Honor X9b : Breaking form in the mid-range battle, the Honor X9b refuses to fall in the mediocrity trap, offering a blend of stylish appearance and decent performance, backed by a cracking battery.
Honor appears to have pitched this model squarely at users looking for a blend of style, stamina, and everyday usability — one that won’t make them break the bank in the process.
Let’s break down what makes the X9b special, and where it falls short.
Design & Build: Looks Premium with Sturdy Form Factor
First impressions are everything, and the X9b does not disappoint. The phone gets a curved AMOLED screen with narrow bezels, the usual, sexy design.
At the rear it had a big, round camera module which had a flagship design to it.
Its IP53 water and dust resistance and strengthened drop-resistant glass also sweeten the deal, as the device is more rugged than many in this area of the market.
The phone is sleek and feels premium in hand despite the fact it’s lighter than expected for its battery capacity.
Display: Fun to Read Bright, Smooth & Easy On The Eyes
For starters, it’s the screen: a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with 1.5K resolution (2652 x 1200) and a 120Hz refresh rate. Colors pop, blacks are inky and overall clarity is stellar. Wheter you are playing videos games or surfing apps the experience is seamless and intuitive.
It also provides 1920Hz PWM dimming that will relieve your eyes in case of the prolonged use. The display is not only pretty to look at, but comfortable to use, day or night.
Performance: Smoothly Publishes Your Daily Work Here’s the benchmark: I never once felt like the 12-inch MacBook was too slow to do anything I wanted to do.
Under the hood the Honor X9b comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC, 8GB/12GB of RAM and 256GB of built-in storage. It is not a flagship-grade processor, but it manages everyday multitasking, social media and casual gaming without any issues.
PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile work well on medium to high settings, but the phone isn’t designed for very heavy gaming. It also stays cool even during long sessions, courtesy of Honor’s good heat management.
Battery Life: It’s a Beast When It Comes to Battery Life
Long battery life is a real selling point. Honor X9b is powered with a massive 5800mAh battery that provides enough life for more than 2 days on a moderate use. Even the heaviest of users will find it difficult to kill it within a day.
It charges at 35W fast charging, not super fast compared to other devices, but effective enough — going from 0% to 100% in a little bit more than an hour. There’s no wireless charging, but at this price, that’s par for the course.
Camera: Good, and the Price is Even Better
The triple cameras are 108MP main sensor, 5MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro. In daylight, the main sensor actually gives a pretty good performance; taking sharp and detailed shots. The color output is generally spot in, and the HDR is done well in our challenging lighting conditions.
The ultra-wide has a so-so lens — it’s fine to use, but it’s not as sharp as the main sensor. Night mode will assist you in low-light scenarios, but don’t expect flagship-grade quality. The 16MP front camera does a good job with selfies and video calls, though skin tones can occasionally look a bit soft.
The Software: It’s Simple, If Not Perfect
The device is powered by Magic OS 7.2 based on Android 13. It’s clean, smooth, relatively free of bloatware and works well.
Honor customized user interface incorporates great features like app clone, multiwindow, and smart gestures and also it is extremely easy to use.
That said, the software updates that come from Honor have not always been the most frequent or timely, so long-term support might not be so great compared to brands like Samsung or Google.
Pros:
Gorgeous AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate
Large capacity 5800mAh battery, great power endurance
Tough design with curved screen and extra durable construction
108MP lens provides very detailed photos in good light
Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 for a faster and responsive daily experience
Durable with IP53 rating and glass toughened to withstand drops and resist scratches
Cons:
Fair low-light shooting abilities
Weaknesses in ultra-wide and macro sensors
No stereo speakers
Some global versions lack 5G support
Charging may be slower than some competitors
The Verdict: A Sleek Daily Driver That Stays on the Grid
The Honor X9b doesn’t raise the bar for raw performance or photography, but gets the basics right: a great screen, marathon battery life, good looks and solid everyday performance. The X9b offers a gorgeous solid mid-range phone, for users who like a bit of premium in their phones without the flagship price, the X9b is certainly worth checking out.