The Honor X5 Plus and Tecno Spark 10 Pro represent the fiercely competitive sub-$150 smartphone market. Both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price, but they take different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to determine which device offers the best value for your money, focusing on performance, display quality, and battery endurance.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a slightly smoother experience and faster charging, the Tecno Spark 10 Pro is the better choice. Its Helio G88 chipset and 18W charging offer a tangible advantage over the Honor X5 Plus’s Helio G36 and 10W charging, despite both phones sharing an identical endurance rating.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | LTE |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, August 16 | 2023, March 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, August | Available. Released 2023, March 22 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, glass back |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm (6.43 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) | 168.4 x 76.2 x 8.4 mm (6.63 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 208 g (7.34 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2460 pixels (~396 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 109.3 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G36 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 13, MagicOS 7.1 | Android 13, HIOS 12.6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF
0.08 MP, (depth) |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), PDAF
other unspecified cameras |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | Dual-LED flash |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 32 MP, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| 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 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5200 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Cyan Lake, Midnight Black | Starry Black, Pearl White |
| Models | WOD-LX1, WOD-LX2, WOD-LX3 | KI7 |
| Price | About 100 EUR | £ 245.74 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 131h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1991:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-29.2 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 249938 (v9)
GeekBench: 1358 (v5.1), 1376 (v6)
GFXBench: 8.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor X5 Plus
- Potentially lower price point
- Reliable for basic tasks
- Acceptable battery endurance
- Slower processor
- Slower 10W charging
- Likely less responsive user experience
Tecno Spark 10 Pro
- Faster Helio G88 processor
- Faster 18W charging
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility
- May be slightly more expensive
- Similar battery endurance to the X5 Plus
- Camera quality likely comparable to X5 Plus
Display Comparison
Both the Honor X5 Plus and Tecno Spark 10 Pro feature displays with a 1991:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar image quality in terms of blacks and whites. However, the Tecno Spark 10 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 521 nits, which is a significant advantage over what we can infer for the Honor X5 Plus. This higher brightness will result in better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both manufacturers state the same contrast ratio, real-world viewing experiences will likely differ due to the brightness disparity.
Camera Comparison
Both devices list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image processing features. Given the price point, it’s reasonable to expect similar camera performance – adequate for casual snapshots in good lighting conditions. Without further information, it’s difficult to differentiate their camera capabilities. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is likely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit due to the small sensor size and lack of optical image stabilization (OIS).
Performance
The Tecno Spark 10 Pro’s Mediatek Helio G88 chipset represents a clear step up in performance compared to the Honor X5 Plus’s Helio G36. The G88 utilizes a more modern CPU architecture with 2x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 cores and 6x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, versus the X5 Plus’s 4x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4x 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 configuration. The Cortex-A75 cores in the G88 provide a noticeable boost in single-core performance, translating to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking. While both chipsets are built on a 12nm process, the architectural improvements in the G88 give it a distinct edge. The GPU within the G88 will also handle graphics-intensive tasks, like gaming, more effectively.
Battery Life
Interestingly, both the Honor X5 Plus and Tecno Spark 10 Pro achieve an endurance rating of 131 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Tecno Spark 10 Pro’s 18W wired charging is a significant advantage over the Honor X5 Plus’s 10W charging. This means the Tecno Spark 10 Pro can replenish its battery much faster, reducing downtime and offering greater convenience. While the battery capacity isn't specified, the faster charging speed is a tangible benefit.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor X5 Plus if you need a basic, reliable smartphone for everyday tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use, and are comfortable with slower charging speeds. Buy the Tecno Spark 10 Pro if you prefer a more responsive user experience, occasionally play mobile games, and value the convenience of faster 18W charging, even if it doesn't translate to significantly longer battery life.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Helio G88 in the Tecno Spark 10 Pro struggle with demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
While the Helio G88 isn't a flagship gaming chip, it's capable of running PUBG Mobile at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. Expect some occasional frame drops during intense action, but it's a playable experience. The Honor X5 Plus's Helio G36 will likely require even lower settings and may exhibit more noticeable performance issues.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Honor X5 Plus with its 10W charging?
With 10W charging, a full charge from 0% on the Honor X5 Plus will likely take around 3-4 hours, potentially longer depending on usage during charging. This is significantly slower than the Tecno Spark 10 Pro's 18W charging, which can reduce charging time to approximately 2-2.5 hours.
❓ Are the camera apps on both phones equally user-friendly?
Both Honor and Tecno typically offer relatively simple and intuitive camera apps. However, Tecno's HiOS often includes more built-in filters and AI scene detection features, which may appeal to users who enjoy quick photo enhancements. The Honor X5 Plus's camera app is likely more streamlined and focused on basic photography.
