HONOR made a strong mark in the midrange market with the durability-focused HONOR X9a 5G. Even after several generations, the X9-series continues to attract attention for its balance of toughness, style, and value. Now, the brand introduces the next evolution, the HONOR X9d 5G. What has changed, and is it worth upgrading? Here’s a closer look.
Table of Contents
HONOR X9d 5G Specifications
| OS: | MagicOS 9 |
|---|---|
| Processor: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 |
| Display: | 6.79″ 120Hz AMOLED |
| Wireless Connections: | LTE, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Memory: | 12GB+256GB |
| Connectors: | USB Type-C, OTG |
| Cameras: | Rear Camera: (Main) 108MP, f/1.8 (Ultrawide) 5MP, f/2.2 Front Camera: 16MP |
| SIM Card Slots: | Dual nano SIM |
| Battery: | 8300mAh 66W Wired Charging |
| Price | 12GB+256GB: Php 18,999 |
The Design
The HONOR X9d 5G we reviewed comes in Reddish Brown, and it immediately stands out thanks to its leather-textured back panel paired with a gold-colored frame. The phone looks and feels premium in hand. Other color options, Midnight Black and Sunrise Gold, are also available, though these variants use a standard back panel instead of leather.
One of the biggest design changes this generation is the shift to a flat display. The curved screen is gone. While HONOR has not officially explained this decision, a flat panel generally offers better structural strength since the glass thickness is more uniform compared to curved edges that are more prone to cracking. Aside from this, the overall layout remains familiar, with minimal changes to camera placement, buttons, and ports.
Durability remains the core highlight. The HONOR X9d 5G is the brand’s first smartphone to receive the SGS Triple Resistance Premium Performance certification, covering drop, dust, and water resistance. It is rated to survive drops of up to 2.5 meters and comes with IP69K protection, meaning it can withstand rain, splashes, high-pressure water, and fine particles such as sand or construction dust.
In real-world testing, the phone easily survived multiple 5-foot drops and even a fall on stairs without scratches. Dropping it onto cement resulted in a small dent on the frame, but the screen remained intact and fully functional. Overall, its durability claims hold up impressively.
Button and port placement is standard. The power button and volume rocker are on the right side. At the bottom, you get the USB Type-C port, speaker grille, microphone, and dual nano-SIM tray. The top houses an additional speaker grille and microphone for stereo audio.
The Display and Speaker
The HONOR X9d 5G features a 6.79-inch AMOLED flat display with a 120Hz refresh rate. By default, the refresh rate is set to Dynamic, automatically adjusting based on on-screen content to balance smoothness and battery efficiency. Resolution is 2640 × 1200, delivering sharp visuals.
Eye comfort features are well-covered, including Eye Comfort Mode, Circadian Night Display, Dynamic Dimming, and 3840Hz PWM risk-free dimming. Brightness reaches 800 nits typically and up to 1800 nits in high brightness mode, making it usable even outdoors.
In daily use, the display delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. With 100% DCI-P3 color gamut support, media consumption is a strong point of this device.
Audio is handled by a stereo speaker setup. HONOR allows volume boosting up to 400%, though at maximum levels, slight distortion becomes noticeable. Keeping the volume below that threshold still delivers loud, clear, and enjoyable sound.
The Performance
Powering the HONOR X9d 5G is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4, paired with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.
Here are the benchmark results we got with the HONOR X9d 5G:
The device runs on MagicOS 9 out of the box which is based on Android 15. There is a noticeable amount of pre-installed apps, but performance remains smooth throughout daily use. App switching, multitasking, and even light video and graphic editing were handled without slowdowns during the review period.
Gaming performance is solid for a midrange device. Casual games run at maximum settings with ease. More demanding titles like Genshin Impact default to Medium settings, but pushing graphics to High still delivers a smooth and playable experience.
The Camera
The HONOR X9d 5G features a dual rear camera setup composed of a 108-megapixel main camera and a 5-megapixel ultra-wide camera. On the front, it uses a 16-megapixel punch-hole selfie camera.
HONOR X9d 5G – Main Camera In actual use, the main camera delivers impressive results. Photos come out sharp with good contrast and reliable HDR performance, whether shooting in bright daylight or low-light environments. Night shots retain decent detail and controlled noise, making the main sensor dependable across different lighting conditions.
HONOR X9d 5G – Ultrawide Camera Sample The ultra-wide camera, however, is clearly more limited. With only 5 megapixels, images lack the same level of detail and color consistency seen from the main camera. Details appear softer, and color saturation is noticeably reduced, especially in challenging lighting.
HONOR X9d 5G – Selfie Camera Sample For selfies, the front camera produces natural-looking skin tones and good detail. It uses a fixed-focus lens, and portrait shots have a subtle depth effect by default. To achieve stronger background blur, the bokeh option needs to be manually enabled.
The Battery
Battery life is another standout feature. The HONOR X9d 5G packs a massive 8,300mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day of heavy use. Light to moderate users can expect up to two days on a single charge.
Charging is handled by 66W fast charging, bringing the battery from 0 to 100% in around 1 hour and 30 minutes, which is respectable considering the battery size.
HONOR X9d 5G Verdict
The HONOR X9d 5G builds on what made the X9 series popular: exceptional durability, long battery life, and a reliable AMOLED display. The shift to a flat screen improves overall toughness, although some users may see this as a drawback since curved displays tend to look more premium. Performance remains dependable for both productivity and gaming, and the main camera consistently delivers good results.
While the ultra-wide camera and the amount of pre-installed apps could be better, the overall package is still compelling. If you are looking for a tough yet stylish midrange smartphone that can handle daily wear and tear without sacrificing performance, the HONOR X9d 5G is easy to recommend.
During the pre-order period from January 9 to 23, the HONOR X9d 5G is priced at a special SRP of PHP 17,999, after which the regular SRP of PHP 18,999 will take effect starting January 24. Customers who pre-order will receive exclusive freebies, including a Jisulife Fan 5 and an HONOR Gift Box, adding more value to the purchase. On top of this, pre-order buyers also get a chance to join a raffle giveaway for the Tesla Cybertruck, making the early purchase even more rewarding. For updates and official announcements, follow HONOR Philippines’ social media pages.
- Lazada – https://bit.ly/Shop_X9d_Media
- Shopee – https://bit.ly/Shop_X9d_Media
- TikTok Shop – https://bit.ly/TikTok_X9d_Media
