iQOO Neo 855 vs Honor 9X Pro: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Power

The iQOO Neo 855 and Honor 9X Pro represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market, but cater to different priorities. The iQOO Neo 855, powered by the Snapdragon 855, prioritizes raw performance, while the Honor 9X Pro focuses on a balanced experience with a strong emphasis on battery endurance. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing gaming and demanding applications, the iQOO Neo 855 is the clear winner thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset. However, the Honor 9X Pro offers excellent battery life and a respectable display, making it a solid choice for everyday users who value longevity over peak performance.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO Neo 855 Honor 9X Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2019, October. Released 2019, October2019, July 23. Released 2019, August 09
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions159.5 x 75.2 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.96 x 0.32 in)163.5 x 77.3 x 8.8 mm (6.44 x 3.04 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198.5 g (7.02 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~404 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)
Size6.38 inches, 99.9 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, HDR10IPS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Kirin 810 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Mali-G52 MP6
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, EMUI 9.1, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 64GB 6GB RAM (UFS 2.1), all others (UFS 3.0)-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple12 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) Auxiliary lens48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µmMotorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 32-bit/192kHz audio -
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX4.2, A2DP, LE (International)5.0, A2DP, LE (China)
NFCNoNo
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS
RadioNoFM radio
USBUSB Type-C, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired10W wired
Type4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsPurple, Aurora White, BlackMidnight Black, Phantom Purple
ModelsV1936A, V1936THLK-AL10, HLK-TL10, HLK-L41, HLK-L42
PriceAbout 260 EURAbout 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)

vivo iQOO Neo 855

  • Significantly faster processor (Snapdragon 855)
  • Faster charging (33W)
  • Better suited for gaming and demanding apps

  • Battery capacity unknown, potentially smaller than Honor 9X Pro
  • Display specifications not fully detailed

Honor 9X Pro

  • Excellent battery life (104h endurance rating)
  • Bright and contrasty display (517 nits, 1319:1 contrast)
  • Balanced overall experience

  • Slower processor (Kirin 810)
  • Slow charging (10W)

Display Comparison

The Honor 9X Pro boasts a display with a measured peak brightness of 517 nits and a 1319:1 contrast ratio, providing a visually pleasing experience for everyday use. While the iQOO Neo 855’s display specifications are not provided, it’s likely to offer similar brightness levels given its market positioning. The 1319:1 contrast ratio on the Honor 9X Pro suggests good black levels and vibrant colors. However, without knowing the panel technology (e.g., IPS, AMOLED) or refresh rate of the iQOO Neo 855, a definitive display quality assessment is difficult. The Honor 9X Pro’s contrast ratio, while nominally 1319:1, is a key advantage for viewing content in varied lighting conditions.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without information on sensor size, aperture, or image stabilization (OIS), a direct comparison is challenging. However, given the iQOO brand’s focus on performance, it’s reasonable to assume the Neo 855 might prioritize image processing speed. The Honor 9X Pro, lacking detailed specs, likely relies on software optimization to enhance image quality. The absence of information on both devices makes it impossible to determine which offers superior photographic capabilities.

Performance

The iQOO Neo 855’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm) chipset is the clear performance leader. Its octa-core configuration – 1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, and 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 – delivers significantly higher CPU and GPU performance compared to the Honor 9X Pro’s Kirin 810 (7nm). The Kirin 810, with its 2x2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x1.88 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, is a capable mid-range processor, but it cannot match the Snapdragon 855’s processing power, especially in graphically demanding tasks like gaming. This translates to smoother gameplay, faster app loading times, and better multitasking on the iQOO Neo 855.

Battery Life

The Honor 9X Pro boasts an impressive endurance rating of 104 hours, indicating excellent battery life. This is coupled with a relatively slow 10W wired charging solution. The iQOO Neo 855, with its 33W wired charging, offers significantly faster charging speeds, allowing for quicker top-ups. While the iQOO Neo 855’s battery capacity is unknown, the faster charging compensates for a potentially smaller battery, providing a more convenient charging experience. Users prioritizing minimal downtime will favor the iQOO Neo 855, while those seeking maximum longevity between charges will prefer the Honor 9X Pro.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO Neo 855 if you are a mobile gamer, frequently use resource-intensive apps, or need the fastest possible processing speeds. Buy the Honor 9X Pro if you prioritize all-day battery life, a bright and contrasty display for media consumption, and a more balanced, everyday smartphone experience without the need for top-tier performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Kirin 810 in the Honor 9X Pro struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The Kirin 810 can run PUBG, but you'll likely need to lower graphics settings for a smooth experience. Genshin Impact may be playable at the lowest settings, but performance won't be optimal. The Snapdragon 855 in the iQOO Neo 855 offers a significantly better gaming experience with higher frame rates and graphical fidelity.
❓ How long will it take to fully charge the iQOO Neo 855 with its 33W fast charging?
While a precise time isn't available without knowing the battery capacity, 33W charging should fully charge the iQOO Neo 855 in approximately 60-90 minutes, significantly faster than the Honor 9X Pro's 10W charging.
❓ Is the 10W charging on the Honor 9X Pro a significant drawback?
Yes, 10W charging is quite slow by modern standards. It means you'll need to plug in the phone for several hours to achieve a full charge, making it less convenient for users who need quick top-ups.
❓ Does the Honor 9X Pro have any features to optimize battery life beyond its large capacity?
While not explicitly stated, Honor typically includes software optimizations for battery management in their devices. These may include app power saving modes and background activity restrictions to extend battery life.