Launched in a competitive mid-range market, the Realme X2 and Huawei nova 5T both aimed to deliver flagship-like experiences without the flagship price tag. The X2 focused on fast charging and endurance, while the nova 5T prioritized raw processing power with Huawei’s Kirin 980. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right phone for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and fast charging, the Realme X2 is the better choice. Its 30W charging and 105-hour endurance rating significantly outperform the nova 5T. However, users demanding maximum processing power for demanding tasks will find the Kirin 980 in the nova 5T more appealing.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - EMEA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, September 24. Released 2019, September | 2019, August 27. Released 2019, September 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.7 x 75.2 x 8.6 mm (6.25 x 2.96 x 0.34 in) | 154.3 x 74 x 7.8 mm (6.07 x 2.91 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 182 g (6.42 oz) | 174 g (6.14 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~412 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.26 inches, 96.2 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Realme UI | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 13mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1"
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 32-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 67% in 30 min | 22.5W wired, 50% in 24 min |
| Type | 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3750 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pearl White, Pearl Blue, Pearl Green | Black, Crush Blue, Midsummer Purple, Crush Green |
| Models | RMX1992, RMX1993, RMX1991 | YAL-L21, YAL-L61, YAL-L71, YAL-L61D |
| Price | About 480 EUR | About 340 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -92.6dB / Crosstalk -88.1dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 105h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.0 LUFS (Good)
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 215578 (v7), 257443 (v8)
GeekBench: 6926 (v4.4), 1750 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 313024 (v7), 395503 (v8)
GeekBench: 10013 (v4.4), 2504 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme X2
- Exceptional battery life (105h endurance)
- Ultra-fast 30W charging
- Efficient Snapdragon 730G chipset
- Potentially lower peak performance compared to Kirin 980
- Limited display details available
Huawei nova 5T
- Powerful Kirin 980 processor
- Superior single-core performance
- 7nm process for improved efficiency
- Slower 22.5W charging
- Lower battery endurance compared to Realme X2
Display Comparison
Both phones lack detailed display specifications in the provided data, but the Realme X2’s reported 432 nits of max brightness suggests a reasonably visible outdoor experience. Contrast is listed as infinite (nominal), a common marketing term. Without knowing the panel technology (IPS vs AMOLED) or resolution of the nova 5T, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, given the era, both likely employed IPS LCDs, and brightness will be a key differentiator in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
The provided data only indicates both phones have photo/video capabilities. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a direct comparison is limited. However, Huawei historically focused heavily on camera technology, and the Kirin 980’s ISP likely offers more advanced image processing capabilities than the Snapdragon 730G’s. The absence of details suggests neither phone features a standout camera system, likely relying on competent but not exceptional sensors. The inclusion of a 2MP macro lens on either device would be largely inconsequential given its limited utility.
Performance
The Huawei nova 5T’s Kirin 980 (7nm) represents a significant architectural leap over the Realme X2’s Snapdragon 730G (8nm). The Kirin 980 utilizes a tri-cluster configuration with two Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.6 GHz, offering superior single-core performance crucial for responsive app launches and smoother UI navigation. The Snapdragon 730G, while efficient, relies on Kryo 470 cores and is geared towards sustained performance rather than peak bursts. This translates to a noticeable advantage for the nova 5T in graphically intensive games and demanding applications. The 7nm process node of the Kirin 980 also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
The Realme X2’s endurance rating of 105 hours is a clear advantage over the Huawei nova 5T, which lacks this metric. The X2’s 30W wired charging, capable of reaching 67% in 30 minutes, is also significantly faster than the nova 5T’s 22.5W charging (50% in 24 minutes). This faster charging speed, combined with the superior endurance rating, makes the X2 the clear winner for users who prioritize minimizing downtime and maximizing battery life. The larger battery capacity of the X2 (implied by the endurance rating) further solidifies its advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme X2 if you need exceptional battery life, rapid 30W charging, and a phone that can comfortably last a full day of heavy use. Buy the Huawei nova 5T if you prioritize raw processing power for gaming or multitasking, and are willing to trade some battery endurance for that performance boost. The nova 5T is geared towards users who push their phones to the limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 980 in the Huawei nova 5T get noticeably hot during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 980 is a powerful chip, its thermal performance depends on the phone's cooling system. Given the nova 5T's plastic build, sustained gaming could lead to noticeable heat buildup. However, the 7nm process node helps mitigate throttling compared to older, larger-node chipsets.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 730G in the Realme X2 handle graphically demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty: Mobile?
The Snapdragon 730G is capable of running PUBG and Call of Duty: Mobile at medium to high settings with stable frame rates. While it won't match the performance of flagship chipsets, it provides a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience for most users. Expect some graphical settings adjustments for optimal performance.
❓ Is the difference in charging speed between the Realme X2 (30W) and Huawei nova 5T (22.5W) really that significant in everyday use?
Yes, the 7.5W difference is noticeable. The Realme X2's 30W charging can add a substantial amount of battery life in a short period, making it ideal for users who frequently need to top up their phone quickly. The nova 5T's 22.5W charging is still respectable, but it takes considerably longer to reach a full charge.
