The Tecno Phantom 9 and Honor 9X Pro represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. While both aim to deliver value, they take drastically different approaches. The Phantom 9 prioritizes affordability, while the 9X Pro attempts to bridge the gap between budget and mid-range with a more powerful chipset. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best experience for your money.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Honor 9X Pro is the superior choice. Its Kirin 810 chipset provides a substantial performance advantage over the Phantom 9’s Helio P35, making it better suited for gaming, multitasking, and future-proofing. While both offer similar battery endurance, the 9X Pro’s processing power justifies the potential price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, July. Released 2019, July | 2019, July 23. Released 2019, August 09 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158.5 x 75.3 x 7.9 mm (6.24 x 2.96 x 0.31 in) | 163.5 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 164.4 g (5.78 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Kirin 810 (7 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G52 MP6 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 9.1, no Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 13mm (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | Motorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE (International)5.0, A2DP, LE (China) |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 3500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Lapland Aurora | Midnight Black, Phantom Purple |
| Models | AB7 | HLK-AL10, HLK-TL10, HLK-L41, HLK-L42 |
| Price | About 15000 INR | About 230 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 104h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1319:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-31.1 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 312668 (v8)
GeekBench: 7836 (v4.4), 1911 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Tecno Phantom 9
- Most affordable option
- Decent battery life (104h endurance)
- Suitable for basic smartphone tasks
- Weak processor (Helio P35)
- Limited gaming performance
- Potentially lower display brightness
Honor 9X Pro
- Powerful Kirin 810 chipset
- Better performance for gaming and multitasking
- Higher display brightness (517 nits)
- Slower 10W charging
- Potentially higher price
- Similar battery endurance to Phantom 9
Display Comparison
Both devices feature a contrast ratio of 1319:1, suggesting similar visual depth. However, the Honor 9X Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 517 nits, which will translate to better visibility outdoors compared to the Phantom 9, whose brightness is not specified. The lack of information regarding the Phantom 9’s panel technology (IPS, AMOLED) makes a direct comparison difficult, but the 9X Pro’s higher brightness is a clear advantage for users who frequently use their phones in sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, offering little specific detail. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is challenging. However, the market positioning of the Honor 9X Pro suggests a more refined camera experience, potentially with better image processing algorithms. The Phantom 9 likely focuses on providing basic camera functionality at a lower cost. The absence of details regarding features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device suggests neither prioritizes advanced photography features.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor 9X Pro’s Kirin 810, built on a 7nm process, is a significant leap ahead of the Tecno Phantom 9’s Mediatek Helio P35 (12nm). The Kirin 810’s octa-core configuration, featuring two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.27 GHz, provides substantially more processing power than the Phantom 9’s four Cortex-A53 cores at 2.3 GHz. While the Phantom 9’s cores are clocked slightly higher, the architectural advantage of the A76 cores in the 9X Pro, combined with the more efficient 7nm process, results in faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a better gaming experience. The 9X Pro will handle graphically intensive games with greater ease and less stuttering.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 104 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Honor 9X Pro’s more efficient Kirin 810 chipset may contribute to slightly longer real-world usage, especially during demanding tasks. Both phones feature 10W wired charging, which is relatively slow by today’s standards. Users seeking faster charging speeds will need to look elsewhere.
Buying Guide
Buy the Tecno Phantom 9 if you absolutely need the lowest possible price and your usage is limited to basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media. You’ll be sacrificing performance and future-proofing. Buy the Honor 9X Pro if you value a smoother user experience, enjoy mobile gaming, or anticipate needing a phone that can handle more demanding applications. The Kirin 810 offers a significant upgrade in processing power and longevity.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Kirin 810 in the Honor 9X Pro capable of running demanding games like PUBG Mobile at high settings?
Yes, the Kirin 810 is a capable chipset for gaming. It can comfortably run PUBG Mobile at high settings with stable frame rates. While it won't match the performance of flagship chipsets, it provides a significantly better gaming experience than the Helio P35 in the Tecno Phantom 9.
❓ How does the 12nm process of the Helio P35 affect the Tecno Phantom 9's battery life during intensive tasks?
The 12nm process of the Helio P35 is less efficient than the 7nm process of the Kirin 810. This means the Phantom 9 will consume more power during demanding tasks, potentially leading to shorter battery life when gaming or multitasking compared to the Honor 9X Pro.
❓ Given both phones have the same battery endurance rating, does that mean they'll last the same amount of time in real-world use?
Not necessarily. The endurance rating is based on a standardized test. The Honor 9X Pro's more efficient chipset (Kirin 810) means it will likely maintain that endurance rating for longer, especially with heavier usage. The Phantom 9 might drain faster when running demanding apps.
