Honor X9c 5G Review - Best Ultra-Budget 5G Phone Under 15,000 BDT
Honor X9c 5G Review - Best Ultra-Budget 5G Phone Under 15,000 BDT
The Honor X9c 5G brings 5G connectivity to the ultra-budget segment, priced under 15,000 BDT. With a 90Hz display, 50MP camera, and 5000mAh battery, it offers incredible value for first-time smartphone buyers. This review covers whether the X9c is the best entry-level 5G phone for Bangladeshi users.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Details | Display | 6.5-inch 90Hz IPS LCD | Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 6020 | RAM | 4GB / 6GB | Storage | 64GB / 128GB | Rear Camera | 50MP + 2MP | Front Camera | 5MP | Battery | 5000 mAh, 10W | OS | Android 13, Magic UI | 5G | Yes |
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The Honor X9c 5G comes in a white box with gold accents. Inside, you get the phone, a 10W charger, a USB-C cable, a SIM ejector tool, and a transparent case. The phone feels surprisingly solid for its price, with a 6.5-inch display and a textured back that provides good grip. The 50MP camera bump is larger than expected at this price.
Design and Build Quality
The X9c features a 6.5-inch display with a waterdrop notch, a plastic frame, and a textured plastic back. The phone measures 163.5 x 75.3 x 8.9mm and weighs 185g. The textured back provides good grip and doesn't attract fingerprints. The phone has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button.
The phone is available in two colors: Midnight Black and Ocean Blue.
Display
The 6.5-inch 90Hz IPS LCD display is decent for the price. Colors are accurate, and the 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling smoother than 60Hz displays. Brightness is adequate for indoor use but struggles in direct sunlight.
Display highlights:
- 90Hz refresh rate (smoother than 60Hz)
- HD+ resolution (1600 x 720) - not FHD+
- Waterdrop notch (not a punch-hole)
Performance
The Dimensity 6020 processor is an entry-level 5G chip. It handles basic tasks like calls, messages, WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube smoothly. The 4GB or 6GB RAM is sufficient for basic multitasking.
Performance test results:
- AnTuTu score: Approximately 350,000-380,000
- Geekbench 6 single-core: ~700
- Geekbench 6 multi-core: ~1,900
Gaming performance is limited. Light games like Subway Surfers run fine, but BGMI and heavier games will lag.
Camera
The 50MP main camera is impressive at this price, but the 5MP front camera is basic.
50MP Main Camera
The 50MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture captures decent photos in good lighting. For an ultra-budget phone, the image quality is surprisingly good. Low-light performance is poor, as expected.
2MP Depth Camera
The 2MP depth sensor helps with portrait mode, providing basic background blur.
5MP Front Camera
The 5MP front camera is adequate for video calls but not for serious selfies.
Battery Life
The 5000 mAh battery provides excellent battery life, easily lasting 2 days of moderate use.
Battery test results:
- Video playback: 18+ hours
- Web browsing: 14+ hours
- Mixed usage: 2 days
Charging is very slow. The 10W charging takes about 2.5 hours for a full charge. This is the biggest weakness of the phone.
Software - Magic UI
The X9c runs Android 13 with Honor's Magic UI. Magic UI is similar to Huawei's EMUI and has some bloatware. Honor promises 2 years of security patches but no major OS updates (this is a budget phone). Google Mobile Services are included.
Connectivity
The phone supports dual 5G SIMs, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, and has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons | 5G connectivity under 15,000 BDT | Very slow 10W charging | 5000 mAh battery (2-day battery life) | HD+ display only (not FHD+) | 50MP main camera (impressive at this price) | No major OS updates | 90Hz refresh rate display | Entry-level processor | 3.5mm headphone jack | Poor low-light camera performance | Good build quality for the price | Waterdrop notch (dated look) |
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Honor X9c 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A06
The Samsung A06 costs 13,999 BDT. The Honor offers 5G connectivity (vs 4G on Samsung), a 50MP camera (vs 50MP, similar), and a 90Hz display (vs 60Hz). The Samsung offers a cleaner One UI Core software experience and Samsung's brand reliability.
Verdict: The Honor offers better hardware. The Samsung offers better software.
Honor X9c 5G vs realme Narzo 70 Pro 5G
The realme Narzo 70 Pro costs 18,999 BDT, about 5,000 BDT more. The realme offers a 120Hz AMOLED display (vs 90Hz LCD), faster 45W charging (vs 10W), and a better processor. The Honor offers a lower price and still has 5G.
Verdict: If budget is extremely tight, the Honor is a good choice. If you can spend 5,000 BDT more, the realme is significantly better.
Who Should Buy the Honor X9c 5G
- First-time smartphone buyers: Great entry-level phone
- Users on an extremely tight budget: 5G under 15,000 BDT is rare
- Users who prioritize battery life: 5000 mAh provides 2 days of use
- Users who want a headphone jack
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Gamers: Entry-level processor is not for gaming
- Users who want fast charging: 10W is very slow
- Users who want a good display: HD+ resolution and IPS LCD are basic
- Users who want software updates: No major OS updates
Final Verdict
The Honor X9c 5G is the best ultra-budget 5G phone under 15,000 BDT. It brings 5G connectivity, a 50MP camera, and a 5000 mAh battery to a price point where these features are rare. The 90Hz display is a nice bonus. The slow 10W charging, HD+ display, and entry-level processor are compromises you expect at this price. For first-time smartphone buyers or users on an extremely tight budget who want 5G connectivity, the X9c is an excellent choice. If you can spend a bit more, phones like the realme Narzo 70 Pro offer significantly better value, but for under 15,000 BDT, the Honor X9c is hard to beat.
Rating: 8.3/10
Price: 13,990 BDT (4GB/64GB)
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Does the Honor X9c have 5G?
Answer: Yes, the Honor X9c supports 5G connectivity.
Question 2: Does it have a headphone jack?
Answer: Yes, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Question 3: Does it have Google services?
Answer: Yes, Honor phones come with Google Mobile Services pre-installed.
Question 4: Is it good for gaming?
Answer: No, the Dimensity 6020 is an entry-level chip. Light games only.
Question 5: How long does the battery last?
Answer: With moderate use, you can get 2 days of battery life.
Question 6: How long does charging take?
Answer: The 10W charger takes about 2.5 hours for a full charge.