software experience, the Play7T is a good option. However, for most users, the Poco M5s' faster charging, brighter display, and better camera make it the more compelling choice.
