HONOR X9c Smart 5G Review: A Budget-Friendly Tough Phone That Delivers More Than Just Durability

HONOR has made a name for itself by offering feature-packed smartphones at affordable prices. With the introduction of the HONOR X9c Smart 5G, the brand is taking its commitment to affordable innovation even further, catering to the increasing demand for powerful, budget-friendly devices.

Positioned as HONOR’s best-value tough 5G smartphone, the X9c Smart 5G promises not just performance and features but also ultra-tough durability with a 2-meter drop resistance, splash resistance, and a 5-star SGS rating.

I spent several days using the HONOR X9c Smart 5G as my daily driver, putting it through its paces, from casual browsing and social media scrolling to gaming, photography, and even a couple of accidental drops. Here’s how it held up.

Unboxing and First Impressions

The HONOR X9c Smart 5G comes with a complete package. Inside the box, you’ll find:

The HONOR X9c Smart 5G itself (with pre-applied screen protector)

35W Super Charger
USB-C cable
TPU case
SIM eject pin
Quick Start Guide
Warranty card

Right out of the box, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G has a nice, slim, lightweight design. At just 7.88mm thick and weighing around 193g, it feels comfortable in the hand, even for extended use.

Also read: HONOR X9C Smart 5G vs. HONOR X9C 5G: A Side-by-Side Comparison

The Ocean Cyan color (which I tested) has a nice shimmer, and the curved edges enhance the grip, making it feel more premium than its price suggests. However, the plastic back panel does feel a bit less premium compared to some phones with glass backs, but that’s a trade-off for durability.

Display: Surprisingly Good Outdoors

The 6.8-inch Full HD+ display offers a resolution of 2412x1080, and while it uses a TFT LCD panel instead of AMOLED, brightness is surprisingly good. Even outdoors under direct sunlight, the screen remains readable, an essential feature for commuters and on-the-go users.

Colors are punchy, and the screen is responsive to touch, making browsing and gaming enjoyable. The curved display also enhances the immersive feel when watching videos or playing games, which isn’t something you typically find at this price point.

However, being a TFT LCD, it lacks the deep blacks and punchy contrast that AMOLED panels deliver. For a phone focused on durability and value, this is understandable—but if you’re someone who loves binge-watching Netflix or editing photos, the display could feel a bit underwhelming.

Durability: Built to Survive Real Life

HONOR highlights the 2-meter drop resistance and splash resistance, certified with a 5-star SGS rating, and it’s not just a marketing gimmick. In real use, the X9c Smart 5G handled a couple of accidental drops onto tile and concrete with no visible damage.

Water splashes from rain and accidental spills also didn’t faze it. While this isn’t a fully waterproof device (don’t go swimming with it), it’s tough enough for day-to-day accidents, making it ideal for clumsy users or those with active lifestyles.

Performance: Reliable Everyday Companion

Under the hood, the MediaTek Dimensity 7025-Ultra, 24GB Turbo RAM (12GB physical + 12GB virtual), and 256GB storage provide smooth performance. For basic tasks—messaging, social media, YouTube, and online shopping—it performed without smoothly. App switching is quick, and multitasking is handled well, thanks to HONOR’s MagicOS 8.0 optimization (based on Android 14). It feels optimized enough for smooth everyday use.

Gaming Performance
For casual gaming, the X9c Smart 5G delivers decent performance. Games like Zombie Fire 3D ran smoothly, while Mobile Legends worked well and had smooth gameplay on default graphics settings.

For heavier titles like Genshin's Impact, you’ll need to drop the settings to Medium or Low to avoid stuttering—a trade-off that’s expected in this price range. There’s no major overheating, even after extended gaming sessions, which is a plus. The phone stays cool enough during gaming, but the single speaker setup is easy to block when playing in landscape mode.

Camera: 108MP, AI Adds Extra Value

The 108MP main camera is one of the phone’s standout features. In daylight, photos are sharp, detailed, and vibrant. The AI photography features do a good job of optimizing scenes, automatically adjusting colors and exposure.

In low light, the camera performance dips slightly, images get softer with some noise creeping in, but Night Mode helps brighten things up, making photos still usable for social media.

Sample Photos: Adobotech Facebook

AI Eraser and Motion Sensing
The AI Eraser is a pleasant surprise, it effectively removes unwanted objects from photos with just a tap. It’s not quite on par with flagship-level editing, but it’s impressive for the price.

The Motion Sensing Capture also works well for moving subjects like pets or kids. It automatically captures sharp frames from fast-moving scenes, which is useful for capturing action shots.

Video Recording
Video recording is limited to 1080p, which is understandable given the price. Video quality is decent in good lighting, but stabilization could be better, so handheld footage can get shaky.

Battery Life

The 5800mAh battery is easily a highlight. On a single charge, the X9c Smart 5G lasts a full day and a half with regular use (social media, messaging, streaming, some gaming).

Even heavy users will have no trouble getting through a full day. Charging with the included 35W Super Charger takes about 80 minutes from 0 to 100%, not the fastest, but respectable given the large battery.

Connectivity: Future-Proof with 5G

With 5G support, dual SIM slots, and Wi-Fi 5, the phone covers all essential connectivity needs. 5G speeds are noticeably faster for downloads and streaming, provided you’re in an area with strong coverage.

You also get NFC, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner (quick and reliable), and face unlock, which works well in good lighting but struggles in very low light.

HONOR X9c Smart 5G Specs

Android 14, MagicOS 8
6.8-inch Full HD+ IPS display, 2412 x 1080 pixel resolution, ~389ppi
120Hz refresh rate
2.5GHz MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra octa-core processor
IMG BXM-8-256 GPU
8GB RAM
256GB internal storage, non-expandable
108MP + 5MP ultra-wide rear cameras, LED flash
16MP selfie camera
Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
Single loudspeaker
Dual SIM, Dual standby
4G LTE, 5G
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.3
GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
NFC
USB-C
5,800mAh battery, 35W fast charging
Colors: Moonlight White, Ocean Cyan
Weight: 193g

✅ Pros:
✔️ Ultra-tough design (2-meter drop resistance, splash resistance)
✔️ Bright, outdoor-friendly 6.8-inch display
✔️ Reliable performance for everyday use
✔️ Capable 108MP camera with useful AI tools
✔️ Long-lasting 5800mAh battery
✔️ Affordable price at ₱13,999 ( ₱10,799 promo price at Shopee )
✔️ Complete in-box accessories

❌ Cons:
✖️ No 4K video recording
✖️ Speaker quality is average (single speaker)
✖️ Not ideal for heavy gaming
✖️ 35W charging feels slow compared to some rivals

Verdict: The Best-Value Toughphone for the Price

At ₱13,999, plus a ₱2,000 launch voucher discount, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G stands out as one of the best-value tough smartphones in 2025. It strikes the perfect balance between durability, practicality, and features, making it ideal for students, commuters, and anyone looking for a reliable daily driver that can survive real-life mishaps.

While it won’t win performance awards against pricier mid-range phones, it excels at what it’s meant to do: stay tough, last long, and offer reliable performance at a wallet-friendly price. If you’re looking for a toughphone that delivers beyond durability, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G deserves a spot on your shortlist.

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