Released in 2019, the Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro and Honor View 20 represented a pivotal moment in the flagship killer space. Both devices aimed to deliver premium features at significantly lower prices than established brands. This comparison revisits these phones, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses to determine which one holds up better today, particularly focusing on the core differences in their chipsets and display technologies.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking raw performance and sustained gaming, the Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 855 chipset consistently outperforms the Kirin 980, and its slightly better battery endurance provides a more reliable experience. However, the Honor View 20’s display offers superior sunlight readability.
| 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, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, May 28. Released 2019, June 01 | 2018, December. Released 2018, December |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in) | 156.9 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm (6.18 x 2.97 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 180 g (6.35 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Yes |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2310 pixels (~398 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 101.4 cm2 (~85.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, HDR10 | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Kirin 980 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G76 MP10 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Magic UI 4.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Panorama, HDR, LED flash |
| Single | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom
13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@960fps, (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | Motorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 25 MP, f/2.0, 27mm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (China only) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | Yes | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 27W wired, QC4 | 22.5W wired, 55% in 30 min (International)
18W wired (India) |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Carbon black, Flame red, Glacier blue, Summer Honey, Pearl White | Saphire Blue, Phantom Blue, Phantom Red, Midnight Black |
| Models | M1903F11I | PCT-AL10, PCT-TL10, PCT-L29 |
| Price | About 400 EUR | About 330 EUR |
| SAR | 1.03 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB |
Noise -93.1dB / Crosstalk -64.5dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 103h | Endurance rating 96h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (1313), 3.597 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 84dB |
Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 368846 (v7), 437823 (v8)
GeekBench: 10684 (v4.4), 2732 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 36fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 275413 (v7)
GeekBench: 9530 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro
- Superior Snapdragon 855 performance
- Faster 27W charging with QC4
- Slightly better battery endurance (103h)
- Lower peak display brightness
- Less visibility in direct sunlight
Honor View 20
- Higher peak display brightness (3.597 nits)
- Better sunlight readability
- Unique hole-punch camera design
- Inferior Kirin 980 performance
- Slower charging speeds (22.5W/18W)
Display Comparison
The Honor View 20 boasts a higher contrast ratio of 1313:1 compared to the Redmi K20 Pro’s nominal infinite ratio, but this is largely a marketing metric. More importantly, the View 20 achieves a measured peak brightness of 3.597 nits, a substantial improvement over the K20 Pro’s 643 nits. This translates to significantly better visibility under direct sunlight. Both displays feature an infinite contrast ratio, meaning perfect blacks, but the real-world benefit lies with the Honor View 20’s superior outdoor performance. The hole-punch camera design on the View 20 also offers a different aesthetic than the K20 Pro’s more traditional notch-less display.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited in the provided data. Both are advertised as having photo and video capabilities. The image processing style likely differs, with Xiaomi typically favoring more vibrant colors and Honor leaning towards a more natural look. Without specific sensor size or aperture details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, the presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device would be a significant advantage for low-light photography and video recording, a detail not specified in the provided data. The usefulness of any 2MP macro cameras on either device is questionable, offering limited practical benefit.
Performance
The core difference between these phones lies in their chipsets. The Redmi K20 Pro utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime Kryo 485 core clocked at 2.84 GHz. The Honor View 20, on the other hand, is powered by the Kirin 980 (7nm). While both are 7nm chips, the Snapdragon 855 generally exhibits superior CPU and GPU performance. The Snapdragon 855’s Adreno 640 GPU provides a more substantial gaming advantage. While the Kirin 980’s CPU configuration (2x2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2x1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) is respectable, it doesn’t match the raw power of the Snapdragon 855. This difference is noticeable in demanding tasks and graphically intensive games.
Battery Life
The Redmi K20 Pro offers an endurance rating of 103 hours, slightly exceeding the Honor View 20’s 96 hours. This suggests the K20 Pro is more efficient overall. The K20 Pro also supports 27W wired charging with Quick Charge 4 (QC4), while the View 20 offers 22.5W (International) or 18W (India) charging. The K20 Pro’s faster charging allows for quicker top-ups, reducing downtime. While the View 20 claims 55% charge in 30 minutes, the K20 Pro’s QC4 support likely provides comparable or faster charging speeds.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro if you prioritize gaming, demanding applications, and overall system responsiveness. Its Snapdragon 855 provides a noticeable performance advantage. Buy the Honor View 20 if you frequently use your phone outdoors in bright sunlight, as its display achieves a significantly higher peak brightness of 3.597 nits, and you value a unique aesthetic with its hole-punch camera design.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Kirin 980 in the Honor View 20 experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 980 is a capable chip, it is known to be more prone to thermal throttling compared to the Snapdragon 855. This means that performance may decrease over time during prolonged gaming or demanding tasks as the chip heats up. The Redmi K20 Pro, with its Snapdragon 855, generally maintains higher sustained performance.
❓ Is the 22.5W or 18W charging on the Honor View 20 significantly slower than the 27W charging on the Redmi K20 Pro in real-world usage?
Yes, the Redmi K20 Pro’s 27W charging with Quick Charge 4 support will likely result in faster charging times. While the Honor View 20’s 22.5W (International) or 18W (India) charging is adequate, it won’t be as quick to replenish the battery from 0 to 100%. The K20 Pro’s QC4 support also offers broader compatibility with chargers.
❓ How does the hole-punch camera on the Honor View 20 affect the viewing experience compared to a traditional notch or notch-less display?
The hole-punch camera on the Honor View 20 minimizes screen intrusion compared to a traditional notch. While it does occupy a small portion of the display, it’s less distracting than a larger notch. The Redmi K20 Pro offers a notch-less display, maximizing screen real estate, but this comes at the cost of potentially needing a pop-up camera mechanism.
