Revision of HONOR X9b. Shockproof smartphone with 5800 mAh battery

We continue to get acquainted with smartphones from the mid-price segment: in this review we look at the HONOR X9b, a device with increased screen durability and a large 5800 mAh battery.

HONOR X9b is packed in a hard cardboard box. Inside is the orange smartphone itself (green and black are also available), a charger, an ejector and documentation.

At the bottom you can connect headphones, but only via USB Type-C, there is no mini-jack. There is also a speaker, microphone and a tray for two Nano SIM cards. microSD memory cards are not supported. At the same time, the smartphone has 256 GB of internal memory, which is sufficient for normal use.

There is only a hole on top for an extra microphone.

The left edge is completely empty, all control keys are on the right side.

The back wall of the HONOR X9b in orange is made of eco-leather. The material is lightly structured, fits comfortably in the hand and does not slip. Suitable for those who prefer to use their smartphone without a case.

The camera block is striking: three modules and a flash are located on a large ring with an iridescent surface and gold edges.

The edges of the case are curved – the rounded side frame flows into the curved screen. The frames around it are small (the screen takes up about 91% of the front surface).

The HONOR X9b weighs 178 grams and is quite light in the hand. The thickness is 8 mm and the camera block does not protrude much, so that the smartphone rests firmly on the surface. IP53 protection protects you against dust and small splashes.

The company’s own 35W charger comes bundled with a USB-A to Type-C cable.

HONOR The maximum supported frequency is 120 Hz, which makes all animations, videos and games look smooth.

The stated peak brightness of up to 1200 nits helps to use the device on a sunny day without any problems. There is no glare and the color reproduction in the standard modes is very natural. The switching frequency of the shock-resistant screen is 1920 Hz.

The curved edges do not interfere with the operation in any way – the sensor works perfectly on the edges, no false clicks occur.

The fingerprint scanner is located at the bottom of the screen and for users with short fingers, this solution may cause inconvenience. But there is face unlock using the front camera, which can be enabled in the settings.

The reason for this location of the scanner is most likely the large 5800 mAh battery, which takes up most of the internal space. But you can use your smartphone for a day or two. By the way, the device is fully charged in 1.5-2 hours.

Audiophiles will be unhappy: the model has only one speaker. And while it’s quite loud and clear, it fails to surprise.

Separately, we note the patented drop protection for the screen, called Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop 360. Its feature is a cushioning layer around the screen that absorbs impact energy. HONOR X9b received 5 stars from the Swiss company SGS for such screen protection.

This means that the round screen will be difficult to break – some people crack nuts with the device to test it, others throw it off the table, but many agree that the screen remains unscathed in the event of a daily fall.

Let’s move on to the cameras: the main module with a 108 megapixel matrix is ​​equipped with an f/1.8 lens. Additional modules include a 5 megapixel wide-angle camera (f/2.2) and a 2 megapixel macro camera (f/2.4).

The main module photographs well and can handle sharpness in normal or bright light, even in standard 12 megapixel operation. You can enable high-definition mode at 108 megapixels, but artificial intelligence will provide acceptable photos even from normal mode, so there is no significant difference with a higher number of pixels.

The wide-angle camera is quite blurred – it is not enough for really bright shots, the edges darken and noise appears. But it is suitable for capturing a large space. The macro module is also nothing to praise, here it is more about quantity. The triple zoom is made using a crop lens: the camera mimics the action of a telephoto lens, but the frames are actually more detailed.

4K video recording is only available at 30 frames per second. All other resolutions are 60 fps. There’s not even any software stabilization, which means you won’t be able to shoot smooth videos while you move. Only suitable for static video recording.

16-megapixel front camera with f/2.5 lens. The photos come out quite well and are perfect for story posts. The camera application has a multi-video mode – it allows you to simultaneously record videos from several modules and place them in different places (of your choice) on the recording. This is perfect if you want to record your response from the front camera in parallel with the main camera.

HONOR

We tested the smartphone in synthetic tests Geekbench 6 and AnTuTu (results in the screenshots).

Tests in games showed the high performance of this chipset. All top projects, including Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG and Genshin Impact, run smoothly on high settings. On some projects you can swear by ultra settings.

The battery lasts about 4-5 hours. At the same time, the smartphone heats up to a maximum of 45-50 degrees, but you hardly feel it in your hands. There is throttling, but it is small: the performance drop in half an hour is about 14-18%. Therefore, you can play for a long time without fear of big drawdowns.

I would like to commend the HONOR X9b for its solid hardware: the Snapdragon 6 Gen1 platform allows you to enjoy mobile games, and improved screen protection eliminates the fear of dropping your smartphone. Bonuses include support for 5G networks for the future and a nice-feeling back cover (in the orange version).

Perfect construction! Forget the fear of dropping your smartphone face down – HONOR X9b is protected all around with an extra damper that reduces the chance of damage.

Designer’s choice. The curved screen, the bright color and the stylish camera block ensure that the device stands out from the competition.