Huawei P40 lite vs Honor 9X Pro: A Detailed Comparison for Budget-Minded Users

Both the Huawei P40 lite and the Honor 9X Pro represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market, particularly for users seeking a balance between performance and affordability. However, despite sharing the same Kirin 810 chipset, key differences in battery endurance and display characteristics create distinct user experiences. This comparison dives deep into these nuances to determine which device offers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity, the Huawei P40 lite is the better choice. Its significantly superior 121-hour endurance rating outweighs the Honor 9X Pro’s slightly better contrast ratio. While both phones offer similar performance, the P40 lite’s faster 40W charging is a substantial advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei P40 lite Honor 9X Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - JNY-L21A, JNY-L01A, JNY-L21B1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat13 400/75 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - JNY-L22A, JNY-L02A, JNY-L22B1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2020, February 27. Released 2020, March 022019, July 23. Released 2019, August 09
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic back, plastic frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions159.2 x 76.3 x 8.7 mm (6.27 x 3.00 x 0.34 in)163.5 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 3.04 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight183 g (6.46 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2310 pixels (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 101.4 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 810 (7 nm)Kirin 810 (7 nm)
GPUMali-G52 MP6Mali-G52 MP6
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 10, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 9.1, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Triple-48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µmMotorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE4.2, A2DP, LE (International)5.0, A2DP, LE (China)
NFCYes (market/region dependent): JNY-L21A, JNY-L01A, JNY-L21BNo
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS
RadioFM radioFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging40W wired, 70% in 30 min10W wired
TypeLi-Po 4200 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Emerald Green, Light Pink/Blue, Skyline GrayMidnight Black, Phantom Purple
ModelsJNY-L21A, JNY-L01A, JNY-L21B, JNY-L22A, JNY-L02A, JNY-L22B, JNY-LX1HLK-AL10, HLK-TL10, HLK-L41, HLK-L42
PriceAbout 170 EURAbout 230 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 121h Endurance rating 104h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1085:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: 1319:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.0 LUFS (Good) -31.1 LUFS (Below average)
Performance AnTuTu: 325777 (v8) GeekBench: 7846 (v4.4), 1862 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 312668 (v8) GeekBench: 7836 (v4.4), 1911 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei P40 lite

  • Superior battery endurance (121h)
  • Significantly faster 40W charging
  • Longer usage between charges

  • Slightly lower display contrast ratio
  • Potentially higher price point

Honor 9X Pro

  • Higher display contrast ratio (1319:1)
  • Potentially lower price
  • Similar performance to P40 lite

  • Inferior battery endurance (104h)
  • Slow 10W charging
  • Requires more frequent charging

Display Comparison

Both the P40 lite and 9X Pro feature displays capable of 515-517 nits of peak brightness, ensuring adequate visibility in most outdoor conditions. However, the Honor 9X Pro boasts a higher contrast ratio of 1319:1 compared to the P40 lite’s 1085:1. This translates to slightly deeper blacks and more visually striking images, though the difference is subtle. Neither device specifies panel technology, suggesting LCDs are used, and neither boasts high refresh rates, focusing instead on efficiency. The practical impact is a marginally more visually appealing experience on the 9X Pro, but at the cost of battery life.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details about sensor size, aperture, or optical image stabilization (OIS). Given the market positioning, it’s reasonable to assume both utilize multi-camera setups with a primary sensor, an ultrawide, and potentially a depth sensor. The lack of detail makes a direct comparison impossible, but the emphasis on 'Photo / Video' suggests a focus on general-purpose photography rather than specialized features. Ignoring the likely inclusion of low-resolution macro lenses, the image quality will likely be similar, relying heavily on Huawei’s image processing algorithms.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Kirin 810 (7nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration with 2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This means performance in everyday tasks and moderate gaming will be virtually identical. The absence of information regarding RAM speed (LPDDR4X is likely) and thermal management solutions suggests neither phone is designed for sustained, intensive workloads. The shared chipset ensures a similar user experience regarding app launch times and multitasking capabilities.

Battery Life

The most significant difference lies in battery performance. The Huawei P40 lite achieves an endurance rating of 121 hours, significantly outperforming the Honor 9X Pro’s 104 hours. This translates to a full day of heavier usage on the P40 lite versus potentially needing a top-up during the day with the 9X Pro. Furthermore, the P40 lite supports 40W wired charging, capable of reaching 70% charge in just 30 minutes, while the 9X Pro is limited to a slower 10W charging speed. This disparity in charging speed is a major convenience factor for P40 lite users.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei P40 lite if you need all-day battery life and fast charging capabilities, making it ideal for users who are frequently on the go. Buy the Honor 9X Pro if you prioritize a marginally more vibrant display and are willing to sacrifice battery endurance and charging speed for a potentially lower price point. The 9X Pro is best suited for users who primarily use their phone at home or in the office with consistent access to power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 810 chipset in either phone struggle with demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Kirin 810 is a capable mid-range chipset, but it's not designed for ultra-high settings in demanding games. Both the P40 lite and 9X Pro will likely require reduced graphics settings to maintain a stable frame rate in PUBG Mobile, especially during prolonged gaming sessions. Expect playable performance at medium settings.
❓ How much does the faster charging of the P40 lite actually improve the user experience?
The 40W charging on the P40 lite is a game-changer. Going from 0% to 70% in 30 minutes significantly reduces downtime. The Honor 9X Pro’s 10W charging will take considerably longer – potentially over 2 hours for a full charge – making it less convenient for users who need a quick power boost.
❓ Given the similar chipsets, will I notice a difference in app loading times between the two phones?
App loading times will be very similar between the two devices due to the shared Kirin 810 chipset. Any minor differences will likely be attributable to software optimization and background processes rather than hardware limitations.