The Honor 90 5G smartphone marks the comeback of brand Honor in India after a gap of nearly three years. The handset is a mid-range offering, priced in India starting at Rs 37,999. One of the phones it competes against is the OnePlus Nord 3 5G (review), known for its well-rounded performance across various aspects, including cameras. Can the new Honor 90 5G surpass the OnePlus Nord 3 5G in terms of camera performance? Let’s delve into this comparison to find out. Read on.
Table of Contents
Honor 90 5G vs OnePlus Nord 3 5G camera specifications
| Honor 90 5G | OnePlus Nord 3 5G |
| 200MP primary camera | 50MP primary camera with OIS |
| 12MP Ultra wide and macro camera | 8MP ultra-wide camera, 112-degree FoV |
| 2MP depth camera | 2MP macro camera |
| 50MP front camera | 16MP front camera |
Daylight HDR
Daylight shots taken with both the Honor 90 and OnePlus Nord 3 smartphones exhibit a high level of detail. These devices utilise pixel binning technology to reduce the respective 200MP and 50MP resolution images to a more manageable 12.5MP by default.
However, it’s worth noting that the OnePlus Nord 3 5G tends to produce slightly oversaturated colours. In contrast, the Honor 90 5G maintains more accurate colour saturation and a broader dynamic range. Additionally, the Honor smartphone preserves details in shadowy areas quite well.
Winner: Honor 90 5G
Ultra-wide
When it comes to the ultra-wide shots, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G seems to be doing a better job than its counterpart even though it slightly boosts colours. Both OnePlus and Honor 90 smartphones offer a 112-degree field of view (FoV) with their respective 8MP and 12MP ultra-wide cameras. While some natural distortion is noticeable around the frame’s edges, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G manages to capture images that are more visually appealing and intricate. As evidenced by the images, the text on the signboard in the OnePlus image is notably more legible compared to that in the Honor 90’s image.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 3 5G
Portrait
The Honor 90 incorporates a 2MP depth sensor, complementing its 200MP primary camera to capture beautiful portrait modes. In contrast, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G leverages AI computational capabilities to distinguish between foreground and background elements. Both smartphones handle subject isolation similarly, with results that are not flawlessly precise but still acceptable. However, when it comes to applying background blur, the outcome may lack complete naturalness.
That said, it’s worth noting that the OnePlus Nord 3 5G surpasses its counterpart with its ability to produce more natural-looking colours and a higher level of detail in portrait mode. In the comparison shot above, the Honor 90 has smoothened the facial details and added a blueish tint to the T-shirt.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 3 5G
Macro
The Honor 90 gains a significant advantage with its 12MP ultra-wide camera, which also serves as a macro sensor for close-up shots, compared to the OnePlus Nord 3 5G’s sub-par 2MP macro unit. The Honor smartphone’s macro mode impresses with its sharpness and vivid and vibrant colours.
Winner: Honor 90 5G
Selfies
Both the Honor 90 and OnePlus Nord 3 5G yield pleasing results with their 50MP and 16MP front-facing cameras, respectively. Surprisingly, the OnePlus smartphone, despite its smaller sensor size, excels in capturing facial details. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that the Honor 90’s skin tones, even if only slightly, appear more accurate. As a result, we consider this round a tie.
Winner: Tie
Lowlight
Handling low-light shots can be challenging, but both smartphones appear to perform reasonably well in this regard. Be that as it may, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G takes the lead with its ability to capture sharper images. This advantage can be attributed to the presence of optical image stabilisation (OIS) in the primary camera of the OnePlus phone. Conversely, the Honor 90 lacks OIS, resulting in slightly hazy images due to longer shutter speeds if your hands are not stable enough. Furthermore, the Honor smartphone tends to produce underexposed images at night when compared to the OnePlus smartphone. The Nord 3 5G excels in highlighting shadows and capturing more light, resulting in more engaging and vibrant nighttime photos.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 3 5G
Night mode
In night mode, both smartphones employ image smoothing techniques to reduce noise levels. However, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G excels at capturing relatively sharper images with minimal colour distortion. On the contrary, the Honor 90 produces usable shots, but they lack the sharpness and colour accuracy of its counterpart. Additionally, these shots exhibit noticeable pole light flares throughout the frame.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 3 5G
Verdict
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G emerges as the victor with a four-two scoreline in this comparison. It outperforms the Honor 90 smartphone in several key areas, including ultra-wide, lowlight, and portrait photography. However, it’s essential to consider a few nuances:
- The OnePlus Nord 3 5G enhances colours in its images, making them more visually appealing across various scenarios. This feature can be advantageous for users who prefer vibrant and eye-catching photos. But, if you are someone who likes images that look closer to reality, the Honor 90 might be a better fit.
- Additionally, the OnePlus smartphone seems to be struggling a bit in daylight and macro scenarios in comparison to the Honor 90 5G. The latter excels at capturing images with more details and accurate colours with its regular and macro sensors.
- As for selfies, both smartphones exhibit strengths and limitations. The OnePlus Nord 3 5G’s front camera shines in capturing intricate details, while the selfies from the Honor 90 excels in delivering richly saturated colours.
