The Honor X8c: A Mid-Range Contender That Gets the Basics Right (Mostly)
Let’s cut to the chase: The Honor X8c isn’t going to blow your mind, but it’s a solid workhorse for the price. After digging into its guts, I’d describe it like a reliable hatchback – not flashy, but it’ll get you where you need to go without drama. Here’s where it shines and where it stumbles.
The Screen: Smooth Operator (With a Catch)
That 6.7” LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate feels slick when scrolling through TikTok or swiping between apps. But here’s the twist: Honor’s using PWM dimming at 3840Hz – a fancy way of saying the screen flickers less, which matters if you’re prone to eye strain. At 1200 nits peak brightness, it’s legible in direct sunlight, though colors look a bit washed compared to OLED rivals. The real win? That 85% usable screen area – no awkward chin or forehead stealing space.
Performance: Decent Muscle, But Don’t Push It
The Snapdragon 685 is like a coffee-fueled intern: great at basic tasks, but ask too much and it’ll sweat. Casual apps? Smooth. Multitasking with 8GB RAM? Surprisingly competent. But fire up Genshin Impact on medium settings, and the Adreno 610 GPU starts wheezing. No cooling system means it’ll throttle after 15 minutes of gaming. This isn’t a gaming phone – but for YouTube, WhatsApp, and light social media? Zero complaints.
Cameras: Daylight Hero, Low-Light Zero
That 108MP main sensor (Samsung HM6) is a classic case of “big number ≠ great photos.” In daylight, shots are crisp if you tap to focus, but pixel-binning to 12MP gives better dynamic range. The 51MP selfie cam? Overkill – but decent for Instagram stories. Where it falls apart? Night shots. No dedicated night mode means grainy, smudgy photos after sunset. The depth sensor helps with portrait bokeh, but I’d trade it for an ultrawide lens in a heartbeat.
Battery Life: The Marathon Runner
Here’s where the X8c flexes. The 5000mAh battery easily lasts a day and a half with moderate use – think 6 hours of screen time. Even better: 35W charging gets you from 0-50% in 30 minutes. No wireless charging, but at this price? Fair trade. Just don’t expect iPhone-level standby efficiency – Android 15 helps, but background apps still nibble at the battery.
Design: Practical Over Premium
At 7.1mm thick and 174g, it’s impressively light for a 6.7” phone. The plastic back feels… well, plasticky, but the IP64 rating means you won’t panic in rain. That “frameless” design? It’s still got slim bezels, but the LCD panel means no fancy curved edges. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor works flawlessly, though – a small but critical win.
Who’s This For?
Buy it if: You want a big screen for streaming, need all-day battery life, and prioritize smooth everyday performance over gaming chops. The clean Android 15 experience (with Google services!) is a bonus.
Skip it if: You’re a mobile photographer, hardcore gamer, or want that “premium” feel. The camera struggles in challenging light, and the plastic build lacks polish.
My Take: Would I Use It?
As someone who juggle 10 Chrome tabs while texting and snapping photos? Probably not. But for my mom or a college student on a budget? Absolutely. The X8c nails the essentials: great battery, clean software, and a screen that’s easy on the eyes. Just don’t expect magic – this is a phone that knows its lane and stays in it.
