The Realme 5 and Honor 20 Lite (China) represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. Both devices aim to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches to achieving this. The Realme 5 prioritizes endurance, while the Honor 20 Lite focuses on faster charging and a slightly more powerful processor. This comparison will dissect their key differences to help you choose the right phone for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life, the Realme 5 is the better choice, thanks to its impressive 144-hour endurance rating. However, if quick top-ups are essential, the Honor 20 Lite’s 20W charging offers a significant advantage, despite a potentially shorter overall runtime.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (2CA) 450/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, August 20. Released 2019, August | 2019, October. Released 2019, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3+), plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.6 x 9.3 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.37 in) | 157.2 x 73.2 x 7.7 mm (6.19 x 2.88 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 171.5 g (6.07 oz) |
| | Weather-sealed ports & loudspeaker | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~418 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 95.8 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | AMOLED, 600 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Kirin 710F (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G51 MP4 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Realme UI | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 13mm (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 20W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Crystal Purple, Crystal Blue | Black, Green, Blue/Pink |
| Models | RMX1911, RMX1919, RMX1927 | LRA-AL00, LRA-TL00 |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 144h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1406:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 89dB
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 139516 (v7)
GeekBench: 5707 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Realme 5
- Exceptional battery life (144h endurance)
- More efficient 11nm Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Higher contrast ratio display (1406:1)
- Slower 10W charging
- Limited camera specification details
Honor 20 lite (China)
- Faster 20W wired charging
- Potentially more responsive CPU (Kirin 710F)
- Slightly higher CPU clock speeds
- Less efficient 12nm Kirin 710F chipset
- Battery life likely shorter than Realme 5
Display Comparison
The Realme 5 boasts a display with a measured peak brightness of 485 nits and a 1406:1 contrast ratio. While these figures are respectable for the price point, the Honor 20 Lite’s display specifications are not provided, making a direct comparison difficult. However, given Honor’s typical display calibration, it’s likely to offer similar color accuracy. The Realme 5’s contrast ratio suggests deeper blacks, potentially enhancing media consumption. Without knowing the Honor 20 Lite’s panel type or brightness, the Realme 5 holds a slight edge based on available data.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are absent. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a meaningful comparison is impossible. It’s reasonable to assume both phones feature a multi-camera setup geared towards social media sharing, but image quality will likely vary significantly depending on software optimization. The absence of information regarding OIS or advanced features suggests a focus on basic photography functionality.
Performance
The Honor 20 Lite utilizes the Kirin 710F, a 12nm chip with a Cortex-A73 based octa-core CPU clocked up to 2.2 GHz. The Realme 5, conversely, is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm) with a CPU configuration of 2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold and 1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver cores. The Kirin 710F’s higher clock speeds suggest a performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks, but the Snapdragon 665’s more efficient 11nm process could translate to better thermal management and sustained performance during prolonged use. The Honor 20 Lite will likely feel snappier for multitasking and app launches, while the Realme 5 may maintain performance better under heavy load.
Battery Life
The Realme 5 shines with an impressive 144-hour endurance rating, indicating exceptional battery life. This suggests a large battery capacity optimized for efficient power consumption. The Honor 20 Lite, however, compensates with 20W wired charging, a significant upgrade over the Realme 5’s 10W charging. While the Honor 20 Lite’s battery capacity is unknown, the faster charging allows for quicker top-ups. Users prioritizing longevity will favor the Realme 5, while those needing rapid charging will appreciate the Honor 20 Lite.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 5 if you need exceptional battery life and are willing to trade off some charging speed. This phone is ideal for users who frequently travel, rely heavily on their phone throughout the day, or dislike being tethered to a charger. Buy the Honor 20 Lite (China) if you prefer faster charging and a slightly more responsive processor for everyday tasks, even if it means sacrificing some endurance. This is a good fit for users who want to quickly boost their battery and don't mind charging more frequently.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Kirin 710F in the Honor 20 Lite overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Kirin 710F, built on a 12nm process, is less thermally efficient than the Snapdragon 665’s 11nm node. While it offers a performance boost in short bursts, prolonged gaming may lead to noticeable throttling and reduced performance. The Realme 5 is likely to maintain more consistent performance over longer periods.
❓ How long will it take to fully charge the Honor 20 Lite from 0% with the 20W charger?
While a precise figure isn't available, 20W charging typically allows for a full charge in approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on battery capacity. This is significantly faster than the Realme 5’s 10W charging, which could take over 3 hours for a complete charge.
❓ Is the Realme 5’s battery life sufficient for two full days of moderate use?
The Realme 5’s 144-hour endurance rating suggests it can easily last two full days with moderate use, including browsing, social media, and occasional calls. However, heavy usage with gaming or video streaming will reduce battery life.
