Honor X9b Review
Honor X9b Review: A Durable, Battery Beast for the Masses
In a market flooded with mid-range smartphones that often blur into one another, the Honor X9b (also sold as Honor X9c) emerges as a unique contender. With its military-grade durability, massive battery life, and vibrant display, it offers a balance of performance, longevity, and design at an affordable price. Here’s an in-depth review of everything you need to know about this promising device.
Quick Overview
- Model Name: Honor X9b / X9c (naming varies by region)
- Launch Year: Late 2024
- Price: ₹25,999 to ₹27,999 in India (~$310–$340 globally)
- Category: Mid-range smartphone
- USP: Ultra-durable display, long battery life, sleek design
Design and Durability
The Honor X9b immediately catches attention due to its premium look and exceptional build quality. It has a curved-edge AMOLED display, a rare feature at this price point, giving it a flagship-like feel.
One of the biggest selling points of this device is its “ultra-bounce anti-drop” protection, which includes a reinforced frame and airbag cushioning around the corners. Honor claims the phone can withstand drops from up to 2 meters. The display itself is a 1.5K resolution AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate, capable of up to 4000 nits peak brightness – excellent for outdoor viewing.
Performance and Specifications
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4nm)
- GPU: Adreno 710
- RAM: 12GB LPDDR4X (with up to 12GB virtual RAM)
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1
- OS: Magic OS 8.0 based on Android 14
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 isn’t a powerhouse compared to flagship chips, but it performs well in day-to-day tasks, casual gaming, and multitasking. The inclusion of 12GB RAM and fast UFS storage ensures that performance doesn’t bottleneck easily.
🔋 Battery Life
If there’s one area where the Honor X9b absolutely shines, it’s battery life. Equipped with a massive 5800mAh battery (sometimes rounded as 6000mAh), the phone can easily last 2–3 full days with moderate usage. Even heavy users will find it lasting well beyond a full day.
The phone supports 66W fast charging, which can juice it up to 80% in around 40 minutes. However, there is no wireless charging or reverse charging support
📸 Camera Performance
- Rear Camera Setup:
- 108MP main sensor (f/1.75, PDAF, OIS)
- 5MP ultra-wide
- 2MP macro/depth sensor
- Front Camera:
- 16MP selfie shooter
- The 108MP main camera delivers sharp images with good dynamic range in daylight. The presence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) helps in taking steady shots and smooth video footage. Low-light performance is average, although the night mode does a decent job.
The ultra-wide sensor is basic, and the 2MP sensor is largely a filler. Selfies from the 16MP front camera are decent, with good detail and skin tones, although low-light selfies tend to soften.
📱 Display Quality
The 6.78-inch AMOLED display is a major highlight:
- Resolution: 1.5K (2652 x 1200)
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- Touch Sampling: 300Hz
- Brightness: Up to 4000 nits (peak)
It’s easily one of the brightest displays in its class, making it suitable for reading in direct sunlight. The colors are vibrant, and the high refresh rate ensures a smooth experience while scrolling or gaming. The curved edges add to the immersive experience but may not be preferred by everyone due to occasional accidental touches.
🔊 Sound and Multimedia
- Speakers: Mono speaker (not stereo)
- Audio jack: No 3.5mm jack
- Hi-Res audio support: Yes (via USB-C)
While the display is top-notch, the lack of stereo speakers is a downside for multimedia lovers. Audio quality is acceptable but lacks depth. A stereo setup would have made it a perfect entertainment phone.
🔐 Security and Extras
- Fingerprint sensor: Under-display (optical) – fast and accurate
- Face unlock: Available, works in good lighting
- No microSD card slot: Limited to internal storage
- 5G connectivity: Yes, with support for major Indian and global bands
📊 Benchmark Scores (Approx.)
- AnTuTu: ~470,000
- Geek bench: 915 (Single-core) / 2600 (Multi-core)
- 3DMark Wild Life: ~1400
These numbers put the phone in the upper mid-range category, suitable for general use, video editing, social media, and light gaming.
✅ Pros
- Exceptionally Durable Design – Survives accidental drops easily
- Long Battery Life – Easily lasts over 2 days
- Bright and Vibrant AMOLED Display
- High-Resolution Main Camera with OIS
- Smooth UI (Magic OS 8.0) with Android 14
- Premium Look and Feel
❌ Cons
- No Stereo Speakers
- No Wireless Charging
- No 3.5mm Headphone Jack
- No microSD Slot for Expansion
- Secondary Cameras Are Average
💸 Price and Availability
- India: ₹25,999 (12GB + 256GB)
- Global Price: ~$310 – $340 USD
- Availability: Amazon, Flipkart, Honor India website
🧠 Final Verdict
The Honor X9b/X9c stands out in the saturated mid-range segment with its rugged build, brilliant display, and extra-long battery life. While it misses out on features like stereo speakers and wireless charging, the core experience remains solid and reliable.
👉 Ideal for:
- Users who frequently drop their phones
- Heavy media consumers (except for audio lovers)
- Long battery life seekers
- Anyone wanting a premium-feeling device under ₹30,000
