Honor X8c review
The X8c suits anyone who prioritizes battery life and durability over top-tier performance or camera prowess, and does not mind an ageing chipset or 1080p video limits. If you game seriously, need fast charging, or expect the latest silicon, look elsewhere in the same price tier—there are rivals shipping fresher internals.
This review is based on Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor X8c, 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 X8c is a straightforward daily driver: it packs a big AMOLED screen, a 5000mAh battery, and respectable main camera into a 174g body at a price most emerging-market buyers can stomach. It is not trying to impress with raw power or camera prowess, but it will not leave you stranded at day's end and handles scrolling without stutter.
Design & build
At 174g and 7.1mm thick, the X8c sits comfortably in one hand and slides into a pocket without weight. The glass front, plastic frame, and eco-leather back feel sturdy without pretense; it is built to survive light drops and spills rather than feel luxe. The IP64 rating is real protection—dust and rain splashes will not breach it, and Honor says it handles a 1.8m drop without cracking, which is honest durability for this price tier. Nano-SIM-only, no microSD slot, and no 3.5mm jack are standard omissions today and not worth listing. The 6.7-inch canvas and respectable weight distribution make it neither unwieldy nor delicate.
Display
The 6.7-inch AMOLED panel is the quiet strength here. 1080p resolution at 394ppi is not flagship sharpness, but at arm's length it reads clean for text and feeds. The 120Hz refresh keeps scrolling through apps and video feeds smooth without the power drain of an aggressive high-refresh-rate LCD. Brightness is where it stands out: 2800 nits peak and 1200 nits in high-brightness mode mean direct sunlight does not wash out the display—you can actually read messages and maps outdoors. That is not a given at this price, and it makes the phone practical for real life. The 20:9 ratio edges more vertical content into view without leaving ugly bezels.
Performance
The Snapdragon 685 is a midrange workhorse that has proven itself in hundreds of phones, but it is not fresh. You will breeze through email, messaging, social apps, video calls, and light web browsing without lag. The Adreno 610 GPU handles everyday tasks and light games (Candy Crush, Clash Royale, offline puzzlers) at smooth frame rates. Demanding 3D games will dial down graphics, and multitasking between heavy apps does show the chipset's limits compared to newer silicon at comparable price points. For someone who reads, watches video, and checks messages all day, it is enough. For mobile gaming or heavy photo editing, rivals shipping the 685's successor or a faster arm would be worth the comparison.
Camera
The 108MP main sensor with f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization captures detailed daytime shots and does not embarrass itself in low light—hand-held night shots stay usable because of the OIS, and faces are recognizable without heavy noise reduction blur. The 1/1.67-inch sensor size is practical, not cutting-edge, but PDAF ensures quick focus. The 5MP ultrawide is a classic compromise: it fits a wider group or landscape into frame when needed, but at that resolution, cropped moments lack detail. The 50MP selfie camera is overgenerously specified for its sensor size and will smooth your face aggressively in auto mode, though it is fine for video calls. The real constraint is video: capped at 1080p@30fps, clips look soft on a big monitor or when shared to larger screens. Rivals expect 4K as a baseline now, so this feels like a missed generational upgrade.
Battery & charging
The 5000mAh cell is where Honor has not cut corners. In daily mixed use—calls, messaging, social media, video streaming—expect 8 to 10 hours of screen-on time, stretching to a full day if your use leans light. On standby, the phone idles for days without panic. That stamina removes the anxiety of needing a charger mid-afternoon. The 35W wired charging fills the battery in roughly 50 to 70 minutes from empty, which is not lightning-fast but respectable. Rivals at this price now routinely hit 60–100W, so you are trading a bit of seat time at the plug for simplicity and thermal stability. There is no wireless charging, but that is par for the course at this cost.
Software
Android 15 with MagicOS 9 is Honor's overlay, and it stays mostly out of the way. The interface is clean and intuitive, with gesture navigation and customizable home screens. You get access to Google Play and all standard apps and services; market availability may affect NFC support and some region-specific features. Updates are a question mark—Honor's track record is mixed, and budget phones typically cycle out of active support after two years. For a 250-euro phone, do not expect Android 18 arriving in 2028, but security patches in the first year are reasonable to expect.
Value & verdict-context
At €246, the X8c is priced for emerging markets and tight budgets in developed ones. It competes not with flagship crushers but with other midrange dailies, and against that field it holds ground. The 5000mAh battery and 120Hz AMOLED justify the price alone; the IP64 durability and capable main camera sweeten the deal. The weak points are real—35W charging feels slow, the Snapdragon 685 is ageing, and 1080p video is a step backward for 2025—but they do not disqualify it. This is a no-fuss phone for someone who wants to read, message, watch video, and take casual photos without checking their bank balance twice. It does not chase trends; it simply delivers a workable, likeable daily device.
Verdict
The X8c suits anyone who prioritizes battery life and durability over top-tier performance or camera prowess, and does not mind an ageing chipset or 1080p video limits. If you game seriously, need fast charging, or expect the latest silicon, look elsewhere in the same price tier—there are rivals shipping fresher internals.
- 5000mAh battery with 35W charging strikes a realistic balance: you will not nurse it to bedtime or wait forever at the wall, true daylong stamina for mixed use
- 120Hz AMOLED display stays bright in sunlight (2800 nits peak) and keeps scrolling smooth without the battery hit of an edge-to-edge aggressive refresh
- IP64 rating plus 1.8m drop resistance mean it shrugs off spills and desk tumbles most rivals at this price would struggle with
- 108MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS captures detail and low-light shots without falling flat, though the 5MP ultrawide is purely convenience
- 35W charging is adequate but slower than the 60–100W alternatives now common at this price point, adding 15–20 minutes to a full charge cycle
- Snapdragon 685 is a two-year-old midrange chip; newer rivals at a similar price are shipping faster silicon, which matters if you game or multitask heavily
- 1080p camera capping at 1080p video is a step back for 2025—rivals expect 4K baseline, so video calls and footage look soft on larger screens or laptops
Honor X8c Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2025, January 14 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (HBM), 2800 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 (6 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.67", PDAF, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) |
| Selfie camera | 50 MP, f/2.1, (wide) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 35W wired |
| Software | Android 15, MagicOS 9 |
| Dimensions | 161.1 x 74.6 x 7.1 mm (6.34 x 2.94 x 0.28 in) |
| Weight | 174 g (6.14 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back or silicone polymer back (eco leather) |
| Durability | IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes); (up to 0.25m for 3 min, 0.5m for 1 min) Drop resistant up to 1.8m |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Honor X8c FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the X8c support 5G?
No. The X8c tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the X8c use?
The X8c runs on the Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 685 (6 nm).
What display does the X8c have?
A 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (HBM), 2800 nits (peak), 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density).
How big is the X8c battery?
The X8c has a 5000 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 35W wired.
Does the X8c have NFC?
Yes, the X8c has NFC.
Is the X8c water resistant?
The X8c carries a IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes); (up to 0.25m for 3 min, 0.5m for 1 min) Drop resistant up to 1.8m rating.
Does the X8c support a microSD card?
No, the X8c does not support expandable storage.
Does the X8c have a headphone jack?
No, the X8c does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the X8c isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
400 Lite
X8d
Magic7 Lite
X7d 4G
A6t Pro 5G
