The smartphone trade is consistently evolving. The flagship smartphones proceed to push the boundaries of what’s potential with the pocket-sized laptop. Nonetheless, one other nice side of expertise persevering with to maneuver ahead is that it turns into barely cheaper to supply applied sciences which have been round for a while. And that’s what makes mid-range smartphones so interesting. Honor is a model that matches the invoice for entry-level and mid-range smartphones. With its new Honor X9a smartphone, it packs fairly a little bit of superior {hardware} for a strong value.
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For these catching up on the tech information, Honor was previously a model inside Huawei’s stables. In 2020, Honor formally break up from the group and launched its first non-Huawei smartphones firstly of 2021. This has had a optimistic impact general, having fashioned its fledgling ideas underneath the Huawei umbrella, producing nice merchandise for the decrease finish of the market, in addition to additionally permitting it to proceed its use of Google Play Companies, because it doesn’t fall underneath the identical US ban.
Construct and Design
Nearly instantly after lifting the unit out from its packaging, you’ll respect its design. Its slim end is matched by its light-weight construct. The Honor X9a has an aesthetic that intently resembles that of the Samsung Galaxy S6 with its edged display screen and rear cowl. Nonetheless, there may be fairly a marked enchancment, because it feels way more premium and strong. Not unhealthy for a mid-range smartphone.
Little doubt, the most important speaking level on the Honor X9a’s design is the massive, round island for the digital camera lenses on the rear. The tri-lens digital camera is positioned symmetrically in 12, 3, 6 and 9 in the event you consider a clock face. The fourth slot options the flashlight, which completes the symmetrical end.
The smartphone is out there in three colors. This consists of Titanium Silver, Emerald Inexperienced and Midnight Black. These are pretty customary color selections amongst trendy smartphones, so nothing actually stands out right here in that regard. That mentioned, the finishes are nonetheless fantastically crafted, with a sheen on the rear meant to glitter.
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Display screen and Show
The display screen provides to the design of the Honor X9a. On the skin, it appears to be like nice with a shiny end. It additionally utilises comparable glass safety to Huawei’s new Kunlun end, so it’s pretty much as good as a few of the high smartphones within the trade. That is an especially essential side given its curved-edge display screen. Customers can have peace of thoughts realizing it received’t simply crack if it falls on the ground, particularly on its aspect.
When it comes to the specs, it has an honest AMOLED panel. It is probably not the highest tier amongst trendy smartphones, however with an honest 800 nits brightness, it doesn’t embarrass itself.
Moreover, it encompasses a 1,080×2,400px decision show. When matched with its 6.67” dimension display screen, it provides it a 395ppi pixel density. Something above the 400ppi mark could be nice, so the Honor X9a shouldn’t be too far off.
One other nice-to-have is its 120Hz panel. The excessive refresh charge is up there with main smartphones and provides to your basic use and gaming expertise.
Lastly, it has an 89.9% screen-to-body ratio. This, too, is up there with flagship smartphones. Protecting the bezels down reduces the general dimension wanted, making it comfy in hand.
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Efficiency and Battery
The Honor X9a is powered by the Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G processor. The SoC additionally options the Adreno 619 as a pairing. This midrange chipset was launched some 18 months in the past, so has been round for a while. It nonetheless affords 5G assist, which is nice however isn’t essentially the most highly effective. It will get the job finished fairly nicely with little to no lag skilled, even with multitasking actions.
One of many dialogue factors on the Honor X9a is that it options the older Android 12 OS. The model has said that it could replace to Android 13 OS within the 12 months, which can nonetheless make it two iterations behind, with Android 14 OS scheduled for launch in H2. That mentioned, its Magic UI 6.1 isn’t a foul interface. It’s glossy and comparatively light-weight for ease of use. And it doesn’t harm to have entry to Google Play Companies.
When it comes to the battery, it encompasses a Li-Po 5100mAh, non-removable unit. As with many trendy telephones, relying in your utilization, you may eke out as much as 40 hours of life from a single cost. Even in the event you’re an influence consumer, you’ll be able to breeze by way of a complete day with out worrying about reaching on your charger.
Honor X9a Digital camera
The digital camera on the Honor X9a encompasses a triple-lens strategy. This consists of the next:
- 64MP, f/1.8, (huge), PDAF
- 5MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
- 2MP, f/2.4, (macro)
For essentially the most half, you’ll be caught on utilizing the principle 64MP digital camera. There isn’t a lot flexibility in switching between lenses until you’re utilizing the macro-photo choice or the ultrawide pictures. In contrast to many different trendy cameras, there’s no combine or fusion between the lenses to create higher photographs general. It’s a fundamental setup however does nicely sufficient in vivid mild.
Switching to nighttime mode poses a number of challenges. The primary of those is that it takes fairly a very long time to render, which implies you’ll have to preserve the gadget fairly regular to seize the perfect picture. It does, nonetheless, lead to a number of grainy photographs sometimes, however for essentially the most half, is respectable sufficient.
Issues worsen when switching to the ultrawide lens, which affords a much less highly effective 5MP choice. Once more, issues are comparatively okay underneath good lighting circumstances however get rather a lot worse underneath low mild circumstances making an attempt to take ultrawide images. Probably not the best.
Macro images can be a nice-to-have addition. That mentioned, it additionally solely has a 2MP lens. General, the pictures taken are fairly good. Nonetheless, it’s not nice for creating prints or different paintings and is principally on your private use.
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Is the Honor X9a Value It?

As a mid-range smartphone, the Honor X9a is nice. It has options that may simply put up a battle with a few of the main flagship smartphones available on the market in the present day. Nonetheless, in some features, it does go for extra mid-range {hardware} with the intention to preserve the general prices down.
That mentioned, with a mixture of top-tier specs and cost-reduction on others, it packs fairly the punch in opposition to different units in its class. It’s a fantastically crafted chassis, just like the smartphones of yesterday however loads sleeker.
Pricing varies between retailers and gadget fashions. Nonetheless, with costs beginning at R7,999, it’s fairly an inexpensive choice for any potential purchaser.
The Assessment
Honor X9a
PROS
- Good design and construct
- 120Hz display screen
- Lengthy-lasting battery life
- Nice pricing
CONS
- Mediocre digital camera
- Older model of Android