Honor X9b Full Review: In 2024 This is Best Smart Phone For You

Honor X9b Full Review: In 2024 This is Best Smart Phone For You

Honor re-entered the Indian market in September 2023, making a significant splash with the introduction of its inaugural smartphone, the Honor 90. Geared towards attracting premium buyers, this debut was met with considerable acclaim. Building upon this momentum, Honor is now unveiling the Honor X9b, specifically catering to the segment of mid-range 5G smartphone seekers looking for options under Rs 30,000. Despite the fiercely competitive nature of this price bracket, Honor expresses confidence in its latest offering, priced at Rs 25,999. However, the crucial question remains unanswered: does the Honor X9b truly justify its price tag? To address this query, we’ll embark on a comprehensive review of the device.

Design, build

The design of the Honor X9b undoubtedly catches the eye, but it doesn’t push the boundaries of innovation. This lack of groundbreaking novelty can be attributed to the prevailing trends in the sub-Rs 30,000 smartphone market. It’s common to find devices boasting a slim profile, a gracefully curved panel, and a sleek leather finish at the back. However, far from being a drawback, this design choice actually serves a practical purpose by enhancing the device’s grip and making it easier to operate single-handedly.

The unit we received for review stands out with its vibrant orange color, earning praise from myself and several colleagues who were impressed by the harmonious design and color scheme. While there may be some contention about the proliferation of phones featuring vegan leather backs, there’s no denying the value in this trend. Not only does it improve the device’s grip and lend it a luxurious appearance, but it also allows manufacturers to incorporate such features without significantly inflating the price.

A notable feature of the Honor X9b is its rear camera module, which seamlessly integrates into the device’s body, ensuring stability when placed on a flat surface. This attention to detail underscores Honor’s commitment to achieving both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality in the X9b’s design. Overall, it’s evident that Honor has succeeded in striking a delicate balance between style and usability with the X9b.

The design of the Honor X9b is truly distinctive, featuring a round camera module at the back adorned with a textured gold ring, and complemented by golden accents on the side frames, all contributing to its luxurious appearance. However, it’s impossible to ignore the striking resemblance between the X9b and the Realme Narzo 60 series, which debuted in July of the previous year. Even the shade of orange on the X9b seems to be a mirror image of its Realme counterpart.

Despite this similarity, I can’t fault the X9b’s design in any significant way. The button placement is meticulously arranged, enhancing the phone’s usability, while its overall aesthetic exudes a sense of premium quality. Furthermore, the device impresses with its lightweight construction, making it a pleasure to hold and use.

While the speaker on the Honor X9b produces impressive volume levels, I can’t help but feel that stereo speakers would have been a welcome addition, particularly considering that many smartphones in its price range offer this feature. The single-unit speaker output tends to sound somewhat lacking in depth and richness. Additionally, although Honor provides a pair of wired Type-C earphones with the X9b, I found their audio quality to be merely average, failing to deliver the immersive experience one would expect from premium accessories.

Display

One of the most outstanding features of the Honor X9b, and arguably its biggest selling point, is its exceptional durability. I decided to put it to the test myself, deliberately dropping it multiple times onto hard pavement with significant force. Despite these intentional impacts, the phone emerged unscathed, showing no signs of dents or damage. Taking durability testing to the extreme, our Fiiber video team even subjected the device to being run over by a car, and astonishingly, it came out without a scratch. In fact, a colleague of mine continues to use the phone without encountering any issues whatsoever. This solid performance underscores Honor’s commitment to delivering a device that can withstand the rigors of everyday use.

Turning our attention to the display, the Honor X9b doesn’t disappoint. Sporting a generous 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, a size commonly found in mid-range smartphones, it stands out with its crisp visuals and support for 1.5K resolution. While the advertised 120Hz refresh rate is a promising feature, I was unable to confirm its functionality as the option was not accessible in the phone’s developer settings. Nonetheless, the overall scrolling experience, particularly on apps like Instagram, remained impressively smooth, showcasing the display’s commendable performance and enhancing the user experience. reedmore

I found the color tone of the screen on the Honor X9b to be particularly pleasing, as it strikes a harmonious balance between being neither too cold nor too warm. This nuanced balance significantly enhances the overall viewing experience, making content appear more vibrant and true to life. Furthermore, the ability to fine-tune the color tone according to personal preferences through the Settings menu adds an extra layer of customization, catering to individual user preferences.

When it comes to visibility under sunlight, the Honor X9b performs admirably, allowing me to effortlessly read key content even in bright outdoor conditions. This is a noteworthy feature for those who frequently use their phones outdoors or in well-lit environments. However, it’s important to mention that while the display quality is satisfactory, it may not deliver the same level of brightness as some other devices in a similar price range.

Moving on to the biometric security features, the in-display fingerprint sensor of the Honor X9b, while slightly sluggish, reliably performs its intended function. Despite the presence of a curved panel, which might raise concerns for some gamers regarding mistouches, I didn’t encounter any such issues during my usage. The minimal bezels surrounding the display contribute to a seamless and immersive viewing experience, whether one is binge-watching their favorite shows or engrossed in a gaming session.

Overall, the display quality and user interface of the Honor X9b make significant positive contributions to the overall user experience, offering a blend of customization, functionality, and immersion that enhances everyday usage scenarios.

General performance, software

The Honor X9b is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC, a chipset known for its reliability and consistent performance. While it may not boast the title of the fastest chipset within the Rs 30,000 price range, it certainly stands as a competent contender. The device effortlessly handles everyday tasks, whether it’s seamlessly multitasking between various applications, conducting light video editing sessions with apps like InShot, or smoothly navigating through social media feeds. Moreover, casual gaming experiences, such as enjoying games like Subway Surfers or Candy Crush, are devoid of any hindrances like app crashes or excessive battery drainage. Additionally, the Honor X9b excels in swift app launch times, enhancing overall user experience.

Nevertheless, for avid gamers who lean towards more demanding titles like Genshin Impact, it’s essential to manage expectations accordingly. While the device can handle these games at lower settings, increasing the graphics to medium levels may result in a compromise in smooth performance. Conversely, games like Call of Duty and PUBG run admirably at moderate default settings; however, pushing the device to its limits is not recommended. It’s advisable to refrain from adjusting the fps settings even at lower graphics settings to ensure a consistently enjoyable gaming experience. Fortunately, the Honor X9b’s thermal management system proves effective, as the device maintains reasonable temperatures even during prolonged gaming sessions.

Regarding benchmark scores, the Honor X9b achieves a score of 945 in the single-core test and 2818 in the multi-core test. These scores are on par with those of the Realme 12 Pro, given that both devices utilize the same chipset. However, it’s important to note that these scores fall short when compared to competitors within a similar price range, a fact observed in my review of the Realme device.

Camera / Battery life Honor X9b review: Should you buy it?

Regarding the Honor X9b, there are a couple of noteworthy points. Firstly, the haptic feedback isn’t very strong and could use improvement. Also, the device ships with Android 13 instead of the latest Android 14 OS. While Honor promises two years of major Android updates and three years of security updates, the timing for Android 14 remains uncertain. Establishing a reputation for timely software updates could greatly benefit the brand, given its relatively new presence in the market.

On a positive note, Honor’s custom skin, MagicOS, offers some appealing features. The auto mode for the Dark theme adjusts based on ambient lighting, and users can restrict background app activity for privacy and performance. The privacy dashboard is intuitive, allowing easy monitoring of app permissions. While the notification panel resembles iOS, its convenience outweighs any aesthetic concerns. However, reaching the notification bar on the large screen can be slightly challenging.

Compared to many Chinese smartphones, the Honor X9b provides a relatively bloatware-free experience with a clean interface. Performance is decent overall.

In terms of camera capabilities, the Honor X9b performs well in daylight, though HDR may not always produce optimal results. Portrait shots are generally good, but image quality suffers in low light. The device’s 5,800mAh battery offers extended usage time, though gaming may drain it more rapidly.

Honor doesn’t include a charger in the retail package, but customers can claim one for free for a limited time. The device supports 35W charging, with the official 30W charger taking approximately two and a half hours for a full charge.

Priced at Rs 25,999, the Honor X9b offers solid durability, an attractive design, and commendable battery life. However, those prioritizing gaming performance, faster charging speeds, and stereo speakers may want to consider alternatives like the Poco X6 Pro or OnePlus Nord CE 3.

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My name is OBIDULLA SHAKH, I am from India. I am a Digital Marketer, Content Writer, Creator. My role here at: OS-HOURHUB is to bring to you all the latest news from the world of business and finance so that you can keep getting all the information related to it, thank you!