The Honor X30i represents a compelling budget option, while the Honor 500 aims for a more premium experience with a newer chipset and faster charging. This comparison dissects the key differences between these two devices, focusing on how their internal hardware translates to real-world performance and user experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing responsiveness and future-proofing, the Honor 500 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 offers a substantial performance leap over the X30i’s Dimensity 810, coupled with significantly faster 80W charging. However, the X30i remains a viable option for those on a strict budget.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | LTE |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 28 | 2025, November 24 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, November 02 | Available. Released 2025, November 27 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 74.7 x 7.5 mm (6.43 x 2.94 x 0.30 in) | 155.8 x 74.2 x 7.8 mm (6.13 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 175 g (6.17 oz) | 198 g (6.98 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Aluminosilicate glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~391 ppi density) | 1264 x 2736 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.7 cm2 (~89.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.55 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 6000 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x3.21 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8735 Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 825 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 5.0 | Android 16, MagicOS 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 200 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), AF |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | - |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 50 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | - |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC 5, Auracast, ASHA |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| 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/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass (ultrasound) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 80W wired
5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Si/C Li-Ion 8000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Silver, Rose Gold | Black, Silver, Blue, Pink |
| Models | TFY-AN00 | MEY-AN00 |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 330 EUR |
Honor X30i
- More affordable price point
- Potentially longer battery life due to less demanding chipset
- Functional for everyday tasks
- Significantly slower performance
- Slower charging speeds
- Likely lower quality display
Honor 500
- Superior performance with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
- Ultra-fast 80W charging
- Likely better display quality (AMOLED, higher refresh rate)
- 5W reverse wired charging
- Higher price tag
- Potentially shorter battery life under heavy load
Display Comparison
Neither device's display specifications are provided, so a direct comparison is limited. However, given the X30i's positioning, it likely features a standard 60Hz LCD panel. The Honor 500, targeting a higher price bracket, likely incorporates an AMOLED panel with a higher refresh rate (potentially 120Hz) for smoother visuals. The absence of LTPO technology in either device suggests both will rely on adaptive refresh rate scaling rather than variable refresh rates for power efficiency.
Camera Comparison
Without specific camera sensor details, a detailed comparison is challenging. However, the Honor 500’s higher price point suggests a more capable camera system. It’s reasonable to expect a larger main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) on the 500, resulting in better low-light performance and sharper images. The X30i likely features a more basic camera setup, potentially lacking OIS and utilizing smaller sensors. Image processing algorithms will also likely be more advanced on the 500, leading to improved dynamic range and color accuracy.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor 500’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm) is a significant upgrade over the Honor X30i’s MediaTek Dimensity 810 (6nm). The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 features a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.21 GHz, alongside three Cortex-A720 cores at 3.0 GHz and two more at 2.8 GHz, offering superior single-core and multi-core performance. The Dimensity 810’s Cortex-A76 cores at 2.4 GHz are older architecture and less efficient. The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The Honor 500 will demonstrably outperform the X30i in graphically intensive tasks and demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Honor 500’s 80W wired charging is a game-changer compared to the X30i’s 22.5W charging. This translates to significantly faster charging times – potentially a full charge in under 40 minutes for the 500 versus over an hour for the X30i. The 5W reverse wired charging on the 500 adds a convenient feature for topping up accessories. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging of the 500 mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery compared to the X30i.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor X30i if you need a functional, everyday smartphone for basic tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming, and your budget is under $200. Buy the Honor 500 if you prioritize smooth multitasking, demanding mobile games, and rapid charging, and are willing to spend more for a more refined experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 in the Honor 500 handle demanding games like Genshin Impact at high settings?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a capable chipset that should handle Genshin Impact and other demanding games at high settings with stable frame rates. The 4nm process and advanced CPU architecture contribute to sustained performance and reduced thermal throttling.
❓ Is the 22.5W charging on the Honor X30i slow enough to be a major inconvenience?
While 22.5W isn't exceptionally fast by today's standards, it's adequate for overnight charging. However, users accustomed to faster charging speeds will find it noticeably slower than the 80W charging on the Honor 500. Expect a full charge to take well over an hour.
❓ Does the Honor 500 support 5G connectivity?
Given the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset includes an integrated 5G modem, it is highly probable that the Honor 500 supports 5G connectivity. However, this depends on regional availability and carrier support.
❓ What type of RAM does the Honor 500 use, and will that impact performance?
While not specified, a phone with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 typically utilizes LPDDR5X RAM. This faster RAM standard improves data transfer rates, contributing to smoother multitasking and faster application loading times compared to older RAM standards.
