Apple iPhone XS vs Honor X9b
The Verdict
iPhone XS and Honor X9b represent vastly different market positions. Apple's flagship offers the premium A12 Bionic processor, compact 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display with 725 nits brightness, and dual 12MP cameras with 2x optical zoom producing exceptional photos. However, its 2658 mAh battery, lack of 5G, and mandatory $19 charging adapter feel dated. Honor X9b counters with 5G connectivity, expansive 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen hitting 2000 nits, larger 5800 mAh battery supporting 35W fast charging, and more megapixels (108MP main). Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 lags significantly behind the A12 Bionic, and the plastic construction feels cheaper than stainless steel. At nearly four times less ($279 vs $999), Honor X9b delivers superior battery life, brighter display, and modern features. iPhone XS suits users prioritizing ecosystem integration and computational photography; Honor X9b appeals to budget-conscious buyers wanting screen size and battery endurance.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone XS if…
- →First 7nm A12 Bionic chip in a smartphone
- →eSIM support for dual SIM capability
- →Excellent Super Retina OLED display
Buy the Honor X9b if…
- →Massive 5800 mAh battery provides outstanding multi-day endurance
- →2000-nit AMOLED display brightness is excellent for outdoor use
- →108 MP main sensor captures detailed photos in good lighting
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone XS
Pros
- First 7nm A12 Bionic chip in a smartphone
- eSIM support for dual SIM capability
- Excellent Super Retina OLED display
- Improved Face ID speed over iPhone X
- Premium stainless steel build
Cons
- Small battery at 2658 mAh
- No ultrawide camera
- 5W charger in the box
- Minimal upgrade over iPhone X
- No Night mode for camera
Honor X9b
Pros
- Massive 5800 mAh battery provides outstanding multi-day endurance
- 2000-nit AMOLED display brightness is excellent for outdoor use
- 108 MP main sensor captures detailed photos in good lighting
- Enhanced drop resistance with 2-layer glass structure
- 5G connectivity at an affordable price point
Cons
- 35W charging is slow for the large 5800 mAh battery
- 5 MP ultrawide and 2 MP macro cameras are filler
- IP53 splash resistance is basic protection
- No wireless charging
- MagicOS has some bloatware and ads
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone XS | Honor X9b |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 12 | Android 13 (MagicOS 7.2) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 177 g | 185 g |
| Material | Stainless steel frame, glass back | Plastic frame, glass front (2-ply drop resistant), plastic back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP53 |
| Dimensions | 143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm | 161.5 x 74.9 x 7.98 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 108 MP, f/1.75, PDAF |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 16 MP, f/2.5 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@30fps |
| Telephoto | 12 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom | — |
| Macro | — | 2 MP, f/2.4 |
| Ultrawide | — | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2658 mAh | 5800 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 35W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 5.8 inches | 6.78 inches |
| Type | Super Retina OLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2436 x 1125 | 2436 x 1116 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 725 | 2000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 710 |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in phones, see all Apple products or all Honor products. View full details for the Apple iPhone XS or the Honor X9b.

