The mid-range 5G smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Honor X8 5G and Realme 9 Pro+ represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at an accessible price point, they diverge significantly in their core hardware choices, particularly in chipset and charging technology. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Realme 9 Pro+ emerges as the stronger choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 920 chipset provides a substantial performance uplift over the Honor X8 5G’s Snapdragon 480+, and the 60W charging dramatically reduces downtime. While the Honor X8 5G offers respectable efficiency, the Realme 9 Pro+ delivers a more responsive and versatile experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 25 | 2022, February 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, August 15 | Available. Released 2022, February 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back |
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 75.1 x 8.7 mm (6.44 x 2.96 x 0.34 in) | 160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 194 g (6.84 oz) | 182 g (6.42 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.9 GHz Kryo 460) | Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4350-AC Snapdragon 480+ 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 4.2 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, Realme UI 4.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes (VNE-N41 only) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 60W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 44 min (advertised) |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Ocean Blue | Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue, Free Fire Limited Edition |
| Models | VNE-N41 | RMX3392, RMX3393 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | € 289.90 / $ 390.00 / ₹ 25,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 117h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.3 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 495096 (v8), 416031 (v9)
GeekBench: 2335 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 27fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor X8 5G
- Potentially better battery efficiency due to the Snapdragon 480+’s architecture.
- More affordable price point (likely).
- Stable performance for basic tasks.
- Significantly slower charging speed.
- Less powerful chipset for gaming and demanding apps.
- Likely inferior display quality.
Realme 9 Pro+
- Much faster 60W charging.
- Significantly more powerful Mediatek Dimensity 920 chipset.
- Likely superior display quality with better contrast.
- Excellent battery endurance (117h rating).
- Potentially higher price.
- May experience more heat under sustained load (though 6nm helps).
Display Comparison
The provided data lacks detailed display specifications for the Honor X8 5G. However, given its market positioning, it likely features a standard LCD panel. The Realme 9 Pro+ boasts an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting a VA-type panel offering deeper blacks than a typical LCD. The Realme 9 Pro+’s panel is likely to provide a more immersive viewing experience, particularly with HDR content. Without specific brightness data for the Honor X8 5G, it’s difficult to assess outdoor visibility, but the Realme 9 Pro+ is expected to offer superior brightness levels.
Camera Comparison
The context data is limited regarding camera specifics. However, the Realme 9 Pro+ is likely to feature a more advanced camera system, benefiting from the processing power of the Dimensity 920. While both phones likely include standard features like HDR and scene detection, the Realme 9 Pro+’s chipset allows for more sophisticated image processing algorithms, potentially resulting in better dynamic range and low-light performance. The absence of details on the Honor X8 5G’s camera sensors makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Realme 9 Pro+ is expected to deliver superior image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme 9 Pro+’s Mediatek Dimensity 920, fabricated on a 6nm process, significantly outperforms the Honor X8 5G’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ (8nm). The Dimensity 920’s Cortex-A78 cores, clocked at 2.5 GHz, offer a substantial CPU performance advantage over the Snapdragon 480+’s Kryo 460 cores. This translates to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and a more enjoyable gaming experience. The 6nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. While the Snapdragon 480+ is adequate for basic tasks, the Dimensity 920 is clearly the superior choice for demanding users.
Battery Life
The Realme 9 Pro+’s 60W charging is a game-changer. Advertised to reach 100% in just 44 minutes, it drastically reduces charging times compared to the Honor X8 5G’s 22.5W charging. While the Honor X8 5G may have a slightly larger battery capacity (not specified in the data), the Realme 9 Pro+’s faster charging effectively mitigates any potential battery life disadvantage. The Realme 9 Pro+’s endurance rating of 117 hours suggests excellent battery optimization, further enhancing its usability.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor X8 5G if you prioritize long-term battery life and a consistently stable, if less powerful, experience for everyday tasks like browsing and social media. Buy the Realme 9 Pro+ if you demand faster performance for gaming and demanding applications, and value the convenience of incredibly rapid 60W charging. The Realme 9 Pro+ is the better option for power users and those who frequently multitask.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Mediatek Dimensity 920 in the Realme 9 Pro+ get noticeably warmer than the Snapdragon 480+ during extended gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 920 is more powerful, it also generates more heat. However, the 6nm fabrication process helps mitigate this. The Realme 9 Pro+ likely incorporates thermal management solutions to prevent significant throttling, but users may experience some warmth during prolonged gaming. The Snapdragon 480+ will likely remain cooler, but at the cost of performance.
❓ How much faster is the 60W charging on the Realme 9 Pro+ compared to the 22.5W charging on the Honor X8 5G in real-world usage?
The difference is substantial. The Realme 9 Pro+ can go from 0-100% in approximately 44 minutes, while the Honor X8 5G will likely take well over 1.5 to 2 hours. This means you can quickly top up the Realme 9 Pro+ during short breaks, whereas the Honor X8 5G requires a much longer charging commitment.
❓ Is the performance difference between the Snapdragon 480+ and Dimensity 920 noticeable for everyday tasks like browsing and social media?
For basic tasks, the difference may not be immediately apparent. However, the Dimensity 920 provides a smoother and more responsive experience, especially when switching between apps or loading complex web pages. The Snapdragon 480+ may exhibit occasional lag or stuttering under heavier loads.
