When it comes to reliable smartphones, the HONOR X7c confidently steps up as an affordable yet resilient device, packed with features you wouldn’t expect in its price range.
From its splash-proof durability to its robust battery life, this phone caters perfectly to users who need a dependable companion for everyday use. In this review, we’ll dive into everything the HONOR X7c has to offer – from its standout design to its practical performance.
Design and Build Quality
Starting with the design, the HONOR X7c impresses with its classic, sleek aesthetic available in three colors: Midnight Black, Forest Green, and Moonlight White.
Our review unit in Forest Green boasts a premium feel, with a textured back that resembles leather, lending it a stylish and sturdy touch that’s remarkably similar to the HONOR X8b. Personally, the Moonlight White colorway stands out as the most elegant option, enhancing the device’s overall refined appeal.
Holding the HONOR X7c doesn’t feel like an experience with a budget-friendly phone. The build quality feels high-end, supported by materials that create a robust and satisfying grip.
The HONOR X7c is also splash-proof, rated IP64 for dust and water resistance, which is a big plus for durability. In fact, we conducted a splash test (as shown in our video on the SuperbDan Facebook page) to showcase its resilience under light water exposure.
A reminder: while splash-proof, the HONOR X7c is not waterproof. We don’t recommend submerging it in water, as water damage isn’t covered by the warranty. However, knowing it can survive some unexpected spills or splashes adds peace of mind.
In terms of ports and buttons, the phone is equipped with a 3.5mm headphone jack, microphone, USB-C port, and stereo speakers. The Hybrid SIM tray is on the left, while the volume rockers and power button (which doubles as a fingerprint sensor) are on the right. On top, you’ll find the IR blaster and a secondary microphone.
Display and Multimedia Experience
The HONOR X7c sports a 6.77-inch TFT LCD display with HD+ resolution. While the resolution might be lower than some entry-level models, it still provides a decent viewing experience for day-to-day use. The colors, though not as vibrant as those from AMOLED displays, are balanced well for this type of panel.
Video watching is enjoyable, thanks to the dual stereo speakers, which offer a surprising max volume of up to 300% with clear audio quality. Additionally, the 3.5mm headphone jack makes it easy to enjoy audio content with wired headphones.
The 120Hz refresh rate also enhances the smoothness of scrolling and general navigation. With a maximum brightness of 850 nits, outdoor visibility can be a bit challenging, but in dim environments, it can reach as low as 2 nits for comfortable viewing.
Performance
Under the hood, the HONOR X7c is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 octa-core chipset with Adreno 610 GPU. Though not the most powerful processor, the Snapdragon 685 performs well on this device, particularly since the phone only has a 720p resolution to process. This optimization results in a smoother experience across general usage.
This device handles multitasking with ease, thanks to its impressive 8GB of RAM paired with an additional 8GB HONOR RAM Turbo, ensuring smooth and responsive performance even with multiple apps running. Plus, with a generous 256GB of internal storage, you’ll have ample space to keep all your files, photos, and apps in one place.
HONOR’s MagicOS 8.0 runs efficiently on the X7c, contributing to its snappy and stable performance. Surprisingly, even heavy games like Genshin Impact are playable (though with occasional frame drops and adjusted settings). Lighter games like Mobile Legends and Call of Duty: Mobile run smoothly, making this device a good pick for casual gaming as well.
For everyday apps and social media, the HONOR X7c performs reliably with minimal lag. This makes it an ideal choice for students and users on a budget under PHP 10,000. With a durable build and good performance, it’s suitable for clumsy users, too!
Benchmark results show an AnTuTu score of 356,360, while PCMark Work 3.0 yields 9,942 points. While respectable, a higher-end chipset would certainly take this device’s performance to another level.
Camera Quality
The camera setup includes a 108MP main camera and a 2MP depth sensor on the rear, while the front camera is an 8MP selfie shooter.
Admittedly, the 8MP selfie camera might seem modest, but it delivers decent quality images with sharpness and good color accuracy, provided there’s sufficient light. You’ll need a steady hand, though, as it can blur easily, especially in low-light conditions.
The rear 108MP main camera is a highlight, delivering sharp images with good detail and vibrant colors. It does struggle a bit in high-contrast scenes, sometimes missing shadow detail and dynamic range.
For videos, the quality is reasonable for its price, though stabilization is absent. You can still use the Google Photos app to stabilize footage, but it’s a workaround. Hopefully, future budget models from HONOR will include EIS or OIS to improve video quality.
Camera modes available in this phone are Aperture, Night, Portrait, Photo, Video, Pro, Slow-mo, Panorama, HDR Photo, Time-lapse, watermark, Dual-view, High-res, Scan document, and Story mode.
Battery Life and Charging
One of the best features of the HONOR X7c is its massive 6,000mAh battery, which scored an impressive 18 hours and 50 minutes on the PCMark battery test.
This means you can comfortably get two days of usage on a single charge with casual usage. It also supports 35W HONOR SuperCharge, which charges from 20% to 100% in roughly an hour and a half—a fair trade-off given the large battery.
Another interesting feature is the “Super Charging Boost Mode” (introduced during our guest spot on HONOR’s livestream last September 4), which bypasses the typical trickle charge, allowing faster charging even are nearly fully charged.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, the HONOR X7c offers great value, especially for users who need a phone that can handle occasional splashes and bumps without compromising on battery life.
With decent performance, reliable display, and a durable design, this phone is an excellent choice for students, parents, and anyone in need of a solid phone with long battery life.
Overall, the HONOR X7c is worth considering for anyone looking for an affordable yet durable and feature-packed phone.
HONOR X7c Specifications
- Display: 6.77-inch TFT LCD, 120Hz refresh rate, 850nits peak brightness
- CPU: 2.8GHz 6nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 octa-core processor
- GPU: Adreno 610
- RAM: 8GB + 8GB HONOR RAM Turbo
- ROM: 256GB
- Rear Camera: 108MP + 2MP depth + LED flash
- Front Camera: 8MP
- Battery: 6,000mAh, 35W HONOR SuperCharge (Type-C)
- OS: MagicOS 8.0, Android 14
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz & 5GHz WiFi, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, Dual SIM (nano)
- Sensors: Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope
- Colors: Forest Green, Midnight Black, Moonlight White
- Weight: 199g
- Dimensions:166.9mm (H) × 76.8mm (W) x 8.09mm (D) (Midnight Black) / 8.23mm (D) (Forest Green, Moonlight White)
- Others: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, AI face unlock, USB-C, IP64 rating, Hi-Res Audio, Dual speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack
Price and Availability
HONOR X7c – PHP 8,999 | Shopee link | Lazada link
The HONOR X7c is available for only PHP 8,999, maintaining the same affordable price as its predecessor. You can also get a FREE HONOR Gift Camping Light Speaker for every purchase from November 7-10.
