INTRODUCTION:
As learning continues to evolve in the digital age, students need a smartphone that does more than just keep them connected with family. The HONOR X8d rises to the occasion—pairing a stylish design with long-lasting battery life to support schoolwork, communication, and everything in between. Here’s a closer look.
See also: Quezon City Resident Wins Tesla Cybertruck in HONOR X9d 5G Grand Giveaway
DESIGN and DISPLAY:
Right out of the box, the HONOR X8d turns heads with its Light Blue finish. It also features a camera module inspired by premium smartphone designs, giving it a more elevated look despite its affordable price tag.
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| HONOR X8d |
Built for students who are always on the move, the HONOR X8d is designed with durability in mind. It can withstand drops of up to 2 meters and carries an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance.
It also features a matte back that resists fingerprint smudges, complementing its clean, flat-edged design despite its plastic build. Even with its large battery, the HONOR X8d stays impressively slim at just 7.5mm and remains comfortable to hold at 188 grams.
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| The HONOR X8d has a matte finish which repels fingerprints and smudges. |
Students will appreciate the HONOR X8d's display. Its 6.77-inch AMOLED screen with a 1080 x 2392 resolution delivers bright and vibrant visuals, ideal for attending online classes and viewing documents. Plus, the 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling for multitasking.
Read: HONOR Robot Phone Unveiled; The World’s First Embodied AI Smartphone with 4DoF Gimbal
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| HONOR X8d display |
The HONOR X8d features a taller form factor, giving students more screen space for viewing content. While its bezels are noticeable, they remain unobtrusive and don't distract from the overall viewing experience.
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| Prominent bezels surround the HONOR X8d |
Prior to its official launch, one of the most talked-about features of the HONOR X8d is its AI Button. While it's a commendable effort by the brand to introduce more intelligent features to budget-conscious users, it feels like a missed opportunity that, for a device marketed to students, the AI Button is limited to a quick panel offering shortcuts such as Cleanup, Do Not Disturb, Screenshot, Calculator, and Screen Recording.
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| AI Button on the HONOR X8d |
It arguably would have been more impactful if the button offered one-tap access to more practical AI tools for students, such as Gemini, Copilot, and other similar services.
A somewhat closer alternative is the option to assign a short press, double press, or long press of the AI Button to launch Google Lens, which can help students identify objects, translate text, or solve math problems.
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| HONOR X8d AI Button settings |
PERFORMANCE:
There's no issue for those who plan to use the HONOR X8d for document editing, multimedia consumption, and casual gaming. Its octa-core Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 chipset handles moderate multitasking smoothly for everyday tasks. However, it's worth noting that performance may start to slow down when too many background apps are running simultaneously.
Here are the benchmark tests results of the HONOR X8d:
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| HONOR X8d benchmark results |
It also raises some questions as to why HONOR opted for a 4G chipset on a device positioned in the upper mid-range segment given its price point, especially in a market where 5G smartphones are quickly becoming the norm.
OS-wise, the HONOR X8d delivers an intuitive user experience. Its MagicOS 10 based on Android 16 provides a clean interface to navigate, although a few pre-installed apps may require uninstalling. It also includes useful features for students, such as HONOR Share for quick file transfers – even for large files – and Link to Windows, which allows seamless connection and integration with a Windows PC for easier file access, notifications, and cross-device productivity.
Related: HONOR X9d 5G Review; Stronger Body, Longer Battery Life
AI is comprehensively present in the HONOR X8d. There are AI-backed productivity-centric features including AI Translate, AI Writing, AI Notes, AI Recorder, Magic Portal, and Circle to Search.
CAMERA:
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| The HONOR X8d has a 108MP main camera(f/1.75) and a 5MP wide camera(f/2.2). |
The 108-megapixel main camera of the HONOR X8d takes impressively good photos, especially in good lighting. Photos are sharp, detailed, and vibrant, with colors that look pleasing and well-balanced for everyday use. Night photography is serviceable, with a few image details sometimes being washed out.
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| Check out our HONOR X8d camera samples on Teknogadyet's Facebook page. |
For video recording, the HONOR X8d supports up to 1080p, making it a reliable and practical videography device for students.
Check out our camera samples on our Facebook page.
HONOR's AI-powered photography suite is also present on the HONOR X8d, including AI Eraser, AI Upscale, AI Remove Reflection, AI Outpainting, and AI Eyes Open.
BATTERY:
On a single charge, the HONOR X8d can last up to a day and a half with its massive 7,000mAh battery. Supported by a 45W HONOR SuperCharge function, the device can be recharged back to 100% battery capacity in just 1 hour and 22 minutes. Here's our actual charging breakdown:
15 minutes — 22%
30 minutes — 41%
45 minutes — 63%
1 hour — 82%
1 hour 15 minutes — 96%
1 hour 22 minutes — 100%
The HONOR X8d scored 19 hours and 17 minutes on PCMark's battery benchmark test.
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| HONOR X8d battery benchmark test score |
CONCLUSION:
The HONOR X8d caters well to its target audience. As a relatively affordable device, it delivers a balanced set of features that cover everyday essentials. Priced at P15,999, it presents strong value for students, especially with its durability-focused design that ensures the device is built to last.
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| The HONOR X8d retails for P15,999. |
For more details on the HONOR X8d pre-order mechanics, including freebies, availability, and pricing, read: HONOR X8d Debuts in the Philippines for Only Php15,999.