It’s almost a sort of tradition that at the start of the year, HONOR Philippines sends us their latest X9 series smartphone to be subjected to a physical endurance test. You’ve probably seen the ads: with the X9b, X9c, and the now, the X9d being subjected to all sorts of ridiculous stress tests: being thrown off a helicopter, a plane, being on the receiving end of a boxing glove, mimicking a sledgehammer to smash concrete, and now, being smashed into the bulletproof chassis of a Tesla Cybertruck.
Friends, this is marketing. And if it is one thing that marketing teaches us is that, in the words of David Ogilvy, this is the truth, but it is a truth told well.
What is also true is personally subjecting your store-bought X9d to these harsh conditions actually void the warranty, and it is something that we have stressed every time we review this iteration. HONOR Philippines also states this disclaimer. It is truth that the new HONOR X9d is fortified. But in this review I would like to contextualize it more in the scheme of what buying a midrange phone means in 2026, beyond the marketing hype.
This is the very first phone I am reviewing this year. With the sudden increase in RAM and GPU prices in the PC and mobile market, what does advancements in technology mean for the price-sensitive consumer? And because this is the first new device of the year for the Philippine market, I am going to use it as a benchmark for what buyers should consider.
Over 1000000 AnTuTu score
Last year when I reviewed the HONOR X9c, I peeled away at its defences, showing that at its core, the phone was decent albeit with an outdated processor from 2022. The new HONOR X9d completely changes that narrative and pushes its classification from “mid” to “high” in terms of value for money in the sub-20k line. The HONOR X9d comes with a 4th generation Snapdragon 6 processor from Qualcomm. Yes, it’s the Snapdragon 6 from 2022 that made devices like the realme 11 popular but this 2026, the 4th generation of this supposedly budget SoC brings so much power – that it surpasses an AnTuTu score of one million: 1006393 to be exact. This puts it way beyond its “basic daily driver” narrative for the X9 series and puts it more into a robust midrange device that is built to serve long and well.
Big battery, better WiFi
It seems like 2026 has imposed a new yardstick for what good battery life means. With the need for more power comes a better battery. The HONOR X9d 5G ships with a 8300mAh silicon carbon battery, the newest technology upgrade after the more ubiquitous lithium ion and polymer. Normally found in flagship devices and drones, we now have this more dense technology on midrange phones, allowing better battery life that pushes beyond the “normal” 5000mAh. I’m also quite surprised to find support for WiFi 6, normally found last year in higher end flagship killer devices. How tech has changed! Essentially these two new features mean faster Internet speeds (as long as you’re connected to a WiFi 6 compatible router) and longer battery life, allowing you to complete your day with spare charge at hand. Regarding the silicon carbon battery, there are some concerns with bloating. I’ve used several flagship devices (HONOR included) with this new battery tech and so far, after dozens of charging cycles it doesn’t seem to be an issue. The rate of technology advances are now at an unprecedented speed.
A secret flagship killer?
In 2026, what does a flagship killer mean? There’s nothing truly “weak” about the HONOR X9d 5G. Its SoC and other hardware features are top notch. The price alone is shocking: P17,999 on preorder and P18,999 on retail regular. Let me put this price into context: at this price range, you’re getting what many phones at P25,000 up used to offer. And yes, I do understand the narrative that as technology moves fast, most devices in 2026 may have this as the new benchmark. But the HONOR X9d was announced in the last quarter of 2025, and only made waves in 2026 for the Philippine market. This means that it may have been the last batch of phones to evade the RAM price increase. If you’re looking for a phone that can survive the next three years of tech price gouging, this may be a good bet.
Things to consider
- dual SIM with no eSIM support
- solid price for 2026
- 256GB storage might be a dealbreaker for some (for unit reviewed vis a vis pricing)
- 30fps video recording at 4K and up to 60fps at 1080p recording
- although not a highlight, it has a decent OIS camera system
- no 3.5mm earphone jack
Pricing
The HONOR X9d will sell at P17,999 at preorder period from January 9-23 2026. The preorder freebies include a HONOR Gift Box and a JisuLife Fan 5. Preorders will entitle you to a raffle for a Tesla Cybertruck.
The actual price of the HONOR X9d is P18,999 and can be bought online from Lazada, Shopee, TikTok.
Links:
Lazada – https://bit.ly/Shop_X9d_Media
Shopee – https://bit.ly/Shop_X9d_Media
TikTok Shop – https://bit.ly/TikTok_X9d_Media
HONOR X9d 5G Specs (unit tested)
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 4
- Adreno 810 GPU
- 12GB RAM + 12GB HONOR RAM Turbo
- 8300mAh Silicon Carbon Battery
- 2640×1200 at 6.79” screen
- 256GB storage
- MagicOS 9 + Android 15
- SGS Triple Defense Certification
- 108MP OIS Main Camera
- Dual SIM capability
- 66W fast charging w/ 7.5W reverse charging
- WiFi 6 capable
