Honor X7c Review: A Budget-friendly Powerhouse for Everyday Use
The Honor X7c, released on October 18, 2024, is another addition to Huawei’s sub-brand Honor's mid-range X series. With improved hardware, modern features, and a sleek design, it competes fiercely with rivals. Let’s dive into a detailed review of Honor X7c’s key specs, price, pros, cons, and see how it stacks up.
Key Features of Honor X7c
Design and Build Quality
The Honor X7c boasts a slim profile, 166.9 mm by 76.8 mm by 8.1 mm, and a 194-196 g weight. Its ergonomic design features a polycarbonate body with a glossy finish and IP64 water and dust resistance, making it stylish and durable.
Compared to the Honor X7b, which is slightly thicker and heavier (199 g), the X7c feels more refined to hold. Compared to competitors like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13, which has a premium Gorilla Glass 5 front, the X7C’s tempered glass display falls short but remains excellent for its price.
Display Quality
The X7c features a 6.77-inch IPS LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 720 by 1610 pixels (~261 PPI). While the refresh rate ensures smoother scrolling and transitions, the HD+ resolution is somewhat underwhelming.
In contrast, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 offers a superior AMOLED display with 1080 by 2400 pixels resolution, delivering sharper visuals and vibrant colours. The Honor X7b has a 90Hz refresh rate, which is lower than the X7c, but it offers 1080p resolution for crisper details. The Oppo A92, with its 1080 by 2400 pixels IPS LCD, also outperforms the X7c in clarity, though it lacks the higher refresh rate.
Camera Performance
The Honor X7c comes with a dual rear camera setup, including a 108MP (f/1.8) primary sensor and a 2MP (f/2.4) depth sensor, alongside an 8MP (f/2.0) front camera. The primary sensor captures impressive detail in well-lit conditions, though low-light performance introduces noticeable noise.
Compared to the Honor X7b, which features a triple camera setup with an ultrawide lens, the X7c lacks versatility. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 also edges ahead with a similar 108MP primary sensor but includes an 8MP ultrawide lens, offering more flexibility for photography. The Oppo A92, though older, delivers decent shots with its quad-camera setup, including a 48MP primary sensor and ultrawide and macro capabilities.
Offering a maximum video capture of 4k at 30fps, Oppo A92 steps ahead of Honor X7c and Xiaomi Redmi Note 13, as they can shoot 1080p at 30fps footage at best.
Processor Performance
The Honor X7c is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 (6nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU (4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A73 and 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A53) and an Adreno 610 GPU. This configuration ensures smooth performance for everyday tasks, like browsing, streaming, and multitasking.
Honor X7b offered the Snapdragon 680 chipset, but the X7c offers higher clock speeds for faster processing. The Oppo A92, using the older Snapdragon 665, lags in terms of processing power. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 outshines with its MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, which delivers better performance, especially for demanding tasks.
Software and User Interface
The Honor X7c runs on Android 14 with MagicOS 8, providing a clean and intuitive interface with minimal bloatware. Features like split-screen multitasking and one-handed mode add to its usability.
Though the Honor X7b also runs MagicOS 8, there are a few noticeable differences with X7c. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 introduces HyperOS, offering better customization and performance optimizations. The Oppo A92, limited to Android 10 with ColorOS 7.1, feels outdated in comparison.
Storage Options
The X7c offers two configurations: 128GB with 6GB RAM and 256GB with 8GB RAM, ensuring ample space for apps, media, and multitasking. However, the lack of a dedicated microSD card slot is a downside for users needing expandable storage.
The Honor X7b provides similar storage options but includes microSD support, giving it an edge. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 and Oppo A92 both offer expandable storage, with the Redmi Note 13 supporting up to 512GB.
Gaming Performance
The X7c handles casual games like Candy Crush and Free Fire with ease, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate and optimized GPU. While playing heavier titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile, it performs adequately on medium settings, though frame drops may occur during prolonged sessions.
Compared to the Honor X7b, the X7c’s slightly upgraded chipset offers a marginal improvement in gaming. However, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 stands out as a better gaming device, courtesy of its more powerful GPU. The Oppo A92 struggles to keep up with modern games, making the X7c a preferable choice for casual gaming.
Battery Life
The X7c comes with a 5200 or 6000mAh battery (depending on the region) and supports 35W fast charging. This ensures more than a day of moderate usage and quick recharging times.
In comparison, the Honor X7b offers similar battery capacity but charges at the same speed, making them nearly identical in this aspect. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 has a smaller 5000mAh battery with 33W charging, while the Oppo A92 offers a 5000mAh battery with a slower 18W charging. The X7c’s combination of large battery capacity and fast charging places it ahead of its rivals in longevity.
Pros and Cons of Honor X7c
Pros
- IP64 dust and water resistance
- 6.77-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Snapdragon 685 processor
- 108MP main camera
- 5200-6000mAh battery with 35W fast charging
- Android 14 with MagicOS 8.
Cons
- Display resolution is only HD+, not Full HD
- No ultrawide lens for versatile photography
- No microSD card slot
- Limited low-light camera performance
- The plastic body feels less premium
- No 5G support
- No reverse charging support
- No wireless charging support.
Price of Honor X7c
The Honor X7c is priced at approximately 22,999 BDT. However, the official price of the Honor X7C in Bangladesh may vary depending on Tax and other issues.
Final Words
The X7c is perfect for budget-conscious users who value long battery life, a smooth display, and reliable performance. However, it may not be an ideal choice for gamers or photography enthusiasts seeking high-end features. Its lack of 5G and Full HD display may also deter future-focused buyers. On the whole, the Honor X7c is a standard budget-friendly smartphone for everyday use.