Battery Challenge: Can the HONOR X9d 5G really last through a festival weekend?

Could the HONOR X9d 5G actually last through two busy days of Panagbenga with real-world usage? That was the question I had in mind when I brought the phone with me to Baguio during Panagbenga. Festivals are one of the fastest ways to drain a smartphone. Cameras are constantly active, mobile data rarely turns off, and social media updates happen almost in real time.

Instead of doing a lab-style battery test, I decided to treat the trip as a challenge. The rules were simple. One SIM card installed. Mobile data is mostly active. Lots of photography, social media, and navigation while exploring Baguio. And no rushing to a charger unless the phone truly needed it.

Starting the challenge

The test began early on February 28 at around 4:00 AM.

I had arrived in Baguio just before midnight the night before, barely catching any sleep before the Street Dance Parade. The city was already filling with spectators, and I started documenting the morning using the HONOR X9d 5G.

At this point, the phone was already doing several things at once. Mobile data was active for messaging and social media updates. Maps helped me move around the parade route. And the camera was used constantly as performers marched through the streets.

A photo taken at 10:01 AM shows the phone already in use outdoors with the battery still at around 82 percent. The device had already spent hours capturing photos and checking updates online.

For a festival environment, this kind of usage is normal. You rarely take just one photo. You take several in quick bursts, especially when performers are moving.

Morning turned into afternoon quickly. I had lunch at this amazing restaurant near my stay, Cafe Cafagway, which had an amazing garden setting behind an unsuspecting, humble home. There were also flora and fauna, and pottery on exhibit, as the restaurant was holding pottery classes on the weekend of the Panagbenga festival.

I went out to visit several attractions, including the Baguio Museum, the Our Lady of the Abandoned Church, and Ili Likha – all within the proximity of Session Road.

By 3:14 PM, the phone was still running comfortably with plenty of battery remaining. That was after hours of photography, messaging, and browsing social media during the parade, eating, and touring.

This was not a light workload. The camera had been active for large portions of the day, and the phone stayed connected to mobile data the entire time.

The first day ends

My first day wrapped up around 8:00 PM. I had to call it an early night as I was exhausted from all the traveling around town, not to mention I haven’t had enough sleep since I arrived in the city.

From the early 6:00 AM start to that point, the phone had already gone through roughly fourteen hours of continuous real-world use. The Street Dance Parade was done, I had already walked through several parts of the city, and I spent time browsing photos and messaging friends about the trip.

Despite all that activity, the HONOR X9d 5G still had battery remaining when I finally called it a night. Instead of charging the phone immediately, I left it as it was. The challenge was still ongoing.

When I woke up the next morning on March 1, something interesting happened. The battery had only dropped by about three percent overnight.

That small change highlighted how efficient the phone’s standby power management is. Even with the SIM card still active and notifications coming in, the phone barely consumed any battery while idle.

That meant the device was still ready for the next major Panagbenga event.

Day Two: The Flower Float Parade

The Flower Float Parade is one of the highlights of Panagbenga. Large floats decorated with thousands of flowers roll slowly through Baguio while crowds gather along the streets.

It is also a moment where cameras work non-stop.

I used the HONOR X9d 5G to photograph several floats, switching between wide shots of the entire display and closer shots of the floral details. Mobile data remained active throughout the event so I could upload photos and stay connected.

After the parade ended near noon, I went around Session Road to eat and check my social media. Here’s my battery at 1:43 pm.

Even after the floats passed, the challenge was not over.

There was still battery left.

Instead of heading back to charge, I continued exploring Baguio. Mobile data stayed on while I checked directions, walked through nearby attractions, and continued taking photos.

For a traveler, this is where battery life really matters. You do not want to stop your day early just because your phone needs power.

Going into the night

At one point later during the trip, the phone was still being used after midnight. I woke up around midnight, ordered food delivery from Good Taste Restaurant, and ate as I prepared to depart Baguio for a 5AM bus trip.

At 1:38 AM on March 2, the device is still powered on with battery remaining with 30% battery left. That moment captured what the entire weekend felt like. The phone simply kept going.

The challenge that started early on February 28 stretched across the Street Dance Parade, the Flower Float Parade, and several hours of exploring Baguio. And the HONOR X9d 5G was still functioning as the main device throughout the trip.

Even after Panagbenga activities ended, the phone continued to be used normally.

A photo taken on March 3 shows the device still active during another day outdoors. By that point, the phone had already spent days being used for photography, messaging, social media, and navigation.

In other words, it handled exactly what most travelers expect from a phone during a trip.

The result of the challenge

So, can the HONOR X9d 5G really last through a festival weekend?

During Panagbenga, the answer appeared to be yes.

From an early start on February 28 through the following day’s parade and city exploration, the phone handled constant camera use, mobile data activity, and social media updates without needing immediate charging.

Instead of worrying about battery percentage every few hours, the device simply stayed ready for the next photo.

And during a festival where moments appear quickly and disappear just as fast, that kind of reliability makes a difference.