It seems that the latest HONOR X9d has turned heads for its durability. And "durability" isn't a term to be casually thrown at in this article.
In a recent showcase, we had taken a first look at how the HONOR X9d is set to break boundaries when it comes to a phone that withstands the harsh environments of today's busy fast-paced life. At this showcase, HONOR invited the media to stapler, shoot nail guns, bury it into sand and even fire a plasma canon at the HONOR X9d. What went on in HONOR's mind for this phone, we don't know.
Plus, this phone is only retailing for RM1,499!
The phone has definitely captured our interest, and it's not a gimmick. We have taken note of HONOR X9 series which has been recognised for its durability in a premium body. At the same time, the HONOR mobile user experience have grown and seen improvements over the year. Having played with the X9d for awhile now, here's what we have to say about it.
Editor
Jodee Tan chevron_right
Table of Contents
HONOR X9d Specifications
- Display: 6.79″, 1.5K AMOLED, 1.3mm slim bezel, ultra-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, 6000 nits peak brightness
- Processor & GPU: Snapdragon 6 Gen 4; Adreno 810
- Operating System: Android 15, MagicOS 9; 3 Years of Android OS Updates, 4 Years of Security Updates
- Rear Camera (dual): 108 MP OIS Ultra-Clear AI camera, 5MP Ultra-Wide camera
- Front Camera: 20 MP, f/2.2 (wide)
- Memory:
- 12GB + 256GB
- 12GB + 512GB
- Battery: 8,300mAh, 66W Super Charging, 7.5W reverse charging, 6 years anti-ageing battery guarantee
- Dimensions: 76.1mm x 161.9mm x 7.76mm
- Weight: 193g
- Built:
- IP69K + IP69 + IP68 + IP66 ratings water and dust resistant
- Corning Gorilla Ultra-Deep Tempered Glass
- SGS Triple Resistant Premium Protection Certification
- HONOR VC Ice Cooling System
- Capable of Underwater Photo mode
Screen & Design
Like the recent HONOR phones that launched in the previous months this year, we're happy to see that the X9d comes in 4 premium colours, with one of it in a striking red-vegan leather setup, and is the variant we have. At 6.79-inch, the HONOR X9d is also sufficiently sizeable for content viewing, with the screen supporting content of HDR10+ and Widevine L quality.
The phone is lightweight and comfortable to hold, weighing at 193g. To ensure users get the same longevity quality for content viewing, the screen is also equipped with eye-comfort features like Circadian Night Display, Dynamic Dimming, and Always On Display modes. This time, it even introduces the AI feature Anti-Glare mode that optimises viewing brightness to ensure content stay clear always.
Similar to what we saw at HONOR Magic V5's showcase of its Super Steel Hinge whereby a Magic V5 hung a 35kg dumbbell and even a sofa, we were invited to push the HONOR X9d to its limit in various stressful physical activities such as hurdling it around in a cement mixer, a "nail gun" shooting range, a "cooking steamer" demonstration and the (fan-faovurite) plasma canon blast hands-on. It also has water and dust eject feature, and is certified with SGS Triple Resistant Premium Protection.
HONOR has once again engineered another brick phone, except it's a smart phone and, scarily, does not feel like it due to its light weight.
Performance & Battery
A standout feature is the X9d's massive 8,300mAh Silicon-carbon (Si/C) battery, and is a significantly larger cell than what most smartphones offer in the Malaysian market currently. HONOR says the X9d offers enough battery to last 52 hours of Spotify music-playing, and 1 hour of call time with just 2% battery left. It is also capable of 7.5w wired reverse charging.
In a 30 minutes test conducted by HONOR, the HONOR X9d was put against several other phones that were looping the same YouTube video, with about 5% of battery left. While most phones have died and a few were still looping with terribly dimmed screen brightness, HONOR X9d's screen withstood the test of time as it still plays the video with a bright display. Of course, this is also thanks to its massive 8,300mAh battery which will have a higher capacity at 5% than a phone at 5% with just 5,000mAh battery.
For us, there was also just a 5% battery drain after playing Call of Duty in a 25 minutes session.
HONOR X9d was also good with games that demand high graphic capabilities. Visuals and motions were smooth with minor stutter and lag when we played Call of Duty, and that the phone hardly felt warm until awhile later. For a mid-range brick, the HONOR X9d is capable as a main driver rather than just a backup phone.
Camera
HONOR X9d comes with a high resolution of 108MP ultra-clear AI camera and a 5MP ultra-wide camera, making up for a dual camera setup. Right off the bat, images seem sharp and capable of clear shots with its x3 telecopic zooms. We do think the colour palette leanes towards cool-tone, and thus this phone would do very well with landscape and street photography the most.
In terms of portrait shots, separation and depth of subject against their backgrounds are also clear, though understand that there's no dedicated telephoto lens, portraits photos are possible through HONOR's AI, so results might not be consistently natural.
UI, OS & AI
HONOR X9d comes with the latest Android 15-based MagicOS 9, which has a clean and more secured interface as well as introduces HONOR's YOYO agent to help you execute computing tasks such as taking down notes for you, translate and transcribe content, as well as AI generative tasks for photography such as AI Cutout and AI Face Restore.
In terms of gaming and the likes of launching demanding apps, MagicOS 9 also has enhanced support for the AI-powered Turbo X system engine that enhances overall performance, improving graphics rendering and app launch times.
Underwhelmingly, HONOR X9d will only feature 3 years of Android OS updates and 4 Years of security updates.
Choose the HONOR X9d because:
Strong Built & Design
HONOR continues to impress with its durability and built standard for its phones. As expected due to HONOR trends, the X9d's 8,300mAh slim Silicon-Carbon Battery is already a big jump from the X9c's 6,600mAh battery life. With this, HONOR reports about hours long of battery life. If you're looking for a phone that lasts "too" long, you can confidently pick up the HONOR X9c.
Price Point
HONOR X9d also has a good price point for its class. At RM1,499 the X9d offers a lot of practical hardware and is also primed for sufficient years of software support, making it a good pick for those who wants a tough phone as their daily driver. We imagine if you're someone who also wants a phone to make outdoor content with, or to suit your outdoor lifestyle, X9d's protection features are already the best reasons to pick it.
Don't pick it up because:
Surprisingly, HONOR will be capping its support for security updates at 4 years, and OS at 3 years now. To be honest, at this price it is not too big of a dealbreaker. However those wanting to get the X9d for its price and longevity aspect might want to think twice especially if they want a phone to stretch with them for over half a decade.
Who is this for?
Pros
- Good strong built with premium-finish and look
- High durability
- Great price point
Cons
- Shorter support years of updates compared to competitors
HONOR X9d for RM1,499 is a great pick for users who wants a phone that runs most casual apps without any problems, and also need a phone that can withstand harsh environments such as encounters with outdoor weather, natural materials and with the longest battery life possible.
You can preorder the HONOR X9d on HONOR Malaysia for RM1,499 starting today until 9 October 2025 only. Preorder perks include a free HONOR XPad 7 too; a very lucrative bundle steal to enjoy!
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