The Meizu Note 16 Pro and Honor View 20 represent interesting points in smartphone history. The View 20, released in late 2018, was a flagship contender, while the Note 16 Pro, arriving later, aimed to deliver a compelling experience at a more accessible price point. This comparison revisits these devices, focusing on how their core specifications – particularly the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 and Kirin 980 – hold up today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user in 2024, the Meizu Note 16 Pro emerges as the better choice. Its newer Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, built on a more efficient 4nm process, offers a performance edge and superior thermal management compared to the older 7nm Kirin 980. The significantly faster 80W charging also provides a substantial convenience advantage.
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2025, May 13 | 2018, December. Released 2018, December |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, May 16 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 76.2 x 8.4 mm (6.45 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) | 156.9 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm (6.18 x 2.97 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 197.5 g (6.98 oz) | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Yes |
| Resolution | 1224 x 2720 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~440 ppi density) | 1080 x 2310 pixels (~398 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 101.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 700 nits (typ), 1600 nits (peak), 4500 nits (peak) | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 810 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Flyme AIOS 2 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Magic UI 4.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Panorama, HDR, LED flash |
| Single | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm (ultrawide)
2 MP, f/2.4 | - |
| Video | Yes | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.1 | 25 MP, f/2.0, 27mm |
| Video | Yes | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a), GALILEO, QZSS, GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 80W wired, QC4+, PD3.0, PPS | 22.5W wired, 55% in 30 min (International)
18W wired (India) |
| Type | 6200 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Blue, White | Saphire Blue, Phantom Blue, Phantom Red, Midnight Black |
| Models | - | PCT-AL10, PCT-TL10, PCT-L29 |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 330 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.1dB / Crosstalk -64.5dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 96h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (1313), 3.597 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 275413 (v7)
GeekBench: 9530 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Meizu Note 16 Pro
- Faster Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor
- Significantly faster 80W charging
- More efficient 4nm fabrication process
- Camera specifications are unknown
- Display details (panel type, refresh rate) are missing
Honor View 20
- Excellent 96-hour battery endurance
- High display contrast ratio
- Potentially more sophisticated camera system (based on marketing)
- Older Kirin 980 chipset
- Slow charging speeds (18W/22.5W)
- Less efficient 7nm fabrication process
Display Comparison
Both the Meizu Note 16 Pro and Honor View 20 boast displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio of 1313:1 and a sunlight contrast ratio of 3.597, suggesting similar visual quality in various lighting conditions. However, the context data lacks specifics on panel technology (OLED, LCD) or refresh rates. Given the View 20’s release date, it’s likely a high-quality LCD, while the Note 16 Pro may utilize a more modern OLED panel. The absence of refresh rate information is a key omission, but the View 20’s contrast ratios suggest a well-tuned display for its time.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are absent. The lack of sensor size or aperture information makes a direct comparison impossible. However, given the View 20’s marketing emphasis on its camera, it likely features a more sophisticated camera system than the Note 16 Pro. The absence of details regarding image processing algorithms further complicates the assessment. Without more data, it’s difficult to determine which phone delivers superior image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Meizu Note 16 Pro’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4nm) utilizes a tri-cluster architecture with a prime Cortex-A720 core clocked at 2.5 GHz, alongside three more Cortex-A720 cores at 2.4 GHz and four Cortex-A520 cores at 1.8 GHz. This contrasts with the Honor View 20’s Kirin 980 (7nm), featuring a dual-NPU setup and a combination of Cortex-A76 and A55 cores. The 4nm fabrication process of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 provides a significant advantage in power efficiency and thermal management, translating to sustained performance during demanding tasks. While the Kirin 980 was a flagship chip in its day, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 offers a more modern architecture and superior efficiency.
Battery Life
The Honor View 20 boasts an impressive endurance rating of 96 hours, a testament to its 4000mAh battery and efficient software optimization. However, the Meizu Note 16 Pro compensates with significantly faster charging – 80W wired, supporting QC4+, PD3.0, and PPS. The View 20’s charging speeds are comparatively slow, ranging from 18W (India) to 22.5W (International), taking 30 minutes to reach 55% charge. The Note 16 Pro’s 80W charging can replenish the battery much faster, minimizing downtime. While the View 20’s endurance is commendable, the Note 16 Pro’s charging speed offers a more convenient user experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Meizu Note 16 Pro if you prioritize future-proof performance, rapid charging, and efficient power consumption for extended daily use. Buy the Honor View 20 if you specifically value a potentially slightly better display contrast ratio (though minimal in real-world use) and are seeking a device with a proven 96-hour endurance rating, understanding its chipset is now several generations behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 980 in the Honor View 20 struggle with demanding games in 2024?
While the Kirin 980 was a capable chip, it's now several generations behind. Expect noticeable frame drops and potential thermal throttling in graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact or PUBG, even on medium settings. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Note 16 Pro will provide a smoother and more consistent gaming experience.
❓ How much faster is the 80W charging on the Meizu Note 16 Pro compared to the Honor View 20?
The difference is substantial. The Honor View 20 takes 30 minutes to reach 55% charge, while the Meizu Note 16 Pro can fully charge its battery in a significantly shorter timeframe. This means you can quickly top up your Note 16 Pro during short breaks, offering a much more convenient charging experience.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specs a major concern for the Meizu Note 16 Pro?
Yes, it is. Without knowing the sensor size, aperture, or image processing capabilities, it's difficult to assess the Note 16 Pro's camera performance. However, given its positioning as a mid-range device, it's unlikely to match the camera quality of flagship phones like the View 20 (assuming the View 20 has a more advanced camera system).
