The HONOR X8d launched in the Philippines with a higher than usual price tag, due to the ongoing pricing crisis caused by AI.
At Php15,999, HONOR’s latest midrange phone promises long battery life, a thin yet durable design, and a bright, sharp display. However, it uses a processor limited to 4G connectivity.
Does the lack of 5G hurt the device, or can the rest of the specs make up for it? Let’s find out in our HONOR X8d review.
HONOR X8d Specs
- Android 16, MagicOS 10
- Dual SIM, Dual Standby
- 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, 2392 x 1080 pixel resolution, ~388ppi
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 2 octa-core processor
- Adreno 610 GPU
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB internal storage, non-expandable
- 16-megapixel front camera
- 108-megapixel (f/1.8, PDAF) + 5-megapixel (ultra-wide) rear cameras, LED flash
- Single loudspeaker
- Under-display fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
- HSPA+, 4G LTE
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
- Bluetooth 5.0
- GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
- NFC, USB-C
- Dimensions: 162.9 x 76.3 x 7.5mm
- Weight: 188g
- Colors: Blue, Gray, Black
- 7,000mAh non-removable battery, 45W wired charging
Design and Build Quality
The HONOR X8d’s thin and light build makes a strong first impression. Despite its large 7,000mAh battery, it measures just 7.5mm thick and weighs only 188g. It’s comfortable to hold and easy to daily-drive.
It features a clean design with a HUAWEI Pura-like triangular camera island. The rear panel has a plastic, glass-like frosted finish that resists fingerprints and smudges.
Our unit is in Light Blue, with Velvet Grey and Velvet Black also available.
Unlike other HONOR devices, durability isn’t heavily emphasized here. Still, it carries an IP65 rating and has SGS 5-star Premium Performance Certification for drop and crush resistance, surviving falls of up to 2 meters.
A smoke-black clear case and a preinstalled screen protector are included for added protection.
After a couple of weeks, the device feels durable enough for long-term use. It feels solid for the price, though we recommend keeping the case on.
Up front is a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with thin bezels and a punch-hole for the 16-megapixel selfie camera.
The top houses the IR blaster and a microphone.
On the left is the AI Button for shortcuts.
On the right are the volume buttons and the lock/power button, which doubles as a fingerprint scanner. They feel tactile and well-built.
At the bottom are the loudspeaker, USB-C port, microphone, and a dual nano-SIM tray. Unfortunately, there’s no microSD card slot.
At the back, you get a 108-megapixel main camera, a 5-megapixel ultra-wide below it, and an LED flash on the side.
Display and Audio
The HONOR X8d features a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 2392 x 1080 resolution (~387ppi), 120Hz refresh rate, 3840Hz PWM dimming, and up to 3,000 nits peak brightness.
Display quality is generally good. The large screen is great for multitasking and gaming, with vibrant colors, deep contrast, and smooth refresh rates in supported apps.
However, it is limited to Widevine L3, meaning no HD streaming on apps like Netflix. There’s no HDR support either.
Stereo speakers are included, which is a plus at this price. They get loud and deliver decent treble and bass.
Hardware and Performance
The HONOR X8d is powered by a 2.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 2 octa-core processor — an underwhelming choice for the price. But with the increasing components prices due to AI, it’s understandable. It’s paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage.
HONOR X8d Benchmark Scores
Apart from lacking 5G, overall performance feels sluggish, even for daily tasks like browsing and taking photos.
Gaming performance meets low expectations. Genshin Impact is playable only at the Lowest preset.
Shooter games perform better: PUBG Mobile runs smoothly on Smooth graphics with Ultra frame rate, Call of Duty Mobile on Medium with Max frame rate, and Farlight84 on Smooth with High frame rate.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was more forgivable at HD resolution with Ultra map quality and Super frame rates, while Asphalt Legends Unite was acceptable at Default quality at 60 frames.
| Game | Graphics Settings |
| Genshin Impact | • Render Resolution: Lowest • Visual Effects: Low • SFX Quality: Lowest • Frame Rate: 30 |
| PUBG Mobile | • Graphics Quality: Smooth • Frame Rate: Ultra |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | • Graphics Quality: Medium • Frame Rate: Max |
| Farlight84 | • Graphics Quality: Smooth • Frame Rate: High |
| Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | • Resolution: HD • Map Quality: Ultra • Frame Rate: Super |
| Asphalt Legends Unite | • Visual Quality: Default • Frame Rate: 60 |
Software and User Interface
The HONOR X8d runs Android 16 with MagicOS 10. There’s no official word on long-term software support, but it may get at least one major update and two years of security patches.
The interface is clean and easy to use. Some bloatware is present but easily removable.
It includes several AI features. Magic Portal makes cross-app sharing easier, and AI Writing is also available.
The Gallery app houses most AI tools, including AI Eraser, AI Upscale, AI Remove Reflection, AI Outpainting, and AI Eyes Open.
The AI Button feels more useful than the Action Button on iPhones. It supports Short press, Double press, and Long press shortcuts.
For security, the side-mounted fingerprint scanner works reliably, even with wet hands. Face unlock is also consistent, even in low light, as long as the screen is bright enough.
Cameras
The HONOR X8d has a 108-megapixel main camera (f/1.8, PDAF), a low-resolution 5-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 16-megapixel selfie camera.
Video recording is limited, as all cameras support only 720p and 1080p at 30fps.
Shooting modes include Dual-View, Pro, slow motion (720p@120fps), Night, Portrait, Story, and Time-Lapse.
Daylight shots from the main camera are usable. Sharpness is decent, but don’t zoom in. Dynamic range is acceptable, though colors look slightly pale.
Low-light performance is surprisingly good, with decent exposure, though colors remain dull and details could improve.
The 5-megapixel ultra-wide shares similar color issues and has noticeably lower detail. Still, it’s usable when needed.
The 16-megapixel selfie camera performs the best among the bunch. It captures sharp details, realistic skin tones, and wide dynamic range. Low-light shots are also good.
Overall, the cameras are usable. Not the best for the price, but sufficient for most casual use cases.
Battery and Charging
This is where the HONOR X8d stands out. It packs a large 7,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging.
It achieved the highest score in our 1080p YouTube video loop test at 25 hours and 23 minutes, and one of the highest in our PCMark battery test at 20 hours and 18 minutes.
The X8d is paired with 45W wired charging. Charging is reasonably fast. A full charge takes about an hour and a half. See the full charging test result below:
- 15mins: 0-21%
- 30mins: 40%
- 45mins: 57%
- 1hr: 75%
- 1hr 15mins: 91%
- 1hr 31mins: FULL
Verdict
The HONOR X8d has its redeeming qualities, but they’re not enough to outweigh its shortcomings.
It delivers class-leading battery life, easily one of the best in its segment, based on our tests. We also appreciate its thin, lightweight design, and the large display paired with stereo speakers makes it enjoyable for gaming and media consumption.
However, the underwhelming processor is hard to ignore. It not only lacks 5G connectivity but also delivers sluggish overall performance.
Other drawbacks include the lack of Widevine L1 for HD streaming, average camera quality, and limited video recording options.
Would we recommend the HONOR X8d despite these flaws? Not at its current price. It may be worth considering if it drops to a more competitive range or if you can get it during a sale.
HONOR X8d pricing and availability in the Philippines
The HONOR X8d has an SRP of Php15,999 in the Philippines. You can now get it at HONOR physical stores and retailers nationwide, and online via Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.
Pros
- Class-leading battery life
- Incredibly thin and light
- Good stereo speakers
Cons
- Underwhelming chipset for the price
- No 5G
- So-so camera quality, limited video recording