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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider Honor X9d 5G review: More than just durability

Honor X9d 5G review: More than just durability

Published Jan 9, 2026 07:30 pm  |  Updated Jan 10, 2026 10:51 am

I wasn’t a fan of durability tests at first-I thought, why would you purposely drop your phone (from various height levels), smash it (against tiles, concrete, and such), and even boil it (yes, phones have been tossed in a pot of boiling water). 

But then, since becoming tech editor I started taking note of the people around me when I’m out in public, and when I’m on my commute, I would notice that despite their phones’ screen being so cracked and broken it would be difficult to use, these users are still struggling and making do with their very beat up phones. 

That’s when I realized why durability tests are so popular - when consumers buy phones, it is a big investment for them, so they want to invest in a phone that is durable, that will withstand real world accidental drops. Hence the popularity of these durability tests. 

This is where the Honor X9d 5G comes in. The latest HONOR release is a product of HONOR’s viral durability campaigns over the years. And now they’re back with their latest and with what they are saying is ‘the toughest phone’. 

The HONOR X9d 5G has a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and the industry's first Triple Resistant SGS Premium Performance Certification which delivers protection against drops, water, and dust. It has a 6-layer drop-resistance structure and advanced HONOR Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop Technology which helps it withstand accidental drops from height of up to 2.5 meters. 

Which in no doubt has helped the HONOR X9d 5G surviving being tossed out of a moving plane, thrown against and even run over by a TESLA Cybertruck. But beyond the viral durability tests-the HONOR X9d 5G has more to offer.

Premium look that is easy to carry all day 

The unit that we tested was the ‘Reddish Brown’ variant (it is also available in ‘Sunshine Gold’ and ‘Midnight Black’) and I must say that it really has a premium look, the leather-like finish and gold curved edges are reminiscent of flagship phones, 

Because I have small hands I always mentioned in my reviews how the device feels when I hold it, and with its 7.76mm thickness and weight of 193 grams - the HONOR X9d 5G light and easy to carry out for hours at a time. 

Powerful speakers, eye friendly screen 

I am not easily impressed with a device’s speakers, often preferring to use an external bluetooth for when I listen to music, or stream content, but the HONOR X9d 5G’s powerful dual speakers and immersive 3D bass had me in a 'soundtrip' even without connecting to external bluetooth speakers. You can even push the volume up to 400% in case you need to.

For someone who has really bad eyesight and who is chronically online (and further exacerbated by work) eye friendly screens with eye care technology is more than welcome. I also appreciate the 3840Hz PWM Dimming technology to prevent eye strain.

Image taken with the HONOR X9d 5G.
Image taken with the HONOR X9d 5G.

Camera and video 

As far as cameras go the Honor X9d 5G has a dual camera setup with a 108MP (f/1.75) main camera with a 5MP (f/2.2) ultra wide camera. The selfie camera is at 16MP (f/2.45).

Taking the camera on my usual walk, it was able to capture impressive photos. This is of course during the day with ample sunlight. I did notice that the phone struggles a bit in low light scenarios and the zoom is not that reliable during events when I need to get a clear shot from a far. But I was impressed with the AI editing tools that come with the HONOR X9d 5G. 

The AI Eraser was smoother than what I was used to and I had fun with the AI Beauty Filter.  

Selfie using the HONOR X9d 5G with the AI Edit Filter.
Selfie using the HONOR X9d 5G with the AI Edit Filter.

More than just durability

The  8300mAh battery is impressive for a mid-range phone and can last for up to a whole day without charging, the 66W fast charging also makes it an ideal phone for those of us who are always on-the-go and who often find themselves one foot out of the door. 

Speaking of being on the go, the HONOR X9d 5G’s IP68/69K dust and waterproof rating will help keep your phone protected especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. The underwater mode also helps expel water in case your phone goes in an accidental dip. 

Operating on a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset the HONOR X9d 5G will easily be able to handle gaming, tasks, and streaming. The phone also has 12GB of RAM that is expandable to up to 12GB and a 256GB memory. 

With all these impressive specs and a price point of P17,999.99 at pre-order and P18,999.99 on retail, you might want to start the new year with this new phone.

Image taken with the HONOR X9d 5G.
Image taken with the HONOR X9d 5G.
Specsheet
6000 nits Peak Brightness
120Hz Refresh rate7
Resolution: 2640 x 12008
Display: 6.79 inch AMOLED 
Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 6 Gen 4
8300mAh Li-ion Polymer Battery
66W HONOR SuperCharge
Dual SIM
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256GB
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