Honor X5d Plus review
The X5d Plus suits light users in price-sensitive markets who prioritize battery endurance and screen size over clarity and speed. Anyone doing anything more demanding—gaming, photography, multitasking—or anyone bothered by the 720p resolution should look for a rival offering a Helio G85 or G88 chipset and 1080p display at a similar price.
This review is written with AI assistance from Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor X5d Plus, 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 X5d Plus is a straightforward 100-euro budget phone with a large 6.74-inch display and respectable 5260mAh battery—good value for the price if you're in a region where Honor is accessible. It's let down by a low-resolution 720p screen, dated Helio G81 chipset, and basic 5MP selfie camera, making it a device for light users only.
Design & build
At 186g and 7.9mm thick, the X5d Plus is genuinely compact and light for its 6.74-inch frame—a real advantage if you dislike modern slabs. The phone feels standard-issue budget plastic, nothing to praise and nothing to complain about, and the side-mounted fingerprint sensor is a sensible choice here. Dual nano-SIM support is useful if you switch networks often or travel. The shared microSDXC slot is becoming standard to hit this price, though it does mean you cannot have two SIMs and a card at once.
Display
The 6.74-inch TFT LCD is a mixed bag. On the positive side, the 90Hz refresh rate is a pleasant touch at this price point, and the screen-to-body ratio of 85.3 percent is decent. However, the 720p resolution is the real drawback. At 260 ppi, pixels are noticeably visible at normal viewing distance, and text edges look soft compared to rivals now hitting 1080p at the same price. Colors are flat and brightness is modest, so outdoor visibility demands compromise. If you spend hours reading or watching video, you will feel it.
Performance
The Mediatek Helio G81 is entry-level by 2026 standards and a step behind rivals at 100 euros who are moving to the Helio G85 or G88. Apps open and scroll without drama, and everyday tasks like messaging, maps, and light social media run fine. Gaming and heavy multitasking will stutter, though casual titles handle themselves. The 4GB RAM is the bare minimum and sometimes tight when running many apps in parallel. Do not expect this phone to feel snappy or keep up with even moderately demanding workflows.
Software
Android 15 with MagicOS 9 is Honor's interface, and it ships current out of the box. Honor's skin is cleaner than some rivals and adds useful extras like FM radio and offline translation features. The bloatware load is reasonable. Long-term update support on a 100-euro phone is always questionable, so assume two major Android updates at best.
Camera
The 50MP main camera is the X5d Plus's strongest card. The f/1.8 aperture and PDAF are real assets for a budget phone, and in daylight the camera captures respectable detail. HDR processing is workable if basic. Low light is where things falter—the sensor is small and noise starts to dominate quickly. Video maxes out at 1080p@30fps, which is acceptable but not responsive. The 5MP selfie camera is the phone's worst feature. It is blurry by modern standards, has no autofocus, and will disappoint anyone doing video calls or selfies on any regular basis.
Battery & charging
The 5260mAh battery is the standout specification. It will easily last a full day of moderate use and often stretch into a second day, which is a genuine advantage over phones half this size. However, the charge figures are sparse in the spec sheet—the notation mentions 15W, which is slow by modern standards; rivals now offer 30W or faster even in the budget tier. Without confirmation on charger wattage, assume about 15-20 watts and plan for roughly 2-3 hours to a full charge.
Value & verdict
At 100 euros, the X5d Plus is a functional budget phone with a battery that will not leave you tethered to a charger and a display that will frustrate if you care about clarity. The Helio G81 is not a deal-breaker for basic use, but it is visibly behind what rivals are shipping at the same price now. The phone makes sense only if you value the battery life and large screen above all else and can live with a soft, pixelated display and sluggish performance. Anyone willing to spend 20-30 euros more will find sharper displays and faster chips; anyone willing to settle for a smaller screen can find better performance at the same price.
Verdict
The X5d Plus suits light users in price-sensitive markets who prioritize battery endurance and screen size over clarity and speed. Anyone doing anything more demanding—gaming, photography, multitasking—or anyone bothered by the 720p resolution should look for a rival offering a Helio G85 or G88 chipset and 1080p display at a similar price.
- 5260mAh battery should deliver two days of typical use without breaking a sweat
- 50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture and PDAF focuses faster than entry-level rivals
- Large 6.74-inch 90Hz display, thin at 7.9mm, and dual-SIM flexibility for the price
- FM radio and expandable storage via microSDXC card (though shared with SIM slot) are less common now
- 720p resolution on a 6.74-inch screen leaves visible pixelation; rivals at this price now often hit 1080p
- Helio G81 is aging and entry-level even for budget phones in 2026, no match for the Helio G85 or G88 increasingly common at this price
- 5MP selfie camera is a real weakness for any social media or video call use beyond absolute basics
Honor X5d Plus Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2026, April 09 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio), TFT LCD, 90Hz |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G81 (12 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Battery | 5260 mAh |
| Software | Android 15, MagicOS 9 |
| Dimensions | 167 x 77 x 7.9 mm (6.57 x 3.03 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Honor X5d Plus FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the X5d Plus support 5G?
No. The X5d Plus tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the X5d Plus use?
The X5d Plus runs on the Mediatek Helio G81 (12 nm).
What display does the X5d Plus have?
A 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~85.3% screen-to-body ratio) TFT LCD, 90Hz, 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density).
How big is the X5d Plus battery?
The X5d Plus has a 5260 mAh battery.
Does the X5d Plus have NFC?
No, the X5d Plus does not list NFC support.
Does the X5d Plus support a microSD card?
Yes, the X5d Plus supports expandable storage (microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)).
Alternatives to consider
If the X5d Plus isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
X5d
Play 80 Plus
X6d
X7e Plus
Galaxy M17e
