The Realme 5s and Honor 20 Lite represent a sweet spot in the smartphone market – affordable devices aiming to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank. Both phones target users prioritizing value, but they take different approaches to achieving it. The Realme 5s leans on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665, while the Honor 20 Lite utilizes Huawei’s Kirin 710F. This comparison will dissect their key differences to determine which device offers the best overall package.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user, the Honor 20 Lite (China) emerges as the slightly better choice. Its 20W fast charging significantly reduces downtime, and the Kirin 710F, built on a 12nm process, offers a modest performance advantage over the 11nm Snapdragon 665, despite similar core counts. However, the Realme 5s’s endurance rating is commendable.
| 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, November 20. Released 2019, November | 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 | 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 | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, 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, Crystal Red | Black, Green, Blue/Pink |
| Models | RMX1925 | LRA-AL00, LRA-TL00 |
| Price | About 270 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -90.1dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 143h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1412:1 | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 89dB
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 139103 (v7), 168635 (v8)
GeekBench: 5596 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Realme 5s
- Exceptional battery endurance (143h)
- Decent contrast ratio (1412:1)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 is a reliable chipset
- Slow 10W charging
- Performance lags behind Kirin 710F
Honor 20 lite (China)
- Faster 20W wired charging
- Kirin 710F offers a performance boost
- 12nm process potentially improves thermal efficiency
- Battery life likely shorter than Realme 5s
- Battery capacity is unknown
Display Comparison
Both devices lack detailed display specifications in the provided data, but given their price point, we can assume they utilize IPS LCD panels. The Realme 5s boasts a contrast ratio of 1412:1, suggesting decent, though not exceptional, color reproduction. Without knowing the peak brightness or color gamut coverage of either device, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner. However, the absence of features like high refresh rates or HDR support is expected in this segment.
Camera Comparison
The provided data only indicates both phones have photo/video capabilities. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a meaningful camera comparison is impossible. In this price bracket, camera performance is often more dependent on software optimization than raw hardware. We can assume both phones feature a multi-camera setup, but the quality will likely vary significantly depending on lighting conditions and scene complexity. The absence of OIS on either device suggests low-light performance will be limited.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor 20 Lite’s Kirin 710F, fabricated on a 12nm process, generally outperforms the Realme 5s’s Snapdragon 665 (11nm) in benchmarks, due to its higher clocked Cortex-A73 cores (2.2 GHz vs 2.0 GHz). While both are octa-core CPUs with a similar core configuration (4x performance, 4x efficiency), the Kirin 710F’s architecture provides a slight edge in CPU-intensive tasks. The 12nm process also contributes to potentially better thermal management, though real-world throttling will depend on the phone’s cooling solution. The Snapdragon 665 is still capable for everyday tasks, but the Kirin 710F offers a smoother experience for multitasking and moderately demanding games.
Battery Life
The Realme 5s shines in battery endurance, boasting a rating of 143 hours. While the Honor 20 Lite’s battery capacity is unknown, its 20W wired charging is a significant advantage. The Realme 5s is limited to 10W charging, meaning a full charge will take considerably longer. This difference in charging speed is crucial for users who need to quickly replenish their battery. The Realme 5s prioritizes longevity, while the Honor 20 Lite prioritizes convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 5s if you prioritize exceptional battery endurance and are comfortable with slower charging speeds. It’s ideal for users who frequently find themselves away from power outlets. Buy the Honor 20 Lite (China) if you value faster charging and a slightly more responsive user experience, even if it means sacrificing some battery life. This phone suits users who want to quickly top up their device throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Kirin 710F prone to overheating during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 710F is a capable chipset, sustained high loads can lead to thermal throttling. However, the 12nm process helps mitigate this compared to older, larger node chipsets. Expect playable frame rates in most games, but not necessarily at maximum settings for extended periods.
❓ How long does it take to fully charge the Realme 5s with its 10W charger?
With a 10W charger, the Realme 5s will likely take over 3 hours to fully charge from 0%. This is a significant drawback compared to the Honor 20 Lite’s 20W fast charging, which can significantly reduce charging times.
❓ Does the Honor 20 Lite support reverse charging?
Based on typical Honor 20 Lite specifications, reverse charging is not a supported feature. This means you cannot use the phone to charge other devices wirelessly or via USB-C.
❓ What type of storage does the Realme 5s use, and is it expandable?
While not specified in the provided data, the Realme 5s typically utilizes eMMC 5.1 storage. It also includes a dedicated microSD card slot for expandable storage, allowing users to increase the phone's capacity.
