Honor View vs. Asus ROG Phone 3: A Deep Dive into Performance and Gaming

The Honor View and Asus ROG Phone 3 represent distinct approaches to the high-end smartphone market. The Honor View, with its Kirin 990 5G, aims for a balance of features and 5G connectivity. Conversely, the Asus ROG Phone 3 is unapologetically focused on delivering the ultimate mobile gaming experience, leveraging the Snapdragon 865 5G+ chipset and a suite of gaming-centric features.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Asus ROG Phone 3 is the superior choice, particularly for gaming enthusiasts. While the Honor View offers 5G connectivity and a respectable feature set, the ROG Phone 3’s Snapdragon 865 5G+ and optimized thermal design provide significantly better sustained performance and a longer lifespan for demanding tasks.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor View Asus ROG Phone 3
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - A version
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - A version
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - A version
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 4.4 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
AnnouncedNot announced yet2020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23
StatusCancelledDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions-171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight-240 g (8.47 oz)
Display
ProtectionYesCorning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2310 pixels (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 101.4 cm26.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDAMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.86 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 990 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G76 MP16Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ROG UI
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.0-
Main Camera
FeaturesPanorama, HDR, LED flashLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad60 MP, f/1.7, (wide), PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Triple-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, (gyro-EIS)8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
Single24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.9µm TOF 3D, (depth sensor)24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers)
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging22.5W wired30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlue, Orange, other colorsBlack Glare
Models-ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D
Price-About 650 EUR
SAR-0.74 W/kg (head)     1.50 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 120h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 621932 (v8) GeekBench: 13306 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Honor View

  • 5G Connectivity: Offers access to next-generation network speeds.
  • Sleek Design: Likely a more conventional and aesthetically pleasing design.
  • Potentially Lower Price: Historically, Honor devices offer competitive pricing.

  • Inferior Gaming Performance: The Kirin 990 5G is outmatched by the Snapdragon 865 5G+.
  • Slower Charging: 22.5W charging is slower than the ROG Phone 3’s 30W.

Asus ROG Phone 3

  • Superior Gaming Performance: Snapdragon 865 5G+ delivers exceptional performance.
  • Faster Charging: 30W charging with PD3.0 and QC4 reduces downtime.
  • Gaming-Focused Features: Likely includes features like gaming triggers and optimized cooling.

  • Larger Form Factor: Gaming phones are typically larger and less pocketable.
  • Potentially Higher Price: Gaming phones often command a premium price.

Display Comparison

The Asus ROG Phone 3 boasts a brighter display, reaching 719 nits measured, compared to an unspecified peak brightness for the Honor View. While both utilize 7nm+ fabrication, the ROG Phone 3’s display is geared towards gaming with a high refresh rate (not specified in the data, but a key ROG feature) and likely a faster response time. The ROG Phone 3’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a true OLED panel, offering deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, while the Honor View’s panel type is unknown. This impacts the viewing experience, especially in direct sunlight and during HDR content consumption.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the provided data lacks specifics for a meaningful comparison. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, it’s difficult to assess camera quality. However, given Asus’s focus on gaming, the ROG Phone 3’s camera is likely tuned for quick snapshots and social media sharing, while Honor typically emphasizes image quality and detail in its camera systems. The absence of details regarding OIS or advanced features makes a definitive judgment impossible.

Performance

The Asus ROG Phone 3’s Snapdragon 865 5G+ chipset, with its Cortex-A77 prime core clocked at 3.10 GHz, demonstrably outperforms the Honor View’s Kirin 990 5G. The Snapdragon 865 5G+ utilizes a more modern CPU architecture and benefits from Qualcomm’s optimizations for gaming. While both chips are fabricated on a 7nm+ process, the Snapdragon 865 5G+ generally exhibits better thermal management, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during prolonged gaming. The Kirin 990 5G’s CPU configuration, with a mix of Cortex-A76 and A55 cores, is less efficient for sustained high-performance tasks.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 120 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life under typical usage. However, the Asus ROG Phone 3’s 30W wired charging, supporting PD3.0 and QC4, is significantly faster than the Honor View’s 22.5W charging. This translates to quicker top-ups and less downtime. The ROG Phone 3 also includes 10W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Honor View, allowing it to charge other devices. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging speed gives the ROG Phone 3 an edge for users who frequently need to recharge.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor View if you prioritize 5G connectivity in a sleek package and are a moderate user who doesn't require sustained peak performance for extended gaming sessions. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 3 if you are a dedicated mobile gamer, value raw processing power, and appreciate features like faster charging, and a display optimized for gaming, even if it means a larger form factor.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 990 5G in the Honor View experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Kirin 990 5G, while a capable chip, is known to be more susceptible to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 865 5G+ found in the ROG Phone 3. This means that performance may decrease over time during prolonged gaming, leading to dropped frames and a less smooth experience.
❓ How much faster is the 30W charging on the Asus ROG Phone 3 compared to the 22.5W charging on the Honor View?
The Asus ROG Phone 3’s 30W charging, coupled with PD3.0 and QC4 support, can significantly reduce charging times. While exact figures depend on battery capacity (unspecified), expect a noticeably faster 0-100% charge compared to the Honor View’s 22.5W charging.
❓ Is the lack of a high refresh rate display on the Honor View a significant disadvantage for gaming?
Yes, a high refresh rate display (typically 90Hz or 120Hz) provides a smoother and more responsive gaming experience. The ROG Phone 3 likely features a high refresh rate display, giving it an advantage over the Honor View, which lacks this specification.
❓ Does the Asus ROG Phone 3 support external accessories like gamepads or cooling fans?
The Asus ROG Phone 3 is designed with gaming in mind and supports a wide range of accessories, including external gamepads, cooling fans, and docks, enhancing the gaming experience. The Honor View does not have the same level of accessory support.