The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 and Honor 9X Lite represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. Both devices aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price point, but they take different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which phone offers the best value for your money, focusing on performance, battery life, and overall user experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and battery endurance, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 emerges as the stronger choice. While the Honor 9X Lite boasts a slightly newer chipset architecture, the Snapdragon 665’s optimized efficiency and the Redmi Note 8’s superior endurance rating of 108 hours give it a practical edge.
| 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 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, August 29. Released 2019, October 16 | 2020, April 17. Released 2020, May 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | - |
| Dimensions | 158.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm (6.23 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) | 160.4 x 76.6 x 7.8 mm (6.31 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 (6.70 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~397 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.2 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Kirin 710F (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G51 MP4 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 | Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1, Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3750 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Neptune Blue, Moonlight White, Space Black, Nebula Purple, Cosmic Purple | Emerald Green, Midnight Black |
| Models | M1908C3JH, M1908C3JG, M1908C3JI | JSN-L21, JSN-L22, JSN-L23 |
| Price | About 220 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| SAR | 0.26 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.19 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -94.0dB / Crosstalk -93.3dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 108h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1521:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 78dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 81dB
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 141915 (v7), 161572 (v8)
GeekBench: 5590 (v4.4), 1339 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8
- Superior battery endurance (108h rating)
- Faster 18W charging
- More efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Older chipset architecture compared to Kirin 710F
- Limited display specifications available
Honor 9X Lite
- Slightly higher CPU clock speeds on primary cores
- More modern chipset architecture (Kirin 710F)
- Potentially smoother multitasking
- Slower 10W charging
- Likely shorter battery life
- Less efficient 12nm process
Display Comparison
Both devices lack detailed display specifications beyond the Redmi Note 8’s contrast ratio of 1521:1. This suggests both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, common in this price bracket. Without knowing the peak brightness or color gamut coverage, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, the Redmi Note 8’s contrast ratio indicates potentially deeper blacks and a more vibrant image, assuming similar calibration. The absence of high refresh rate support on either device is typical for this segment.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, offering little insight into actual camera performance. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a direct comparison is impossible. It’s reasonable to assume both feature multi-camera setups, but the quality will heavily depend on the primary sensor and software optimization. Given the price point, expecting flagship-level camera performance is unrealistic. The presence of a 2MP macro lens on either device is likely more for marketing than practical use, offering limited detail and image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Redmi Note 8 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm) while the Honor 9X Lite utilizes the Kirin 710F (12nm). While the Kirin 710F’s Cortex-A73 cores clock slightly higher at 2.2 GHz compared to the Snapdragon 665’s 2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold cores, the Snapdragon 665 benefits from a more refined 11nm process. This smaller node generally translates to better power efficiency and potentially less thermal throttling under sustained load. The Kirin 710F’s 12nm process, while still efficient, is a generation older. This means the Redmi Note 8 is likely to maintain performance for longer periods during demanding tasks like gaming.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 8 boasts an endurance rating of 108 hours, a significant advantage over the Honor 9X Lite, which lacks a published endurance rating. This suggests the Redmi Note 8 offers considerably longer battery life on a single charge. Furthermore, the Redmi Note 8 supports 18W wired charging, while the Honor 9X Lite is limited to 10W. This means the Redmi Note 8 will charge significantly faster, reducing downtime. The combination of longer battery life and faster charging makes the Redmi Note 8 the clear winner in this category.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 if you need a phone that can reliably handle daily tasks and moderate gaming sessions throughout the day, and if battery life is a top priority. Buy the Honor 9X Lite if you prefer a slightly more modern chipset architecture and are willing to trade some battery life for potentially smoother multitasking, though real-world gains may be minimal.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Kirin 710F in the Honor 9X Lite overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Kirin 710F, while capable, is built on a 12nm process. This means it's more prone to thermal throttling under sustained load compared to the Redmi Note 8’s Snapdragon 665 (11nm). Expect performance to dip after extended gaming, potentially leading to a less smooth experience.
❓ How long will it take to fully charge the Redmi Note 8 from 0%?
With its 18W charging support, the Redmi Note 8 should fully charge from 0% in approximately 2-2.5 hours, depending on the charger used. This is significantly faster than the Honor 9X Lite’s 10W charging, which will take considerably longer.
❓ Is the difference in CPU clock speeds between the two phones noticeable in everyday use?
The difference in CPU clock speeds (2.2 GHz vs 2.0 GHz) is unlikely to be noticeable in most everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and messaging. The Snapdragon 665’s efficiency and software optimization are more impactful factors in overall responsiveness.
