Honor X6d Review: A Balanced Budget 5G Smartphone

Getting a genuinely good budget phone in 2026 has become increasingly difficult. With rising component costs, especially for memory and storage, phones that previously launched around NPR 20,000 (US$150) are now moving closer to the NPR 35,000 (US$250) mark. Budget smartphones simply aren’t as affordable as they used to be.

In this changing market, Honor has launched the X6d 5G for under NPR 30,000, promising practical value and modern connectivity. So, how does the Honor X6d perform in everyday use, and is it worth your money? Let’s find out in this review.  

Honor X6d Specifications

• Design & Build: 167 × 77 × 7.9mm, 186g, plastic construction, IP54 rating
• Display: 6.75-inch LCD, 720 × 1600 pixels, 90Hz refresh rate, 450 nits typical brightness
• Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 6300 5G (6nm)
• Memory: 4GB RAM, 128GB storage
• Software: MagicOS 10 based on Android 16
• Rear Camera: 50MP main camera
• Front Camera: 5MP selfie camera
• Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
• Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB Type-C
• SIM: Dual Nano-SIM
• Battery: 5,260 mAh
• Charging: 15W wired charging

Honor X6d Price:

Unboxing and Box Contents

The Honor X6d comes with a fairly standard set of accessories inside the box. Along with the phone itself, Honor includes a 15W charging adapter and a USB Type-C cable, so you won’t need to purchase a charger separately. You also get a protective case, SIM ejector tool, and the usual documentation.

Design and Build Quality

The Honor X6d doesn’t try to look flashy, and I actually think that works in its favor. The design is simple, clean, and practical, with a flat plastic frame and slightly rounded edges that make the phone comfortable to hold.

The back has a matte-style finish with a soft wave-like texture that reflects light differently depending on the angle. I prefer this over a glossy panel because it doesn’t attract fingerprints as easily. While the plastic construction still reminds you that this is a budget phone, it doesn’t feel unnecessarily cheap in everyday use.

At 7.89mm thick and 186 grams, the X6d feels surprisingly slim and light in the hand. I had no problem using it for longer periods, and the weight is distributed quite well too. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner has also been reliable during my testing. It is quick to unlock and positioned where my thumb naturally rests, so I rarely had to think about it.

You also get an IP54 rating here. So, minor splashes or a bit of rain shouldn’t be a problem, but this is definitely not a phone you want to submerge in water. 

Display

The Honor X6d has a pretty large 6.75-inch LCD display, which I found good enough for watching videos, scrolling through social media, and everyday browsing. The 90Hz refresh rate also helps make scrolling and animations feel noticeably smoother.

But the biggest compromise here is the HD+ resolution. On such a large screen, text and images can look a little softer than on a Full HD+ panel. Still, the display should be perfectly fine for normal day-to-day social media use. Brightness is also average at around 450 nits. It is perfectly usable indoors, but visibility under direct sunlight can be challenging. 

Software Experience

The Honor X6d runs MagicOS 10 based on Android 16, and I’m quite satisfied with the overall software experience. MagicOS has improved a lot over the years, and here it feels smooth, lightweight, and not unnecessarily demanding on the hardware. Animations are fluid, there are plenty of customization options, and Gemini works well as the default voice assistant with “Hey Google.”

There are quite a few pre-installed apps and bloatware, though, so I would recommend uninstalling the ones you don’t need right after setting up the phone. The 4GB of RAM is perfectly manageable for normal day-to-day apps, social media, browsing, and light multitasking. But if you start pushing the phone harder with several apps running in the background, you will notice its limitations.

Honor’s software update commitment for the Honor X6d is still unclear. Even one or two major Android update commitments would be nice to see, especially since the Dimensity 6300 itself is capable enough to last for a few years. 

Performance

The Honor X6d is powered by the Dimensity 6300, and for normal everyday use, I found the performance to be quite decent. For a budget phone, apps open reasonably quickly, social media scrolling feels smooth, and basic multitasking is handled without much trouble. 

Gaming is also better than I expected for this segment. PUBG Mobile was playable at Smooth + Extreme (60fps), so casual gaming should not be a problem. That said, with only 4GB of RAM, this is still better suited for basic users than power users or anyone planning to do heavy multitasking for years.

You also get 5G support, which gives the Honor X6d an advantage over the Redmi 17. And if Nepal finally gets widespread 5G anytime soon, this phone will at least be ready for it.

Speakers and Haptics

The Honor X6d comes with a single mono speaker. It gets the job done for calls, YouTube, and casual listening, but the lack of stereo speakers is noticeable, especially at this price. Again, competitors like the Redmi 17 offer stereo speakers.

As for the haptics, I found them acceptable for the price. The vibration feedback is nothing special, but I had no major complaints during everyday use.

Camera 

The Honor X6d keeps the camera setup pretty basic, with a 50MP main camera at the back and a 5MP selfie camera on the front. There is also an auxiliary lens, but it doesn’t really add much to the camera experience and feels more like a design element than a useful extra camera.

There is no ultrawide or telephoto lens, while video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps on both the rear and front cameras. So overall, this is a simple setup meant mainly for basic everyday photography.

Daytime Photos

In daylight, the Honor X6d’s 50MP main camera delivers decent results for a budget phone. Photos contain enough detail for casual use, while colours generally look natural instead of overly saturated. However, dynamic range is only average, so bright skies and highlights can occasionally appear overexposed. Fine details also become softer when you zoom into the image.

Portraits and Selfies

Portrait mode produces acceptable subject separation and handles skin tones reasonably well in good lighting. However, edge detection is not always accurate around hair and complex backgrounds.

The 5MP selfie camera produces relatively soft images but remains usable for occasional selfies and video calls.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life on the Honor X6d is pretty decent. With its 5,260mAh battery, I was able to get through a full day of normal use without worrying too much about the charger. For social media, calls, browsing, YouTube, and light gaming, the endurance is good enough for most users.

Charging is where the phone feels a bit dated. The 15W charging speed is quite slow by current standards, especially with a battery this large, so a full charge takes its time.

Conclusion: Is the Honor X6d Worth Buying?

The Honor X6d isn’t perfect. The HD+ display feels a little outdated, 4GB of RAM can be limiting, the mono speaker is nothing special, the cameras are fairly basic, and 15W charging is definitely slow.

But despite those compromises, I think it gets the important things right for its price. You’re getting 5G connectivity, the Dimensity 6300 handles everyday use well, and the battery easily lasts through a full day. I also like how slim and lightweight the phone feels. Compared to larger phones like the Redmi 17, the X6d is much more comfortable to carry and use. MagicOS 10 was another pleasant surprise for me. It feels smooth, clean, and better optimized than I expected from a budget phone.

So, if you want an affordable 5G phone with a comfortable design, decent performance, dependable battery life, and a smooth software experience, the Honor X6d is worth considering.