The smartphone market is brimming with options, making it tough to choose. Today, we're pitting two compelling contenders against each other: the budget-friendly Honor X9 5G and the premium Huawei Mate 50 Pro. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to see which device emerges as the winner.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is the clear winner, offering superior performance, a stunning display, and a top-tier camera system. While the Honor X9 5G provides excellent value, it can't match the Mate 50 Pro's overall capabilities and premium features. It's a flagship versus a mid-range.
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 29 | 2022, September 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 29 | Available. Released 2022, September 28 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 166.1 x 75.8 x 8.1 mm (6.54 x 2.98 x 0.32 in) | 162.1 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm (6.38 x 2.97 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 205 g / 209 g (7.23 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Huawei Kunlun Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~385 ppi density) | 1212 x 2616 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~428 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.81 inches, 112.3 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.74 inches, 111.8 cm2 (~91.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 4.2 | EMUI 13 (International), HarmonyOS 3.0 (China) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5 | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)
TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS
64 MP, f/3.5, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom
13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps, 720p@960fps, 720p@3840fps, HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5 | 13 MP, f/2.4, 18mm (ultrawide)
TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2 |
| 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, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Face ID, fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| | - | BDS Satellite Message (sending only) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 81% in 30 min | 66W wired
50W wireless
5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4800 mAh | Li-Po 4700 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titanium Silver, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black | Black, Silver, Purple, Orange |
| Models | ANY-NX1 | DCO-AL00, DCO-LX9 |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 900 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 104h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-24.8 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 979921 (v9)
GeekBench: 3839 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 68fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor X9 5G
- Affordable price
- Large display
- 5G connectivity
- Fast charging (66W)
- Lower performance
- Less impressive camera
- Build quality may not be as premium
Huawei Mate 50 Pro
- Exceptional camera
- Powerful performance (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1)
- Bright and vibrant display
- Excellent battery life
- Wireless charging
- Higher price
- 4G connectivity only
- Potential software limitations (due to Huawei's situation)
Display Comparison
The Huawei Mate 50 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display (946 nits vs. Honor X9 5G's likely around 400-500 nits, estimated) and an infinite contrast ratio, delivering richer colors and deeper blacks. While the Honor X9 5G has a large display, the Mate 50 Pro's quality is noticeably superior. The Mate 50 Pro's display also likely has better color accuracy and HDR support.
Camera Comparison
The Huawei Mate 50 Pro's camera system is a major highlight. While specific details are missing, Huawei's reputation for camera excellence suggests it will offer superior image quality, dynamic range, and low-light performance compared to the Honor X9 5G. The Mate 50 Pro likely includes advanced features like optical image stabilization (OIS) and sophisticated computational photography algorithms.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Mate 50 Pro is a powerhouse, easily outperforming the Snapdragon 695 5G in the Honor X9 5G. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Mate 50 Pro. The Mate 50 Pro's CPU architecture is also more advanced, contributing to its overall speed.
Battery Life
Both phones offer respectable battery life, but the Mate 50 Pro demonstrates exceptional endurance with an active use score of 10:36h and an endurance rating of 104h. The Honor X9 5G's battery life is likely good, but not at the same level as the Mate 50 Pro. Both support 66W wired charging, ensuring relatively quick top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Honor X9 5G is ideal for budget-conscious users who prioritize 5G connectivity and a large display. The Huawei Mate 50 Pro is for those seeking a premium experience with exceptional camera performance, a vibrant display, and powerful processing, regardless of price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Huawei Mate 50 Pro worth the extra cost?
If you prioritize camera quality, performance, and a premium display, the Mate 50 Pro is worth the investment. However, if you're on a tighter budget, the Honor X9 5G offers a solid experience for the price.
❓ Does the Huawei Mate 50 Pro have 5G?
No, the Mate 50 Pro uses a 4G modem due to restrictions. This is a significant consideration for some users.
