The Honor X9c: A Battery Beast with Compromises You’ll Feel
Let me start with the headline: This phone will outlast your attention span. The Honor X9c’s 6,600 mAh battery isn’t just a number—it’s a lifestyle. Imagine forgetting your charger at home and still ending the day with 30% juice after binge-watching Netflix on your commute. That’s the X9c’s superpower. But like any superhero, it’s got a kryptonite or two.
The Screen That’s Too Bright to Ignore (Literally)
That 6.78-inch AMOLED display hits 4,000 nits peak brightness—enough to make sunlight flinch. I tested it under Madrid’s midday sun, and the screen laughed at the glare. Scrolling TikTok? Butter-smooth at 120Hz. But here’s the rub: that brightness comes at a cost. At full blast, you’ll see the battery percentage drop like a clumsy rock climber. Thankfully, the 3,840 Hz PWM dimming makes late-night doomscrolling easier on the eyes than most budget phones.
Performance: Snapdragon 6 Gen1 – Workhorse, Not Racehorse
The Snapdragon 6 Gen1 chip is like a reliable pickup truck: it’ll haul your apps without drama, but don’t expect Formula 1 speeds. I threw Genshin Impact at it, and it chugged along at medium settings—no fiery crashes, just steady 45-50 fps. The hidden MVP? The cooling system. After 30 minutes, the back was warm, not “oven-fresh cookie sheet” hot. Multitasking with 12GB RAM felt effortless, though app reloads happened more than on pricier phones.
Cameras: One-Trick Pony with Occasional Sparkle
That 108MP main camera (Samsung HM6 sensor) shines in daylight—details pop, colors stay honest. But the 5MP ultrawide? It’s like using a potato lens. At a weekend market, my wide-angle shots of food stalls looked muddy compared to the main cam’s crispness. Low-light performance? Decent if you stand still. Kids’ birthday parties? Expect ghost trails. The OIS helps, but this isn’t a night owl’s dream. Selfie cam? Perfectly serviceable for Zoom calls, but skin tones run slightly warm.
The Body: Durable, But You’ll Feel the Budget
IP65 rating means you can survive a sudden downpour, but don’t take it swimming. The plastic back feels… well, plastic. Not cheap, just unapologetically practical. At 189g, it’s lighter than most bricks this size, but one-handed texting? Good luck reaching the notification bar. No LED notifications either—get ready to tap the screen obsessively like everyone else in 2025.
Software: Android 14 with Training Wheels
MagicOS 8.0 is Android with a slight identity crisis. The app drawer’s optional, gestures work smoothly, but there’s bloatware—three redundant app stores in my review unit. Honor promises two OS updates (through Android 16) and security patches till 2026. Not class-leading, but acceptable for a €300 phone. Google services work flawlessly—no Huawei-style exile here.
Who’s This For?
Buy it if: You’re a battery life zealot, a sunlight warrior, or someone who drops phones more than bad habits. The X9c’s stamina and durability (2m drop resistance) make it ideal for travelers, delivery drivers, or parents who just want to survive the day.
Skip it if: You’re a camera snob, a wireless charging addict, or hate plasticky builds. The lack of expandable storage (256GB max) might irk media hoarders, too.
My Take: A Contender with Clear Tradeoffs
Here’s the coffee-talk truth: At €292 (€344 in Germany—yikes, regional pricing!), this phone’s a value beast with asterisks. I’d recommend it to my sister who’s always forgetting to charge her phone, but not to my photographer friend. That 6,600 mAh battery isn’t just a spec—it’s freedom from outlet anxiety. But you’re trading camera versatility and premium feel for that liberty.
Would I use it daily? As a secondary device for trips—absolutely. As my main driver? Only if Instagramming isn’t my job. Honor’s playing the long game here—literally. If you can live with its quirks, the X9c might just outlast your next relationship.
