Honor X9 5G review

The Honor X9 is a budget mid-range phone that packs a punch with its impressive features, but does it live up to expectations? The phone's design is sleek and curvy, with a smooth grip, although it collects fingerprints easily. One of the standout features of this device is its massive 6.81-inch full view display with a 120Hz refresh rate, making visuals look decent for average media consumption. However, the LCD display struggles with visibility outdoors and has limited viewing angles. The camera setup is decent, with a 48MP main shooter that captures sharp images with nice colors, but exposure issues plague this aspect of the phone. The front camera is similarly average, while the macro lens is underwhelming. Performance-wise, the Honor X9 excels, thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor and up to 8GB of RAM. Gaming on this device is a pleasure, with smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay in titles like Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG. Battery life is also impressive, lasting an entire day with medium to high usage. However, the battery's charging speeds could be improved, taking around 35 minutes to reach 80%. Overall, the Honor X9 is a solid choice for those seeking a powerful mid-range device with a massive display, but may disappoint those prioritizing mobile photography and videography. While it has its flaws, it remains an interesting device worth considering, especially at its affordable price point.

Build Quality and Design

The Honor X9 5G is a budget mid-range phone that boasts impressive features like 5G support, a massive display, and a powerful processor. However, as we delve into the review, it's clear that this device has some design flaws that might deter potential buyers. One of the first things you'll notice about the Honor X9 5G is its curvy and smooth design. The phone's build quality feels nice to hold, but it does collect fingerprints like crazy. The overall design of the phone is eerily similar to the Honor Magic 4 Pro, with the same circular camera module on the back. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is fast and works well most of the time. However, I found myself having to do double takes to unlock the phone occasionally. This might be a minor issue for some users, but it's worth mentioning nonetheless. While the Honor X9 5G has some nice design elements, there are also some missteps. The chin on the bottom of the phone is slightly thicker than the bezels on the left and right sides. Additionally, the viewing angles aren't great, which might affect visibility when watching videos or browsing through menus. While the Honor X9 5G has some redeeming qualities in its design department, it's clear that this phone isn't perfect. The curvy design is nice to hold, but it collects fingerprints like crazy. The fingerprint sensor works well most of the time, but there are occasional glitches. If you're considering buying this phone, be aware of these design flaws and weigh them against your needs. If you're looking for a phone with great gaming performance, the Honor X9 5G might be worth considering. However, if you prioritize mobile photography or videography, there are better options out there that might suit your needs better.

Battery Life

One of the most crucial aspects of any smartphone is its battery life, and the Honor X9 5G fares decently in this department. The phone comes equipped with a 4,800mAh battery, which should provide adequate power for the average user. In my testing, I found that the battery life of the Honor X9 5G was quite good, lasting an entire day with medium to high usage. However, it's worth noting that the battery life can vary greatly depending on your specific usage patterns and settings. The phone also supports 66W fast charging, which is a significant plus. With this feature, you can quickly top up your battery from 0 to 80% in just about 35 minutes, making it perfect for those times when you need a rapid boost of power. While the battery life is satisfactory, it's not outstanding by any means. If you're someone who uses their phone heavily throughout the day or has a lot of power-hungry apps installed, you may find yourself needing to recharge more frequently than you'd like. Overall, the Honor X9 5G's battery life is an average performer in its price segment. While it won't blow you away with exceptional longevity, it should still provide sufficient power for most users' needs. Just be aware that heavy usage or demanding apps may require more frequent recharging.

Display

The Honor X9 5G boasts a massive 6.81-inch Full View display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is impressive for a mid-range phone. The screen is a 1080p panel with a screen-to-body ratio of 94%, making it one of the most compact devices in its class. While the bezels on the left, top, and right are relatively thin, the chin is slightly thicker, but this doesn't detract from the overall viewing experience. The LCD display delivers decent visuals for average media consumption, such as watching videos or browsing social media. However, it falls short when it comes to outdoor visibility, which is merely okay at best. Colors seem more washed out when viewed from an angle, and the display's low brightness can make it difficult to see in direct sunlight. The 120Hz refresh rate does provide a smooth experience, particularly when navigating through apps or using the phone for general tasks. However, this is where the display's limitations become apparent. When it comes to gaming, which we'll discuss later, the screen struggles with viewing angles and color accuracy. One notable feature of the Honor X9 5G's display is its TUV Rainland Low Blue Light certification, which should help reduce eye strain during extended use. The touch sampling rate is a respectable 240Hz, but more on this in our gaming section. Overall, while the display on the Honor X9 5G is not the strongest aspect of the phone, it's still a solid effort for its price point. For those who prioritize a large and smooth screen experience, the Honor X9 5G should satisfy your needs. However, for users who rely heavily on mobile photography or videography, you may want to consider other options in this range. 3.5/5

Camera

The Camera Experience on Honor X9 5G: A Mixed Bag While the Honor X9 5G is an attractive mid-range smartphone with a plethora of features, its camera setup is where it falters. The triple-camera matrix AI vision system, comprising a 48-megapixel primary shooter, 2-megapixel macro lens, and 2-megapixel depth sensor, fails to deliver consistently impressive results. The main camera takes decent images, with sharpness and good color reproduction being its strengths. However, exposure control is an issue, with overexposure occurring frequently. In fact, it's only when the user manually adjusts the exposure that they can get properly exposed shots – a frustrating experience, especially in everyday photography scenarios. One would expect a mid-range device like the Honor X9 5G to offer at least an ultrawide-angle camera, but unfortunately, it's absent here. Instead, we have a macro lens, which is essentially redundant in today's smartphone market. This omission is particularly puzzling, given that few users actually make use of this feature. The selfie camera fares slightly better, with tolerable results despite some minor overexposure issues. The portrait mode on the front camera, however, is surprisingly decent – a pleasant surprise in an otherwise underwhelming camera experience. Video recording on the Honor X9 5G is where things take a turn for the worse. With video capped at 1080p resolution and 30fps frame rate, it's clear that this device prioritizes other features over its camera capabilities. Add to that shaky footage prone to lens flares and inconsistent exposure, and you have a recipe for disappointment. In an era where smartphone cameras are increasingly important, the Honor X9 5G falls short in delivering reliable performance. While its display and performance are certainly impressive, the subpar camera experience may deter potential buyers who value good photography capabilities above other features.

Price and Value

The Honor X9 5G is a budget mid-range phone that boasts impressive specs at an affordable price point. With its curvy design, huge 6.81-inch display, and fast performance, this phone is definitely worth considering for those on a tight budget. At around $200-$300, the Honor X9 5G offers exceptional value for money. The phone's massive display with 120Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor, and 6/8GB of RAM make it a formidable opponent in its price bracket. The inclusion of a 48MP primary camera, macro lens, and 16MP selfie camera is also a plus point, especially considering the phone's price. While the cameras may not be the best, they are decent enough for casual use. One of the standout features of the Honor X9 5G is its long-lasting battery life. With a massive 4800mAh battery and support for 66W fast charging, this phone can easily last an entire day with moderate to heavy usage. While there are some minor drawbacks, such as average camera performance and limited gaming capabilities at high graphics settings, the Honor X9 5G is still a solid choice for those looking for a budget mid-range phone. The phone's massive display, fast performance, and long battery life make it an excellent value for money. If you're in the market for a budget phone with impressive specs, the Honor X9 5G should definitely be on your radar. However, if mobile photography and videography are top priorities, you may want to consider other options. Overall, this phone is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and feature-packed device at an affordable price point.

Performance

The Honor X9 5G is a budget mid-range phone that packs a punch when it comes to performance. The device is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor, which provides smooth and efficient performance in both gaming and daily tasks. In our testing, we found the Honor X9 5G to be a great performer, capable of handling demanding games like Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG without any issues. We were able to play with high graphics settings and still achieve max frame rates, making for an enjoyable gaming experience. The 240Hz touch sampling rate also contributed to the smoothness of navigation and app usage. In day-to-day tasks, such as navigating menus and switching between apps, we found the phone to be snappy and responsive. This is due in part to the efficient performance of the Snapdragon 695 processor, which handled multitasking with ease. One of the standout features of the Honor X9 5G's performance is its support for fast charging. The device can charge from 0-80% in just 35 minutes, making it perfect for those who need a quick top-up on-the-go. Overall, we were impressed by the Honor X9 5G's performance capabilities. While it may not be the most powerful phone on the market, it is more than capable of handling demanding tasks and providing a smooth user experience. If you're in the market for a budget mid-range phone that can handle gaming and daily tasks with ease, the Honor X9 5G is definitely worth considering. 8/10 For those who want a powerful device with a large display and good performance capabilities, the Honor X9 5G is a great choice.

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