Review Verdict: The X7, X8, and X9 are decent mid-range phones to represent the return of HONOR in the Philippines. All three models cater to different price segments, though we wish HONOR will update them to Android 12–or maybe with the upcoming MagicOS 7.0.

Pros

• Decent camera performance
• Unique design languages (for the cameras)
• Generally good battery life

Cons

• Stuck in Android 11
• Some shutter lag with the X7
• No headphone jack (with the X9)

 

HONOR X7 Review Philippines Specs:

• Snapdragon 680 processor
• 4GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• 6.74-inch HD+ IPS display, 90Hz refresh rate
• 48-megapixel f/1.8 main camera with PDAF, 5-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera 2-megapixel f/2.4 depth sensor, 2-megapixel f/2.4 macro camera
• 8-megapixel f/2.0 selfie camera
• 4G, LTE
• WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC
• Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
• 5000mAh battery
• 22.5w charging
• Android 11, MagicUI 4.2

 

HONOR X8 Review Philippines Specs:

• Snapdragon 680 processor
• 6GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• 6.7-inch Full HD+ IPS display, 90Hz refresh rate
• 64-megapixel f/1.9 main camera with PDAF, 5-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera 2-megapixel f/2.4 depth sensor, 2-megapixel f/2.4 macro camera
• 16-megapixel f/2.5 selfie camera
• 4G, LTE
• WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC
• Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
• 4000mAh battery
• 22.5w charging
• Android 11, MagicUI 4.2

 

HONOR X9 Review Philippines Specs:

• Snapdragon 680 processor
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• 6.81-inch Full HD+ IPS display, 90Hz refresh rate
• 64-megapixel f/1.9 main camera with PDAF, 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera 2-megapixel f/2.4 depth sensor, 2-megapixel f/2.4 macro camera
• 16-megapixel f/2.5 selfie camera
• 4G, LTE
• WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC
• Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
• 4800mAh battery
• 66w charging
• Android 11, MagicUI 4.2

HONOR is finally back in the Philippines, and it’s coming in hot and heavy by over three solid models for consumers to choose from. The Honor X7, X8 and X9 are all aimed at the lower end of the market, sport mostly similar internals and are only separated by their camera modules. Are any of these phones worth the money?

Design

One way HONOR distinguishes its X-series phones is the way they are designed. The entry-level X7 has a glossy back and dual-circle camera module design that reminds us of the HONOR 50 and 60 series (both of which did not make it globally), while the X8 has a frosted finish and a square camera module that reminds us of the days HONOR used to be a sub-brand of Huawei before they were sold off in 2020.

The X9, on the other hand, comes with a large, centrally-placed circular module that would make you think that it’s a budget Magic4 (fun fact: the X9 is actually called the Magic4 Lite in some countries). Like the X8, the X9 comes in a frosted finish that does a good job of repelling smudges.

The X7 and X9 have gentle curves to keep their rather thick bodies ergonomic in the hand, while the X8 has flat sides and is the smallest (and lightest) out of the three. With the design of each phone, HONOR makes it clear which phone targets which market and the X8 clearly targets those who want a slim and compact phone that still offers a large display.

All three phones do have the volume rocker and power button/fingerprint scanner on the right side, USB-C and loudspeaker at the bottom, and an infrared port on top. The X8 and X7 does have a headphone jack at the bottom, while the X9 ditches that and utilizes the bottom space for the SIM card tray. Speaking of the SIM card tray, the X7 has it on top, while the X8 has it on the left side. Only the X7 comes with a MicroSD card slot.

Display and speakers

The nice thing about all three HONOR phones is that they come with at least a 90hz refresh rate. The X7 only comes in an HD+ resolution since it’s the most affordable of the three, while the X8 keeps it compact with its 6.7-inch panel while having a Full HD+ resolution. The X9, on the other hand, is all about that screen estate with its large 6.81-inch panel.

All three phones use IPS panels, with the X8 and X9 featuring punch-hole displays (the X7 settles for a notch). They all have a good brightness range and vivid colors, though you are getting the most vibrant display on the X9 since it is the most premium of the bunch. That’s because HONOR wants to market the X9 as an all-around entertainment device.

While the X7 uses a conventional display, the X8 and X9 are unique for their razor-thin top and side bezels, which is very rare to see on an under-Php 15k phone. As of writing this review, the other phone with similar bezels is the WIKO T50.

When it comes to audio, all three phones only have a single, bottom-firing speaker—a number of mid-range phones are already offering stereo speakers, and we hope HONOR does the same for its mid-range segment. Despite that, the overall audio fidelity is decent across the three phones. The X7 and X8 allow you to use wired cans with their headphone jack, while you’re limited to wireless and USB-C earphones on the X9.

Cameras

All three HONOR phones come with a quad-rear camera setup that consists of the main camera, an ultra-wide-angle camera, and two filler 2-megapixel cameras. The X7 has a 48-megapixel main camera and a 5-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, while the X8 gets a higher-resolution 64-megapixel main camera.

 

The X9, on the other hand, comes with the same setup as the X8 but with a higher-resolution 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.

While all phones offer the same set of camera features—including up to 1080p video recording, it’s clear that the X9 is meant for those who like to create content with its snappy camera performance and significantly better low-light performance compared to its siblings. We also noticed some shutter lag on the X7, but we think it might be a software-related issue.

Internals and Battery Life

All three HONOR phones come with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 128GB of internal storage and differ in RAM: 4GB for the X7, 6GB for the X8, and 8GB for the X9. The Snapdragon 680 is a popular choice for mid-range 4G phones, and based on our experience, it offers generally good performance and is usable for gaming—provided that you go for low to medium settings.

On the software side, all three phones come with Android 11-based MagicOS 4.2, and it’s really nice to see HONOR being committed to having all of their global units come with Google services. The UI, in general, feels a bit dated, and we really hope that HONOR would roll out Android 12 to these three phones to give them a fresher look.

The X7 and X8 come with a 22.5w charging solution, while the X9 steps it up with a 66w charging solution—making it one of the fastest-charging phones in the under Php 15k segment. We got 17 hours and 3 minutes on the HONOR X9 in PCMark’s battery test, which is impressive for a phone with a 4800mAh battery.

We expect this figure to be higher on the X7 because of its larger 5000mAh battery and HD+ display, while the X8’s battery life will be lower because of its 4000mAh cell. Despite those differences, all three phones are designed to last more than a day thanks to the power efficiency of the Snapdragon 680.

Wrap-up and conclusions

While puzzling at first, it’s clear that the X7, X8, and X9 are meant to cater to different markets as part of HONOR’s strategy in its return to the Philippines. The X7 is the most affordable of the three and is made for those who prioritize battery life and are a fan of HONOR’s older phone designs.

The X8 is geared towards those who want a slim phone that offers a large display thanks to its razor-thin bezels, while the X9 is made to be an affordable version of the Magic4 Pro flagship by offering a number of high-end features and having a very good camera performance when compared against the competition.

Having a good set of features for their price, we do hope that HONOR stays true to its commitment with software upgrades and updates the X7, X8, and X9 to Android 12–or maybe get them upgraded to HONOR’s upcoming MagicOS 7.0 in the near future.

HONOR X7, X8, X9 Review Philippines Price

The X7 is priced at Php 9,990, while the X8 and X9 are priced at Php 12,990 and Php 14,990 respectively.