Browsing this site requires consent to the privacy policy. By continuing to browse, you agree to our privacy policy. If you do not agree, please stop browsing. Privacy policy

All our articles is independent of any advertiser or commercial initiative, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here for more information.

A comparive review of the differences between the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB and Honor Play 3 128GB. We covered a wide range of variables

Created date: 2019-09-05 06:24:46, Updated date: 2020-04-16 20:14:18

Honor Play 3 128GBXiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB
Honor Play 3 128GBXiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

How are the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" different? We have tested and evaluated their differences. We also explain which one may be best for you.

Honor Play 3 128GBXiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB
Honor Play 3 128GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

General rating:

70.1/100

(The 3455th of all smartphones)

79.1/100

(The 3058th of all smartphones)

Grip
53/100
56/100
Screen quality
67/100
80/100
Performance
95/100
99/100
Storage size
90/100
90/100
Battery
100/100
94/100
Rear-camera resolution
100/100
100/100
Front-camera resolution
80/100
100/100

What is the difference between the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"? See a detailed comparison of ease of use and performance

Comparison of weight and size of the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

The design of Honor Play 3 128GB

The "Honor Play 3 128GB" is 159.8mm long, 76.1mm wide, and 8.1mm thick. It weighs 176.0g.

The design of Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is 157.5mm long, 74.7mm wide, and 7.6mm thick. It weighs 173.0g.

Which is the better design to use?

In comparison, the size difference is 2.3mm in length, 1.3mm in width, and 0.5mm in thickness. Both the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" are equally easy to use with one hand. Hiragana flick input is basically just as easy to use with "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB". Both the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" are basically equally portable and easy to handle.

The difference in weight is 3g. There is very little difference in weight between the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB", meaning that the burden on the hands even when used for a long time is pretty much the same.

Honor Play 3 128GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Ease of holding it in one hand62/10066/100
How much it does not feel heavy to hold in one hand35/10037/100
Ease of carrying around59/10060/100

Compare the display of the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

Display of the Honor Play 3 128GB

The "Honor Play 3 128GB" uses a IPS LCD liquid crystal. The resolution is 720 x 1560, and the pixel density is 268ppi. The "Honor Play 3 128GB" has a 6.39inch screen size.

Display of the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" uses a Super AMOLED liquid crystal. The resolution is 1080 x 2340, and the pixel density is 403ppi. The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" has a 6.39inch screen size.

Which has a better screen?

When actually viewing the two phones' onscreen displays, it is obvious that they are roughly the same size. For doing internet research using systems such as SNS, there is not much difference between the two phones. Both the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose. The gaming screens of these two phones are roughly the same size. Both the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

In terms of display, the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is a better choice for those looking to use their phone for browsing the web or for gaming. When using the smartphone as a VR, the screen is generally held much closer to the face than when using the smartphone for other purposes, and so the clarity of the screen becomes a rather important factor. The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" also offers a crisp, cleaner display when using a VR headset than the "Honor Play 3 128GB". The "Honor Play 3 128GB" has the performance needed for this kind of purpose.

Honor Play 3 128GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

How suited is the screen for usual usage?79/10079/100
How suited is the screen to play games on?83/10083/100

Compare the camera performances of the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

Camera performance of Honor Play 3 128GB

The main camera of the "Honor Play 3 128GB" has 48.0MP. The front camera has 8.0MP.

Camera performance of Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

The main camera of the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" has 48.0MP. The front camera has 20.0MP.

Which camera performance is better?

There is very little difference in the performance (or pixel count) of "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" when shooting distant objects or Instagrammable landscapes. Also, when using the rear camera to snap close shots of photogenic sweets or meals, there is very little difference between the pixel counts of the two phones. Both the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

There is a 12MP difference in front camera pixel number. The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"'s front camera also works terrifically well with selfie sticks and for capturing distant objects like the background scenery in your selfies. The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" has the necessary specs for this kind of purpose. The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"'s front camera has a more suitable megapixel count for shooting objects up close for selfies and such.

Honor Play 3 128GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Is is suited to taking far away objects with the rear camera?100/100100/100
Is it suited for taking close objects with the built-in camera?80/100100/100

Comparison of the processing capabilities of the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

The processing capability of the Honor Play 3 128GB

Performance is defined by the chipset, and the "Honor Play 3 128GB" uses the Hisilicon Kirin 710F SoC. The CPU performance is 2.2GHz+1.7GHz×8(8.0-cores). The memory capacity is 6.0GB.

The processing capability of the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Performance is defined by the chipset, and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" uses the Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 SoC. The CPU performance is 2.84GHz+2.42GHz+1.78GHz×8(8.0-cores). The memory capacity is 12.0GB.

Which has the better processing capability?

The CPU specs are the same for both phones. This is a 6GB difference in memory capacity. The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" has more memory storage, making the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" work better for multitasking or running 3D games.

For phone calls, emails, messaging, using SNS or most fundamental features, the differences between the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" are not large at all. For people who mainly use their phones to look things up online, watch videos and play games occasionally I can recommend the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" equally. Both the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

There is basically no difference between "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" when playing 2D games or basic 3D games. For playing more memory-intensive 3D games, it is better to go with "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" as it has better performance. Both the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

Honor Play 3 128GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Review on the CPU capbility and memory capacity when using Social Networks or the Internet98/100100/100
Review on the CPU speed and the memory capacity while playing 3D games94/10099/100

Comparison of the battery life of the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

Battery performance of Honor Play 3 128GB

The "Honor Play 3 128GB" has a battery capacity of 4000.0mAh.

Battery performance of Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" has a battery capacity of 3300.0mAh.

Which battery perfomances is better?

This makes a difference in battery capacity of 700mAh, but it is not enough to only compare the capacity. With a high-performance CPU, the battery drains faster, and a larger screen also uses more battery.

The "Honor Play 3 128GB" is also a great choice for those who only use their phone for occasional phone calls or for checking the time. For average daily use, for example looking things up online, SNS, gaming or occasionally checking your screen I can recommend the "Honor Play 3 128GB" slightly more. Both the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

The battery life of the "Honor Play 3 128GB" is well equipped to handle long hours of gaming, video playback, and other kinds of frequent daily use. Both the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

Honor Play 3 128GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Review on the battery life of a phone mainly using Social Networks and the Internet100/10094/100
Review on the battery life of a phone mainly using mainly games and videos100/10085/100

Compare the storage capacity of the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

The storage capacity of the Honor Play 3 128GB

The "Honor Play 3 128GB" has 128.0GB of internal memory. It is also compatible with SD cards, so when there is insufficient storage space, then a SD card can be used to add more storage. A SD with a maximum of 1024.0GB can be used.

The storage capacity of the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" has 256.0GB of internal memory.

Which has the easier storage to use?

The difference in internal memory is about 128GB. If you are only downloading a few games and apps (such as SNS) to use on your phone, it really doesn't matter if you choose "Honor Play 3 128GB" or "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB". If you are hoping to install many different games on their phone, the amount of storage is the same no matter which of these two devices you choose to buy. Both the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

Because the speed of loading from or saving to the SD card is slow, it is suited for saving pictures or videos.

Honor Play 3 128GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Review on the storage capacity when playing many games90/10090/100
Review on when you store many pictures and videos96/100 -

Which to buy, the "Honor Play 3 128GB" or "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

At the end of the day which is better, the "Honor Play 3 128GB" or "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"?

When it comes to being easy to handle and carry around, there is hardly any difference between "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB". Its perfect screen size of 6.39inch makes the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" a lot easier to use. There isn't much difference between "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" in terms of performance or specifications. Because both have advantages and disadvantages, I think that it is best to stick to the most important points that you want to emphasize.

Honor Play 3 128GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Handling53/10056/100
Display67/10080/100
CPU specs95/10099/100
General rating81/10084/100

Is it recommended to buy the Honor Play 3 128GB, compared with other smartphones?

Compared to other smartphones, the "Honor Play 3 128GB" is averagely easy to hold. Although it can be a little difficult, it is the right size to be able to operate with one hand. The screen size is larger than that of standard smartphones. It is suited for typing long texts and so can be used to read or edit office texts. In addition, its processing capability is quite excellent compared to the average smart phone. It is suitable for almost all uses, including games and VR. It may be a bit extravagant for normal use. Looking at the overall specifications, the "Honor Play 3 128GB" is a high-end smart phone.

Is it recommended to buy the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB, compared with other smartphones?

Compared to other smartphones, the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is averagely easy to hold. Although it can be a little difficult, it is the right size to be able to operate with one hand. The screen size is larger than that of standard smartphones. It is suited for typing long texts and so can be used to read or edit office texts. In addition, its processing capability is quite excellent compared to the average smart phone. It is suitable for almost all uses, including games and VR. It may be a bit extravagant for normal use. Looking at the overall specifications, the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is a high-end smart phone.

What are the spec differences between the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" ?

A summary of the technical specifications of the "Honor Play 3 128GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB". Functions and performance variations on the same model will be highlighted in red.

Honor Play 3 128GBXiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB
Honor Play 3 128GBXiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB
ColorMagic Night Black/Aurora Blue/Charm RedTransparent Black
OSAndroidAndroid
Dimensions (width x height x thickness)76.1mm x 159.8mm x 8.1mm74.7mm x 157.5mm x 7.6mm
Weight176.0g173.0g
Display size6.39inch6.39inch
Display typeIPS LCDSuper AMOLED
Screen resolution (width x height)720 x 15601080 x 2340
Pixel density268ppi403ppi
Battery capacity4000.0mAh3300.0mAh
ChipsetHisilicon Kirin 710FQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855
CPU specs2.2GHz+1.7GHz×8(8.0-cores)2.84GHz+2.42GHz+1.78GHz×8(8.0-cores)
RAM size6.0GB12.0GB
Storage size128.0GB256.0GB
Rear-camera resolution48.0MP48.0MP
Front-camera resolution8.0MP20.0MP

Look at a smartphone

Compare smartphones

Look at a smartphone

Compare smartphones

Check price

New articles