Honor X50 review
The X50 suits someone who values a large, smooth AMOLED screen and long battery life over raw speed or premium durability. Skip it if you game seriously, need water-resistant toughness, or want to know exactly how fast your phone charges."
This review is based on Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor X50, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Honor X50 pairs a mid-range Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chip with an excellent 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED display and a hefty 5800 mAh battery, making it a solid play for someone wanting a large, smooth screen and long endurance without flagship money. The 108MP camera sensor and IP53 rating are decent bonuses, though the lack of published charging speeds and modest processor performance limit its appeal if you demand speed or durability.
Design & build
At 185 grams and 8 mm thick, the X50 is remarkably slim and light for its 6.78-inch frame size, making it genuinely comfortable to hold one-handed. The IP53 rating handles dust and light vertical sprays, but stops short of full submersion or the IP68 water resistance you'd want if you're near pools or work outdoors; it's adequate for day-to-day moisture, not peace-of-mind durability. There's no listed glass protection (Gorilla Glass or otherwise), which is a gap at this price tier given rivals often include it. The dual nano-SIM setup is standard and practical, though the absence of a microSD slot means you're locked into whatever storage tier you buy.
Display
This is where the X50 shines. The 6.78-inch AMOLED panel at 1220 x 2652 pixels (431 ppi) serves vivid color, deep blacks, and excellent contrast—exactly what you want in this screen size and price bracket. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling buttery in everyday use, and 1200 nits peak brightness handles outdoor sun without washing out. At 91.2% screen-to-body ratio, the bezels are narrow enough that the phone doesn't feel like it's all glass and frame. For media consumption, browsing, and gaming, this display is a genuine strength and undercuts what many flagships offer.
Performance
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is a mid-range chip that handles everyday apps, social media, and light gaming competently, but it's not built for sustained high-frame-rate gaming or heavy video editing. You can run Genshin Impact or PUBG on moderate settings, but don't expect console-like framerates or thermal headroom during 30-minute play sessions. The 8GB or 12GB RAM options help with multitasking and app switching, and the Adreno 710 GPU is respectable for its class. Compared to recent flagship chips from Samsung or Qualcomm's higher tiers, performance is noticeably behind; compared to entry-level Snapdragon 6 alternatives, it's competitive. For a student or light user, it's plenty; for anyone juggling heavy apps or mobile gaming as a priority, it will disappoint.
Software
Android 13 with Honor's Magic OS 7.1 overlay is clean and responsive, without the bloatware burden that plagues some Chinese brands. Magic OS is lighter than alternatives and generally stays out of the way, though it does add some Honor-specific features and apps you may never use. Software updates for Honor have historically been slower than Samsung or Pixel, so don't expect rapid security patches; this is a known trade-off with the brand. The overall experience is functional and smooth on this screen, even if it's not as polished as stock Android.
Camera
The 108MP main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and phase-detect autofocus captures sharp daylight photos with good detail and dynamic range, thanks to the 1/1.67" size and PDAF. In bright conditions, this camera punches above its mid-range price, though low-light performance is decent rather than exceptional—expect some noise in dim environments. The 2MP macro is a gimmick and rarely useful. Video tops out at 4K 30fps, which is standard for this tier but lacks the fluidity of 60fps options. The 8MP selfie camera is adequate for video calls and casual portraits, nothing more. Overall, the camera is a genuine selling point if you prioritize daytime photography, but night mode and video enthusiasts should temper expectations.
Battery & charging
The 5800 mAh battery is substantial and should deliver roughly 10 to 12 hours of mixed use before needing a charge. That endurance is a real advantage for all-day users. However, Honor has not published the charging wattage or typical charge time, which is frustrating; based on the battery size and typical mid-range specs, 30W or 35W charging is likely, but without official numbers, you cannot verify if it's fast or slow compared to rivals. This opacity is a missed opportunity to highlight a potential strength and makes it harder to recommend confidently.
Value & verdict
At around 180 EUR, the X50 offers good value for anyone prioritizing screen quality and battery life. The 120Hz AMOLED display alone is worth the price for media consumption, and the large battery appeals to commuters and road warriors. The mid-range processor and modest water resistance (IP53, not IP68) are the main trade-offs—this is not a flagship disguised as a mid-ranger, nor a budget phone with hidden gems. It occupies an honest middle ground: great display, good endurance, capable-enough performance for non-demanding users, and a camera that doesn't embarrass itself in daylight. If you can live with Snapdragon 6 performance and light-splash durability, it's a compelling package. If you want charging speed transparency, flagship power, or rugged durability, you'll want to cross-shop rivals in this price range.
Verdict
The X50 suits someone who values a large, smooth AMOLED screen and long battery life over raw speed or premium durability. Skip it if you game seriously, need water-resistant toughness, or want to know exactly how fast your phone charges."
- Large, bright 120Hz AMOLED display with vivid color and excellent contrast—a genuine advantage for media and scrolling.
- 5800 mAh battery delivers solid all-day endurance without needing a midday top-up in typical use.
- Slim 8mm profile and light 185g weight make it comfortable and pocketable despite the 6.78-inch size.
- 108MP main camera with f/1.8 and PDAF captures sharp daylight photos and competes well above its price.
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is mid-range and stumbles under sustained gaming load or heavy multitasking—not for performance-focused buyers.
- IP53 water resistance is light; no full submersion protection and lacks the durability some rivals offer at the same price.
- Charging speed is undisclosed; without wattage figures, you cannot judge how fast the battery refills compared to competitors.
Honor X50 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2023, July 05 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.78 inches, 112.6 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1220 x 2652 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~431 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", PDAF 2 MP (macro) |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Battery | 5800 mAh |
| Software | Android 13, Magic OS 7.1 |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 75.5 x 8 mm (6.44 x 2.97 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
| Durability | IP53 dust protected and water resistant (vertical water sprays) |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Honor X50 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the X50 support 5G?
Yes. The X50 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the X50 use?
The X50 runs on the Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm).
What display does the X50 have?
A 6.78 inches, 112.6 cm2 (~91.2% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1200 nits (peak), 1220 x 2652 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~431 ppi density).
How big is the X50 battery?
The X50 has a 5800 mAh battery.
Does the X50 have NFC?
No, the X50 does not list NFC support.
Is the X50 water resistant?
The X50 carries a IP53 dust protected and water resistant (vertical water sprays) rating.
Does the X50 support a microSD card?
No, the X50 does not support expandable storage.
Alternatives to consider
If the X50 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
X60 Pro
X9b
X40 GT Racing
100
V40 Lite 4G
