INTRODUCTION:
What's the secret behind a successful smartphone brand in the Philippines? Take it from HONOR. Apart from striking while the iron is hot, HONOR continues to prove that it understands what its customers need.
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| HONOR X9c Smart 5G |
Banking on the success of the HONOR X9c 5G which got sold out in just 72 hours after its local launch, HONOR Philippines shortly brings out another strong contender – literally and figuratively.
The HONOR X9c Smart 5G, positioned as a more affordable sibling of the HONOR X9c 5G, appeals to those who want a durable, stylish, and 5G-powered smartphone that doesn't hurt the pocket. For HONOR, this is the perfect formula for another customer-favorite. They weren't wrong, though, as the HONOR X9c Smart 5G units depleted in "record-time," according to the brand. Luckily, stocks are available again for those who want to get their hands on it.
See more: Unmatched Demand; HONOR X9c Smart 5G Sells Out in a Flash
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| HONOR X9c Smart (left) and HONOR X9c Smart 5G (right) |
If you're still considering whether to spend P13,999 on this new offering from HONOR, here's our quick review to help you get to know about the device more.
DESIGN and DISPLAY:
Upon unboxing the HONOR X9c Smart 5G, one thing we immediately noticed was how light it is in the hand. Frankly, it doesn't give off that solid and sturdy feel. But given that this smartphone falls under HONOR's 'ultra-tough' devices, at least users are given the assurance that the HONOR X9c Smart 5G can, in fact, survive multiple drops of up to two meters without acquiring any significant scratches and damages.
Another durability feature on the HONOR X9c Smart 5G is its capability to withstand being submerged in water, thanks to its triple-layer splash resistant design and a 360-degree full-body rinse protection. This added feature also benefits those who have sweaty hands, as the HONOR X9c Smart 5G is designed to fully function even with droplets of water on its display.
Take note, though, that its back cover is sadly prone to smudges and fingerprint marks. So you still might find yourself wiping the device clean from time to time, unless you use the free transparent silicone smartphone case that comes with the phone.
Apart from the smartphone case, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G package carries the standard contents. These include the quick start guide, SIM ejector tool, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and HONOR SuperCharge charging brick.
While its bigger sibling comes with a curved display, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G has a modest flat screen with rounded edges. On its right cheek is where you'll find the side-mounted fingerprint scanner which also doubles as the power button, plus the volume rockers. At the bottom is an array of a SIM card tray, USB-C port, and a single-grill down-firing speaker.
Related: High defense, low cost: The HONOR X9c Smart 5G is now in PH
Upfront, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G flaunts a 6.8-inch display in 2412 x 1080 resolution with a TFT LCD panel. For comparison, the HONOR X9c 5G has an AMOLED screen. This is obviously one of the sacrifices the brand has to make to keep a cheaper price tag on the HONOR X9c Smart 5G.
But the HONOR X9c Smart 5G doesn't fall short on delivering a decent display with vibrant colors and sharp details. However, its TFT LCD material affects screen visibility when used outdoors on a fine, sunny day.
PERFORMANCE:
Powering the HONOR X9c Smart 5G is a MediaTek Dimensity 7025-Ultra, a fairly recent chip which was launched just last year. It brings two Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 3.5GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores. These, together with a combination of a 24GB dynamic RAM (12GB native + 12GB HONOR RAM Turbo) and a 256GB onboard storage allow the HONOR X9c Smart 5G to handle daily productivity somehow seamlessly. Just be mindful of opening too many apps in the background as we observed that this tends to result in a slight hiccup for the device. There's no room for storage expansion for the HONOR X9c Smart 5G since it lacks a microSD card slot.
Outside the box, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G operates on MagicOS 8.0 (based on Android 14). This provides the device with the same UI features on the HONOR X9c 5G, including HONOR's version of the Dynamic Island – the Magic Capsule. This specifically transforms the smartphone's punch hole selfie camera into a pill-shaped hub where notifications and applications can be accessed easily.
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| HONOR X9c Smart 5G Magic Capsule |
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| HONOR X9c Smart 5G Magic Capsule |
Gaming-wise, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G can bring users a smooth experience under mid settings. Playing on the phone with high graphics preferences causes a bit of lagging, based on our actual usage.
CAMERA:
Carrying the same hardware as the pricier HONOR X9c 5G, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G captures decent photos – that's if you can brush off an obvious added saturation due to how the device does its post-processing. The device also struggles to capture portraits with a seamless bokeh effect.
Take note also that there are only two rear cameras on the HONOR X9c Smart 5G – a 108-megapixel main camera and a 5-megapixel wide camera. For selfies, the device works with a 16-megapixel front camera.
Check our HONOR X9c Smart 5G camera samples on TeknoGadyet's Facebook page.
BATTERY:
With a 5800mAh battery, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G can be a reliable daily driver. On moderate use, it lasted us a whole day with a little bit of juice left to spare for the next day. Recharging the device using its 35W Honor SuperCharge required a 1 hour and 15 minutes of waiting time.
15 minutes — 0% to 12%
30 minutes — 12% to 37% (Super charging boost mode enabled)
45 minutes — 56%
1 hour — 80%
1 hour 15 — 100%
Other than its super charging boost mode, the HONOR X9c Smart 5G also has other power saving features intended to prolong and optimize the battery life of the device and to protect against overheating and overcharging.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Is the HONOR X9c Smart 5G a smart purchase? If you're after durability and a generous battery life, then it's definitely worth the buy. If you're looking for something other than those, it might be best to wait for HONOR to restock the HONOR X9c 5G and add a few thousands of pesos on your budget to enjoy better features.
Read: HONOR X9c 5G Review; Tough To Beat
The HONOR X9c Smart 5G is available exclusively on the brand's Shopee page for P13,999.