The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Honor X9 5G and the Oppo A96. Both promise a solid experience, but which one truly comes out on top?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor X9 5G takes the lead thanks to its 5G connectivity, faster charging, and generally more powerful chipset. While the Oppo A96 offers a sleek design and reverse wired charging, the X9 5G provides a more future-proof and performance-driven experience for the price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | IP5X (dust), IPX4 (water) resistance |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 29 | 2022, March 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 29 | Available. Released 2022, March 16 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | 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) | 164.4 x 75.7 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 191 g (6.74 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~385 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.81 inches, 112.3 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 104.5 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 11, Magic UI 4.2 | Android 11, ColorOS 11.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5 | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5 | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 81% in 30 min | 33W wired, PD, 50% in 26 min
Reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4800 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titanium Silver, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black | Starry Black, Sunset Blue |
| Models | ANY-NX1 | CPH2333 |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 560 EUR |
Honor X9 5G
- 5G Connectivity
- Faster 66W Charging
- More Powerful Snapdragon 695 Chipset
- Larger Main Camera Sensor (64MP)
- Software may lack some Oppo polish
- Design might be less premium than Oppo A96
Oppo A96
- Sleek and Stylish Design
- Reverse Wired Charging
- Refined ColorOS Software
- Good Value for Money
- No 5G Connectivity
- Slower 33W Charging
- Less Powerful Snapdragon 680 Chipset
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.7-inch FHD+ display, offering a large viewing area. The Honor X9 5G likely has slightly better color accuracy and brightness due to its panel technology (likely IPS LCD). The Oppo A96's display is also IPS LCD, but may have a slightly different calibration. Both offer a comfortable viewing experience for media consumption and everyday use.
Camera Comparison
The Oppo A96 boasts a 48MP main camera, while the Honor X9 5G has a 64MP main camera. While megapixels aren't everything, the Honor X9 5G likely captures more detail in well-lit conditions. Both phones offer ultrawide and macro lenses, but image quality will vary depending on lighting and scene. Video recording capabilities are similar on both devices.
Performance
The Honor X9 5G's Snapdragon 695 5G chipset is significantly more powerful than the Oppo A96's Snapdragon 680 4G. The 695 offers better CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and improved gaming performance. The Oppo A96 is still capable for everyday tasks, but will struggle with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Honor X9 5G's 66W fast charging is a major advantage, allowing it to charge from 0% to 81% in just 30 minutes. The Oppo A96's 33W charging is slower, taking around 26 minutes to reach 50%. Both phones have a similar battery capacity (around 4000-5000mAh), so the Honor X9 5G will likely offer slightly better battery life due to its more efficient chipset.
Buying Guide
The Honor X9 5G is ideal for users who prioritize 5G connectivity, faster charging speeds, and a smoother overall performance. The Oppo A96 is a good choice for those who value a stylish design, reverse wired charging for accessories, and a slightly more refined software experience, though at the cost of 5G.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Honor X9 5G worth the extra money compared to the Oppo A96?
If 5G connectivity and faster charging are important to you, then yes, the Honor X9 5G is worth the extra investment. The performance boost is also significant.
❓ Which phone has better software?
The Oppo A96 generally has a more polished and refined software experience thanks to ColorOS. However, Honor's Magic UI is improving and offers a good range of features.
