realme 12 5G vs HONOR X9b 5G

The realme 12 series is finally complete with the realme 12 5G, and this also marks the first time in the Philippines since the realme 8 series that the base model is also 5G-ready. There are a few affordable 5G phones in the Philippines in 2024, and one of the main competitors of the realme 12 5G is the HONOR X9b 5G, which is a few thousand Pesos more expensive.

For this comparo, we look at the realme 12 5G and HONOR X9b 5G specs and see which phone offers better value for money.

Design

While the X9b 5G looks more premium, especially with its vegan leather option, the realme 12 5G looks just as good with the subtle design on the back panel and especially with the Twilight Purple Colorway. While the realme 12 5G settles for a side-mounted fingerprint scanner (the X9b has an in-display one), it makes up for it by having stereo speakers and a headphone jack–yes, some people still look for a headphone jack in 2024. The realme 12 5G also gets a MicroSD card slot, giving you storage expansion in case you need it.

Both phones boast an IP rating, though the realme 12 5G is slightly better with its IP54 rating. This means that the realme 12 5G has slightly better water ingress protection than the X9b 5G’s IP53 rating.

Display and speakers

While the X9b 5G may stand out better with its 120hz curved AMOLED display with a 1.5k display resolution, more consumers would prefer the regular flat display, which the realme 12 5G has. Its 120hz LTPS panel is just as good as other AMOLED panels within its price range. Like the X9b 5G, the realme 12 5G’s display is bright enough for outdoor use.

The realme 12 5G does have an advantage when it comes to audio: aside from retaining the headphone jack, you get stereo speakers that sound great, especially when you are watching your favorite videos or listening to your favorite tunes.

Cameras

Both phones come with a 108-megapixel ISOCELL HM6 main camera that can do 3x in-sensor digital zoom. We’re familiar with the performance of this sensor, and they’re a good choice for budget to mid-range phones. While the X9b 5G has an added 5-megapixel ultra-wide camera and support for 4K video recording, the lack of OIS and EIS being limited to Full HD makes the X9b limited when it comes to video recording.

Internals and battery

Both phones are 5G ready with their entry-level processors: Dimensity 6100+ for the realme 12 5G, and Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 for the HONOR X9b 5G. Both come with 256GB UFS 2.2 internal storage, while the X9b has more RAM at 12GB–the realme 12 5G comes with 8GB RAM.

When it comes to performance, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 has higher benchmark scores–BUT the Dimensity 6100+ is not far behind. Both the realme 12 5G and HONOR X9b 5G can handle demanding games well, though you can bump the graphics in Genshin Impact to high with the latter.

While the X9b has a bigger 5800mAh battery, the realme 12 5G offers faster wired charging speeds at 45w. Despite having a bigger battery, the realme 12 5G does have better battery life thanks to how realme UI manages apps.

Software

The realme 12 5G also has the advantage when it comes to software: aside from having Android 14 out of the box, realme is committed to 2 major Android updates and 3 years of security updates, ensuring better longevity, especially if you plan to keep your phone for a longer period.

Price

The realme 12 5G is priced at Php 14,999, while the HONOR X9b is priced at Php 16,999. With a Php 2k price difference, the realme 12 5G is a good offering, especially if you consider things like better software upgrade commitment, stereo speakers, and a slim body.