I’ve spent a long time in tech boardrooms where “listening to the customer” is usually just a slide in a PowerPoint presentation designed to justify a price hike. But every now and then, some brands actually take it seriously.
Honor seems to have found a vein of gold in South Africa with the HONOR X9c. It wasn’t the thinnest phone or the one with the most “prestige,” but it was the one you could drop while taking drunken selfies at a braai, pick up, and keep scrolling without having a heart attack. Now, they’re doubling down with the HONOR X9d, and on paper, it looks like they’ve taken the X9c blueprint and injected it with steroids.
The “Unbreakable” Game Just Got Real
We’ve all heard the “unbreakable” marketing before. Usually, it means “don’t drop it on anything harder than a pillow.” But the X9d is coming in with an IP69K rating.
For the non-geeks: that’s not just “it can handle a splash.” That’s “this phone can survive a high-pressure, high-temperature water jet.” It’s rated for drops up to 2.5 meters (which is higher than your fridge, for context) and apparently survived a Guinness World Record fall from over 6 meters. Now we Saffas are constantly on the move—juggling kids, side hustles, and the general chaos of life. So having a phone that doesn’t need to be wrapped in bubble wrap is a massive win. It’s built for the guy working on a construction site and the parent whose toddler thinks a smartphone is a frisbee.
That Battery is… Insane?
The X9c had a solid 6600mAh battery, which was already punching above its weight. The X9d is packing an insane 8300mAh battery.
Between power uncertainty and long party weekends, we need a phone that can pull a 48-hour shift without breaking a sweat. HONOR claims this thing can last up to three days. Even if you’re a heavy user, you’re looking at a two-day phone, easily. Plus, it doubles as a power bank with reverse charging, so you can bail out your friend whose “fancy” iPhone died at 4 PM.
Smart AI, Not “Scary” AI
I’ve called out AI hype more times than I can count, but what Honor is doing here actually makes sense for daily use.
- AI Eraser: Perfect for removing that random person who walked into your perfect sunset shot at Signal Hill.
- Underwater Mode: Since the phone is basically a submarine now (rated for 6m submersion), the AI helps you actually take photos while you’re in the pool.
- Glove & Wet Touch: If your hands are wet or you’re wearing work gloves, the screen still reacts. It’s a small detail, but it’s the difference between a phone that works with you and one that gets in your way.
The Geekhub Verdict
HONOR grew 225% in this series because they stopped trying to be Apple and started trying to be useful. The X9d isn’t trying to win a beauty pageant (though it looks decent enough in “Sunrise Gold”). It’s trying to be the most reliable tool in your pocket.
At an expected price point around R11,000 to R11,500 (based on early listings we’ve seen at Vodacom), it’s sitting right in that mid-range sweet spot. It’s not a “risk” anymore; it’s a statement that high-end tech should be able to survive a real life.
