Honor X9b Review

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. Hereโ€™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: โ‚น25,999 to โ‚น27,999 in India (~$310โ€“$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 โ€“ 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 doesnโ€™t bottleneck easily.

๐Ÿ”‹ Battery Life

If thereโ€™s one area where the Honor X9b absolutely shines, itโ€™s battery life. Equipped with a massive 5800mAh battery (sometimes rounded as 6000mAh), the phone can easily last 2โ€“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

๐Ÿ“ธ 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.

๐Ÿ“ฑ 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)

Itโ€™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. Theย curved edges add to the immersive experience but may not be preferred by everyone due to occasional accidental touches.

๐Ÿ”Š 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.

๐Ÿ” Security and Extras

  • Fingerprint sensor: Under-display (optical) โ€“ 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

๐Ÿ“Š 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.

โœ… Pros

  1. Exceptionally Durable Design โ€“ Survives accidental drops easily
  2. Long Battery Life โ€“ Easily lasts over 2 days
  3. Bright and Vibrant AMOLED Display
  4. High-Resolution Main Camera with OIS
  5. Smooth UI (Magic OS 8.0) with Android 14
  6. Premium Look and Feel

โŒ Cons

  1. No Stereo Speakers
  2. No Wireless Charging
  3. No 3.5mm Headphone Jack
  4. No microSD Slot for Expansion
  5. Secondary Cameras Are Average

๐Ÿ’ธ Price and Availability

  • India: โ‚น25,999 (12GB + 256GB)
  • Global Price: ~$310 โ€“ $340 USD
  • Availability: Amazon, Flipkart, Honor India website

๐Ÿง  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.

๐Ÿ‘‰ 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 โ‚น30,000

 

 

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *