
HONOR has launched its latest smartphone in the Philippines, the HONOR X9c 5G, which is being promoted as one of the most durable devices in its lineup. But is it more than just a tough phone?
Let’s take a closer look.
The HONOR X9c 5G features a slim and lightweight design with curved edges, making it comfortable to hold. Weighing only 189g and measuring just 0.31 inches in thickness, it combines portability with durability.
It also comes with an IP65 water and dust resistance rating, giving it an edge in ruggedness.
The back panel has a premium feel with a centered circular camera module—a change from its predecessor. While some might find the camera bump slightly large, it adds to the overall modern aesthetic.
On the right side of the device, you’ll find the power and volume buttons, while the top and bottom edges house speaker grilles. The bottom also includes a USB-C port, a microphone, and a SIM tray.
The HONOR X9c 5G features a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a resolution of 2700 x 1224 pixels. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate and boasts an impressive peak brightness of up to 4000 nits, making it suitable for outdoor use.
Colors on the display are sharp and vibrant, with good viewing angles and minimal color distortion even at extreme angles.
While the curved edges add a sleek look, they can sometimes lead to accidental touches. However, during testing, the display performed reliably, with no issues. The pill-shaped notch on the front houses a single 16MP selfie camera, even though it initially appears to have dual lenses.
On the back, the HONOR X9c 5G is equipped with a dual-camera setup featuring a 108MP OIS main sensor and a 5MP ultrawide lens.
The rear cameras produce detailed images, though the colors can sometimes appear muted due to a high-contrast tone. In low-light conditions, as long as there’s sufficient ambient light, the camera delivers decent results with minor noise.
Rear Camera Sample Shots
Lowlight Samples
The 16MP front-facing camera captures lifelike skin tones with good detail, delivering photos that are ready for social media.
Front Camera Sample Shots
The device can record videos at up to 4K resolution at 30fps, though there is no stabilization feature. The front camera supports video recording at 1080p at 30fps.
Powering the HONOR X9c 5G is the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It also includes an additional 12GB of virtual RAM through HONOR RAM Turbo, although this feature cannot be adjusted.
The phone runs on Android 14 with MagicOS 8.0, which is free from unnecessary pre-installed apps, making the interface clean and user-friendly.
Multitasking is smooth, and the HONOR X9c 5G showed no signs of glitches during use. For gaming, it handled titles like Zenless Zone Zero decently, though gameplay was best on low settings with 60fps to ensure a lag-free experience.
Benchmark Results
The HONOR X9c packs a large 6600mAh battery, a pleasant surprise given its slim profile. In testing, it lasted about 16 hours and 30 minutes during video playback.
It supports 66W HONOR SuperCharge, which can fully recharge the phone from 0 to 100% in just 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Priced competitively, the HONOR X9c offers a premium display, a stylish design, and solid durability. While it may not be a significant leap from other midrange options, its combination of features, including its large battery and sleek build, makes it stand out in terms of toughness.
What do you think of the HONOR X9c? Share your thoughts below!
If you want to have a better look on HONOR X9c 5G, you might want to check out our review video on our YouTube Channel!
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