HONOR X5 Plus Review

HONOR is known for producing smartphones that offer decent value without sacrificing quality. Their newest release, the HONOR X5 Plus, looks promising, but can it meet the expectations of budget-conscious buyers?

I had the opportunity to test the HONOR X5 Plus extensively, evaluating its design and performance to determine if it meets HONOR’s reputation for quality at an affordable price.

This review will provide an extensive look at the HONOR X5 Plus, including its display quality, performance, cameras, and other features, in order to determine its place in the competitive market. Let’s begin.

HONOR X5 Plus Specs

Android 13, MagicOS 7.1
Dual SIM, Dual standby
6.56-inch HD+ TFT LCD display, 1612 x 720 pixel resolution, ~269ppi
90Hz refresh rate
2.2GHz MediaTek Helio G36 octa-core processor
IMG GE8320 GPU
4GB RAM
64GB internal storage, expandable via microSD
5-megapixel front camera
50-megapixel (f/1.8) + 2-megapixel (depth sensor) rear cameras, LED flash
Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
Single loudspeaker, Headphone jack
HSPA+, 4G LTE
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.1
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
USB Type-C
Dimensions: 163.32 x 75.07 x 8.35mm
Weight: 188g
Colors: Cyan Lake, Midnight Black
5,200mAh non-removable battery, 10W charging

Design and Build Quality

HONOR’s designs are simple, especially in their entry-level releases. During this review, I had the opportunity to test out the Midnight Black unit.

The X5 Plus offers another color option with its Cyan Lake variant. Both of these designs boast a sophisticated metallic finish, adding an extra layer of aesthetic charm to the overall package.

The HONOR X5 Plus, much like its counterparts, features a sleek and angular frame. This distinctive boxy design can be appealing to those who appreciate a modern, structured handset.

Moreover, the device is lightweight, tipping the scales at a mere 188g, and boasts a slender profile, measuring just 8.35mm in thickness. These dimensions make it effortlessly portable, ensuring that it’s a breeze to carry around wherever you go.

Display

On the HONOR X5 Plus’ front, you’ll find a generous 6.56-inch IPS display with a subtle teardrop notch housing the selfie camera. This display boasts a resolution of 1612 x 720, paired with a 90Hz refresh rate for a, in theory, more fluid experience. While the bezels are noticeable, they remain within reasonable bounds, especially given the device’s price point.

The phone utilizes dynamic dimming technology to adjust brightness and contrast according to the surrounding lighting, making it comfortable to use in different environments.

Additionally, it offers face unlock for quick access without the need for fingerprint scanning.

In terms of resolution, the HD+ is sufficient for everyday tasks, but it doesn’t deliver sharp visuals like the more expensive options. The display’s color reproduction, while not exceptionally vibrant, doesn’t fall into the category of dull either.

Hardware and Performance

The HONOR X5 Plus runs on the MediaTek Helio G36 processor, that’s made from a 12nm manufacturing process. It has a 2.2GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and a PowerVR GE8320 GPU. It is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

HONOR X5 Plus Benchmark Results

Performance feels slow, but acceptable considering the price. If you manage your expectations right, you’ll get a satisfactory experience when browsing the web, taking pictures, social media, and more.

When it comes to gaming prowess, the HONOR X5 Plus might face some hurdles with demanding titles like Farlight84, Call of Duty Mobile, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang primarily because the Helio G36 chipset is better tailored for casual gaming experiences, rather than demanding, graphics-intensive games. While the games are not unplayable, expect to see stutters and lags that might disrupt your gaming experience.

Nevertheless, it holds its ground admirably for lighter games and relaxed gaming sessions. But if gaming is your focus, it’s better to look for other smartphones with more processing power.

Audio

The audio experience on the X5 Plus is facilitated by a bottom-firing speaker, which, despite being on a budget-friendly device, manages to provide commendable sound quality.

It offers a clean sound with decent volume, but we wish it was louder as it feels lacking in times when there is louder music or noise around. Fortunately, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack if you have a pair of cans or external speakers that provide better audio.

Camera Quality

HONOR’s X5 Plus has been thoughtfully crafted with cost-effectiveness in mind, and this philosophy extends to its imaging capabilities. The rear camera setup comprises a 50-megapixel f/1.8 main camera, accompanied by a 2-megapixel f/2.4 depth sensor. The selfie camera nestled within the screen’s teardrop notch boasts a 5-megapixel f/2.2 lens.

The selfie camera exhibits performance akin to the primary camera, albeit with a slightly lower pixel count. When capturing photos in favorable lighting conditions, the results have natural colors and acceptable detail.

But as lighting diminishes, especially in low-light scenarios, you may encounter an increase in image noise and a decrease in shutter speed, which can affect the overall image quality.

The camera on the HONOR X5 Plus boasts an impressive array of features and shooting modes to elevate your photography experience. With options like aperture control, high-resolution mode, panorama, time-lapse, portrait mode, beauty filters, and bokeh settings, you have a versatile toolkit at your disposal.

These features not only enhance your photography but also encourage creative experimentation, enabling you to capture your moments in innovative and personalized ways. But always remember that this is a budget phone, so its capabilities are limited. If you need better camera quality, I suggest looking at the HONOR 90 5G and HONOR 90 Lite 5G instead.

Battery Life and Charging

The HONOR X5 Plus is equipped with a huge 5,200mAh battery capacity, surpassing the category average by an additional 200mAh.

When used together with the energy-efficient Helio G36 chip, it shines in the endurance department, capable of powering through up to two full days of light usage on a single charge.

Rigorous testing with PCMark Work 3.0 reveals that it can sustain operations for over 19 hours, even when set to medium brightness and volume levels, further underscoring its impressive longevity.

The X5 Plus has a 10W charging capability, which means it may take a while to fully charge the 5,200mAh battery. In our testing, it took up to 3 hours to charge from 1% to 100%.

Verdict

The HONOR X5 Plus falls within the entry-level device category, offering moderate performance suitable for handling routine tasks and casual gaming. However, it may face challenges when tackling resource-intensive games and multitasking, potentially leading to difficulties in maintaining a steady and consistent performance.

The HONOR X5 Plus is a decent device that can last throughout the day. It is a versatile smartphone with a lot of modern smartphone features, a stylish design, and a lightweight structure.

It may not excel in handling demanding tasks, but it undeniably provides convenience and a seamless user experience as an everyday smartphone, especially considering its price. Its camera is decent, too.

Unfortunately, if performance is your top priority, you’re better off looking for other smartphones with better processing power.

HONOR X5 Plus pricing and availability

The HONOR X5 Plus is priced at Php5,990 (Php5,490 until October 8) and can be purchased at HONOR concept stores, kiosks, resellers, and online outlets.

Pros

Very long battery life
Decent cameras

Cons

Struggles in demanding tasks
Competition offers better hardware for the price