Positioned as the HONOR’s “toughest” phone to date, the HONOR X9C 5G claims to have triple defense against drops, water, and extreme temperatures. But does it live up to its billing? Let’s dive in.
Built to endure everyday hazards
The HONOR X9C 5G’s build was engineered for resilience in real-world scenarios. Its triple defense system offers drop resistance, water resistance, and heat resistance.
The phone boasts a back-to-back Superdouble tempered glass. It survived our four meter drop test—a level of durability that might please clumsy users and outdoor explorers alike.
Moreover, with an IP65 rating, the device can withstand water jets from any direction and dust exposure. To give a better picture, it can survive accidental drops in a puddle, or urgent calls and texting under the rain.
HONOR explained that the device has a three-layer water-resistant structure. The first layer is external leakage port protection for the side key port, speaker hole, and card tray hole.
The second layer protects the interface, with a USB rubber sleeve adopting straight surface matching and double sealing ribs.
The third layer is board-level and software protection, including BTB protection with added foam and waterproof detection with software safeguards.
But the most interesting thing it can do is survive an accidental drop into a boiling soup. Watch this durability test video we did to see it for yourself.
The battery life makes you eligible for a marathon
The HONOR X9c 5G houses a massive 6600mAh battery. In practical terms, the battery delivers up to two full days of moderate use or around 10 hours of screen-on time with demanding tasks like gaming and streaming.
Recharging time gets the device up to a 65% in just 30 minutes because of the 66W HONOR SuperCharge.
Rugged yet stylish design
Despite its rugged features, the X9C 5G doesn’t compromise on aesthetics. The phone comes in three colorways: Titanium Purple, Jade Cyan, and Titanium Black.
Furthermore, the slim bezels and lightweight design make it comfortable to hold.
Setting expectations
Under the hood, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, which was released in 2022. During its time, this was the top of the line chip that made devices like the realme 12 Pro popular. To see many other budget and sub-20k devices using this chip today makes for a good case on the standards for what “budget” will mean in the future. Because if this is the future of the floor, then we’re in a good place.
However, if you own the previous HONOR X9b, do note that this is the same processor on the X9c. You will find the upgrades in double capacity RAM at 24GB and higher battery storage.
Also, the phone runs MagicOS 8.0, based on Android 14. The interface is intuitive, however, the pre-installed apps on the device might trouble some users, as it takes up storage and occasionally brings in unnecessary notifications.
Overall thoughts
Just recently, HONOR Philippines recently broke the Guinness World Record for “The Most People Performing a Mobile Phone Drop Test Simultaneously,” with 264 people dropping the phone all at the same time. This highlights the brand’s confidence in the phone‘s durability.
The HONOR X9C 5G is a compelling choice for users who prioritize durability and battery life over raw performance and cutting-edge camera technology.
With a starting price of P16,999 (24GB + 256GB edition), it could be a companion for adventurers, outdoor explorers, or anyone who is likely to have several phone mishaps based on their active lifestyle. Its strengths make it a worthy contender in the —— market of 2025.
If you’re looking for a tough and stylish smartphone that can keep up with your active lifestyle, the HONOR X9C 5G deserves consideration.
