The HONOR X7d claims it could survive a few drops, handle daily grind tasks, and keep running for days on one charge—all without costing too much? It practically aims to achieve a stylish smartphone designed for practical users who prioritize reliability. Here’s our full review.
At first glance, it’s easy to underestimate the X7d as just another budget phone. A closer look reveals that HONOR added features rarely seen at this price, such as durability ratings and a large-capacity battery, making it an interesting choice for people who value longevity and sturdiness over raw performance.
HONOR X7d Specifications
- Display: 6.77-inch HD+ LCD, 120Hz refresh rate
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 685
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB / 512GB
- Rear Cameras: 108MP main, 2MP depth sensor
- Selfie Camera: 8MP front camera
- Connectivity: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, GPS
- Other Features: IP65 dust and water resistance, SGS Premium Performance 5-Star Drop and Crush certification, Instant AI Button
- OS: MagicOS 9 (based on Android 15)
- Battery and Fast Charge Tech: 6,500 mAh, 35W HONOR SuperCharge
- Colors: Desert Gold, Ocean Cyan, Velvet Black
Inside the phone reveals the usual set you’d get with HONOR phones: the phone itself, a TPU case, documents, the SIM and microSD card tray ejector, the 35-watt SuperCharge adapter, and the USB-A to USB-C data and charging cable.
HONOR X7d Review: Design and Construction
When you hold the HONOR X7d for the first time, it feels heavier and bulkier than most phones in its range, but this is intentional. The phone is heavier than typical midrange phones, but the distribution feels even.
The body is built with reinforced corners and a sturdy polycarbonate frame that helps absorb shocks. Contrary to last year’s X7c, the X7d now carries the luxury design ethos seen in the HONOR 400 series with a back panel that resists fingerprints and scratches well, while the camera island, with its large square design, gives the device a recognizable HONOR identity.
What stands out most is its durability. The X7d carries an IP65 rating, meaning it can withstand low-pressure water jets and resist dust intrusion. It also has SGS’s five-star certification for drop and crush performance, suggesting it can survive accidental drops of up to 1.8 meters.
In day-to-day handling, it feels solid and confidence-inspiring—something you can use without worrying too much about slips or bumps.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner sits comfortably on the power button, while the SIM tray supports two nano-SIMs. Sadly, there’s no microSD card expansion as the storage has been bu. There’s also a new AI button at the left side, which we’ll discuss later on.
The HONOR X7d is also water-resistant like its predecessor with its IP65 rating, which should make it a viable option for those always on the go. For those who prioritize protection over polish, the X7d’s modern look with reinforced durability delivers exactly that balance you need.
HONOR X7d Review: Display and Audio
HONOR still retained the 6.77-inch HD+ LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate in the HONOR X7d. While the refresh rate helps keep animations and scrolling smooth, the 720p resolution still feels like a trade-off. Text and icons are less crisp compared to Full HD screens, especially at this size. Viewing angles and brightness levels are decent, enough for indoor and shaded outdoor use, but direct sunlight visibility can be a bit challenging.
The choice of a lower-resolution display appears to be part of HONOR’s durability and battery-saving strategy. The HD+ panel consumes less power, allowing the massive battery to last longer. For most casual users aka those who browse social media, stream YouTube, or chat, it’s sufficient. However, if you frequently watch HD movies or read small text, the sharpness difference may be noticeable.
Audio performance is straightforward. The single bottom-firing speaker produces clear mids and acceptable loudness, though it lacks bass. Using wired or Bluetooth headphones improves sound quality. HONOR could have enhanced immersion with stereo speakers, but that’s a rare feature at this price point.
Overall, the display and audio are practical choices aligned with the phone’s rugged and power-efficient nature.
HONOR X7d Review: Camera
The HONOR X7d carries a 108MP main camera and a 2MP depth sensor at the rear. The large sensor captures detailed photos in bright light, and color reproduction tends to favor slightly warm tones. Images come out sharp enough for social media use, though dynamic range is limited in scenes with strong highlights and shadows.
In daylight, photos retain good detail, especially when AI enhancement is turned on. The camera handles landscapes and architecture well, but night performance shows visible noise and slower shutter response. Night mode helps brighten the scene, though it also softens fine details.
Portrait shots are decent; the depth camera assists with subject separation, but sometimes misjudges hair edges or backgrounds. The front 8MP selfie camera performs adequately for video calls and casual selfies, though its exposure can be inconsistent under mixed lighting.
Video recording is capped at 1080p. Stabilization is software-based and effective for short clips, but walking shots may still appear shaky. HONOR’s camera app is intuitive, offering familiar modes like AI Photo, Portrait, and Pro, as well as tools we’ve known including AI Erase and Outpaint.
For an affordable smartphone, the camera output is fair and functional. It’s designed for quick sharing rather than creative photography. Users who prefer casual snapshots will find it capable enough, though low-light performance remains limited.
HONOR X7d Review: Performance (Software, Hardware, and Connectivity)
Inside, the HONOR X7d uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chip with 8GB RAM, with an additional 8GB of HONOR RAM Turbo, and up to 512GB of storage. This setup is sufficient for basic multitasking, including social media, web browsing, messaging, and video streaming, all run smoothly. However, the chipset is built on an older architecture, so heavy gaming and demanding apps show its limits.
Games like Mobile Legends and Asphalt 9 are playable on medium settings, but resource-heavy titles like Genshin Impact may require lower graphics levels for stable frame rates. The 120Hz display sometimes gives an illusion of speed, but the processor’s limitations are noticeable when switching between several apps or performing large file transfers.
HONOR’s MagicOS 9, based on Android 15, feels clean and refined. It offers improved privacy controls, smoother transitions, and minimal bloatware compared to earlier versions.
The new Instant AI Button is a practical addition, enabling quick access to app shortcuts, or smart features like translation, private information blur, object recognition, or AI text summarization. It’s similar in concept to Google’s AI helper tools, but tailored to HONOR’s ecosystem.
Connectivity is standard for its range: 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS. There’s no 5G support, which aligns with its budget positioning. Call quality and signal reception are stable, and data connectivity remains reliable in areas with consistent coverage.
Overall, the X7d’s performance is tuned more for reliability than speed. It’s responsive for typical use but not meant to compete with higher-end devices. Its large storage option and efficient memory management, however, ensure smooth operation for casual users.
HONOR X7d Review: Battery and Charging
Battery endurance is the strongest point of the HONOR X7d. The 6,500 mAh dual-cell battery easily lasts almost two days of moderate use, even with the 120Hz refresh rate enabled. In heavier scenarios—such as continuous video streaming or GPS navigation—it can still stretch beyond a full day without issue.
Charging uses HONOR’s 35W SuperCharge standard. A full charge from near-empty takes around the range of almost two hours, which is acceptable for such a large battery. There’s no wireless charging, but the included fast charger gets the job done efficiently.
The phone’s battery optimization in MagicOS 9 helps extend life further by intelligently adjusting performance based on usage patterns. Users can also manually toggle power-saving and ultra power-saving modes, limiting background activities to conserve energy.
During testing, screen-on time consistently reached 10 to 12 hours depending on brightness and connectivity. That makes it ideal for users who spend long hours away from outlets such as field workers, commuters, or travelers who rely on their phone throughout the day. This combination of battery size, energy-efficient display, and moderate processing power gives the HONOR X7d one of the longest runtimes in its price class.
The Rundown
The HONOR X7d is a phone that values strength and stamina over style and speed. It fits best for users who want a dependable daily driver that can survive rough handling, long workdays, or travel adventures. With a rugged build, IP65 rating, and huge 6,500 mAh battery, it stands out among budget smartphones designed for endurance.
The HONOR X7d will be sold for PHP 9,999 at HONOR stores and authorized dealers nationwide.
