Remember the smartphone that we subjected to a boiling test more than a week ago? Well, it’s now official in the Philippines.

Wasting no time in 2025, HONOR Philippines has dropped its toughest phone yet, the HONOR X9c 5G (check out our full review here). The device comes in hot with a suggested retail price of P16,999 (roughly $288). And here’s the kicker: Preorder it until January 24 and you not only get a free HONOR gift box, but also a chance to win a Rolex Datejust watch worth P600,000 ($10,168). You can find it at HONOR Experience and partner stores and online, on Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop.

It's time for a new smartphone! 📱🤩

You can get a chance to WIN A BRAND NEW ROLEX DATEJUST when you pre-order the HONOR X9c 5G for only ₱16,999.

PLUS, get a FREE HONOR Gift Box in every purchase. So, what are you waiting for? Get yours now on HONOR Official Stores, @Shopee… pic.twitter.com/WrMsbNAJAZ

— HONOR Philippines (@HONORPHL) January 10, 2025

Local preorder promo for the HONOR X9c 5G

“The HONOR X9c 5G seamlessly integrates outstanding durability, long-lasting battery life, stunning display quality, photography capabilities, and advanced AI experience,” said HONOR Philippines vice president Stephen Cheng. “Encased in a lightweight design that elevates premium aesthetics to new heights, the HONOR X9c 5G is definitely the best choice for a smartphone now.”

Thanks to its All-Angle Triple Defense feature, the newly launched X series model can withstand drops from up to 2 meters. Its ultratempered glass and resistance shield offer comprehensive protection. Plus, with an IP65M rating, it’s built to withstand everyday water exposure, surviving splashes and even being submerged in 25cm of water for up to 5 minutes. You’ve probably seen some of the durability tests that are circulating online. You can watch ours below.

@revuphilippines #HONORX9c5G vs boiling water? Let’s see if #HONOR’s “toughest phone yet” survives! 😅 The brand is really coming in boiling hot this 2025. ☺️ Happy #NewYear, everyone. For more on this, swing by #RevuDotComDotPH. #TheToughestPhoneYet #AllAngleTripleDefense #HONORPH #HONORPhilippines @HONOR Philippines @HONOR @Alora Uy Guerrero @monch ♬ original sound – Revu Philippines

Our boiling test

Battery life is another standout feature of the HONOR X9c 5G. It’s the first smartphone to boast a huge 6,600mAh silicon-carbon battery. Expect up to 48.4 hours of music streaming and 25.8 hours of online video playback on a single charge. And when you do need to charge, the 66-watt wired HONOR SuperCharge technology will get you back up and running in no time. Ours clocked in 13 hours and 3 minutes in PCMark’s battery test.

The phone also boasts a 6.78-inch eye-comfort OLED display that supports 1.07 billion colors, a 1.5K resolution, and a high refresh rate of 120Hz. The industry-leading peak HDR brightness of 4,000 nits ensures a sharp and clear viewing experience, even in bright sunlight.

SEE ALSO: The toughest phone? Here’s what’s inside the HONOR X9c 5G

For photography buffs, HONOR has equipped the X9c 5G with a 108-megapixel Ultra-sensing Camera featuring a 1/1.67-inch sensor. The device offers 3x lossless zoom and three distinct portrait modes for shots with diverse focal lengths. AI photography features like HONOR AI Motion Sensing and AI Eraser further enhance image quality and streamline photo editing.

It doesn’t hurt that just like its predecessor, the HONOR X9c 5G is a looker with an ultraslim profile and a refined titanium finish. Our unit is in Jade Cyan, but those who are looking for more subdued colorways have a choice between Titanium Purple and Titanium Black. Anyhow, this thing is lightweight, weighing just 189g and measuring 7.98mm in thickness. Powered by the latest MagicOS 8.0 based on Android 14, it promises a personalized and seamless user experience with features like Magic Capsule, Magic Portal, and Parallel Space.

HONOR Philippines’ press release

HONOR X9b 5G specs

• 6.78-inch curved AMOLED screen, 1.2K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 4,000 nits brightness
• 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor
• Adreno GPU
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB storage
• Dual 108-megapixel main, 5-megapixel ultrawide rear cameras
• 16-megapixel front camera
• Under-display fingerprint reader
• 6,600mAh silicon-carbon battery with 66-watt fast wired charging
• MagicOS 8.0 based on Android 14
• All-angle triple defense + IP65M rating
• Colors: Jade Cyan, Titanium Black, Titanium Purple

---