It’s becoming something of a January tradition in the local technology scene: As the calendar flips to January 1, and HONOR Philippines immediately starts throwing smartphones on the floor.
Just a few minutes ago, HONOR posted a teaser with the caption “We’re bringing in the fireworks!” alongside the hashtag #TheToughestPhone. While the press materials are playing coy — referring only to the “upcoming launch of another HONOR X9 series phone” — we might not need a crystal ball to figure this one out.
If you look at the silhouette in the teaser and cross-reference it with the company’s global roadmap, all signs seem to point to the HONOR X9d 5G. And if that is what’s coming, the “toughest phone” moniker might actually be an understatement. We’re looking at a device that globally debuted with specs that frankly look ridiculous on paper — specifically, a HUGE 8,300mAh battery.
To understand why this launch matters, you have to look at the streak the brand is currently riding. The HONOR X9a 5G was a viral smash in 2023, largely because people couldn’t stop smashing it against things. The HONOR X9b 5G followed up with even better durability, and the HONOR X9c 5G recently took things to absurd heights, literally dropping from a helicopter and landing a Guinness World Record.
HONOR Philippines vice president Stephen Cheng admits they didn’t expect the first one to fly as high as it did.
“When we launched the HONOR X9a 5G, we had zero expectations,” Cheng said. “We did not let the success get into our heads; we just thought it was beginner’s luck. So, we leveled up with the HONOR X9b 5G, and again it became a massive hit. Then the HONOR X9c 5G came and it was our biggest feat yet.”
Now, the pressure is on to top a device that survived a helicopter drop. “One can only think about how we can even top the past three generations of the HONOR X9 series,” Cheng added. “It has become a challenge at this point.”
Assuming we’re really expecting the HONOR X9d 5G and the Philippine unit mirrors the global version launched in Malaysia recently, the company is pivoting slightly from just “it doesn’t break” to “it never dies.”
Launch teaser
The international model sports a silicon-carbon 8,300mAh battery. For context, most flagships are still hovering around 5,000mAh. HONOR claims this cell can last for three days, or about 23 hours of video playback. If accurate, that solves the biggest pain point for midrange buyers.
But the durability gimmick isn’t gone; it’s just more specific. The HONOR X9d 5G is rated IP69K. That “K” is important. It means the smartphone is tested against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. Basically, you could theoretically rinse this one under a hot tap or drop it in a murky puddle without panic. The global marketing even mentions resistance to air-gun shooting, though we really don’t recommend testing that at home.
Here are the other key specs we’re likely to see: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4, 6.79-inch OLED screen with 6,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 108-megapixel main shooter with optical image stabilization, and MagicOS 8.0.
In Malaysia, the HONOR X9d 5G debuted with a starting price of 1,499 Malaysian ringgit (roughly 21,729 Philippine pesos or $370). Hopefully, it’s landing in that competitive upper-midrange bracket in the Philippines.
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