The mid-range phone category is becoming increasingly crowded and cutthroat. The competition is fierce, with manufacturers vying for prominence in this segment. Since Honor’s re-entry into the Indian market last year, enthusiasts have been patiently waiting to see what it has to offer. Enter the new X9b, one of its first product launches – a feature-packed smartphone, priced under ₹30,000. It’s packed with features like an anti-drop 1.5k resolution display, a large 5,800mAh battery capacity, a 108MP camera, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4Nm Gen 6 processor. Sounds good, but is it too good to be true?
The Honor X9b has a slim and lightweight design. It is just 7.98mm thick and weighs only 85g, allowing it to fit comfortably in hand. Despite its 6.78-inch screen size, the phone doesn’t feel cumbersome to handle. The Honor X9b is available in four colour options, including a matte-finished Midnight Black, which is what we tested. The phone is also available with a slick-looking orange leather back cover, which is what I was hoping to receive. Overall, the phone looks and feels premium, although the gold circular bezel around the camera lens feels somewhat tacky. Within just two days of use, the edges managed to accumulate dust, and the overall plastic quality on the bezel itself has some room for improvement.
The Honor X9b features a 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. What’s more, the screen has a 1200-nit peak brightness, offering a vibrant and balanced display of colours, especially while streaming online content. I also tested the display with high-quality videos on YouTube, and the results were equally impressive. The phone features Honor’s Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop display, which incorporates three layers of screen protection. While we didn’t test the unit’s sturdiness and durability to the full extent, it easily withstood multiple drops to the floor from waist level.
In terms of performance, the X9b incorporates a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 octa-core processor. During our time with the device, the X9b performed admirably, competing on par with phones like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and Motorola’s new Edge 40. Even while playing 90 FPS games like Battleground Mobile and Call of Duty, the phone exhibited minimal lag, offering a relatively smooth gaming experience.
The Honor X9b features a 5,800mAh battery, and while the company claims a battery life of three days, during the test, it lasted a maximum of one and a half days of life with regular use. While there were no glitches or heating issues, I did notice a slightly accelerated drop in the battery during intense gaming sessions.
The camera is definitely not the X9b’s strongest feature. While it’s not necessarily bad, it will leave you wanting more. In low-light situations, I noticed high levels of saturation and contrast. Photos captured in regular sunlight seemed balanced but slightly underexposed. Now, I am just nit-picking here, for most users will find its camera performance to be acceptable.
The Honor X9b offers a compelling package with good features and aesthetics, making a strong first impression. For me, the aspects of the phone that stood out were its impressive display, sleek design, and long-lasting battery life. However, its sub-par speakers and average camera performance may disappoint some consumers, especially those who prioritise multimedia and photography. Nevertheless, for those looking to buy a stylish and feature-rich smartphone without crossing the ₹30K mark, the X9b is definitely worth considering.
