Which phone is better – HONOR 10 or IPHONE 7

For a while now, Chinese smartphones have been engaged in intense competition with American brands. Leading the pack in 2026 is the Huawei Honor 10, which bears a resemblance to Apple’s iPhone 7 in terms of both technical specifications and consumer appeal. In order to gauge just how much progress these eastern manufacturers have made in catching up to or surpassing the established leaders of the high-end digital technology market, it is necessary to compare all of the key characteristics and features.

Dimensions and design

In terms of external appearance, the Honor 10 is larger, bulkier, and heavier. Its dimensions measure 71.2×149.6 mm with a thickness of 7.7 mm. On the other hand, the iPhone is smaller with dimensions of 67.1×138.3 mm and a thinner profile of only 7.1 mm. Consequently, the Honor 10 also weighs slightly more at 153 g compared to the iPhone’s 138 g. While these differences may seem insignificant, they can play a decisive factor for some individuals during the selection process. After all, the more comfortable it is to hold or carry the device in your hand or pocket (or small bag), the higher the level of comfort you will experience during its use.

Honor 10

Design

Speaking of design, both iPhone 7 and Honor 10 smartphones feature a combination of metal and glass in their body construction. However, there are notable differences in color options. The iPhone 7 offers a wide range of colors to choose from, including black, gray, silver, gold, and pink. In contrast, the Honor 10 is available in darker tones such as black, gray, green, and blue, which captivate the viewer with their shimmering appearance. This captivating effect is achieved through the use of multi-layered glass.

iPhone 7

Ergonomics

In terms of ergonomics and functionality, it’s worth mentioning the changes made in the Honor 10. The speaker and connectors have been relocated to the bottom, while the button beneath the display is touch-sensitive and serves as a home button and fingerprint scanner, similar to the iPhone 7.

As a side note, the Honor 10 utilizes ultrasonic scanning, which is considered more effective, especially if your finger is wet.

At the top of the display, the Honor 10 features a monobrow that houses the camera, speaker, and touch sensors. The display itself has an aspect ratio of 19:9, occupying approximately 80% of the front panel.

Honor 10 monobrow

Speaking about the external benefits of the iPhone, it is important to mention the oleophobic coating of the display and the enhanced protection against dust and water (IP67). It is also worth noting the absence of a headphone jack. It is recommended to connect headphones either to the power adapter (using the Lighting adapter) or use wireless models. Additionally, there is no memory card slot. While this may cause some inconvenience, it also reduces the number of openings on the device and enhances the protection of the internal components against environmental factors. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether they prioritize features or prioritize reliability and durability.

iPhone 7 is designed to resist dust and moisture with its IP67 protection rating

Processor

One more crucial aspect of the device is its performance, which is determined by the "hardware" features. Honor is equipped with an 8-core HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor, which includes a neural module and operates at a frequency of 4×2.6 GHz, as well as 4×1.8 GHz.

Important! In terms of technical specifications, it is worth noting that the iPhone lags significantly behind its competitor. Its 4-core variant, the Apple A10 Fusion, operates at a frequency of 2.34 GHz, which is lower than that of Honor. Additionally, the iPhone has half the RAM compared to Honor. However, it is worth mentioning that the iPhone comes with built-in LTE and the capability for executing extraordinary commands, which are features that Honor lacks.

When it comes to the integrated features of the processor, they remain consistent across both phones, including:

• Integrated graphics
• AES (encryption acceleration)
• Dynamic frequency scaling for power saving and noise reduction
• BIG.LITTLE technology for switching between processors as needed
• NX BIT for protection against virus attacks
• Hardware virtualization for improved picture quality
• TRUSTZONE, a digital rights management technology for payments, and more

Even though the hardware of the iPhone is inferior, the performance, speed, and productivity are still at a high level due to the iOS 12 operating system, which is optimized for Apple devices. On the other hand, the Honor 10 uses the universal Android (8.1) system, which is used by various smartphone manufacturers. This gives the Honor 10 more flexibility in terms of customization. For instance, experienced users can modify the OS to their liking by removing unnecessary features and adding necessary ones, thanks to the free and open source code of Android 8.1.

Aside from the operating system, the performance of the device is also influenced by the runtime, which in turn relies on the battery. The size of Apple’s product’s battery is significantly smaller compared to its Chinese counterpart. The battery capacity for the former is 1960 mAh, while the latter boasts 3400 mAh and also supports fast charging (50% charge in just 25 minutes). However, due to the Honor phone’s larger screen and consequent higher power consumption, the disparity in the duration of the phones’ usage isn’t enormously significant.

Screen

When it comes to the technical specifications of the display, the Honor 10 model outperforms its counterparts. With a larger size of 5.84", a higher resolution of 2280 by 1080 pixels, and a greater dot density of 432 dpi, the Honor 10 has a clear advantage over the iPhone. Comparatively, the iPhone falls short with its smaller 4.7-inch size, lower picture resolution of 1334 by 750 pixels, and lower density of 326 dpi.

Thanks to the utilization of IPS technology in both versions, they are able to offer excellent viewing angles and impressive color rendering. Additionally, they provide users with extensive options to adjust brightness, color temperature, and resolution, further enhancing the visual experience.

Furthermore, it should be noted that Apple’s product comes equipped with Force Touch, a feature that enables users to activate desired functions by applying added pressure. This innovative capability greatly enhances the usability of the device and simplifies the overall user experience.

According to surveys, some users find the color reproduction on the Honor screen to be excessively bright and saturated, to the point of appearing unnatural. In contrast, the iPhone displays colors that are more natural and soft.

Camera

In today’s digital age, the focus of consumers has shifted towards the capabilities and features of smartphone cameras. What was once a simple device used for communication has now transformed into a gateway to the outside world, thanks to the internet. When comparing the Honor 10 and iPhone 7 based on this criterion, it is necessary to conduct a thorough analysis of their technical specifications and software functionalities.

Regarding camera specifications, the iPhone 7 boasts a primary 12MP camera and a front-facing 7MP camera, both with an aperture of 1.8. On the other hand, the Honor 10 is equipped with a dual camera system consisting of a 24MP lens and a 16MP lens, with an additional 24MP shooter dedicated to capturing stunning selfies. However, the key factor lies in how these specifications actually impact the quality of the captured images.

1. Honore’s photos are of good quality, thanks to its AI technology and dual camera setup. It excels at capturing blurry shots and achieving a bokeh effect. The device also effectively processes faces for skin imperfections and corrects lighting.
2. Despite having fewer pixels than the iPhone, Honore’s optical stabilization and photo optics result in vibrant, bright, and detailed photos. The backside illumination sensor improves sharpness and reduces noise, especially in low light conditions.

When comparing the photos taken on the iPhone and Honor during the day, owners claim that the frames are almost identical. It is rare for anyone to notice any difference in the lighting, although the iPhone does have lighter tones. However, in low light conditions during the nighttime, the shots taken with the iPhone undeniably outshine the ones taken with the Honor. Furthermore, video recording with this gadget is also flawless.

Tip! The iPhone camera is more suitable for individuals who prefer not to delve into the settings. You can simply point the smartphone at your subject and press the button, and the device’s various technologies will take care of the rest. In contrast, with the Honor, there may be cases where you have to manually adjust the settings in order to achieve optimal quality.

Additional features

Honor offers a range of additional features, including:

• a multi-user system;
• voice recognition for offline commands;
• JAVA application support;
• the ability to install programs on external drives;
• USB TYPE-C with double-sided orientation;
• a word transfer function when zooming in the browser, and more.

By the way, iPhone offers a wider range of emojis, characters, and other symbols to accurately reflect the user’s state of mind. However, not everyone likes to use emojis all the time.

Autonomy

According to the specifications, the battery life of the iPhone 7 is claimed to be up to 13 hours when playing videos, up to 14 hours in talk mode, and up to 10 days in standby mode. However, in reality, these figures are significantly lower. With heavy usage, the iPhone’s battery can last for about a day, and with light usage, it can stretch to 1.5-2 days. On the other hand, the Honor smartphone’s battery life is affected by its large screen, which consumes a considerable amount of energy. Even with a larger battery capacity, this does not extend its autonomy significantly. The reading mode can last for about 15 hours, video playback for 10 hours, and 3D gaming for 5 hours. The Honor smartphone can easily go a day or a day and a half without needing a recharge, and with infrequent use, it can last 2-2.5 days on a single charge.

Memory

Honor 10 stands out in terms of RAM capacity, offering 4/6 GB options, along with 64/128 GB of internal storage for users to choose from. Additionally, if you only need to use one SIM card, the second slot can be utilized for a memory card. On the other hand, the iPhone does not have this feature, as it is limited to 2 GB of RAM and offers storage options of 32/128/256 GB. However, despite its smaller capacity, the Apple phone’s system performance remains on par with its more powerful competitors due to the utilization of a new chip and improved hardware platform.

Multimedia

When it comes to playing multimedia files, all phones perform equally well. However, there are a few technical differences to note: the iPhone doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack, but it does come with an adapter. It also has built-in stereo speakers, which the Chinese model lacks. Furthermore, the American version is equipped with 3 microphones, while the Honor competitor only has 2.

Cost

Currently, you have the option to purchase the Honor-10 and iPhone 7 smartphones at the following prices:

1. On Huawei’s official website, the Honor model is available for 24,990 rubles (64 GB) and 27,990 rubles (128 GB), which is consistent with the prices at authorized dealers.
2. On the Apple website, the 7 version is priced at 39,651 rubles (32 GB) and 48,803 rubles (128 GB), although it is possible to find it at official distributors for 34,500 rubles.

As evident from the information, the Honor phone is considerably more affordable, costing 10,000 rubles less. Furthermore, it features a larger storage capacity, a more powerful processor, superior cameras, and an enhanced screen. However, it is important to note that Apple products tend to maintain their value for longer periods of time, in comparison to other brands.

Tip! If the buyer intends to resell their device after a year, it would be wiser to choose the iPhone 7, as its value will likely remain relatively stable. On the other hand, the Honor 10 is expected to depreciate by half over the same time frame.

iPhone 7 available on Yandex Market

Honor 10 in stock on Yandex Market

Comparative table of technical parameters

For easy comparison, all additional parameters are consolidated into a single table.

Technical parameters	Honor 10	iPhone 7
Number and type of SIM cards	Two Nano-SIM cards	One Nano-SIM card
Data transmission format	GSM/HSPA/LTE	2G, 3G, 4G (LTE)
WiFi	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac	802.11a/b/g/g/n/ac
Bluetooth	4.2	4.2
FM radio	Not available	Not available
Operating System	Android 8.1 (Oreo)	iOS 12
Sensors	The gadget comes with the following sensors:

– proximity and light;

– fingerprint reader.

This device comes with the following sensors:

– Touch ID fingerprint sensor;

4G LTE FDD: Band 1/3/5/7/8/19/20;

4G TD-LTE: Band 38/40/41

Conclusion

After examining the technical specifications and user features thoroughly, it is impossible to come to a definitive conclusion in favor of either model. Honor 10 outperforms its rival in terms of hardware, cameras, screen size, memory, and other aspects. Nevertheless, iPhone triumphs due to its meticulous attention to detail and utilization of cutting-edge proprietary technologies designed specifically for it. Hence, the decision ultimately comes down to personal preferences.

Advice! For those seeking a powerful and versatile device with an array of customizable options and functions, the Honor 10 is a great choice. On the other hand, individuals who prioritize ease of use and simplicity and prefer not to tinker with settings should consider the iPhone 7. Additionally, this phone has the potential to elevate its owner’s status and offer a good return on investment in the future (when reselling).