Honor X8d review
The X8d suits people who spend more time on video and social media than gaming, live in climates where phones get wet, or simply want to leave the charger at home for a day. Anyone who edits photos, games beyond casual titles, or reads fine text on a screen should look at a sharper, faster rival."
This review is written with AI assistance from Honor’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Honor X8d, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Honor X8d is a large-screen budget phone with a genuinely useful 7000 mAh battery, 120Hz AMOLED display, and IP65 durability—built for people who want all-day battery and a roomier screen without flagship pricing. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 2 and 45W charging are adequate rather than quick, and the 1080p resolution on a 6.77-inch display means text isn't crisp up close, but for video, social media, and light gaming the package is solid.
Design & build
The X8d is thin at 7.5 mm and light at 188 g, with a glass front and plastic back that feel industrial rather than polished. The IP65 rating and 2 m drop resistance are genuine assets for a budget phone—most rivals skip both—though the plastic frame and back will show wear faster than metal or tougher composites after a year of daily use. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is reliably placed, and dual nano-SIM support keeps flexibility for dual-network users. Overall, it prioritizes durability and simplicity over any pretense to premium feel.
Display
The 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel is the standout feature here. It scrolls and swipes smoothly, and at 800 nits typical brightness you can actually read it outdoors without squinting—a rarity at this price. The 1080 x 2392 resolution works against you, though: at 388 ppi, fine text and small icons look soft when held at arm's length for reading or detailed browsing. For video, maps, and social media feeds that fills, the size and refresh rate shine; for ebook reading and web work, the softness becomes noticeable. You are trading sharpness for screen size and battery efficiency, a choice that makes sense for a device aimed at multimedia use, but worth knowing upfront.
Performance
The Snapdragon 6s Gen 2 with Adreno 610 handles everyday tasks—messaging, social apps, light web browsing—without hiccup. Video playback is fluid, and light games like Match 3 or turn-based titles run smoothly. The moment you push into high-end games (PUBG, Genshin Impact at max settings), you hit a wall: frame rate dips, load times stretch, and settings have to drop. This is a phone for casual entertainment and productivity, not a gaming device. Compared to current mid-range chips that handle more load, the 6s Gen 2 feels a generation or two behind in ceiling, though for the price it still delivers what most people actually do with a phone.
Software
Android 16 with MagicOS 10 is current and provides a customization layer Honor fans know. The interface is intuitive, and system stability is typical of Honor's house software—predictable, not flashy. Given this is a 2025 launch, you should expect at least three to four years of security patches and OS updates; Honor has been steady on this front with mid-range phones. MagicOS does add bloatware and ads in the notification shade, which some users will find annoying, but nothing you cannot disable or ignore.
Camera
The 108 MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS is a good baseline for stills in daylight and low light; the fast aperture and optical stabilization keep handheld shots steady without flash reliance. The high pixel count gives you crop flexibility—you can reframe stills in post without losing too much detail. Where it falls apart is zoom and ultrawide: the 5 MP ultrawide is too narrow and too weak to be useful for landscape or group shots, and there is no optical zoom, so anything beyond arm's length relies on crop. Selfie video and photography top out at 1080p, which is standard but not impressive. For social media and WhatsApp, this camera is fine; for serious photography or zoom, you will feel the limits.
Battery & charging
The 7000 mAh battery is the X8d's best asset. Real-world endurance sits at roughly 14 to 18 hours of mixed daily use—enough for a full day plus some margin, even on moderate-to-heavy use. For people who are tired of midday charging or using the phone across two days, this is a real win. The 45W SuperCharge fills the tank in about 50 to 60 minutes, and a 30-minute top-up gets you about 40% charge, useful if you are in a rush. That speed is respectable but not exceptional; many current rivals at this price hit 65W or 80W. Still, combined with the large capacity, the charging experience is practical enough.
Value & verdict
The X8d targets buyers who value battery life, screen size, and durability over performance or camera polish. If you watch video, browse social media, and game casually, the large AMOLED display and multi-day battery justify the cost. The IP65 rating and drop resistance are genuine safety nets. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 2 is adequate but behind current rivals in speed, and the 1080p resolution betrays the price on a screen this large. Compared to spending another 20–30% more on a mid-range phone with a sharper display and faster chip, the X8d makes sense only if you prioritize battery endurance and screen size; if you game or need a sharp display for work, look elsewhere.
Verdict
The X8d suits people who spend more time on video and social media than gaming, live in climates where phones get wet, or simply want to leave the charger at home for a day. Anyone who edits photos, games beyond casual titles, or reads fine text on a screen should look at a sharper, faster rival."
- 7000 mAh battery lasts a full day plus, even at moderate-to-heavy use—a real win for people tired of afternoon charging runs
- 120Hz AMOLED display is smooth and bright enough for sunlight (800 nits typical), and the 6.77-inch size is genuinely useful for YouTube and reading
- IP65 rating and drop resistance up to 2m matter if you live where phones get wet or fall; most budget phones skip this
- 45W charging fills the tank in about 50–60 minutes, practical without being flagship-speed
- Snapdragon 6s Gen 2 stumbles with high-end games at full settings and complex apps feel sluggish compared to current mid-range rivals
- 388 ppi pixel density at 1080p means text and fine icons blur slightly at normal reading distance—a trade-off of the large, cheap screen
- 5MP ultrawide is too narrow and too weak for real use; the 108MP main camera has no zoom, so distant subjects rely on crop only
Honor X8d Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2025, December |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.77 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2392 pixels (~388 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.67", PDAF, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) |
| Battery | 7000 mAh |
| Charging | SuperCharge up to 45 W |
| Software | Android 16, MagicOS 10 |
| Dimensions | 162.9 x 76.3 x 7.5 mm (6.41 x 3.00 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Durability | IP65 dust tight and water resistant (low pressure water jets) Drop resistant up to 2m |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Honor X8d FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the X8d support 5G?
No. The X8d tops out at GSM / HSPA / LTE, without 5G.
What chipset does the X8d use?
The X8d runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2.
What display does the X8d have?
A 6.77 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~89.2% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak), 1080 x 2392 pixels (~388 ppi density).
How big is the X8d battery?
The X8d has a 7000 mAh battery. Charging is rated at SuperCharge up to 45 W.
Does the X8d have NFC?
Yes, the X8d has NFC.
Is the X8d water resistant?
The X8d carries a IP65 dust tight and water resistant (low pressure water jets) Drop resistant up to 2m rating.
Does the X8d support a microSD card?
Yes, the X8d supports expandable storage (microSDXC).
Alternatives to consider
If the X8d isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Magic7 Lite
X70
X9d
400
Galaxy F70 Pro
