Looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with a decent camera and good battery life? The Huawei P Smart Z and Honor 8X Max are both strong contenders. But which one offers the best value for your money? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor 8X Max edges out the P Smart Z thanks to its larger battery, faster charging, and slightly more efficient chipset. While the P Smart Z boasts a notch-less display, the 8X Max's overall performance and battery endurance make it the better choice for most users.
| 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 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, May. Released 2019, June | 2018, September. Released 2018, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) | 177.6 x 86.3 x 8.1 mm (6.99 x 3.40 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 196.8 g (6.95 oz) | 210 g (7.41 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) | 1080 x 2244 pixels, 18.7:9 ratio (~350 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 7.12 inches, 127.8 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x1.95 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Kirin 710F (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G51 MP4 | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 12 | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9 (Pie), EMUI 9 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 16 MP, f/2.0, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | microUSB 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, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired
5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Emerald Green, Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue | Black, Blue, Red |
| Models | STK-LX1 | ARE-AL00, ARE-L22HN, ARE-AL10 |
| Price | About 280 EUR | About 250 EUR |
Huawei P Smart Z
- Modern notch-less display
- Compact design
- Decent camera for the price
- Sleek design
- Smaller battery
- Slower charging
- Kirin 710F can be underpowered
- Less efficient chipset
Honor 8X Max
- Large battery (5000mAh)
- Fast charging (18W)
- Larger display (6.8 inch)
- Efficient Snapdragon 660 chipset
- Reverse wired charging
- Larger bezels
- Less modern design
- Can feel bulky
- Camera slightly less vibrant
Display Comparison
The Huawei P Smart Z features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a dewdrop notch, offering a more immersive viewing experience. The Honor 8X Max has a larger 6.8-inch IPS LCD, which is great for media and gaming, but the bezels are more noticeable. Both offer decent color accuracy for the price range.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a dual-camera setup. The Huawei P Smart Z typically produces slightly more vibrant colors, while the Honor 8X Max tends to offer better detail in well-lit conditions. Low-light performance is comparable on both devices.
Performance
The Honor 8X Max's Snapdragon 660 generally outperforms the Kirin 710F in real-world usage. The Snapdragon 660 is known for its efficiency and smooth performance, while the Kirin 710F can sometimes struggle with demanding tasks. Both phones handle everyday tasks well.
Battery Life
The Honor 8X Max has a significant advantage with its larger 5000mAh battery compared to the P Smart Z's 3400mAh. This translates to noticeably longer battery life. The 18W fast charging on the 8X Max is also a plus, while the P Smart Z has standard charging.
Buying Guide
The Huawei P Smart Z is ideal for users prioritizing a modern, notch-less display and a compact design. The Honor 8X Max is a better fit for those who need long battery life, faster charging, and a larger screen for media consumption and gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Honor 8X Max is generally better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 660 chipset and larger battery.
❓ Is the Huawei P Smart Z worth buying if I want a modern display?
Yes, the P Smart Z's notch-less display is a significant selling point if you prioritize a clean, immersive viewing experience.
❓ Does the Honor 8X Max have reverse charging?
Yes, the Honor 8X Max supports 5W reverse wired charging, allowing you to charge other devices using the phone's battery.
