HONOR has kicked off the new year with a bang by introducing the second-generation HONOR X9b 5G, touted as the “toughest phone” in their 2024 lineup. This review takes a deep dive into the phone’s design, display, multimedia features, cameras, OS, performance, connectivity, battery life, and, of course, the price.
What would be the expected price of Honor X9b?
The HONOR X9b 5G is officially priced at PHP 16,999 for the 8GB+256GB variant. The Indian launch is expected to be between Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000. Please note that prices may vary based on region and availability.
Design and Construction
HONOR X9b 5G boasts durability with its Tough from All Angles design. With an IP53 rating for limited dust ingress and splash resistance, combined with the SGS Five Star Overall Drop Resistance Certification for its Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop Display, this smartphone is designed to endure.
The Sunrise Orange colorway, featuring a vegan leather rear panel, adds a touch of style. The knurled-edge circular camera module and slender form factor enhance the phone’s overall aesthetics, making it stand out in the midrange segment.
Display, Multimedia, and Biometrics
6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display is a highlight, offering a 120Hz refresh rate and 1200 nits peak brightness. The All-Angle Ultra Tough display ensures great viewing angles, deep blacks, and vibrant colors. The inclusion of a 3.5mm audio jack complements the audio playback, although the single downward-firing speaker may leave some users wanting more.
In-display fingerprint scanner and face-unlock feature add to the phone’s security, with the latter even accommodating facial recognition with face masks.
Camera Clarity:
Triple-camera system, headlined by a 108MP main sensor, delivers good clarity in well-lit conditions. While not topping camera sensor rankings, the image quality remains usable, especially with the vibrant and contrasty shots. Video capabilities include 4K at 30 fps for the main camera and 1080p at 30 fps for the front-facing sensor.
OS, Apps, and UI
Running on MagicOS 7.2 based on Android 13, the HONOR X9b provides a user-friendly interface with easy access to Google Play services. The operating system, although lacking some originality, offers smooth animations complemented by the high refresh rate display.
Performance and Benchmarks
The Honor X9b 5G has an AnTuTu Benchmarks score of 588,722. Additionally, its Geekbench 6 Single-Core score is 952, and the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core score is 2,692.
Equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of internal storage, the HONOR X9b 5G performs well in gaming and multitasking. While not topping benchmark charts, the chipset provides stable 60-frames-per-second mobile gaming. Synthetic benchmark results, including Antutu scores, storage speed, and 3D Mark performance, showcase the phone’s capabilities.
Connectivity and battery
Featuring a large 5,800mAh battery and a 35W SuperCharge brick, the HONOR X9b excels in battery life. Benchmark results indicate impressive endurance, making it suitable for extended video watching and light gaming sessions. Connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, and 5G support.
Table of Honor X9b 5G Full Specification
| Display Specs | |
|---|---|
| Size | 6.78 inches |
| Aspect Ratio | 19.9:9 |
| Color | 1.07B colours |
| Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1200*2652 |
| Dimensions and Weight Specs | |
|---|---|
| Height | 163.6 mm |
| Width | 75.5 mm |
| Depth | 7.98 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 185 g |
| Processor Specs | |
|---|---|
| CPU Model | 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 |
| CPU Type | Octa-core |
| CPU Dominant Frequency | 4xA78 2.2GHz+4xA551.8GHz |
| GPU | Adreno A710 |
| Keyboard Type | Gestures, Three-key navigation, Navigation dock |
| Features | Face Recognition/One-Handed mode |
| Storage Specs | |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 20(12+8)GB+256GB |
| Type | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera | |
|---|---|
| Triple Rear Camera | 108MP Main Camera (F1.75) + 5MP Ultra Wide&Depth Camera(F2.2) + 2MP Macro Camera(f2.4) |
| Video Shooting | Support 4K video shooting |
| Zoom Mode | Up to 8x digital zoom |
| Image Resolution | Support up to 12000*9000 pixels |
| Video Resolution | Support up to 3840*2160 pixels |
| Rear Flashlight | Support |
| Capture Mode | Aperture, Night, Portrait (including beauty mode), Pro, Panorama, HDR, Filter, Stickers, time-lapse photography, Super macro, High-res, Capture smile, Slow-motion |
| Front Camera | |
|---|---|
| Front Camera | 16MP (F2.45) |
| Image Resolution | Support up to 3456×4608 pixels |
| Video Resolution | Support up to 1080*1920 pixels |
| Video Shooting | Support 1080P video shooting |
| Capture Mode | Portrait (including beauty mode), Filter, Capture smile, Mirror reflection, Timer, Gesture control |
| Face Recognition | Support 2D Face Recognition |
| Battery | |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5800mAh (typical value) |
| Type | Lithium Polymer Battery |
| Wired Charging | 35w |
| Standard Charger | 11V/3.2A |
| Cellular Network | |
|---|---|
| Network Standard | 5G:NR, 4G (LTE FDD/FDD), 3G (WCDMA), 2G (GSM) |
| SIM Card 1 | Nano Card |
| SIM Card 2 | Nano Card |
| Connectivity and Location | |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Protocols | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Wi-Fi Frequency | 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz |
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | Support |
| Wi-Fi Direct | Support |
| Bluetooth | BT5.1 |
| Video Call | Support (operators and third-party software) |
| OTG | Support |
| Positioning | Support GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo |
| Network-Based Positioning | Support |
| Wi-Fi-Based Positioning | Support |
| Sensors | |
|---|---|
| Gravity Sensor | Support |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Support, support fingerprint unlock |
| Gyroscope | Support |
| Compass | Support |
| NFC | Support |
| Ambient Light Sensor | Support |
| Proximity Sensor | Support |
| System | |
|---|---|
| Operating System | MagicOS 7.2 (based on Android 13) |
| User Interface | MagicOS 7.2 |
| Others | |
|---|---|
| Video | .3gp,.mp4,.webm,.mkv |
| Audio | .mp3,.mid,.amr,.awb,.3gp,.mp4,.m4a,.aac,.wav,.ogg,.flac,.mkv |
| USB | USB Type-C, USB 2.0 |
| Earjack | Type-C |
Honor X9b Official Trailer
FAQ’s
Does the HONOR X9b 5G support expandable storage?
No, the HONOR X9b 5G does not support expandable storage through a microSD card slot. The phone is available in a single configuration with 256GB of internal storage, providing ample space for apps, media, and files. Users who prioritize additional storage options should consider their usage needs and ensure that the provided storage capacity meets their requirements. While lacking expandable storage, the phone emphasizes a generous internal storage capacity to accommodate diverse user needs.
What is the expected launch date and price in India?
The HONOR X9b is tipped to be launched in India on February 8 or February 9, with an expected price range between Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000.
Bottom Up
As a successor to the Honor X9a, it brings significant improvements, including a better chipset, more RAM, a larger battery, and an enhanced camera system. The ultra-tough display adds an extra layer of appeal. If durability, battery life, and an impressive display are your priorities within a budget of less than 17k, the HONOR X9b 5G is worth considering. It offers a compelling package with notable improvements over its predecessor.