The Honor 8X was undoubtedly one of the best mid-range terminals of 2018 and even the beginning of 2019. But where is it now? Is it still worth your purchase if we compare it with the new Honor 9X? We wanted to solve these and other questions by asking one of our classic comparisons between both devices.
It is possible that the naked eye does not perceive much difference between the Honor 9X and the Honor 8X, but there are logical technical elements of a new generation. However, let’s see if one terminal and another is worthwhile, taking into account key technical aspects and of course the price.
Similar Screens
The first thing that catches our attention is that both devices maintain a panel of very similar characteristics. The Honor 9X reaches 6.59 inches, while the Honor 8X stays at 6.5 inches . The two have the same IPS LCD technology with FullHD + resolution, but we see that the density of pixels per inch is slightly higher in the Honor 8X.
- Honor 9X
- Honor 8X
Weight and measurements
Another aspect that catches our attention is that the Honor 8X maintains a more stylized look than its new brother. Last year’s model weighs 175 grams and is only 7.8 millimeters thick, while the Honor 9X reaches 196 grams and 8.8 millimeters thick.
But one of the big differences is found in the design of the screen. The Honor 9X has set out to offer a full-screen experience, regardless of the “notch” in the shape of an eyebrow that the Honor 8X sports. This means that the design of their front cameras is totally different, as we will see later.
Processor and memory
When we lift the hood we also see a small evolution in the processor section. The Honor 9X integrates the Kirin 710F , an evolution of the Kirin 710 of the Honor 8X that operates at a slightly higher clock speed and that integrates a more powerful GPU for the graphics section. In addition, the 9X has a liquid cooling system that aims to keep the terminal at a stable temperature even after marathon game days.
Interestingly, both devices are sold in Spain with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory expandable by microSD cards. However, the Honor 8X has a second version with 64 GB of storage.
Rear cameras and selfie
In the section of the cameras we see another important difference. The Honor 9X evolves into a triple rear camera with a main sensor of 48 megapixels , a wide angle of 8 megapixels and a depth sensor of 2 megapixels. It also has a 16 megapixel pop-up front camera. The Honor 8X has a main rear sensor of 20 megapixels and a second depth sensor of 2 megapixels. Its front camera, housed in a notch, reaches 16 megapixels.
Connections and battery
The two terminals have the main connections, but we see that the Honor 9X sports a USB Type-C, compared to the microUSB of the Honor 8X. The two have a fingerprint sensor in the back, since the Honor 9X has not made the leap to integrate it on the screen, something that is still reserved for higher cost terminals. There is not much difference between the 4,000 mAh battery of the Honor 9X and the 3,750 mAh of the Honor 8X, in addition both terminals have a 10W charge so there is no competition in this regard.
Android Versions
At the moment the two terminals are moving with EMUI 9.1 based on Android 9 Pie. However, the Honor 9X is native to Android 9, so you should receive at least two more operating system updates. The Honor 8X for its part, has been updated from Android Oreo and the arrival of Android 10 should be its latest update.
Price and conclusion
The logical thing would have been to find the Honor 8X cheaper than its successor but it is not so. We can now buy an Honor 9X for about 199 euros, while the Honor 8X is still around 230 euros. This means that all doubts in the purchase decision are cleared at a stroke and the Honor 9X is the champion of the comparison, for technical advances and of course for its lower price.
| – | HONOR 9X | HONOR 8X |
|---|---|---|
| screen | 6.59 inches IPS LCD FullHD + (2340 x 1080 px) / 391 dpi | 6.5 inches IPS LCD FullHD + (2340 x 1080 px) / 397 dpi |
| Size and weight | 163.5 mm x 77.3 mm x 8.8 / 196 grams | 160.4 x 76.6 x 7.8 mm / 175 grams |
| Processor | Kirin 710F at 2.27 GHz with GPU ARM Mali G52 MP6 / Liquid Cooling | Kirin 710 at 2.2 GHz with Mali-G51 MP4 GPU |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 128 + microSD up to 512 GB | 64/128 GB + microSD |
| Camera | Rear: Triple 48 MP f / 1.8 + 8 MP f / 2.4 (ultra wide angle 120º) + 2 MP (depth sensor) with f / 2.4 16 MP front (popup) f / 2.2 |
Rear: Dual 20 Mpx + 2 Mpx / Aperture f / 1.8 with LED flash Front: 16 Mpx with f / 2.0 aperture |
| Connectivity | 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.2 LE, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type C, 3.5 mm headphone jack + fingerprint reader | 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 abgn, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS, MicroUSB 2.0 + 3.5mm headphone jack + fingerprint reader |
| YOU | Android 9 Pie with EMUI 9.1 | Android 9 Pie with EMUI 9.1 |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh | 3,750 mAh |
| Price | From 199 euros | From 230 euros |
