Honor recently made a splash in the Indian mid-range market with the launch of the Honor X9b. The phone garnered significant attention for its incredibly durable display, but there’s a lot more to unpack. Inside its sleek body lives a massive battery (one of the segment’s largest), the relatively new Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, generous storage, and a capable 108-megapixel triple camera setup. Does the Honor X9b truly deliver on the hype? Here is a look at what this phone offers in this initial impressions overview.
Honor X9b design and durability features
The Honor X9b retail package does not include a charger, but for initial buyers, the brand is offering a complementary 30W charger. The box includes the handset, a protective case, a USB-C to USB-A cable, a SIM ejector pin, wired earphones, a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, and the necessary documents.
Coming to the build of the Honor X9b, Htech claims that it stands out as the first smartphone to get a five-start overall drop resistance certification from Switzerland’s SGS. Despite housing a massive battery, the device maintains a thin profile of 7.99mm (excluding the camera bulge) and weighs only 185 grams. The Midnight Black variant of the phone, which has a polycarbonate back with a glittery finish, feels slippery, whereas the Sunshine Orange edition of the phone has a vegan leather finish and offers a good grip.
The Honor X9b is equipped with the so-called Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop Display. It features double-strengthened glass, shock-absorbing materials, and 360° protection to withstand drops from up to 1.5 meters. With the added assurance of SGS’ five-star rating for drop resistance, the X9b promises the ability to handle accidental bumps and falls. In addition, the device offers IP53-rated splash resistance. Overall, the Honor X9b appears to be a very durable phone that should be able to withstand the rigours of everyday use.
Honor X9b specifications and features
The Honor X9b boasts a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a sharp 1.5K resolution (1220 x 2652 pixels), a feature rarely found in this price segment. It offers a smooth viewing experience with its 120Hz refresh rate and up to 12000 nits of brightness for better visibility under direct sunlight. Just like the Honor 90 5G, the Honor X9b prioritizes eye protection with its 1920Hz PWM dimming, which reduces flicker in low light to minimize eye strain. Additional features like dynamic light adjustment, blue light filtering, and automatic brightness fine-tuning ensure overall viewing comfort.
It is the only other phone after the Realme 12 Pro to feature the 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, which is good enough for casual gaming. The phone ships in a single configuration that offers 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. In addition, the device offers 8 GB of virtual RAM.
The 5,800mAh battery that is packed inside the X9b is advertised to last for 3 days. With typical use, the device should last for 1.5 to 2 days. The charger is not included in the retail box of the device, as the X9b is an imported product and its chargers are not designed for Indian voltage standards. Initial buyers of the X9b will receive a complementary 30W charger.
The Honor X9b has the feature-rich Magic OS 7.2-based Android 13. The phone is entitled to receive the Android 14 and Android 15 OS upgrades and three years of security updates. It appears that the Android 14 upgrade will bring along Honor’s latest Magic OS 8.0 UI.
The X9b has a 16-megapixel camera on the front for selfies. The rear camera module features a 108-megapixel main camera with up to 3x in-sensor zoom, a 5-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. Here are some of the camera samples shot using the X9b. To put it simply, the camera performance leaves room for improvement and is best suited for casual photography. For vlogging enthusiasts, it comes with an AI vlog assistant feature.
The device misses out on stereo output as it features only a single bottom-firing speaker. Lastly, the device has an in-screen fingerprint sensor for security.
Honor X9b first impressions: Conclusion
The Honor X9b’s competitive price tag of Rs 25,999 (~$315) places it squarely against popular mid-range contenders like the Realme 12 Pro, Poco X6 Pro, and Redmi Note 13 Pro. If you prioritize durability and longevity, along with a decent photography experience, the X9b emerges as a strong contender in this segment. Another advantage that the X9b offers is the mobile protection plan that it offers for its users.
The base model (8GB+256GB) of the Honor 90 was available for Rs 28,999 for around a month. At the time of writing this post, this variant was unavailable for purchase. The Honor X9b’s regular price is near the Honor 90. Ideally, the X9b can be a good buy if it is purchased during the initial period when offers allow users to get it for up to Rs 22,999 (~$275).
Honor X9b price, variants, offers
Honor X9b buyers can benefit from up to Rs 3,000 in cashback using an ICICI Bank credit card. The device is also available for purchase through offline stores across the country.
In collaboration with Onsite Go, Htech offers X9b buyers the following benefits:
- One-time screen replacement within six months of purchase
- 30 days of an assured buyback option with up to 90 percent of the X9b’s value
- 18 months of warranty (including an additional six months)
- Door-to-door service assistance
The deductions comprise Rs. 1,500 for any missing accessories, a 20% reduction for significant scratches or dents, a 15% decrease for minor scratches or dents, and Rs. 1,000 for not having the original box.
Disclaimer: All of the opinions in this Honor X9b first impressions post are mine and based on my own experiences. There has been no editorial input from Honor.
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