The Realme 6 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 diverge significantly in their core strengths. The Realme 6 prioritizes gaming performance and rapid charging, while the Honor 9X Lite focuses on a more streamlined user experience and potentially longer-term software support (depending on region). This comparison will dissect their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing gaming and fast charging, the Realme 6 is the clear winner. Its Helio G90T chipset and 30W charging significantly outperform the Honor 9X Lite’s Kirin 710F and 10W charging. However, the Honor 9X Lite remains a viable option for those seeking a basic, reliable smartphone.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/75 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 05. Released 2020, March 11 | 2020, April 17. Released 2020, May 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 162.1 x 74.8 x 8.9 mm (6.38 x 2.94 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 | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~397 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.2 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ) | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6785 Helio G90T (12 nm) | Kirin 710F (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Mali-G51 MP4 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1, Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 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 | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 100% in 55 min | 10W wired |
| Type | 4300 mAh | Li-Po 3750 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Comet Blue, Comet White | Emerald Green, Midnight Black |
| Models | RMX2001 | JSN-L21, JSN-L22, JSN-L23 |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| SAR | 1.14 W/kg (head) 0.59 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.71 W/kg (head) 0.57 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 106h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1315:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.7 LUFS (Average)
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 288931 (v8)
GeekBench: 7815 (v4.4), 1726 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Realme 6
- Significantly faster charging (30W vs 10W)
- More powerful processor for gaming and multitasking
- Brighter and higher contrast display
- Potentially more aggressive software bloatware (typical of Realme)
- No detailed camera specifications available
Honor 9X Lite
- Potentially cleaner software experience
- More affordable price point (likely)
- Reliable performance for basic tasks
- Significantly slower charging speed
- Less powerful processor for demanding applications
- Likely lower display quality
Display Comparison
The Realme 6 boasts a display with a measured peak brightness of 451 nits and a 1315:1 contrast ratio. While the Honor 9X Lite’s display specifications aren’t provided, it’s reasonable to assume it offers a lower peak brightness and contrast ratio given its positioning. This means the Realme 6 will offer a more vibrant and visible experience, particularly outdoors. The Realme 6’s contrast ratio suggests a better viewing experience for media consumption, with deeper blacks and brighter whites. The lack of detailed display information for the Honor 9X Lite makes a precise comparison difficult, but the Realme 6 clearly has the edge based on available data.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a 'Photo / Video' camera setup, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Without specifics on sensor size, aperture, or image processing algorithms, a direct comparison is challenging. However, given the Realme 6’s focus on overall performance, it’s likely to have a more sophisticated camera system. The inclusion of a dedicated gaming chipset often correlates with improved image signal processing capabilities. The Honor 9X Lite likely prioritizes cost savings in this area, potentially resulting in lower image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device suggests reliance on software stabilization.
Performance
The Realme 6’s Mediatek Helio G90T (12nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU with 2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, is demonstrably more powerful than the Honor 9X Lite’s Kirin 710F (12nm) with its 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 configuration. The Cortex-A76 cores in the Helio G90T offer a significant architectural advantage over the Cortex-A73 cores in the Kirin 710F, translating to faster application loading times and smoother multitasking. The G90T is specifically designed for gaming, offering better GPU performance. This difference will be most noticeable in graphically intensive games and demanding applications. The Honor 9X Lite will handle everyday tasks adequately, but will struggle with more resource-intensive workloads.
Battery Life
The Realme 6 boasts an endurance rating of 106 hours, indicating solid battery life. Crucially, it supports 30W wired charging, achieving a 100% charge in just 55 minutes. The Honor 9X Lite, lacking specific endurance data, relies on a slower 10W wired charging solution. This difference in charging speed is substantial. While the Honor 9X Lite may offer comparable battery capacity, the Realme 6’s faster charging significantly reduces downtime. For users who frequently need to top up their battery, the Realme 6 is the superior choice. The 106-hour endurance rating of the Realme 6 suggests efficient power management alongside a reasonable battery capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 6 if you need a phone capable of handling demanding mobile games and appreciate the convenience of extremely fast charging. This is the phone for gamers on a budget and those who frequently find themselves needing a quick power boost. Buy the Honor 9X Lite if you prefer a simpler, more straightforward smartphone experience and prioritize a potentially cleaner software experience, accepting compromises in performance and charging speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Helio G90T in the Realme 6 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Helio G90T is known to generate some heat under sustained load. However, Realme typically implements thermal management solutions to mitigate throttling. While some performance reduction may occur during extended gaming, it's unlikely to cause significant issues for most users. The 12nm process node is less efficient than newer nodes, but the G90T's gaming focus suggests optimizations for thermal performance.
❓ Does the Honor 9X Lite support widevine L1 certification for HD streaming services like Netflix?
Unfortunately, this information isn't readily available. Honor often includes Widevine L1 on their devices, but it's not guaranteed for the 9X Lite. Users intending to stream HD content should verify this specification before purchasing, as the absence of L1 certification will restrict streaming quality to standard definition.
❓ How does the software experience differ between Realme UI and Honor's Magic UI?
Realme UI, based on Android, is often criticized for including pre-installed bloatware and aggressive notifications. Honor's Magic UI, while also based on Android, historically offered a cleaner and more refined user experience. However, recent changes in Honor's ownership and software strategy may have altered this dynamic. Users prioritizing a minimalist software experience may prefer the Honor 9X Lite, but should research current Magic UI reviews.
