Choosing between the Honor 90 and the Xiaomi 13T has become one of the most challenging dilemmas for mid- and upper-end buyers this year.Both devices offer flagship experiences but do so in very different ways, betting on diametrically opposed design and functionality priorities.The Honor 90 emphasizes elegance, slim body and incredible resolution of the main camera, while Xiaomi offers classic power, Leica optics and waterproof.
If you're looking at this, it's important to understand that these phones are designed for different types of users, one that will appeal to selfies and thin gadgets, and the other to avid gamers and art-oriented mobile photography enthusiasts. In this article, we'll take a look at each aspect in detail so you can make an informed decision.
The key difference lies in the brand philosophy: Honor strives for aesthetics and eye safety by introducing advanced PWM-adjustment technologies, while Xiaomi continues to chase processor performance and color quality in conjunction with the legendary optics manufacturer. The main camera Honor 90 has a resolution of 200 MP, which is a record for this price segment, but the Xiaomi 13T has a full-fledged telephoto lens.
Design and Ergonomics: Subtlety vs. Practicality
The look of smartphones is the first thing that a user notices. Honor 90 stands out for its curved screen and incredibly thin profile of just 7.8 mm. The device looks premium, and the back panel with a iridescent pattern attracts glances. However, curved edges can cause random pressing, although software protection from them works quite effectively here.
In contrast, the Xiaomi 13T offers a more traditional flat screen and rectangular faces, making the grip more confident. Having a full IP68 moisture protection standard makes it much more practical in everyday life, allowing you to not be afraid of rain or accidental fall into the water. Honor 90 is devoid of official water protection, which is a serious disadvantage for a device of this level.
⚠️ Note: Due to the lack of moisture protection on the Honor 90, avoid using the phone during rain or in high humidity conditions, as getting moisture inside the case will lead to a denial of warranty service.
The weight of the devices also varies significantly, with the Honor felt like a feather in the hand, as those who spend a lot of time on social media will appreciate. Xiaomi is noticeably heavier due to its more massive cooling system and metal frame, but it is a price for better autonomy and protection.
- 📱 Honor 90: curved screen, thickness of 7.8 mm, weight 183 g.
- 🛡️ Xiaomi 13T: flat-screen, IP68, weight.
- 🎨 Materials: Plastic in Honor versus Glass and Metal in Xiaomi.
- 🖐️ Tactile sensations: glossy plastic against matte eco-skin or glass.
Display: refresh rate vs. vision security
The screens in these smartphones are a separate story of technology rivalry. Xiaomi 13T features a 144Hz refresh rate panel, making the interface incredibly smooth, especially in games. Support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+ provides a stunning picture when viewing content on streaming services.
On the other hand, the Honor 90 uses 3840Hz PWM brightness control technology. For people with sensitive eyes, this is a critical parameter, since it minimizes screen flickering at low brightness, reducing reading fatigue at night. Both devices have high resolution, but the color calibration of Xiaomi is more aggressive and bright.
Brightness is both good enough for sunshine, but Xiaomi benefits from peaks. If you use your phone outdoors a lot, that can be a deciding factor, while Honor offers a warmer, more natural color rendering out of the box that you don't want to adjust.
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To reduce eye strain at night on the Honor 90, activate the Dim Light mode in the screen settings, which works even below the minimum program brightness.
Performance: Snapdragon vs Dimensity
Inside the Honor 90, there's a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor. It's a good mid-range chip that does a great job of everyday tasks, but may not pull heavy games at maximum graphics settings. It's energy efficient, but it's not a flagship in power.
Xiaomi 13T It is based on MediaTek Dimensity. 8200-Ultra, which is much more powerful in synthetic tests and better copes with emulation and heavy 3D-The performance difference is noticeable when you start apps and switch between them. If you care about the power reserve for a few years ahead, Xiaomi is the preferred choice.
| Characteristics | Honor 90 | Xiaomi 13T |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 | Dimensity 8200-Ultra |
| AnTuTu (scores) | ~550 000 | ~850 000 |
| Cooling | Basic | Improved (IceLoop) |
| Games | Average settings | High/Max settings |
It's worth noting that the cooling system. Xiaomi uses advanced IceLoop technology, which allows the phone to keep a high frame rate longer without trottling. The Honor 90 can heat up and reset the screen brightness during prolonged loads, which is typical behavior for thin cases.
Cameras: Megapixels vs Leica optics
The most interesting section of comparison. Honor 90 is equipped with a main module at 200 MP. During the day it takes detailed pictures with excellent sharpness, but processing algorithms sometimes overdo it with sharpening. Selfie camera 50 MP is one of the best on the market, supporting autofocus and video recording in 4K.
Xiaomi 13T offers a triple camera with Leica optics. There's no race for megapixels (the 50MP core module), but there's a great telephoto lens with a 2x zoom that Honor doesn't. Leica's color rendering gives photos an artistic look, making them more "expensive" in appearance without too much processing.
⚠️ Note: When shooting in format 200 MP on Honor 90 The size of a single file can reach 40-50 MB, which will quickly fill the memory of the phone. Use this mode only when you need to print large formats.
Video footage on both smartphones is good, but Xiaomi benefits from having optical stabilization on all three modules and better performance of noise-cancelling microphones.The Honor 90 has no optical zoom, relying only on digital splashing from the main matrix, which reduces quality when approached.
Secrets of portrait photography
Autonomy and charging speed
The battery in the Honor 90 has a capacity of 5000 mAh, which is a great indicator. When combined with a less powerful processor, the phone easily lives a day and a half to two of moderate use. Charging with a capacity of 66 watts allows you to replenish the power supply in about an hour.
Xiaomi 13T received a battery of 5000 mAh and support for fast charging 67 watts. Despite similar figures, the power consumption of a more powerful processor and a 144 Hz screen leads to the fact that Xiaomi discharges a little faster when used actively.
- 🔋 Honor 90: before 20 hours of video, charging 0-100% post 55 mine.
- ⚡ Xiaomi 13T: before 16 hours of video, charging 0-100% post 45 mine.
- 🌙 Standby: Honor better keeps charge on standby.
- 🔌 Set: there is a case in the Honor box, Xiaomi often does not have it.
Both smartphones support fast charging only over the wire, wireless charging in both cases is absent.This is a compromise that manufacturers have made to keep the device affordable. For many users, having a charger bundled with both brands is a nice bonus.
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The Xiaomi 13T charges faster by about 10-15 minutes, but the Honor 90 can last longer without recharging due to processor optimization.
Software and updates
The Honor 90 runs on the MagicOS shell, which is visually and functionally very similar to iOS. There's no notification curtain like the classic Android, which can be addictive. Security updates come regularly, but promises on Honor's Android versions are usually more modest.
Xiaomi 13T runs on HyperOS (or MIUI depending on the region and release date).It's a more flexible system with a huge number of settings. Xiaomi is traditionally more generous on updates: the device can count on 4 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches, making it a longer-term investment.
☑️ What to look for when choosing an OS
Honor has virtually no advertising, which is a big plus: In the interface Xiaomi advertising recommendations in system applications can still be found, although they can be disabled manually, the stability of both competitors is high, rare bugs are fixed quickly.
Final verdict: what to choose?
To sum up, the Honor 90 is a choice for those who value design, light weight and eye safety, a great light flagship for social media, communication and content consumption, and for those who often take selfies and do not want to carry a heavy phone.
Xiaomi 13T is a more versatile and powerful tool, and it's better suited for gamers, photographers who need a telephoto lens, and those who want water protection and longer-term support with upgrades. Despite the slightly simpler design, the stuffing here fits in with the class above.
If you have a budget but want maximum performance, go to Xiaomi. If you want comfort in your hand and good looks, you have to choose Honor. Both are leaders in their price range, and it's hard to make the wrong choice.