HONOR’s newest entry-level device, the HONOR X7b, has finally landed in the Philippines, and if you’re on the hunt for a decent, budget-friendly device, then you’ve come to the right place.
The HONOR X7b’s 6000mAh battery is arguably its banner feature, promising to keep the phone running longer than other devices in its class. It also boasts a 108MP main camera and a 6.8-inch FHD+ display.
All these make the device seem promising—but how does it actually fare in actual usage?
Design & construction
The HONOR X7b’s design could easily be the favorite feature of anyone getting hold of this device. The Flowing Silver colorway, in particular, has a textured finish that radiates soft hues of blue, purple, green, and pink when exposed to light. It’s definitely an eye candy for anyone looking for an attractive smartphone.
Apart from Flowing Silver, the device is available in Emerald Green and Midnight Black, with all three variants sporting plastic cover and sides. While the design looks nice, the plastic frame may give it a less sophisticated feel and make it more prone to scratches. For that, you can use the clear jelly case found inside the device’s box. Also found in the box are a power brick, charging cable, SIM ejector, and Quick Start Guide.
That aside, the X7b is easy to grip with its width of 8.24mm. It weighs 199g, which makes the device quite heavy but, at the same time, feel solid.
The back of the phone features two camera islands and the HONOR logo. At the bottom edge, you’ll find the 3.5mm audio jack, mic, USB-C port, and main speaker. At the top edge is another mic and a secondary audio output.
Meanwhile, the volume rocker and power button, which doubles as a responsive fingerprint scanner, are on the right side. On the left is the tray for dual SIM cards.
Display & multimedia
The HONOR X7b will appeal to those who want a big displays. Its 6.8-inch 90Hz IPS TFT LCD panel with FHD+ resolution offers vivid and sharp images with good color accuracy, making viewing static photos on social media and binge-watching HD shows on Netflix a delightful experience.
The display has an 800 nits peak brightness that, although not as impressive as other entry-level phones, is still readable even in bright lighting conditions.
The phone’s large display is enclosed by bezels that are considerably moderate in size and not too bothersome. The case is quite different, though, with the hole-punch cutout at the top of the screen which you probably wouldn’t want around when playing high-intensity games on the device.
When it comes to sound quality, the X7b’s audio has a high volume but needs improvement in other areas. The output, for one, has little bit of wind noise. It also lacks bass, making low-pitched sounds hardly audible especially when gaming. A workaround is to use your own pair of headset.
Camera
The X7b sports a triple-camera system with its 108MP main camera as the big selling point. This massive shooter can shoot photos at full 108MP on Pro mode, but only takes 12MP shots by default.
Either of the two produces photos with vibrant colors and balanced contrast and highlights. Sharpness suffers a bit when normal setting is used, but the results are already decent for an entry-level smartphone.
Aside from the main shooter, there’s also a 5MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro camera at the back. The latter can only be used through the camera’s Super Macro mode. Since the sensor has a low pixel count, it didn’t come as a surprise that close-up shots using Super Macro mode are far from being sharp or vibrant.
Night mode, meanwhile, performs well. Our test shots turned out bright, colorful, and virtually noise-free. It livens up dark scenarios significantly compared to when you’re using normal settings. Aperture mode likewise delivers its promise to create a depth-of-field effect in photos by blurring the background.
The X7b’s rear camera system is paired with an 8MP shooter at the front. Apparently, the sensor produces photos that are highly filtered both in normal settings and Portrait mode. The subject’s blemishes are removed and skin is brightened, but they also appear to be edited into the background.
Check out the other photos we took using the X7b’s rear camera below.
In addition, the phone’s camera can record videos at 1080 pixels @ 30fps. It doesn’t offer 4K resolution or stabilization, but the clips are vivid and the audio is fair enough.
With the device’s Multi-Video mode, you can also record videos using the front and rear cameras simultaneously. Take note, though, that the clip captured by the rear camera has better resolution because the camera system has a higher pixel count than the one in front.
Performance & battery
Performance is certainly one thing you can bank on in the X7b. The main highlight of the device is its 6000mAh battery, which is certified with the DXOMARK Battery Gold Label. According to HONOR, the powerful cell can keep the phone running for three days with just a single charge.
The mobile phone brand is definitely not kidding, as we still have 40% left of our battery after charging the unit two days ago. It remains high despite the constant use of messaging and social media apps, in addition to gaming and taking photos with the cameras from time to time.
It comes with a 35W charger, which is relatively modest for the beefy battery. It charged the X7b’s battery from 9% to 30% in 20 minutes and was able to reach full 100% after an hour and a half.
The battery is also paired with the device’s 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset. Despite being an old mid-tier processor, we did not experience any lag when using the phone.
The same goes when playing games like Call of Duty. It remains fast and responsive even on high-definition settings, thanks to the aid of the device’s 8GB RAM.
The X7b runs MagicOS 7.2 based on Android 13, offering a clean and user-friendly interface that adds to the delight of using the device as a whole.
Speed says
The HONOR X7b is an attractive and reliable daily driver, thanks to its good display, decent performance, and slim build. While its camera and audio systems can be further improved, its powerful 6000mAh battery is one thing you can rely on if you’re only looking for a device to get you through your everyday tasks. This phone is worth considering, especially with its budget-friendly price of P8,999.
The HONOR X7b is available in HONOR retailers and online via Shopee and Lazada.
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