Honor X9c Review: Stylish, Tough, and Surprisingly Long-Winded

The Honor X9c 5G has officially launched in India, marking another key step in Honor's return to the competitive smartphone market. Priced at ₹21,999, it enters the increasingly saturated mid-range space with a unique proposition: focus on durability, battery life, and display quality over pure performance.

This phone seems aimed at a specific kind of user. If you're a student, a casual user, or someone who needs a dependable daily driver that won't die midway through the day or crack at the first fall, then the Honor X9c is worth considering. For those looking up the Honor X9c launch date in India, the device hit the market in early October 2025.

This is not a device built for benchmarks or gaming. It's designed for practicality, and that’s what makes this honor x9c review particularly relevant to buyers who want function over flash.

Built to Handle the Everyday Chaos

At just 7.98 mm thick and weighing 189 grams, the Honor X9c feels slim and elegant in hand. However, beneath the polished exterior lies a rugged build that prioritizes real-world endurance. The phone is SGS-certified for 2-meter drop resistance, and its frame incorporates what Honor calls Ultra-Bounce Technology 2.0, a structure designed to absorb shock from accidental drops.

The design is IP65M-rated, offering protection from dust and occasional splashes. It’s not waterproof, but it can survive the chaos of everyday life. The Jade Cyan variant, which we reviewed, features a marble-like texture with curved edges and a matte finish that enhances grip while giving the phone a premium look.

While the body impresses, it’s worth mentioning that Honor does not specify whether the front panel uses Gorilla Glass or any comparable hardened glass. For some users, especially those prone to screen mishaps, this could be a drawback.

Features and Connectivity: Not Just Lip Service

The Honor X9c 5G delivers more than just durability. It includes a mix of modern features and thoughtful software tools that improve day-to-day usability. The in-display fingerprint sensor works well and feels seamless. Dual stereo speakers come with what Honor calls 300 percent volume enhancement, providing surprisingly loud and clear audio for media playback.

On the software side, the phone runs MagicOS 7.2, layered over Android 13. This includes useful additions like AI Super Power Saving Mode, Eye Comfort Display, and built-in voice assistant features. Honor also emphasizes usability in extreme weather, with claimed support for operating temperatures between -30°C to 55°C.

The phone also features AI-enhanced photography tools, including an object eraser and multi-video mode that lets you record from both front and rear cameras simultaneously. However, one drawback is the presence of bloatware, including apps like TikTok, which may not function in certain regions. These pre-installed apps can clutter the user experience, especially for those who prefer a clean setup.

Performance: It Gets the Job Done, But…

Powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset and backed by 8 GB of RAM, the Honor X9c offers reliable performance for most day-to-day tasks. It handles messaging, web browsing, video playback, and casual games like Subway Surfers or Ludo King without issues.

In benchmarking tests, the Honor X9c scored 576,392 on AnTuTu, with Geekbench scores of 939 (single-core) and 2,799 (multi-core). CPU throttle tests showed about 80.5 percent sustained performance, indicating that while it doesn’t overheat or crash under pressure, it is not built for heavy gaming or high-end multitasking.

Compared to other mid-range 5G phones like the iQOO Z10 or OnePlus Nord CE 5G, the Honor X9c falls short in terms of raw processing power. If you're a user who juggles multiple apps or plays graphics-heavy games, this phone may not meet your expectations.

Here’s how it stacks up in our tests:

Camera Performance: AI-Heavy, But Not Always Smart

The camera setup sounds promising on paper. The 108MP main sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is paired with an AI engine designed to enhance photos automatically. In daylight, the camera produces vibrant images, but it tends to overprocess. Colors are often oversaturated, making photos look more like social media filters than true-to-life captures.

Portrait mode offers solid edge detection, but struggles with skin tone accuracy and fine detail. The 5MP ultrawide sensor is underwhelming, producing flat, noisy images that lack dynamic range. Low-light photography is improved with Night Mode but still lags behind competitors in clarity and noise reduction.

Selfies are decent but overly beautified by default, often resulting in soft facial features that lack texture. That said, the multi-video mode is a creative tool, especially for content creators looking to vlog or shoot reactions in real time using both front and back cameras.

Battery: This Is Where the X9c Really Shines

This is where the honor x9c review takes a positive turn. The device houses a 6600mAh silicon-carbon battery, and it is by far the standout feature. Moderate users can easily expect between 2.5 to 3 days of usage on a single charge.

In our controlled battery tests, the Honor X9c achieved 25.8 hours of video playback, 48.4 hours of music streaming, 30.2 hours of calling at 55°C, and 20.1 hours at -30°C. This kind of endurance is rare in the mid-range segment, especially among slim phones.

Fast charging is equally efficient. The 66W charger provided in the box can bring the phone from 20 percent to 100 percent in under an hour. A quick 5-minute top-up provides around 7 hours of use, making it a highly dependable companion during travel or power outages.

For users in India, where long workdays and inconsistent electricity supply are common in some regions, this battery performance is a major advantage..

Honor X9c Price in India and Value for Money

The Honor X9c price in India is set at ₹21,999, placing it in direct competition with other popular 5G mid-rangers. However, where rivals lean heavily into performance or camera gimmicks, the X9c focuses on practical durability and battery longevity.

At this price, you get a device with premium aesthetics, above-average software stability, loud stereo sound, and class-leading endurance. While it does compromise in areas like performance and camera quality, the overall package still presents solid value for specific user types.

Not a Powerhouse, But a Trusty Workhorse

The Honor X9c is not trying to be everything at once. It doesn’t boast the fastest chip or the most versatile camera system. What it offers instead is reliability, battery life, and resilience, all packaged in a stylish, slim body.

If you are a student, a commuter, or someone who frequently drops phones and forgets to charge them at night, this is a phone designed with your needs in mind. However, if you prioritize mobile photography or intense gaming performance, the Honor X9c may not meet your expectations.

The Honor X9c is not trying to be everything at once. It doesn’t boast the fastest chip or the most versatile camera system. What it offers instead is reliability, battery life, and resilience, all packaged in a stylish, slim body.

If you are a student, a commuter, or someone who frequently drops phones and forgets to charge them at night, this is a phone designed with your needs in mind. However, if you prioritize mobile photography or intense gaming performance, the Honor X9c may not meet your expectations.