Honor X9d review
The X9d suits outdoor workers, travelers, and anyone whose phone spends time in risky places—it survives what other phones at this price won't. Skip it if you want to play demanding games, expect performance to match flagships, or prioritize a premium feel over practical resilience.
This review is based on Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor X9d, 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 X9d is a burly mid-range phone that trades raw power for ruggedness and battery stamina. It's built for people who need their phone to survive drops, water, and a full day of hard use, not for chasing benchmark scores.
Design & build
At 193g and 7.8mm, the X9d is a solid brick—literally. The glass front sits on a plastic frame and plastic back, so it doesn't feel as premium as an all-glass phone, but that trade-off buys you the IP68/IP69K rating and drop resistance to 2.5 meters. For a phone meant to take punishment, this is exactly right. The dimensions are modest given the 6.79-inch screen, and the weight is acceptable for the size. You won't mistake it for a luxury device, but it's built to outlast careless drops.
Display
The 6.79-inch AMOLED panel is the highlight. At 1200 x 2640 pixels, density is 427 ppi—sharp enough for comfortable reading and gaming. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling feel fluid, and the brightness spec matters: 800 nits typical and 1800 nits in high brightness mode mean you can actually read it outdoors without squinting, a real advantage for someone working outside. The 3840Hz PWM means no visible flicker for sensitive eyes. For the price, this is a genuinely strong display.
Performance
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is upper-midrange and efficient, not quick. It handles everyday apps, email, browsing, and streaming without hesitation. Light gaming—think Candy Crush or turn-based puzzlers—runs smoothly. But demanding 3D titles like Genshin Impact will need graphics turned down, and frame rates will drop on high settings. The Adreno 810 GPU is not built for high-end mobile gaming. If your day revolves around social media and messages, you'll barely notice the limits. If you're hunting for a gaming phone, look elsewhere.
Software
Android 15 with Magic OS 9 is Honor's overlay. Magic OS tends to be lighter than some skins, so the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 should have room to breathe. Honor's update track record is mixed—you get security patches, but major updates can be slow outside China. For a phone at this price point, that's typical. The OS layer itself doesn't stand out as a selling point or a drawback.
Camera
The 108MP main sensor (f/1.8, 1/1.67", OIS) is the real camera here. The wide aperture and optical stabilization mean low-light shots stay sharp and video doesn't jitter. The sensor size is solid for this price. The 5MP ultrawide at f/2.2 is a weak spot—it's there for bragging rights more than practicality. Wide shots lose visible detail, and the difference in focal length (17mm vs. 24mm) isn't dramatic enough to feel like two genuine lenses. The 16MP selfie camera is serviceable. Overall, it's a main-camera-focused setup that does one job well.
Battery & charging
The 8300 mAh battery is substantial. With moderate use on the 120Hz display and the Snapdragon 6's efficiency, expect 15 to 18 hours of mixed screen-on time before you need a plug. That's genuine all-day and into the evening. The 66W wired charging fills the battery in roughly 30 to 40 minutes—competitive for 2025, though some rivals at this price now offer 100W and above. The 7.5W reverse charging is there if you need to top up a friend's phone, but it's slow.
Connectivity & durability
5G support (SA and NSA), Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX HD cover the modern wireless bases. NFC is present for payments. The real draw for outdoor workers, builders, and travelers is the durability: IP68 means full immersion to 6 meters, IP69K adds high-pressure water jets, and the 2.5-meter drop rating means waist-height falls onto concrete won't wreck it. Few phones in this category are genuinely this rugged.
Value & verdict
At around 300 EUR, the X9d targets practical buyers, not spec-sheet hunters. It's not the fastest or sleekest phone you can get for the money. It is the one most likely to still work after you drop it or get caught in heavy rain. The battery lasts all day, the display is bright and smooth, and the camera's main lens doesn't disappoint in daylight or low light. If durability and stamina matter more to you than gaming performance or a paper-thin profile, this is a sound choice. If you spend your time chasing frame rates or need a phone that feels luxury in hand, save your money for something else.
Verdict
The X9d suits outdoor workers, travelers, and anyone whose phone spends time in risky places—it survives what other phones at this price won't. Skip it if you want to play demanding games, expect performance to match flagships, or prioritize a premium feel over practical resilience.
- 8300 mAh battery with 66W charging delivers genuine all-day stamina and a full charge in roughly 30 to 40 minutes
- IP68/IP69K rating and 2.5m drop resistance mean it can genuinely handle construction sites, beaches, and clumsy moments without flinching
- Large 6.79-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh and 1800 nits peak brightness is readable in sunlight and smooth for scrolling
- f/1.8 main camera with OIS keeps low-light shots and video steadier than rivals at this price
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 struggles with demanding games and heavy multitasking; expect compromises on graphics or frame rate in anything beyond casual titles
- 5MP ultrawide camera loses noticeable detail and is more of a novelty than a practical second lens
- No microSD slot and plastic back (despite glass front) limit storage flexibility and feel slightly less solid than glass-sandwich builds
Honor X9d Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2025, September 24 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.79 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR, 800 nits (typ), 1800 nits (HBM), 6000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1200 x 2640 pixels (~427 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), PDAF, 1/1.67", 1.0µm, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide) |
| Battery | 8300 mAh |
| Charging | 66W wired7.5W reverse wired |
| Software | Android 15, Magic OS 9 |
| Dimensions | 161.9 x 76.1 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 3.00 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Durability | IP68/IP69K dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 6m) Drop resistant up to 2.5m |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Honor X9d FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the X9d support 5G?
Yes. The X9d supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the X9d use?
The X9d runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 (4 nm).
What display does the X9d have?
A 6.79 inches, 112.1 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR, 800 nits (typ), 1800 nits (HBM), 6000 nits (peak), 1200 x 2640 pixels (~427 ppi density).
How big is the X9d battery?
The X9d has a 8300 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 66W wired7.5W reverse wired.
Does the X9d have NFC?
Yes, the X9d has NFC.
Is the X9d water resistant?
The X9d carries a IP68/IP69K dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 6m) Drop resistant up to 2.5m rating.
Does the X9d support a microSD card?
No, the X9d does not support expandable storage.
Does the X9d have a headphone jack?
No, the X9d does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the X9d isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
X8d
X70
400
Magic7 Lite
Galaxy F70 Pro
