HONOR X9c 5G vs HONOR X9d 5G: What's new? How big is the jump?

The HONOR X9c 5G (PHP 16,999 SRP) became one of 2025's most viral mid-range smartphones, praised for its durable design, vibrant display, impressive battery life, and more.

File photo: HONOR X9c 5G and X9d 5G

Now, HONOR is aiming to raise the bar once again. A few days ago, the company officially introduced its successor—the HONOR X9d 5G (PHP 18,999 SRP)—engineered to deliver an even more refined experience.

So, how much of an upgrade are we talking about? Let’s dive in.

HONOR X9d vs HONOR X9c Specs Comparison

Device	HONOR X9d 5G	HONOR X9c 5G
Display	6.79-inch Aluminosilicate glass protected flat AMOLED screen w/ 120Hz refresh rate, 3,840Hz PWM dimming, 1.5K 2640 x 1200 resolution at 427 ppi	6.78-inch Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop 2.0 curved AMOLED screen w/ 120Hz refresh rate, 3,840Hz PWM dimming, 1.5K 2700 x 1224 resolution at 437 ppi
CPU	2.3GHz 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 octa-core processor	2.2GHz 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 octa-core processor
GPU	Adreno	Adreno
RAM	12GB	12GB
ROM	256GB	256GB
Back Camera	108MP f/1.75 w/ OIS, PDAF + 5MP f/2.2 ultra-wide + LED flash	108MP f/1.75 w/ OIS, PDAF + 5MP f/2.2 ultra-wide + LED flash
Selfie Camera	16MP f/2.45	16MP f/2.45
Battery	8,300mAh Si-C w/ USB-C 66W HONOR SuperCharge	6,600mAh Silicon-Carbon w/ 66W HONOR SuperCharge
OS	Android 15 w/ MagicOS 9.0	Android 15 w/ HyperOS 2
Connectivity	WiFi 6 (2.4GHz/5GHz), 5G, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.2 BLE, OTG, NFC, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, dual SIM (nano)	WiFi 5 (2.4GHz/5GHz), 5G, 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.1, OTG, GPS, IR Blaster, NFC, dual SIM
Sensors	Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, sound, magnetic	Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, sound, magnetic
Others	In-Display fingerprint sensor, IP66/68/69/69K dust and water resistance, stereo speakers, USB-C, Colors: Reddish Brown, Midnight Black, Sunrise Gold, Forest Green	In-Display fingerprint sensor, IP65M dust and water resistance, stereo speakers, USB-C, Colors: Titanium Purple, Titanium Black, Jade Cyan
Dimensions	161.9 x 76.1 x 7.76 mm	162.8 x 75.5 x 8.0 mm
Weight	193 g	189
Price	PHP 18,999	PHP 16,999

Build/Design - Evidently, that letter "d" should stand for durability. The HONOR X9d still gets the same DNA, just like its predecessor, only this time it is much stronger and tougher.

HONOR X9d 5G design

To recall, the HONOR X9c had Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop technology 2.0, which is rated by the company to be resistant to drops by 2 meters. Now, HONOR X9d gets an improved 2.5m drop resistance.

Moreover, it has an ultra-tough tempered glass combined with 6 layers of cushioning, which the brand claims "ballistic-grade" damping layer for that upgraded shock absorption.

@gizguideph First post of the year. Torture test. 🔨🔨🔨 From 2.5m drops to its insane IP69K water resistance—the HONOR X9d 5G might be the most durable phone of 2026 yet. Pre-order details here: https://bit.ly/4pcYbhS #HONORX9d5G #TheToughestPhone ♬ original sound - gizguideph

We performed our extreme test here as well, such as dropping it several times from our staircase, smashing onions and garlic, and chopping it using a Japanese Knife.

On top of that, the phone also survives multiple smash and runover tests from a Tesla Cybertruck.

Last year, HONOR X9c 5G had a decent IP65M dust and water resistance. 

This year, the X9d 5G had an even stronger IP66/68/69/69K rating. This makes it the highest rating possible on a smartphone and should give it more protection under harsh conditions. HONOR claims it can survive hot water jets up to 85 degrees Celsius. In our test, we submerged the device under boiling water for up to 20 seconds, after which it was still working fine.

The HONOR X9d 5G is super-slim for a phone with an 8,300mAh battery

Despite having rugged features, both have attractive and slim aesthetics. The X9c has more curvy, rounded edges, while the X9d gets a boxier shape with minimal rounded corners for ergonomics.

In terms of colorways, it features Sunrise Gold with marble-like textures. But if you prefer different colors, you can select the Reddish Brown or Midnight Black.

Among it's highlight is the 7.76mm despite having a larger battery. In comparison, the X9c had 7.98mm.

HONOR X9d 5G display

Display - In this area, the HONOR X9d now gets a slightly larger 6.79-inch display from 6.78 inches. But it also gets a higher 6,000 nits (from 4,000 nits) peak brightness, and it now has a flat panel coming from a curved one.

It retained the 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 3840Hz PWM for those sharp, smooth pictures while having a safe viewing experience.

HONOR X9d 5G AnTuTu score

Performance - The HONOR X9d also receives a three-generation jump from its processor. The X9c hada 2.4 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chip; the HONOR X9d now uses a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 SoC.

- In terms of performance, both devices were tested on AnTuTu V11. The HONOR X9d scored 957,051 points, while the HONOR X9c registered 721,044—showing a gap of over 200K or around a 30 percent boost in overall performance.

Both have the same 12GB RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage.

HONOR X9d back

Battery - As mentioned earlier, the HONOR X9d has a massive battery capacity with an 8,300mAh battery. If the HONOR X9c with a 6,600mAh battery tested could get more than a day of juice, how long could this latest generation last? Our unit is still under testing, so kindly stay tuned for our review soon.

We also know that HONOR X9c's battery life can last for many years, but the HONOR X9d is rated for up to 6 years, as per the brand's claims.

Both can still be charged using the USB-C 66W HONOR SuperCharge adaptor.

The cameras of HONOR X9d 5G

Cameras - For cameras, both devices feature the same 108MP f/1.75 sensor with OIS, PDAF, 5MP ultra-wide, and LED flash. It goes the same with their selfie shooters, which are stuck ata 16MP sensor.

Others - The brand did not detail out the VC cooling technology it uses for HONOR X9c, but the X9d uses a VC Ice Cooling system featuring 5th gen hexagonal graphite plus ultra-light stainless steel, giving the device a quicker and more efficient heat reduction.

Connectivity - Both devices have nearly the same options, though they differ in WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 for the X9d, while the X9c has WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2.

For OS, both phones run on Android 15 with MagicOS 9.0 skin on top.

Overall, the HONOR X9d 5G marks a substantial upgrade in durability, performance, and battery compared to the HONOR X9c 5G on paper.

What do you guys think?