The HONOR X7e Plus 5G is not trying to be the most powerful smartphone in its segment. Instead, it takes a much more practical approach. It combines a massive 8,100mAh battery with 5G connectivity, a 120Hz display, a durable build and a reasonably capable Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 processor.
The result is a phone that makes a lot of sense for people who value battery life and reliability over having the fastest processor or the most sophisticated camera system. After spending time with the phone, the biggest takeaway is simple: the X7e Plus 5G is built for people who want their phone to keep going.
Design and Build Quality
The X7e Plus 5G is a large smartphone, and the first thing you notice is its size. The 6.87-inch display makes it comfortable for watching videos, browsing websites and working with documents, but the large battery also contributes to its substantial feel.
At around 216 grams, it is not a lightweight phone. You feel the weight when holding it for extended periods, particularly when using it one-handed. However, the trade-off becomes easier to accept when you consider that there is an 8,100mAh battery inside. The overall construction feels solid. The phone does not have the premium materials of a more expensive handset, but it does not feel cheap either.
Durability is one of the strongest aspects of the X7e Plus 5G. It carries IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings, giving it considerably more protection against water and dust than most phones in this category. It also comes with a claimed 2.5-metre drop-resistance rating based on laboratory testing. That makes the phone particularly interesting for people who work outdoors, travel frequently or simply have a history of dropping their phones.
Display
The 6.87-inch 120Hz display is one of the phone’s more enjoyable features, although it comes with an obvious compromise. It is an LCD panel with a 1592 x 720 resolution. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations noticeably smoother, and the large screen is excellent for browsing, social media and video.
However, the HD+ resolution is difficult to ignore. Text and images are perfectly usable, but they do not have the same crispness you get from Full HD+ displays. On a screen this large, the lower resolution is more noticeable than it would be on a smaller handset.
This is therefore a display that prioritises size and smoothness rather than sharpness. Brightness is reasonably good for an LCD in this class. HONOR lists peak brightness of 1,020 nits, and the screen remains usable outdoors, although direct sunlight can still make viewing more difficult.
For everyday use, the 120Hz refresh rate does more to improve the experience than the resolution takes away from it.
Performance
The phone uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 processor with an Adreno 613 GPU. The configuration is clearly aimed at mainstream smartphone use rather than high-end gaming. For everyday tasks, performance is good.
Apps open without excessive waiting, switching between messaging, browsers, social-media applications and streaming services is generally smooth, and the 120Hz display helps make the interface feel more responsive.
The phone is particularly comfortable with routine workloads. WhatsApp, Gmail, Chrome, YouTube, Google Maps and similar applications are well within its capabilities.
Things become more demanding when you start pushing the processor harder. Large games and sustained graphical workloads expose the limitations of the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4. This is not the phone to buy if gaming performance is your primary concern. For normal users, however, there is enough performance here.
Gaming performance is adequate rather than impressive. Casual games run comfortably, while more demanding 3D titles require lower graphics settings to maintain a consistent experience. The Adreno 613 GPU simply does not have the processing headroom of the graphics hardware found in more expensive smartphones.
The 120Hz display can make compatible games and the general interface feel smoother, but it does not turn the phone into a 120fps gaming device. Interestingly, the large battery makes the X7e Plus 5G better suited to long gaming sessions from a battery perspective than many conventional budget phones. The limitation is therefore more about processing power than endurance.
Battery
Battery life is the phone’s biggest selling point. The 8,100mAh battery is significantly larger than the roughly 5,000mAh batteries found in many mainstream smartphones. That difference is immediately noticeable.
With normal use involving messaging, browsing, social media, calls, photography, navigation and video streaming, battery anxiety is almost nonexistent. Moderate users can comfortably expect the phone to last well beyond a full day, while lighter users can stretch considerably further between charges.
Heavy users also benefit. Long periods of mobile data usage, navigation, video playback and social-media use do not drain the battery at anything approaching the rate seen on smaller-capacity phones.
This is the kind of smartphone where you can leave home for an entire day without thinking about carrying a power bank. The downside is the obvious one: the large battery contributes to the phone’s size and weight.
The 45W charging system is useful, although it is not exceptionally fast by current smartphone standards. The important point is that charging a battery this large takes longer than charging a conventional 5,000mAh battery, even when both phones support the same charging wattage.
Still, 45W is fast enough to make topping up during the day practical. A short charging session can put a useful amount of power back into the battery, while overnight charging takes care of a full recharge. The combination of a huge battery and 45W charging works well. You may charge less frequently, even if each full charge takes longer than it would on a smaller battery.
Camera
The rear camera system is built around a 50MP main camera, while the front camera uses a 5MP sensor. Video recording goes up to 1080p at 30fps. In good lighting, the main camera produces usable photographs with reasonable detail and colour. It is perfectly capable of handling everyday photography, including family pictures, food, documents and social-media shots.
The limitations become more obvious as lighting deteriorates. Night photography is not the phone’s strongest area, and the camera lacks the flexibility of smartphones with dedicated ultrawide and telephoto cameras. The additional rear sensor is essentially an auxiliary camera rather than something that dramatically expands what you can photograph.
The 5MP front camera is also fairly basic. It works for video calls and occasional selfies, but users who put a lot of emphasis on selfie quality will find better options elsewhere. The camera system is therefore functional rather than a major reason to buy the phone.
Video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps. That is adequate for casual clips and social media, but it is increasingly modest compared with smartphones that offer 4K recording and higher frame rates.
For everyday family videos, travel clips and quick social-media content, it gets the job done. For creators, vloggers or anyone looking for more flexibility in post-production, the limitations are obvious.
Software and AI Features
The X7e Plus 5G runs Android 16 with MagicOS. MagicOS offers a broad selection of customisation and productivity features, while HONOR has added a dedicated AI button to the phone.
The physical button is a useful idea because it gives quick access to selected functions without requiring users to navigate through menus. Depending on the configuration, it can be used for features such as Circle to Search, AI Eraser, AI Memories and AI Summary.
Whether you find the button useful will depend largely on how often you use these features. It is more practical than simply burying AI functions inside the software. MagicOS itself is fairly feature-rich, but users coming from stock Android will need some time to adjust to HONOR’s approach.
Audio
The phone has stereo speakers, which is a welcome feature at this price level. The speakers are loud enough for watching videos, listening to podcasts and taking calls without headphones. They are not a substitute for a dedicated Bluetooth speaker, but they are perfectly acceptable for everyday entertainment. The large display and stereo audio also make the phone a good device for casual video consumption.
Connectivity
5G connectivity gives the X7e Plus 5G a useful advantage over older budget phones. It also supports Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC, while dual-SIM support makes it practical for users who maintain separate personal and work numbers.
In everyday use, network performance is dependable, and 5G makes a noticeable difference when a compatible network is available. NFC is another useful addition, particularly for users who rely on contactless payments or other NFC-based services.
Durability
The combination of IP68, IP69 and IP69K protection is arguably more interesting than some of the phone’s headline AI features. Budget smartphones often require users to be more careful around water, dust and accidental exposure. The X7e Plus 5G gives considerably more reassurance.
That does not mean you should deliberately throw it into water or treat it as indestructible. Water resistance can deteriorate with wear, and drop resistance is never a guarantee against damage. But the additional protection is genuinely useful for everyday situations. If you are buying a phone for outdoor work or frequent travel, this is one of the strongest reasons to consider it.
Who Should Buy the HONOR X7e Plus 5G?
The X7e Plus 5G makes the most sense for users who put battery life at the top of their priority list. It is also a strong option for people who want a durable phone without moving into the expensive rugged-phone category.
The large screen, 120Hz refresh rate, 5G connectivity and capable everyday performance make it a good all-rounder for normal smartphone use. It is less attractive for photography enthusiasts, serious mobile gamers and users who want a high-resolution AMOLED display.
Verdict
The HONOR X7e Plus 5G is a straightforward phone with a very clear purpose. Its 8,100mAh battery is the standout feature, and it delivers the kind of endurance that makes carrying a power bank almost unnecessary for many users. The 120Hz display makes everyday interaction smooth, while the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 provides sufficient performance for normal applications.
The durability package is another major advantage. IP68, IP69 and IP69K protection is unusual in this segment, and the additional drop protection makes the phone more reassuring for people who are hard on their devices.
There are compromises. The HD+ LCD is not particularly sharp, the cameras are basic and the processor is not designed for demanding gaming. The phone is also relatively heavy because of that enormous battery.
But those compromises make sense when you understand what HONOR is trying to achieve.
The X7e Plus 5G is not about winning benchmark charts. It is about giving users a phone that lasts, survives more everyday abuse and handles the essentials without fuss.
Price: Rs. 29,990 (6GB+128GB version)
Our Verdict: ★★★☆☆
