HONOR X9d First Look – Tough Design Meets Everyday Reliability

HONOR has earned a reputation for offering feature-packed smartphones without breaking the bank. With the HONOR X9d, the brand takes a slightly different approach, focusing on what matters most for everyday users: durability, long battery life, and a design built to handle real-world usage.

Building on the HONOR X9c, the new HONOR X9d emphasizes practical improvements, aiming to deliver a more reliable smartphone experience while keeping it affordable.

Familiar Design with Practical Changes
The HONOR X9d looks familiar at first glance, echoing the design of its predecessor, the HONOR X9c. It keeps the signature circular camera module with subtle gold accents that add a touch of premium flair without going overboard. The overall design feels clean, balanced, and immediately recognizable as part of HONOR X-series.

One noticeable change is the switch to a flat display. This not only makes the phone feel sturdier in hand but also helps reduce accidental touches, something users will appreciate during long browsing or gaming sessions. At 7.76mm, the X9d maintains an ultra-slim profile, making it easy to handle and carry.

Color options give users room to choose a style that fits them. The Reddish Brown variant stands out with gold accents along the frame, while Midnight Black, Sunrise Gold, and Forest Green offer a mix of classic and bold options.

The layout is simple and practical: the power button and volume rocker sit on the right for easy access, while the bottom houses the USB-C port, speaker, SIM tray, and microphone. The top adds another speaker and microphone, helping improve call clarity and media playback. Everything feels thoughtfully arranged for real-world convenience.

The 6.79-inch AMOLED display offers bright, clear visuals for daily tasks. Combined with AI Heavy Rain Touch and AI Glove Touch, the screen stays responsive even in wet conditions or when using gloves—another example of the phone’s focus on practical usability.

 
Built for Everyday Toughness
Durability is a key highlight of the HONOR X9d. The phone uses Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop Technology, reinforced with a six-layer structure and tough tempered glass, allowing it to survive drops from up to 2.5 meters. Whether it slips from a desk or pocket, the X9d feels built to handle it.

It’s also well-prepared for spills and splashes, with triple water and dust resistance certifications: IP69K, IP68, and IP66. It strikes a balance between a clean, modern design and the kind of rugged reliability that users will notice in everyday use.

Also read HONOR X9c Review: Setting New Standards in Durability and Performance

 
Smooth Performance for Daily Tasks
Powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 Mobile Platform, combines with 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage. This setup handles everyday tasks smoothly, with minimal lag when switching between apps or multitasking.

The Adreno A810 GPU keeps graphics-intensive apps running fluidly without overheating. While it’s not a flagship-level powerhouse, the device is optimized for real-world use, delivering reliable performance for most users’ daily needs.

Running MagicOS 9.0 based on Android 15, the phone keeps everything smooth and responsive. AI features operate efficiently in the background, and the generous RAM ensures multitasking is seamless.

We’ll continue to test the X9d’s performance over the coming weeks in gaming, multitasking, and extended real-world use to see how it holds up as a daily driver.

Camera

The HONOR X9d comes with a 108MP Ultra-Sensing rear camera featuring OIS + EIS, designed for clear photos and stable videos even while on the move. From first impressions, it handles everyday shooting well, from bright outdoor scenes to indoor lighting.

It also includes a range of AI photography tools, such as AI Eraser, AI Face Tune, Moving Photo Collage, AI Outpainting, and AI Upscale, making it easy to edit and enhance images creatively.

The camera system feels versatile and practical. We’ll put it through more real-world tests as our main device to better understand how it performs across different situations.

Battery and Charging

One of the standout features of the HONOR X9d is its massive 8300mAh Silicon-Carbon battery, designed to handle a full day, or even more of heavy use. The phone is built for users who rely on their device for streaming, gaming, browsing, and social media without constantly worrying about recharging.

Charging is fast and practical. With 66W HONOR SuperCharge, the battery refills quickly when needed, and even a short charge provides a noticeable boost. For situations where conserving power matters, Ultra Power Saving Mode allows calls to continue for up to an hour even when the battery drops to 2%.

Combined with the efficient chipset, the X9d offers a reliable balance of long-lasting battery life and responsive performance.

 
First Impressions
The HONOR X9d stands out as a practical, reliable, and well-rounded smartphone. Its flat, ultra-slim display, combined with durable build and water-resistance features, makes it comfortable and sturdy for everyday use. Performance feels smooth across daily tasks and moderate gaming, while the camera system offers versatile photography tools for creative users. 

With its massive battery and efficient MagicOS 9.0, the X9d balances long-lasting power with responsive performance, making it a dependable companion for work, play, and everything in between. It’s a device designed for real-world usage, blending toughness, functionality, and style into a smartphone that delivers on what truly matters for daily life. 

Stay tuned as we take the HONOR X9d for a real-world spin in the weeks ahead, using it for everyday tasks, gaming, photography, and more, before sharing our full review.

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