The Motorola One Macro and Honor 9X Lite represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. While both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price point, they take different approaches. The Motorola One Macro emphasizes endurance and a dedicated macro camera, while the Honor 9X Lite prioritizes processing power with its Kirin 710F chipset. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and occasional close-up photography, the Motorola One Macro emerges as the better choice. Its 110-hour endurance rating significantly surpasses what the Honor 9X Lite can likely achieve, and the dedicated macro lens offers a unique photographic capability. However, users needing more responsive performance for gaming or multitasking will find the Honor 9X Lite more appealing.
| 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 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, October 09. Released 2019, October 12 | 2020, April 17. Released 2020, May 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 157.6 x 75.4 x 9 mm (6.20 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 160.4 x 76.6 x 7.8 mm (6.31 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| | Water-repellent coating | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~397 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 96.7 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.2 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6771 Helio P70 (12 nm) | Kirin 710F (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Mali-G51 MP4 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1, Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | Laser AF, LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30/60/120fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3750 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Space Blue | Emerald Green, Midnight Black |
| Models | PAGS0005IN | JSN-L21, JSN-L22, JSN-L23 |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| SAR | 0.54 W/kg (head) 1.33 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.62 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -92.1dB / Crosstalk -91.0dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 110h | - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1733:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 71dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 80dB | - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 139869 (v7), 159405 (v8)
GeekBench: 5763 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Motorola One Macro
- Exceptional 110-hour battery life
- Dedicated macro camera for detailed close-ups
- Good contrast ratio for immersive viewing
- Less powerful processor compared to the Honor 9X Lite
- Limited camera details beyond the macro lens
Honor 9X Lite
- More powerful Kirin 710F processor
- Faster CPU clock speeds for smoother multitasking
- Potentially better gaming performance
- Likely shorter battery life than the Motorola One Macro
- No dedicated macro camera
Display Comparison
The Motorola One Macro boasts a display with a measured peak brightness of 442 nits and a 1733:1 contrast ratio. While these figures are respectable for the price bracket, the Honor 9X Lite’s display specifications are not provided, making a direct comparison difficult. However, given Honor’s typical display calibration, it’s reasonable to expect similar brightness levels. The Motorola’s contrast ratio suggests good black levels, potentially offering a more immersive viewing experience. Without knowing the panel technology used in the Honor 9X Lite, it’s hard to assess potential differences in color accuracy or viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
The Motorola One Macro’s name highlights its key camera feature: a dedicated macro lens. While the overall camera system details are limited to 'Photo / Video', the presence of a macro lens caters to users interested in capturing detailed close-up shots. The Honor 9X Lite’s camera specifications are also sparse. Without knowing sensor sizes, apertures, or image processing algorithms, it’s difficult to assess its photographic capabilities. However, the lack of a dedicated macro lens on the Honor 9X Lite suggests it will struggle to match the Motorola’s close-up performance. The Motorola’s focus on macro photography sets it apart for users who prioritize this specific feature.
Performance
The Honor 9X Lite’s Kirin 710F (12nm) chipset, with its octa-core configuration of 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 cores, offers a slight performance advantage over the Motorola One Macro’s MediaTek Helio P70 (12nm). The higher clock speeds on the A73 cores in the Kirin 710F translate to quicker app launches and smoother multitasking. While both chipsets are built on a 12nm process, the Kirin 710F’s architecture provides a marginal edge in CPU-intensive tasks. The Motorola’s Helio P70, however, is still capable of handling everyday tasks efficiently, but may exhibit more noticeable slowdowns under heavy load.
Battery Life
The Motorola One Macro’s standout feature is its exceptional battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 110 hours. This suggests a large battery capacity coupled with efficient power management. The Honor 9X Lite’s battery capacity is unknown, but given its more powerful processor, it’s likely to consume more power. Both devices support 10W wired charging, meaning charging times will be relatively slow. The Motorola One Macro’s superior endurance rating makes it the clear winner for users who prioritize all-day battery life and infrequent charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola One Macro if you need exceptional battery life, frequently take close-up photos, and prioritize a stable, reliable experience over raw processing speed. Buy the Honor 9X Lite if you prefer a slightly more powerful processor for smoother app switching and light gaming, and are willing to compromise on battery endurance. Both phones are ideal for users on a tight budget who need a functional and dependable smartphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Kirin 710F in the Honor 9X Lite struggle with demanding games like PUBG?
While the Kirin 710F is capable of running PUBG, you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a consistently smooth frame rate. The processor isn't designed for high-end gaming, and prolonged sessions may result in some frame drops or thermal throttling.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Motorola One Macro actually useful, or is it just a gimmick?
The 2MP macro camera on the Motorola One Macro is surprisingly effective for capturing detailed close-up shots of flowers, insects, or small objects. It allows you to focus much closer than a standard camera lens, revealing textures and details that would otherwise be missed. It's a genuine benefit for users interested in macro photography.
❓ How long does it take to fully charge both phones with their 10W chargers?
With 10W charging, both the Motorola One Macro and the Honor 9X Lite will take approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours to fully charge from 0% to 100%. This is a relatively slow charging speed compared to modern fast-charging technologies.
❓ Which phone is better for watching videos and browsing the web?
Both phones are adequate for video streaming and web browsing. The Motorola One Macro's higher contrast ratio may provide a slightly more immersive viewing experience, but the difference is likely to be subtle. The Honor 9X Lite's faster processor might result in slightly snappier page loading times.
