Apart from the Note 22 series, Meizu also introduced two new devices under their entry-level mblu series: the Meizu mblu 22 and 22 Pro. Let’s first look at the Meizu mblu 22 Pro , which is powered by a MediaTek Helio G81 processor, with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It also has a 120Hz HD+ display, a 50-megapixel main camera, a 5,000mAh battery, and 18W fast charging. Select markets can get the mblu 22 Pro for a starting price of USD100 (~Php5,500). Meizu mblu 22 Pro Specs Android 15 Dual SIM, Dual Standby 6.79-inch HD+ TFT LCD display, 1640 x 720 pixel resolution, ~264ppi 120Hz refresh rate 2.2GHz MediaTek Helio G81 octa-core processor 4GB/8GB RAM Mali-G52 MC2 GPU 128GB/256GB internal storage, expandable via microSD 8-megapixel front camera 50-megapixel (f/1.8, PDAF) + 2-megapixel (macro) rear cameras, LED flash Stereo speakers Headphone jack Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Splash resistant HSPA+, 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5...
The HONOR X8c came from a line of smartphones with humble specs priced below Php10,000. But now, the series is punching above its weight class.
Now that it sits in a higher price bracket, expect much improved specs and features for the X8c. But are those upgrades enough to justify the series’ move to leave its past market? Or is it better if they stayed? We’ll find out in our HONOR X8c review.
HONOR X8c Specs
- Android 15, MagicOS 9
- Dual SIM, Dual Standby
- 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, 2412 x 1080 pixel resolution, ~394ppi
- 120Hz refresh rate
- 2800-nit peak brightness
- 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 octa-core processor
- Adreno 610 GPU
- 8GB RAM
- 512GB internal storage, non-expandable
- 50-megapixel front camera
- 108-megapixel (f/1.8, PDAF, OIS) + 5-megapixel (ultra-wide) rear cameras, LED flash
- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
- Single loudspeaker
- IP64 dust and water-resistant, Drop-resistant up to 1.8m
- HSPA+, 4G LTE
- WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
- Bluetooth 5.0
- GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
- USB-C
- Dimensions: 161.1 x 74.6 x 7.1mm
- Weight: 174g
- Colors: Marrs Green, Cloud Purple, Moonlight White, Midnight Black
- 5,000mAh non-removable battery, 35W fast charging
Design and Build Quality
I was immediately struck by how incredibly compact this device is upon first holding it. It is only 7.1mm thin, thinner than most phones today. It is also very light at just 174g.
The flat frame and edges are a little sharp, but it greatly improves grip, especially for a thin device like this. It’s comfortable to hold when taking pictures or playing games for hours.
Like HONOR’s other budget phones, the X8c also has extensive durability features. It is IP64 rated for dust and water resistance, paired with Rainproof touch technology, so you can still use the screen even when it’s wet.
It received an SGS rating for having a drop resistance from a height of 1.8 meters and for surviving a soft squeeze test of 2,000 times. HONOR also claims that the screen’s strength has been increased by 3x compared to its predecessor.
I did a couple of light bend tests and noticed how the frame is sturdier than its predecessors. And while it should survive accidental drops and light scratches from the matte rear panel, it’s still best to use the free clear case just to be safe. A screen protector was also pre-applied for extra measure.
While the overall layout on the back is the same as other HONOR phones, the design is unique, especially on the Marrs Green colorway. It has a blue-green hue with a checkered, leather-like texture. It’s also available in a marble-like Moonlight White and Midnight Black.
HONOR did a good job on designing the X8c. It’s pretty straightforward, while having a unique look to stand out and durability features that should last you for years.
Now let’s take a tour to see the rest of the hardware. On the front, we have a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with a pill-shaped punch hole on top for the 50-megapixel selfie camera.
As with other OLED phones, the bezels are incredibly thin and uniform all around, resulting in an impressive 93.7% screen-to-body ratio.
The left side has the SIM tray for two nano SIMs. Sadly, there’s no space for a microSD card for storage expansion, but you won’t probably need it as this one comes with 512GB built-in.
On the right, there are volume controls on top of the lock/power button. They are tactile and clicky enough for the price. The top has a noise-isolating microphone.
At the bottom, we have the loudspeaker, USB-C port, and primary microphone.
On the back, there’s the familiar camera island. The one on top holds the 108-megapixel main camera, next to it is the LED flash, and below is the 5-megapixel ultra-wide and a placeholder.
Display and Audio
The HONOR X8c has a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with a 2412 x 1080 pixel resolution, ~394ppi, 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate, 2800-nit peak brightness, 3840Hz PWM dimming, Smart Resolution for battery efficiency.
Display quality has been great. Sharpness is enough for reading texts, colors and contrast are nice in the eyes for watching content, and it’s got enough screen brightness, so it stays fairly visible even if it’s incredibly sunny outside.
Unfortunately, it only has Widevine L3 instead of L1, that’s why streaming on platforms like Netflix is capped at SD. The lack of HDR is a bummer, too.
It also lacks stereo speakers. The single bottom-firing speaker does a decent job with enough bass and volume, but the clarity could be better.
Hardware and Performance
To my surprise, the HONOR X8c didn’t get a chipset upgrade — an important component that should’ve been improved together with the price increase. It’s still using a 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 685, with the same Adreno 610 GPU and 8GB of RAM. What it did get is a larger storage capacity, which was doubled to 512GB.
HONOR X8c Benchmark Scores
Performance is passable if it were in the same entry-level category as its predecessor, but now that it’s in the midrange category, it’s definitely lacking. Not only did we not receive performance upgrades, we also didn’t gain 5G connectivity, which is already expected in this price range.
While I’m not expecting improvements in the gaming department, let’s test it anyway.
Genshin Impact was playable under the Lowest resolution at 60 FPS. If you prefer better graphics, you can lower the FPS limit to 30. PUBG Mobile was running well under Smooth graphics at Ultra frame rates, as well as Call of Duty Mobile, although the game forces us to stay at Low graphics to enter High frame rates.
Farlight was very smooth under Very High frames, under Minimal graphics, with almost zero issues. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ran buttery-smooth under the highest available settings. Asphalt Legends Unite was also fluid under the highest settings, albeit the graphics quality doesn’t look as good as others in its price point.
Surprisingly, the HONOR X8c handles games with acceptable frame rates and no overheating, just make sure you’re okay with low to medium graphics quality. Expect to see frame drops here and there, as it doesn’t have much processing power to spare.
| Game | Graphics Settings |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | • Graphics Quality: Low • Frame Rate: High |
| Farlight84 | • Graphics Quality: Minimal • Frame Rate: Very High |
| PUBG Mobile | • Graphics Quality: Smooth • Frame Rate: Ultra |
| Genshin Impact | • Render Resolution: Lowest • Visual Effects: Low • FPS: 60 |
| Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | • Graphics Quality: Ultra • Frame Rate: Super • HD Mode: On |
| Asphalt Legends Unite | • Visual Quality: High Quality • Frame Rate: 60 |
Software and User Interface
The HONOR X8c ships with Android 15-based MagicOS 9. HONOR hasn’t confirmed how long or if it will ever receive major software upgrades, but it will probably get at least one major update and several years of security patches.
AI features are quite lacking compared to other phones in this segment. AI Eraser on the gallery managed to make it, and it worked really well. HONOR also claims it uses AI for the front camera to analyze the frame if it needs to use 1x or 0.8x.
HONOR Magic Portal is here, which lets you drag and drop media and texts to other apps. The list of supported apps is quite limited, though, and I personally haven’t used it much.
AI Translator is also available, which is handy for real-time chat translations and for lectures and meetings with people who speak foreign languages.
For other AI features, you can access Google Gemini with a long press of the lock/power button.
HONOR Magic Capsule also works, albeit this Dynamic Island-like feature is only in the media playback, voice recording, and the timer.
The under-display fingerprint scanner adds a premium feel to the device, but it works a little slower than I’d like. I find the face unlock faster, so I just enabled them both.
HONOR RAM Turbo is here, which converts 8GB of storage space by default and turns it into extra RAM. The difference is barely noticeable, though.
Bloatware is minimal and doesn’t make any dent in the storage. The built-in storage cleaner is handy in removing junk files and showing unused apps as well.
Cameras
The HONOR X8c has good camera hardware on paper, but do they actually take great photos? The main shooter is a 108-megapixel camera with an f/1.75 aperture and optical image stabilization.
There’s also a pixel-dense 50-megapixel selfie camera in front. However, the ultra-wide glass on the rear only comes with a measly 5-megapixel sensor.
For video recording, the device can shoot 1080p at 16:9 and 720p at 21:9 and 16:9 aspect ratios. Sadly, it only shoots 30fps on all resolutions. You do get 720p @ 120fps with the slow-mo mode, though.
We got washed-out photos from the main camera during daylight. White balance is a little off, details are smudgy, and the dynamic range needs work.
Low-light shots aren’t as bad as I expect them to be. While the photos suffer the same issues, they are surprisingly well-exposed.
The same color issues persist on the 5-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and due to the low-resolution sensor, details and low-light performance are terrible.
Even though the shots from the selfie camera are passable for social media, I expected more from its 50-megapixel sensor. Details could be sharper, low-light performance could be better, and the dynamic range is failing. Skin tones are decent, though.
If you’re one of the many people who prioritize photography, you’re better off looking somewhere else than the HONOR X8c.
Battery and Charging
The HONOR X8c is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery. It comes with HONOR Super Power Saving Mode which can extend the battery by up to 88 minutes of call time even at just 2%. It is paired with a 35W charger.
Battery life was very good, but not the best in this segment. It lasted for 13 hours and 6 minutes in PCMark’s synthetic battery loop test, versus the average score of 14 hours and 48 minutes that others usually get.
In our 1080p YouTube Video Loop Test, it lasted for 15 hours and 46 minutes before it entered the Super Power Saving Mode automatically at around 3%. That’s a bit lower than the average score of 16 hours and 12 minutes others we get from its competitors.
As for the 35W charger, it provides a 0-23% charge in just 15 minutes, albeit a full charge takes almost two hours. See the full charging test results below:
- 15mins: 0-23%
- 30mins: 45%
- 45mins: 65%
- 1hr: 77%
- 1hr 15mins: 89%
- 1hr 30mins: 94%
- 1hr 45mins: 97%
- 1hr 57mins: FULL
Verdict
The HONOR X8c would’ve been an acceptable smartphone if only it stayed in the below-Php10,000 segment.
Despite the price increase, the X8c still uses the same chipset as before. The cameras also have mediocre output, charging is a bit slow, and the lack of stereo speakers is disappointing at this price point.
I do appreciate the compact design, durability features, superb battery life, AMOLED screen, and big battery. Still, a lot of its competitors easily outshines the HONOR X8c.
If you like the HONOR brand, it’s better to save up a little more and get the more value-oriented HONOR X9c 5G.
HONOR X8c pricing and availability in the Philippines
The HONOR X8c has an SRP of Php13,999 in the Philippines and is now available in physical stores, retailers, Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.
Pros
- Incredibly thin and light
- Extensive durability features
- Large 512GB storage
- Good battery life
Cons
- Same chipset despite price increase
- No stereo speakers
This article, HONOR X8c Review, was originally published at NoypiGeeks | Philippines Technology News, Reviews and How to's.
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