Honor X9c Review — Basically Bulletproof, But Any Good?

Honor has been not-so-quietly going about its business and delivering devices that outshine and outperform other ‘bigger’ brands on the market; and the latest from the Chinese company, the X9c (R10,999), is a phone that blurs the line between midrange and flagship even more.

So, what exactly do you get with the Android-powered X9c? Specs-wise, you get something that resembles a higher-end device than what one would usually consider a mid-tier phone. 12GBs of RAM, 256GBs of storage, and a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor gives the X9c some decent juice under the hood that, while maybe won’t set the world alight, will more than handle any memory and processing tasks.

Multiple apps can be used simultaneously without a hint of slowdown, browsing and downloading are seamless, and some decent gaming can be done thanks to its Adreno 710 GPU. Add in the little tricks that Honor’s MagicOS 8.0 delivers, like providing really handy shortcuts and drag-and-drop functions into different apps, and it’s a breeze to use.

But while the specs and performance are of a standard that’ll have you nodding along, it’s actually the durability and build-quality that is one of the standout features.

You see, Honor has been emphasising the importance of survival of their devices, and the X9c is being touted as one of the toughest around, despite looking pretty. While it still carries that sophisticated look, this is a phone that can almost match some of those construction-site-worthy devices.

Honor addresses South Africans’ phone-drop fears by applying the next-gen Anti-Drop Display to the X9c. It boasts ultra-tempered glass and a bezier curve design that can promise some serious durability. Tests have seen it surviving drops from up to 2 meters and being submerged underwater for 5 minutes at 25cm deep.

I put it to the test (reluctantly, with a lump in my throat), but gave a sigh of relief every time I picked it up from the ground and saw no scratches, as well as throwing it into a basin full of water. Obviously, it’s not indestructible, but it should handle most bumps and knocks life throws your way that would otherwise wreck another phone with less durability.

And while the display is impressively robust, it’s also gorgeous. The X9c houses a 6.78-inch Eye-comfort OLED Display, which supports 1.07 billion colours and a 1.5K resolution. It’s really clear and bright (up to 4000nits) without being oversaturated, works well in the glare of the sunlight, and is incredibly responsive thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate. The curved edges also give it an infinity-pool-like experience when in use and give you a tiny more real-estate to organise your apps and reading material.

There are some concerns about the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor and its thirst for power, but the X9c carries a 6,600mAh silicon-carbon battery that delivers more than a day and a half of battery with a lot of use. Throw in the 66W wired Honor SuperCharge capability, and you can boost up your X9c to full power in very little time. So, with regard to battery life, there’s nothing to worry about.

As its main snapper, the X9c features a robust 108MP Ultra-sensing Camera featuring a 1/1.67-inch sensor, along with a 16MP front-facing camera. While the camera itself is impressive, Honor also highlights that the camera integrates AI photography features like Honor AI Motion Sensing and AI Eraser, enhancing image quality and streamlining photo editing on smartphones.

Out in real-life scenarios, the X9c performed well, capturing sharp photos quickly, and remaining pretty true-to-life when it came to colour. Many phones seem loaded with colour-enhancing presets or oversaturated processing, but the X9c did a good job to nab a good-looking image without tinkering with the grading too much.

All of this is also wrapped up in an ultra-slim design that is further accented with a titanium finish, weighing just 189g and measuring 7.98mm in thickness. It feels very premium despite not having that glass backing (which is a weird standard people have become used to, when you think about it). And as a finish, includes a gorgeous, marble-like back case that Honor describes as Jade Cyan. It feels good, doesn’t smudge, and definitely makes the X9c stand out from the crowd.

The Honor X9c is a solid device for anyone who wants that premium feel, a slick interface and display, and a punchy camera; but, also someone who realises that some price-tags for high-end devices are absolutely bonkers. Adding in the fact that it can handle some substantial knocks and drops, the X9c is a smartphone that most South Africans should be putting on their radar.

The Honor X9c retail price starts at R10,999 and it comes in two colours: Titanium Black and Jade Cyan.