The sub-PHP 20K smartphone space is heating up with the release of the new POCO smartphones, with the POCO X5 5G being the most affordable. It sports a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, triple-rear cameras, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset. There’s another smartphone, though, that was also recently launched, and shares similar specs, the HONOR X9a. If presented with the two, which one looks better on paper? Find out below.
| POCO X5 5G | HONOR X9a |
| 6.67-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED display, 395ppi | 6.67-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) Curved AMOLED display, 395ppi |
| 120Hz refresh rate | 120Hz refresh rate |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G SoC |
| Adreno 619 GPU | Adreno 619 GPU |
| 6GB, 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| 128GB, 256GB UFS 2.2 | 256GB storage |
| microSD card slot (hybid) | |
Triple-rear cameras:
• 48MP F1.8 main
• 8MP F2.2 ultra-wide
• 2MP F2.4 macro | Triple-rear cameras:
• 64MP F1.8 main
• 5MP F2.2 ultra-wide/depth
• 2MP F2.4 macro |
| 13MP F2.4 front camera | 16MP F2.45 front camera |
| Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM |
| 5G, 4G LTE | 5G, 4G LTE |
| WiFi 5 | WiFi 5 |
| Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| NFC | NFC |
| GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| USB-C | USB-C |
| 3.5mm headphone jack | |
| Fingerprint scanner (side) | Fingerprint scanner (in-display) |
| MIUI 13 for POCO (Android 12) | Magic UI 6.1 (Android 12) |
| 5,000mAh battery w/ 33W fast charging | 5,100mAh battery w/ 40W fast charging |
| 165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm | 161.6 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm |
| 189 g | 175 g |
Display
The two devices are almost identical when it comes to the display specs. Both have 6.67-inch screens with AMOLED panels, Full HD+ resolution with 395ppi, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. However, the HONOR X9a has a curved AMOLED screen which makes look more immersive, therefore making the device look more premium.
Glass protection was not specified on both devices but HONOR’s recent marketing shows that the X9a has a tough glass capable of surviving high drops.
Chipset
The two are powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset with an octa-core CPU and Adreno 619 GPU, so we can expect the same level of performance from both.
Memory and Storage
The HONOR X9a only comes with 8GB RAM + 256GB storage configuration. The POCO X5, on the other hand, comes in 6GB RAM + 128GB storage and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage, which makes it more versatile, especially in the pricing. More on that later.
The X5 also has support for a microSD card (hybrid), while the X9a doesn’t need one.
Cameras
Both have triple-rear cameras but of varying resolutions. For the main camera, the X9a wins with its 64MP shooter, and for the ultra-wide, the X5 wins with its 8MP sensor. For the third, they both have 2MP macros.
Connectivity and Other Features
The phones have 5G, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, GNSS, and USB-C. Both have fingerprint scanners with the POCO X5 having it on the side, while the HONOR X9a has it under the display. One advantage of the X5 is that it has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is good if you’re the type who wants to use wired headphones.
Battery
The POCO X5 has commendable battery specs with a 5,000mAh capacity and 33W fast charging. However, the HONOR X9a was able to beat that with its 5,100mAh capacity and 40W fast charging. Theoretically, the latter is expected to last longer and charge faster.
Price
The POCO X5 5G 6GB+128GB is priced at PHP 14,999, while the 8GB+256GB is at PHP 15,999. We recommend stretching the budget and getting the 8GB + 256GB model for an extra PHP 1K.
The HONOR X9a 5G, on the other hand, with 8GB + 256GB is priced at PHP 16,990. Slightly more expensive than POCO’s offering.
Which one is for you?
If you have a tight budget, the POCO X5 5G 6GB+128GB is the only option you have. However, if you have the cash for the 8GB + 256GB variant from either brand, this is when things can get tricky as you need to start considering your needs and preferences.
If you want a microSD card slot, higher, ultra-wide camera resolution, 3.5mm audio jack, and want to save PHP 1K, go for the POCO X5 5G 8GB + 256GB.
However, if you don’t mind extending your budget again, the HONOR X9a 5G can provide you with a more premium curved AMOLED panel with a tough glass, a higher main camera and selfie camera resolution, and a bigger battery with faster charging. And I believe that extra PHP 1K spend is worth it.
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