INTRODUCTION:
The first quarter of the year is far from through but it's already the third smartphone launch of 2025 for HONOR. While some might think that consumer fatigue could stem from the brand's back-to-back-to-back releases, HONOR maintains a strong track record of sold-out smartphones. Some of them were gone from the shelves within just a few hours.
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| HONOR X8c |
After the HONOR X9c and HONOR X9c Smart 5G, HONOR X8c is the next to enter the competitive smartphone scene in the Philippines. HONOR made significant improvements on their new mid-range offering, especially compared to its predecessor, the HONOR X8b. Let's talk about its features.
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DESIGN and DISPLAY:
HONOR is no stranger when it comes to aesthetically pleasing smartphones across its segments – from entry-level, mid-range, to flagship. The HONOR X8c undoubtedly joins the ranks of eye-candy devices, no matter which colorway you're getting.
Related: HONOR brings a new stylish and strong smartphone option with the HONOR X8c
The demo unit that we got was the Moonlight White variant. Its design gives off a faux shiny ceramic look with brush-like streaks in beige and gray. Other color options available in the Philippines include Marrs Green – the hero color of the HONOR X8c in a blue-green hue with a checkered back cover pattern, and the Midnight Black with a minimalist, solid single-tone design.
Frankly, the overall look of the HONOR X8c reminds us of the iPhone 16. Both devices come with flat edges and rounded corners, uniform-sized surrounding screen bezels, and a pill-shaped cutout to conceal their front cameras.
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| The HONOR X8c has flat edges, rounded corners, and uniform-sized bezels surrounding its AMOLED screen. |
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| At the bottom, the HONOR X8c has its single-grille speaker, USB-C port, and a primary microphone. |
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| The right side of the HONOR X8c has its volume rockers and power button. |
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| On its left side is where you'll see the device's SIM card tray which can carry two nano SIM cards. It doesn't have a dedicated microSD slot for storage expansion. |
This could be one of the reasons why the HONOR X8c exudes a premium look. One wouldn't even notice that it's mostly built with plastic upon first look. And what's even more important is that the device is light in the hand at 174 grams and 7.12-mm thick – almost too light to the point that it lacks a solid and sturdy feel.
But since this is an HONOR device that we're talking about, and one from the X series at that, durability is a priority. According to HONOR, the HONOR X8b is drop-resistant at up to 1.8 meters and has a 360-degree overall protection from water. Plus, its screen is 3x stronger than the HONOR X8b's.
Those with sweaty hands will appreciate the rainproof touch feature of the HONOR X8c, which allows its screen to function as usual even without wiping off splashes or moisture.
Speaking of which, the display department counts as one of the strongest suits of the HONOR X8c. Flaunting an AMOLED panel, its 6.7-inch screen showcases vivid colors and sharp details in FullHD+ resolution. A smooth scrolling experience is also promised, since the HONOR X8c has a 120Hz refresh rate.
.webp "HONOR X8c")
Among the unique selling points of the HONOR X8c is its extra brightness mode, amped up to a maximum 2800 nits. True enough, the screen of the device remains conveniently visible even when used outdoors under direct sunlight.
UNBOXING:
Users can get the HONOR X8c enclosed in the brand's trademark white box. It seems like all the boxes are printed with the hero variant Marrs Green upfront, even if the HONOR X8c inside the package is in a different color. Alongside the smartphone itself are the usuals – a free silicone case, USB-A to USB-C cable, 35W HONOR SuperCharge adapter, SIM ejector pin, and documentation.
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| HONOR X8c package |
PERFORMANCE and BATTERY:
Last year's HONOR X8b had a Snapdragon 680. For the HONOR X8c, the brand upgraded to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chip. This, plus a combination of a default 16GB dynamic RAM and 512GB onboard storage, allows the HONOR X8c to seamlessly multitask and run smoothly even with multiple apps running in the background.
Handling common mobile games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Call of Duty Mobile is also a piece of cake for the HONOR X8c, making it a good smartphone choice for casual gamers.
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| HONOR X8c benchmark results |
We were able to use the HONOR X8c with its 5000mAh battery for a whole day on a single charge, switching between productivity, entertainment, and gaming apps. This is a good thing especially for those who are always working on-the-go with their smartphones.
See Also: HONOR X9c Smart 5G Review; A New Addition to the Honor Roll
Upon plugging the HONOR X8c to its charger, a 'Super charging' display will show, including an instruction to long press the screen center to enable "Boost charging speed."
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| HONOR X8c charging modes |
Charging the device back to 100% battery with its free 35W HONOR SuperCharge adapter required us to wait for almost an hour. Here's a charging time breakdown with boost charging speed mode enabled.
15 minutes — 5% to 36%
30 minutes — 61 %
45 minutes — 83%
1 hour — 97%
1 hour & 6 minutes — 100%
MagicOS 9.0, meanwhile, brings a variety of convenience features on the HONOR X8c including Magic Portal and Magic Capsule.
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| The HONOR X8c Magic Capsule showing a YouTube video playing in the background. When tapped, the Magic Capsule redirects to the YouTube app. |
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| HONOR X8c Magic Portal |
CAMERA:
There are four circles on the rear camera module of the HONOR X8c but only two of them are actually camera lenses. One is for a 108-megapixel main sensor at F1.75 with optical image stabilization, and another for a 5-megapixel ultra-wide F2.2 shooter. The HONOR X8c takes selfies with its 50-megapixel F2.1 front camera with an LED flash.
Photos taken using the HONOR X8c come out decent and ready for posting on social media. As expected, images look better when taken under well-lit environments. But even those that we took indoors with warm lighting appear acceptable.
The built-in Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) also helps in capturing better photos in low-light environments, apart from its obvious benefit for videos.
Selfies look okay, too, especially with a nice bokeh effect to soften out the background and make the subject stand out.
Our camera samples for the HONOR X8c can be viewed on the official Facebook page of TeknoGadyet.
Among the many AI features on the HONOR X8c include the Magic Eraser, useful for those who always want to remove unnecessary elements on their photos. Below is a sample of how it works.
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Original photo
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CONCLUSION:
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| HONOR X8c |
With a price tag of P13,999, the HONOR X8c is undoubtedly a wise purchase for those looking to upgrade to a smartphone with high-quality display, eye-catching design, capable camera system, and generous battery life. The inclusion of extra functions like the Magic Portal, Magic Capsule, and the AI Eraser also make a good selling point for the HONOR X8c.