Honor X6c Review: Affordable Durability & Performance

Introduction

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor has introduced its latest entry-level offering — the Honor X6c. This device is designed to cater to budget-conscious consumers, emphasizing durability, a substantial battery capacity, and an innovative “AI Button.” In this review, we will explore its features, performance, and whether it stands out in the competitive entry-level smartphone market.

Design and Display

The Honor X6c showcases a sleek rectangular design with gently curved edges. It has received an SGS Premium Performance Certificate, signifying its drop resistance from heights of up to 1.5 meters. Additionally, the smartphone boasts an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance, ensuring it can withstand everyday challenges, making it a reliable choice for active users.

The device is equipped with a 6.61-inch TFT LCD display that reaches a peak brightness of 1010 nits. This feature enhances visibility in bright daylight, ensuring users can comfortably use it in various lighting conditions. Honor has also integrated several eye comfort features, including natural light settings, flicker-free dimming, a blue light filter, and an eBook mode to minimize eye strain during prolonged use.

However, it’s worth noting that the display resolution is limited to 1604 x 720. This might not suffice for media consumption or gaming enthusiasts who prefer sharper visuals.

Performance

Under the hood, the Honor X6c is powered by the MediaTek Helio G81 Ultra CPU and features an integrated ARM Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. This configuration is suitable for everyday smartphone tasks, allowing users to handle basic applications with ease. While it can manage simple AI functionalities, users may find it struggles with more demanding applications.

The smartphone’s robust 5,300mAh battery supports 35W Honor SuperCharge, enabling quick recharging capabilities. Benchmark tests using GeekBench 6 revealed promising results, with a single-core score of 399 and a multi-core score of 1,402. In GPU testing, the X6c achieved a score of 977, while its AI capabilities reached a quantized score of 312. For an entry-level device, these numbers are adequate for simple operations.

Camera Features

The Honor X6c features a single 50MP rear camera that supports 1080p video recording at 30 frames per second, along with a 5MP front camera with similar video capabilities. The device offers AI editing tools like AI Eraser, AI Upscale, and AI Outpainting to enhance photo quality. However, users should note that capturing high-quality images may require steady hands, as the absence of stabilization can lead to blurred photos, especially in high-contrast scenarios.

Gaming and AI Features

A notable highlight of the X6c is its dedicated AI Mobile Assistant, accessible via a side button on the left side of the device. This feature allows users to customize a quick-access menu for frequently used apps, like screen recording and note-taking, enhancing overall user experience.

Running on MagicOS 9.0 based on Android 15, the X6c introduces additional proprietary Honor AI tools such as “Magic Capsule,” “Hidden Apps,” “AI Translation,” and “Magic Portal.” During gaming tests, the device performed smoothly with “League of Legends” at 60FPS. However, it faced some lag with more graphics-heavy games like “PUBG Mobile” and was found incompatible with “CarX Street,” indicating that it may not appeal to intense gamers.

Pricing and Verdict

The Honor X6c is priced at P6,099 for the 12GB+128GB variant and P6,499 for the 12GB+256GB model, which positions it competitively within the entry-level segment. It delivers solid performance, practical AI tools, and impressive durability for its price point. However, prospective buyers should consider the availability of cheaper alternatives that offer similar performance or contemplate investing a bit more for devices that may better serve their needs.