Smartphone manufacturers are releasing so many mid-rangers that it became incredibly hard for the final consumers to make the right choice at the best price. That is why we always make specs comparison between the most interesting devices for both the best flagships and value for money phone. Today’s comparison regards the second category of devices and it contains three amazing affordable phones launched in the recent period. The first is Xiaomi Mi CC9e, the most affordable handset from the new Xiaomi line-up. The second is the higher-end model of the entry-level M series by Samsung: the Galaxy M40. The last is Huawei Nova 5i, also known in the global market as the Huawei P20 Lite (2019).

 

Xiaomi Mi CC9e vs Samsung Galaxy M40 vs Huawei Nova 5i

Xiaomi Mi CC9e Samsung Galaxy M40 Huawei Nova 5i
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 153.5 x 71.9 x 8.5 mm, 173.8 grams 155.3 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm, 168 grams 159.1 x 75.9 x 8.3 mm, 178 grams
DISPLAY 6.01 inches, 720 x 1560p (HD+), 286 ppi, Super AMOLED 6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 409 ppi, PLS TFT 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2310p (Full HD+), 398 ppi, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, octa-core 2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 675, octa-core 2 GHz Huawei Hisilicon Kirin 710F, octa-core 2.2 GHz
MEMORY 4 GB RAM, 64 GB   – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot 4 GB RAM, 64 GB  – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot  6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot
SOFTWARE Android 9 Pie, MIUI Android 9 Pie, One UI Android 9 Pie, EMUI
CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA Triple 24 + 8 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4
32 MP f/2.0 front camera		 Triple 32 + 8 + 5 MP f/1.7, f/2.2 and f/2.2
16 MP f/2.0 front camera		 Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.4 and f/2.4
24 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY 4030 mAh, fast charging 10W 3500 mAh, fast charging 15W 4000 mAh, fast charging 10W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Hybrid Dual SIM slot Hybrid Dual SIM slot  Hybrid Dual SIM slot

Design

If you bring a unit of these devices to home, you will get a very well-designed handset. Both Samsung Galaxy M40 and Huawei Nova 5i have punch-hole displays, so their bezels are very narrow and there is no need for a notch. Despite Xiaomi Mi CC9e has a more outdated waterdrop display, I prefer this device instead of its punch-hole rivals because of its better rear side and build quality. It has a stunning glass back which creates suggestive light effects depending on the reflection, and it even comes with a solid aluminum frame. Both Samsung Galaxy M40 and Huawei Nova 5i come with plastic in their design, so worse aesthetics and a cheaper build. Xiaomi Mi CC9e also has the most compact body.

 

Display

Unlike most of the other devices by Samsung, the Galaxy M40 is not equipped with a stunning display. Xiaomi Mi CC9e is disappointing as well because despite it comes with an AMOLED panel, it has a lower 720p resolution than its opponents. And it even comes with a smaller display. Huawei Nova 5i is my favorite one as it sports a better IPS display with high DCI-P3 coverage and a Full HD+ resolution (1080p). So it is better at detail if compared to the Mi CC9e and better at color reproduction than the Galaxy M40.

 

Specs & Software

While Samsung Galaxy M40 loses both the design and display comparisons, it is definitely the device with the most powerful chipset, so it is potentially faster and more reactive. On the other hand, Huawei Nova 5i has more RAM (up to 8 GB) in its most expensive configuration, but I personally prefer a better SoC for higher overall performances instead of a better multi-tasking experience. Even the Xiaomi Mi CC9e has a better chipset than the Huawei Nova 5i, but it is a slightly less powerful processor than the Snapdragon 675 found on the Galaxy M40, with a worse GPU too. In each case, you get a highly-customized Android fork based on Android 9 Pie out of the box.

 

Camera

The camera department is definitely the main focus of the Xiaomi Mi CC9e and it is not a case if it wins most of the camera comparisons on its price range, including this one. It rocks a main 48 MP sensor, an ultrawide lens, a 2 MP depth sensor and even an amazing 32 MP front camera with awesome AI algorithms for selfie enhancing. Huawei Nova 5i comes right after with a quad camera including a dedicated macro camera.

 

Battery

Due to its higher battery capacity, its efficient HD+ display and its smaller size, Xiaomi Mi CC9e is also the winner of the battery comparison. Huawei Nova 5i takes the second spot in the ranking.

 

Price

Xiaomi Mi CC9e starts from €170/$190, Samsung Galaxy M40 has a €200/$225 starting price and Huawei Nova 5i starts from €260/$295. If we consider the overall specifications, Huawei Nova 5i looks more promising for most of the potential customers due to its better display, big battery, and good cameras. But Xiaomi Mi CC9e has an even better camera, a better builds quality, a more compact size (as well as a smaller display) and even longer battery life, so it may look like the best budget phone for particular niches (especially compact phones lovers and camera phones lovers). Which one would you pick?

 

Xiaomi Mi CC9e vs Samsung Galaxy M40 vs Huawei Nova 5i: PROs and CONS

Xiaomi Mi CC9e

PROs

  • Amazing cameras
  • Affordable price
  • 1080p 120 fps video recording
  • Bigger battery
  • AMOLED display
  • UD fingerprint scanner

CONS

  • Smaller display

 

Samsung Galaxy M40

PROs

  • Better chipset
  • Punch-hole design
  • Thinner body

CONS

  • Smaller battery

 

Huawei Nova 5i

PROs

  • Big battery
  • Punch-hole design
  • Dedicated macro camera
  • 8 GB RAM

CONS

  • Higher price

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