Honor X9b review
The X9b suits people who value a comfortable phone for daily messaging, social media, and light work, and who appreciate a bright screen and reliable battery. Skip it if you need fast charging, strong gaming performance, or a versatile camera system—those demands point to either a budget phone with better value-for-money or a real flagship.
This review is based on Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor X9b, 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 X9b is a roomy 6.78-inch phone with a bright 120Hz AMOLED screen and all-day 5800 mAh battery that suits casual users and media watchers. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 handles daily work smoothly but the 35W charging and plain camera setup don't stand out against rivals at this price.
Design & build
At 185g and 8mm thick, the X9b is lean and pocketable—a genuine advantage over the brick-like flagships that dominate 2023 onwards. The 6.78-inch screen on a body this trim feels spacious without being unwieldy, and the 91.2% screen-to-body ratio makes the physical footprint efficient. Build materials are unnamed in the spec sheet, but the phone carries IP53 rating, which means it resists dust and vertical water spray only—no proper submersion, no high-pressure jets. That's honest for the price, and worth knowing if you live in a wet climate or travel. Colors (Sunrise Orange, Midnight Black, Emerald Green) are tasteful, though the industrial plastic typical of this tier is expected.
Display
The 6.78-inch AMOLED panel runs at 120Hz with 1200 nits peak brightness, 431 ppi pixel density, and a tall 19.5:9 ratio. In daylight, the brightness holds up reasonably—not flagship-level, which tops 2000 nits, but enough to avoid squinting at typical outdoor brightness. The 120Hz refresh is fluid for scrolling through social feeds and web pages; app animations feel responsive, though you'll notice no dramatic visual difference from a 90Hz panel in static content. The AMOLED blacks are punchy and color reproduction is consistent. The one drawback is the 1220×2652 resolution: at 431 ppi, text and detail are sharp, but it's not pushing the pixel-per-inch envelope. For a phone at this price in 2023, this is a solid, reliable display that prioritizes smoothness and outdoor readability over cutting-edge brightness or resolution.
Performance
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is a capable upper-midrange chip for 2023, with four Cortex-A78 cores clocked to 2.2 GHz and an Adreno 710 GPU. Daily tasks—messaging, email, social media, web browsing, maps—run without lag or stutter. Light gaming (PUBG Mobile, Fortnite on low settings) plays smoothly, and the 8GB or 12GB RAM variant you choose will handle multi-tasking without force-closes. Heavy games with high graphics demand will need settings dialed down, and you won't match the framerates of a flagship. Real-world: if you're streaming video, using navigation, and swapping between 10 apps, you'll see no meaningful slowdown. If you're chasing 120 fps in graphically intensive titles, this chipset will disappoint. For the intended audience—people who use their phone for productivity, media, and casual play—the S6 Gen 1 is fit for purpose.
Software
Out of the box, you get Android 13 with Honor's Magic OS 7.2 overlay. Magic OS is light and functional compared to heavy skins; it adds a few Honor-specific tweaks and gestures without bogging down performance. No bloatware surprise, and the UI is clean. You're looking at a single OS update path (likely to Android 14) before the phone enters long-term security-patch mode, which is typical for midrange devices. If you care about custom ROMs and full Android control, Honor's bootloader situation can be restrictive, but for most buyers that's irrelevant. Software is reliable and responsive.
Camera
The main setup is a 108MP f/1.8 wide sensor with 1/1.67" frame and PDAF, a 5MP f/2.2 ultrawide, and a 2MP macro. In daylight, the 108MP sensor captures fine detail and handles color balance well, and the f/1.8 aperture pulls in enough light for decent low-light shots without excessive noise (though don't expect night-mode miracles). The 5MP ultrawide is tight and lacks the immersion of a true wide-angle on flagships—group photos will feel cramped. The 2MP macro is a gimmick, useful only if you're obsessed with close-up texture; most buyers ignore it. Video maxes out at 4K 30fps, not 60fps, which is behind rivals now. The 16MP selfie (f/2.5) is adequate for video calls and casual social-media posting. Overall, the camera does what midrange users need—sharp daylight shots, acceptable night work, stable video—without the refinement or versatility of pricier phones. It's honest and functional.
Battery & charging
The 5800 mAh battery is large and paired with an efficient Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, so you'll comfortably stretch from morning through evening on moderate use (6 to 8 hours of screen time). Heavy video streaming or gaming will drain faster, requiring a midday top-up, but typical messaging and social-media habits won't. Charging is 35W wired via USB-C, which takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes from zero to full—faster than budget phones, but slower than rivals offering 65W or 100W at similar prices now. Reverse wireless charging is a nice touch for topping up earbuds or another phone, though it's rarely a deciding factor. The battery stays healthy through years of daily cycles on an AMOLED screen, and the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 isn't power-hungry, so longevity is solid.
Value & verdict-context
At around 970 EUR, the X9b sits in the upper-midrange tier, competing against other 6.7–6.8-inch phones with similar chipsets, larger batteries, and faster charging. What you're paying for here is the thinness (8mm), the efficient Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, and the reliable 120Hz AMOLED screen. Against true flagships at 1200+ EUR, it gives up processing headroom, camera refinement, and wireless charging. Against budget devices at 400–600 EUR, it adds display quality, a bigger battery, and smoother performance. The real question is whether you value that lean form factor and screen quality enough to accept slower charging and a midrange chip—for people who prioritize comfort and everyday reliability over speed or camera prowess, it lands well. For those chasing the latest gaming or professional photography, you're in the wrong price bracket.
Verdict
The X9b suits people who value a comfortable phone for daily messaging, social media, and light work, and who appreciate a bright screen and reliable battery. Skip it if you need fast charging, strong gaming performance, or a versatile camera system—those demands point to either a budget phone with better value-for-money or a real flagship.
- Lean 8mm profile and 185g weight make it comfortable to hold and pocket compared to most modern phones at this screen size
- Large 5800 mAh battery paired with efficient Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 easily delivers a full day of moderate use without midday anxiety
- Bright 120Hz AMOLED display with high screen-to-body ratio handles outdoor visibility and app scrolling smoothly
- 35W charging is now slowish for this price tier; rivals offer 65–100W, cutting charge time in half
- 5MP ultrawide and 2MP macro cameras feel limited compared to the 108MP main sensor, particularly for group photos or creative shooting
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 bows out on heavy gaming and professional workloads that even modest flagship chips handle without strain
Honor X9b Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2023, October 18 |
|---|---|
| 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 | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.67", PDAF 5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Battery | 5800 mAh |
| Charging | 35W wiredReverse wired |
| Software | Android 13, Magic OS 7.2 |
| 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)* * market/region dependent availability |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Honor X9b FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the X9b support 5G?
Yes. The X9b supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the X9b use?
The X9b runs on the Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4 nm).
What display does the X9b 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 X9b battery?
The X9b has a 5800 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 35W wiredReverse wired.
Does the X9b have NFC?
Yes, the X9b has NFC.
Is the X9b water resistant?
The X9b carries a IP53 dust protected and water resistant (vertical water sprays)* * market/region dependent availability rating.
Does the X9b support a microSD card?
No, the X9b does not support expandable storage.
Does the X9b have a headphone jack?
No, the X9b does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the X9b isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
X50
100
X60 Pro
X9c
V40 Lite 4G
