HONOR recently launched three new smartphones in the Philippines, one of which is the HONOR X6a. This new device is a budget-friendly phone that’s definitely easy on the wallet thanks to its price tag of less than PHP 7k.
Even with its affordable price, the HONOR X6a promises to be a capable phone for budget-conscious users thanks to its combination of capable processor and 50MP main camera. On top of this, the phone has a large 5200mAh battery and a fast 90Hz refresh rate.
While the phone seems promising on paper, specs aren’t everything when it comes to any smartphone. So, does the HONOR X6a deliver for actual use? Find out here in our full review.
Geek-sthetic
Even though the HONOR X6a is not a premium phone, it’s great that it doesn’t really look and feel cheap. Specifically, this phone looks pretty good from the back thanks to its subtle blue-and-pink gradient. This makes it quite eye-catching without being too “loud” so to speak.
It also helps that the phone’s back has a matte finish that makes it nice to hold in hand. This also helps it not become a fingerprint magnet – great news for users who prefer going caseless. On top of this, the flat edges also make it easier to hold whether you use it vertically for everyday use or horizontally for gaming. Of course, for those who prefer more protection for their phone, the X6a does have a free case inside the box (great for those who tend to drip their phones).
Moving to the front, the phone has a 6.56-inch display with a waterdrop notch at the top. The display’s edges are on the thicker side for modern standards, though it still looks thin enough to not be distracting. Overall, the phone’s design looks satisfactory for a budget-friendly device.
Binge-Watching Factor
Speaking of the display, the phone’s 6.56-inch LCD screen has a 90Hz refresh rate and a 720p resolution. Of course, the high refresh rate isn’t needed for binge-watching and the 720p resolution means it won’t be the sharpest display out there. Still, the X6a is decent enough for watching your favorite movies and shows while on the go. Its color output is decent, and it can get quite bright. So, if you’re on a budget but still want a phone that can give you an adequate binge-watching experience, the HONOR X6a is not a bad choice.
However take note that it has a single, bottom-firing loudspeaker which isn’t the best when it comes to audio quality. While it can work if you need to share audio with someone, we definitely recommend headphones or external speakers for a better experience. At least the phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack present here, meaning you can use trusty wired headphones.
Gaming Prowess
The HONOR X6a is powered by a MediaTek Helio G36, a processor designed to give budget phones enough power for today’s popular games. So, does it deliver for gaming? If you temper your expectations, yes it does.
For popular MOBAs like Mobile Legends or League of Legends: Wild Rift, you can run these at Low settings. Of course, you won’t be able to take full advantage of the phone’s 90Hz refresh rate screen, but at least you’ll be able to play ML games here without any issues.
Games like Call of Duty Mobile also run decently on the phone, albeit at the Low graphics preset (though you don’t have much of a choice as Low is the only option available). Again, you shouldn’t expect the highest framerates here, but it should still be playable.
As for more demanding titles like Genshin Impact, the HONOR X6a doesn’t have enough power to run these. This means you’ll have to limit your gaming to popular multiplayer and esports titles. However, this is expected for most sub-PHP 10k phones.
Geek Photoshoot Capabilities
For its cameras, HONOR packed the X6a with a 50MP main + 2MP macro + 2MP triple rear camera setup. It also has a 5MP selfie shooter at the front.
First, let’s talk about the 50MP main shooter. The camera performs as you’d expect it would for daytime shots as the shot quality is pretty good. Of course, you shouldn’t expect premium mid-range level quality, but the shots are good given its price point.
At night, there’s a dip in quality, but low-light photos are sometimes still usable for social media posting when you take photos.
There’s no ultrawide camera here. Instead, you do get a 2MP macro shooter which is decent outdoors, but it does struggle when shooting indoors when there’s not a lot of light. The phone also has another 2MP camera which is most probably a depth sensor for portrait photos.
Finally, the 5MP selfie camera is decent, but it might be the weakest link of the phone as selfies are not the most detailed. Plus, you’d need natural light to get decent shots.
Overall, the HONOR X6a’s cameras are decent, especially the 50MP main camera. Of course, you’ll want to keep your expectations in check given that this is a budget phone.
Everyday Reliability
So, how does the HONOR X6a stack up for daily use? Well, it’s not the snappiest phone out there as it was a bit sluggish at times when we were using it. Though it didn’t really run into issues with typical apps like social media or email. Plus, even if it wasn’t the fastest phone, it was still usable for daily use unless you’re more of a power user.
What did deliver with the X6a is the battery life. Thanks to the large 5200mAh battery, the X6a was easily able to last for a day of use. In fact, we were able to push the phone to two days of use on a single charge. Your mileage may vary as battery life is dependent on an individual’s use, though even if you use the phone heavily, you probably won’t need to bring a power bank with you.
If you need to charge, the phone does pack 22.5W fast charging. Typically, fast charging capabilities are only found in mid-range phones and above. So, it’s nice to see a budget phone like the X6a get fast charging so that it can fill up its large battery a bit faster.
Final Geek Lifestyle Verdict
If your priorities in a new phone are affordability and long battery life, the HONOR X6a is for you. This new budget device won’t break the bank all while delivering two-day battery life. On top of these, the phone has a pretty decent rear camera.
Of course, this is still a budget phone, so you need to keep expectations in check when it comes to daily use and its selfie camera.
Still, even if it’s not a perfect phone, it’s worth considering if you’re on a budget and are looking for a new phone as its price tag of PHP 6,990 makes it a tempting deal. Also, this price makes it worth picking up if you need a backup phone that can last long on a single charge.
HONOR X6a Specs:
- Mediatek Helio G36 Processor
- PowerVR GE8320 GPU
- 4GB RAM
- 6.56-inch TFT LCD display, 90Hz refresh rate, 720 x 1612 resolution
- 128GB storage (expandable via microSD)
- 50MP f/1.8 main + 2 MP f/2.4 macro + 2 MP f/2.4 triple rear camera setup
- 5 MP f/2.2 front camera
- 3G, LTE Dual SIM
- WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro
- 5200mAh battery with 22.5W wired fast charge
- Android 13, Magic UI 7.1