The Honor X9D 5G is a midrange monster with the world’s largest real-world battery — 8300 mAh silicon-carbon, 193 g slim, 7.8 mm thin, and IP69K + 2.5 m drop-proof. Powered by Snapdragon 6 Gen 4, 12 GB + 12 GB Turbo RAM, 120 Hz 6000-nit AMOLED, and Android 15 MagicOS 9, it delivers 2-day+ battery, 60 fps gaming, 66W charging, and AI-packed software. Camera? 108 MP OIS with solid AI zoom, 4K video, but average tuning. At ~₹30,000 / 1299 AED, it’s the most durable, long-lasting midranger — perfect for travelers, klutzes, and power users.
“Honor didn’t just make a phone. They made a survival tool with a screen.”
Let’s unbox, drop, dunk, and drain this battery beast to see if it’s worth your money.
Introduction: The New Power Player in Midrange
The midrange smartphone war just got a nuclear upgrade.
Honor, fresh off its global comeback, has unveiled the X9D 5G — a phone that defies physics. How do you pack an 8300 mAh battery (yes, eight thousand three hundred) into a phone that’s thinner than an iPhone 16 and lighter than a Galaxy S24? Magic? No. Silicon-carbon battery tech — the same stuff NASA uses in satellites.
Launched in Dubai on October 24, 2025, the X9D is already creating global buzz — especially in India, the UAE, and Southeast Asia, where battery life is a top priority. This isn’t a concept phone (sorry, Realme 15,000 mAh dreamers). This is a real, buyable, droppable, dunkable device.
Key USPs:
- World’s largest production battery (8300 mAh)
- IP69K — survive 6-meter submersion
- 2.5-meter drop rating on concrete
- 6000-nit AMOLED — visible in desert sun
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 — midrange performance king
- AI MagicOS 9 — flagship-level software tricks
One-line takeaway: Let’s dive deep into this battery beast to see if it truly delivers — or if it’s just a gimmick with a screen.
Price & Availability
The Honor X9D 5G launches in Dubai at 1299 AED (~$353 USD / ₹29,800 INR) — the same price as last year’s X9C, but with way more tech.
Expected India Price: ₹29,999 – ₹32,999 (8/256 GB variant likely).
Availability:
- UAE: 24th Oct 2025 (pre-order gifts expected)
- India: November 2025 (Flipkart/Amazon exclusive?)
- Global: Phased rollout in SEA, Europe (Q1 2026)
Color Options:
- Sunrise Gold (reviewed)
- Midnight Black
- Ocean Blue
Box Contents:
- Honor X9D 5G
- Color-matched TPU case
- Pre-applied screen protector
- 66W charger (3-pin UAE plug)
- Type-A to Type-C cable (no C-to-C)
- SIM ejector, paperwork
No earphones — but at this price, 66W charging included is a win.
Unboxing & First Impressions
The box screams premium — red accents, gold Honor logo, and a sleek slide-out tray. Pull it open, and the Sunrise Gold X9D glows like a sunrise (cheesy, but true).
First touch: “Wait, this has an 8300 mAh battery?”
It feels impossibly light — 193 grams — lighter than the iPhone 16 (199 g) and Galaxy A55 (213 g). The 7.8 mm thickness makes it slimmer than a OnePlus 13R.
The plastic back has a soft-touch matte finish — fingerprint-proof and grippy. The camera island is a ring of rings — looks like four cameras, but only two are real (more on that later).
In-hand feel: One-handed bliss. The curved edges and light weight make it pocketable despite the 6.79” screen.
Early vibe: This isn’t a midranger. This is a flagship in disguise.
Design & Build Quality
Let’s talk durability — because Honor is obsessed.
Build Specs:
| Feature | Spec |
|---|---|
| Weight | 193 g |
| Thickness | 7.8 mm |
| Frame | Plastic (reinforced) |
| Back | Matte plastic |
| Front | Aluminosilicate glass (2.5 m drop rating) |
Durability Deep Dive:
- IP69K: Not just IP68. This survives 6-meter submersion for 30 mins. Underwater camera mode lets you shoot with volume buttons.
- Drop Test: Honor claims 2.5 m on concrete. We dropped it from 1.5 m ( reviewer’s budget limits 😅) — zero damage. Screen, touch, cameras — all perfect.
- Aluminosilicate Glass: Stronger than Gorilla Glass Victus. Used in military gear.
vs Flagships:
| Phone | Drop Rating | Water Resistance | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honor X9D | 2.5 m | IP69K (6 m) | 193 g |
| Samsung S24 Ultra | 1.5 m | IP68 (1.5 m) | 232 g |
| iPhone 15 Pro | 1.2 m | IP68 (6 m) | 187 g |
Winner: X9D — most durable midranger ever.
Design Notes:
- Dual SIM + USB-C 2.0
- Stereo speakers (top + bottom)
- NFC (Tap to Pay works in UAE)
- No headphone jack
Verdict: A tank in a tuxedo.
Display & Multimedia Experience
The 6.79” AMOLED is a sunlight warrior.
Display Specs:
- 6.79” AMOLED
- FHD+ (2412 x 1080)
- 120 Hz refresh rate
- 6000 nits peak brightness (HDR)
- Aluminosilicate protection
- In-display fingerprint
Real-World Test:
- Sunlight: Fully visible at 1:00 PM Dubai sun. Auto-brightness kicks in fast.
- Colors: Vibrant but natural. HDR videos on YouTube pop.
- Video Enhancer Mode: Boosts color/contrast in YouTube, Netflix.
- Fingerprint: Optical sensor — unlocks in ~0.8 sec. Slightly low placement.
Audio:
- Dual stereo speakers
- 400% loudness mode — insanely loud
- Clear mids, punchy bass — better than Redmi Note 13 Pro+
vs Competitors:
| Phone | Peak Brightness | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| Honor X9D | 6000 nits | Dual + 400% mode |
| Realme 13 Pro | 2000 nits | Dual |
| Galaxy A55 | 1000 nits | Dual |
Verdict: Best multimedia midranger — watch movies outdoors, no problem.
Performance & Gaming
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is a midrange beast.
Specs:
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 (4 nm)
- 12 GB LPDDR4x RAM
- +12 GB Honor RAM Turbo
- 256 GB UFS 3.1
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
Benchmarks:
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (Single) | ~3000 |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi) | ~8500 |
| AnTuTu v10 | 1,050,000+ |
| 3DMark Wild Life | ~4200 |
Gaming:
- PUBG Mobile: 60 fps Smooth + Extreme — zero lag
- COD Mobile: 120 fps cap — stable 55–60 fps
- Genshin Impact: Medium 60 fps — minor heating
Thermal Test:
- 1-hour stress test: 36°C max, 0% battery drop
- CPU Throttling: 85% sustained — green graph
Real-World:
- App switching: Instant
- 120 Hz scrolling: Butter
- Multitasking: 20+ apps open
vs SD 7 Gen 1:
- X9D beats it in efficiency — cooler, longer battery
Verdict: Best midrange gamer under ₹30K.
Battery Life & Charging Test
This is where the X9D destroys everything.
Battery Specs:
- 8300 mAh Silicon-Carbon
- 66W fast charging
- Performance Mode
- Ultra Battery Saver
Drain Test (100% → ?):
| Task | Duration | Battery Drop |
|---|---|---|
| 1-hour extreme stress | 60 min | 1% |
| 30 min 1080p 60 fps video | 30 min | 4% |
| Total (90 min heavy use) | 90 min | 6% |
Charging:
- 0–100% in 50 minutes
- 0–50% in 20 minutes
Real-World Estimate:
- Heavy use: 2.5 days
- Moderate: 3–4 days
- Ultra Saver: 7–10 days standby
vs Competitors:
| Phone | Battery | 2-Day Use? |
|---|---|---|
| Honor X9D | 8300 mAh | Yes |
| Redmi Note 13 Pro+ | 5000 mAh | No |
| Galaxy M55 | 6000 mAh | Barely |
Verdict: The longest-lasting phone on Earth.
Camera Review
The 108 MP OIS camera is good — not great.
Camera Specs:
| Camera | Spec |
|---|---|
| Main | 108 MP f/1.8 OIS |
| Ultra-wide | 5 MP |
| Selfie | 16 MP f/2.5 |
| Video | 4K 30 fps (rear), 1080p 60 fps |
Photo Samples:
- 1×: Sharp, good dynamic range
- 5×: AI zoom holds detail
- 10×: Soft but usable — better than most midrangers
- Portrait: Excellent edge detection, natural bokeh
- Night: Bright, low noise — front flash helps
Video:
- 4K 30 fps: Stable, good exposure
- 1080p 60 fps: Smooth
- Selfie video: 1080p 30 fps — shaky without EIS
AI Magic:
- AI Erase: Remove people/objects
- AI Upscale: Boost video to 4K
- AI Outpainting: Expand photo edges
vs Competitors:
| Phone | Main Camera | Night Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Honor X9D | 108 MP OIS | Good |
| Realme 13 Pro | 50 MP | Better |
| Galaxy A55 | 50 MP | Similar |
Verdict: Balanced AI camera — not a shooter, but reliable.
Software & Features
MagicOS 9 on Android 15 is flagship-level.
Key Features:
- Parallel Space: 4+ WhatsApp accounts, separate Google login
- Honor Connect: Screen share, calls, notifications across devices
- AI Suite:
- AI Magic Portal (circle to search)
- AI Subtitles (live translation)
- AI Noise Cancellation (calls)
- AI Edit: Erase, Cut-out, Upscale, Outpainting
Updates: 3–4 years — Android 16 (MagicOS 10) in 3 months.
Pre-installed: Google apps (unlike Huawei).
Tweaks:
- Switch to Gboard (SwiftKey default)
- Circle to Search works
Verdict: Most feature-packed midrange OS.
Verdict: Should You Buy the Honor X9D 5G?
Buy it if:
- You hate charging
- You drop phones
- You love loud speakers
- You want AI tricks
Skip if:
- You need pro camera
- You want metal build
- You game on ultra settings
Final Score: 9.2/10
Launching in UAE (Oct 24), India (Nov), global Q1 2026.
2.5–4 days heavy use, 7–10 days standby.
Source: Honor X9D 5G Unboxing & Review – Detailed Battery, Performance & Camera Test in Hindi
