The Realme X and Honor 500 represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The Realme X, leveraging the older Snapdragon 710, aims for affordability and respectable endurance. The Honor 500, however, arrives with the newer, more powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, promising a significant performance leap. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which device delivers the best value for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a smooth, responsive experience and future-proofing, the Honor 500 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset offers a substantial performance advantage over the Realme X's Snapdragon 710. While the Realme X boasts a respectable 86-hour endurance rating, the Honor 500's 80W charging mitigates any potential battery concerns.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | LTE |
| 5G bands | - | SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/75 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA - China | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, May. Released 2019, July | 2025, November 24 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2025, November 27 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.2 x 76 x 9.4 mm (6.35 x 2.99 x 0.37 in) | 155.8 x 74.2 x 7.8 mm (6.13 x 2.92 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 198 g (6.98 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Aluminosilicate glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) | 1264 x 2736 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.55 inches, 105.4 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 6000 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.21 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM710 Snapdragon 710 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM8735 Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 616 | Adreno 825 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Realme UI | Android 16, MagicOS 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 200 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.4", 0.56µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), AF |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@120fps, 720p@960fps | 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 50 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | - |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 6.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC 5, Auracast, ASHA |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C | 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/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass (ultrasound) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, 55% in 30 min | 80W wired
5W reverse wired |
| Type | 3765 mAh, non-removable | Si/C Li-Ion 8000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Steam white, Punk Blue | Black, Silver, Blue, Pink |
| Models | RMX1901, RMX1903 | MEY-AN00 |
| Price | About 160 EUR | About 330 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -92.9dB / Crosstalk -93.3dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 86h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.7 LUFS (Average)
| - |
| Performance |
GeekBench: 5915 (v4.4) | - |
Realme X
- Exceptional 86-hour battery endurance
- More affordable price point
- Reliable performance for basic tasks
- Outdated Snapdragon 710 chipset
- Slower charging speed (20W)
- Likely less advanced display technology
Honor 500
- Powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset
- Ultra-fast 80W wired charging
- 5W reverse wired charging capability
- Battery life may be shorter than Realme X (without capacity data)
- Higher price point
- Potential for more thermal throttling under sustained load (though 4nm helps)
Display Comparison
Both devices list an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, a marketing term that doesn't provide concrete information. Without specific brightness data (nits) or panel technology details (OLED, LCD, refresh rate), a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the Honor 500's positioning, it's reasonable to expect a more advanced display with potentially higher peak brightness and color accuracy compared to the Realme X, which likely utilizes a standard LCD panel. The Realme X's display is likely optimized for power efficiency, contributing to its longer endurance rating.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a detailed comparison is impossible. However, given the Honor 500's higher price point and more modern chipset, it's likely to feature a more advanced camera system with improved image processing capabilities. The Realme X likely focuses on providing adequate image quality for everyday use, while the Honor 500 aims for a more refined and versatile photographic experience. The absence of details suggests neither phone is a camera-focused flagship.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme X's Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 (10nm) is a capable mid-range processor, featuring an octa-core configuration with Kryo 360 cores. However, the Honor 500's Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm) represents a generational leap. The 4nm process node offers significantly improved power efficiency and transistor density, translating to higher performance and reduced thermal throttling. The 8s Gen 4's CPU configuration – a 1x3.21 GHz Cortex-X4 prime core, 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A720, 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720, and 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720 – is far more sophisticated than the Snapdragon 710's setup, resulting in substantially faster processing speeds and improved multitasking capabilities. Gamers and power users will overwhelmingly benefit from the Honor 500's superior processing power.
Battery Life
The Realme X boasts an impressive 86-hour endurance rating, suggesting excellent battery optimization. While the Honor 500's battery capacity is not specified, its 80W wired charging significantly offsets any potential capacity disadvantage. The Realme X's 20W charging takes 30 minutes to reach 55%, while the Honor 500's 80W charging will likely achieve a much higher percentage in the same timeframe. The Honor 500 also includes 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Realme X, allowing it to charge other devices.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme X if you need a reliable, long-lasting phone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and social media, and are on a very tight budget. Its 86h endurance rating is a significant advantage for users who prioritize battery life above all else. Buy the Honor 500 if you prioritize gaming, demanding applications, and a future-proofed experience. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 provides a significant performance boost, and the 80W charging ensures you're never tethered to a wall for long.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 in the Honor 500 handle demanding games like Genshin Impact at high settings?
Yes, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a powerful chipset capable of running demanding games like Genshin Impact at high settings. Its advanced CPU and GPU architecture, combined with the efficient 4nm process, provide ample processing power and thermal headroom for a smooth gaming experience. Expect consistently high frame rates and reduced stuttering compared to the Realme X.
❓ How much faster is the 80W charging on the Honor 500 compared to the 20W charging on the Realme X?
The 80W charging on the Honor 500 is significantly faster. While the Realme X reaches 55% charge in 30 minutes, the Honor 500 is likely to achieve a much higher percentage – potentially 80-90% – in the same timeframe. This drastically reduces downtime and allows you to quickly top up your battery when needed.
❓ Is the Realme X still a good option for someone who primarily uses their phone for calls, texts, and social media?
Absolutely. The Realme X's Snapdragon 710 is perfectly adequate for basic tasks like calls, texts, and social media. Its long battery life (86-hour endurance) is a major advantage for users who prioritize longevity over raw performance. If your needs are modest, the Realme X offers excellent value.
