Let's take a quick look at HONOR's upcoming entry-level device with all-angle water resistance, suitable for rainy weather in the Philippines.
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HONOR X7d |
To recap, the HONOR X7d features an upgraded dust and water resistance rating, a 5-star durability rating from SGS, an HD+ panel, a Snapdragon chip, a 6,500mAh battery, and a 108MP shooter.
And now, let's unbox it.
Unboxing/Accesories
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The box |
The HONOR X7d arrived with a traditional white box with a printed image of the phone. At the bottom, you can find the memory configuration, indicating that we have the 8GB/512GB model.
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Inside the box |
Opening up the box will greet you with the smartphone X7d unit itself, transparent case, 35W HONOR SuperCharge, USB-A to USB-C cable, SIM injector tool, and the paperwork for the warranty and quick guide.
Build quality/Design
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The HONOR X7d back view |
Upon holding the HONOR X7d, it gave us the impression of durability meets modern aesthetics. It's light to hold yet super sturdy from all angles, and it doesn't even wobble when you try to bend the device with applied force.
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Frosted glass back |
The phone's rear is made of polycarbonate material, achieving a frosted glass finish, while the frame is made of plastic.
HONOR even boasts of its 5-star SGS Premium Drop Resistance, allowing the X7d to withstand those moments you would accidentally drop the phone.
Stylish, sleek, and rugged
The phone maker made that possible by increasing its impact resistance by 25 percent, and the risks for frame deformation were minimized to 15 percent. This ensures the HONOR X7d is 360-degree drop-proof, giving you that breath of relief in case something accidental happens.
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Guaranteed water splash protection from all angles |
Another highlight is its all-angle water resistance thanks to the IP65 rating. This means the phone can endure those large splashes, spills, and, for a brief period of water dips.
All-angle water splash resistance
So if you're aiming for capturing those pool parties, using it for the outside rain, and recording those kitchen or backyard moments, then this budget phone is rated to withstand all of that.
Furthermore, removing dust, sand, or any dirt would be easy as part of its IP65 rating.
But keep in mind, despite these muscled features, it's not perfect, and don't brag or abuse them daily. Just remember that it is designed to survive typical wear and tear from your daily activities.
Moving to the design, it reminded us of the recently announced Xiaomi 15T Pro. It has that same faint Glow on the back, square camera island, and tiny details of a fluted bezel around it.
It's Dessert Gold colorway, combined with the frosted glass matte finish, gives a head-turner vibe. It's simple yet elegant, but it will not make you think that it is just a budget phone.
If you want a different appearance, you can choose the Velvet Black or the Meteor Silver editions.
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The display |
In front, it uses a 6.77-inch TFT LCD screen with HD+ 1610 x 720 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 800 nits peak brightness.
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Top and bottom view |
Up top is what looks like a sensor and microphone hole, while at the bottom, you would find the speaker grill, USB-C port, microphone, and SIM injector tool.
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Right side |
On the right side, you'll see the fingerprint sensor/power button and the volume rockers.
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The left side |
On the left side, you'll find the dedicated AI button for quick launching essential apps like camera, toggle DND, cleanup, flashlight, calculator, note, screen recorder, and My Day. Unfortunately, you can use it as a camera shutter.
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The cameras |
For cameras, the phone uses a 108MP f/1.75 main shooter + 2MP depth helper + LED flash.
On the front, it has an 8MP f/2.0 sensor.
First Camera Samples
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2x zoom outdoor
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3x zoom
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Food photo sample
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Food photo sample 2
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Portrait mode |
For an entry-level phone, we find the HONOR X7d's main camera capable of capturing decent picture quality for scenarios with good lighting.
The 108MP resolution is enough to give you a good amount of details, a respectable dynamic range, and get the actual colors of the scene.
Though we noticed you need to have steady hands to get your desired shots, as there is a slight delay when you press the shutter button. The lack of OIS might be the culprit here.
But we feel like HONOR can fix this with a software update, as we've handled HONOR phones before with slower chips and the same sensor, but capture faster.
In-sensor zoom 2x and 3x are commendable as they provide clear pictures from a distance despite not having a proper telephoto.
The device's depth sensor does its job, producing artificial bokeh, but as usual, the result appears as if your subject was forced into the background. But then again, this is understandable for the market it is targeted at.
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Using in-sensor zoom 3x low light |
For low light, it has an acceptable output. As expected, some of the leaves appeared soft and others appeared darker. There are minimal glares on the lights and visible noises as well. Still, you are getting mostly usable images that you can post on social media.
Using Zoom will also retain most of the details in the wood for both 2x and 3x, but overall, there is a deterioration of the image quality. It also got darker and has visible glare, and the noise is much noticeable, while the leaves look more washed out than the original.
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Selfie daylight |
On the selfie side, the 8MP shooter can capture good details and colors in most cases, though there are times it will overexpose, so finding the right angle is the key to getting usable photos.
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Selfie low-light |
For low light, you'll get acceptable output. Your face is clearly visible, but there's a noticeable reduction in quality, especially if you zoom in on the photo. The dynamic range also appeared weak, which is expected for this low-end sensor.
HONOR X7d Specs
Display: 6.77-inch LCD (IPS) w/ 120Hz refresh rate, HD+ 1610 x 720 resolution at 261 ppi, up to 800 nits peak brightness
CPU: 2.4GHz 6nm Snapdragon 685 octa-core processor
GPU: Adreno 610
RAM: 8GB
ROM: 256GB
Back Camera: 108MP f/1.75 + 2MP depth camera + LED flash
Selfie Camera: 8MP f/2.0
Battery: 6,500mAh w/ 35W HONOR SuperCharge
OS: Android 15 w/ MagicOS 9.0
Connectivity: WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz), 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, dual SIM (nano)
Sensors: Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, sound, magnetic
Others: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, IP65 dust and water resistance, USB-C, Colors: Desert Gold, Ocean Cyan, Meteor Silver, Velvet Black
Dimensions: 166.9 x 76.8 x 8.2 mm
Weight: 208 g
Price: TBC
As of the moment
For an entry-level phone, it breaks the barriers for having usable splash resistance, tough build, large storage, and a massive battery that you usually get from higher-priced devices.
The all-angle dust and splash resistance could be beneficial for delivery riders and ride-hailing services who constantly go outside, rain or shine.
Its 512GB memory will surely be important for students and other budget-conscious consumers who need a large space for their daily activities.
The 6,500mAh battery should provide long-lasting juice to power you through the day and have some extra for the next day. Add to the fact that it uses an efficient 6nm chip and extensive power management, then you are guaranteed to rely less on a power bank.
As of this writing, there's no price has been revealed so far, but rumor says it will be affordable, making it an interesting device to watch out for.
Whether you are a student, young professional, or someone who needs a reliable backup phone, the HONOR X7d will not disappoint.
What do you guys think?
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