Discover the sensory thrill and real strengths of the honor 9x pro, a full‑screen powerhouse under ₹18,000. With impressive performance and bold design—but a serious missing piece. Find the truth here.
A Glimpse at Honor’s Ambitious Underdog
The Honor 9X Pro stands out in a crowded field of budget phones by offering true flagship‑level design without the flagship price tag. Priced comfortably under ₹18,000, it dares to deliver a cinematic full‑screen display, a pop‑up front camera, and a 48-megapixel triple rear camera setup. Yet beneath the surface lies a surprising flaw that may deter many users. This phone is not just a phone—it is an emotional statement about affordable ambition meets practical compromise.
First Impressions: A Visual Feast
When you first hold the Honor 9X Pro, the large 6.59‑inch display commands attention. There is no notch and no punch‑hole, just unbroken visual real estate that feels cinematic and indulgent. The reflective glass back, often in Phantom Purple or Midnight Black finishes, shimmers as light dances across it. It feels weighty, premium, and sculpted in your hand. These design cues evoke desire—even if you suspect limitations lurking beneath its lustrous exterior.
But There’s a Dark Side Too
Here’s the stark reality: the Honor 9X Pro does not support Google Mobile Services. That means no Play Store, no Gmail app, no YouTube app, and no Google Maps. Instead, you must rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and sideloading APKs. For many users, this barrier becomes a deal breaker. AppGallery might support some Indian apps like Paytm or Flipkart, but access to globally popular apps is inconsistent at best. The phone risks feeling incomplete from day one.
A Bold Display Experience
If cinematic immersion matters, the 6.59‑inch FullView IPS LCD display with FHD+ resolution is intoxicating. The absence of any notch means every pixel feels meaningful, whether you’re watching a movie or scrolling through photos. The 92 percent screen‑to‑body ratio creates a feeling of openness that few phones deliver in this segment. Colors come across vivid and detailed, and even bright sunlight doesn’t dull the visual charm.
Inside the Machine: Powerful Processor
At the heart of the Honor 9X Pro lies the HiSilicon Kirin 810 chipset, built on a 7 nm architecture. Combined with 6 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal storage, this phone delivers surprisingly snappy performance. Multitasking, app switching, and even light gaming feel fluid—thanks to GPU Turbo 3.0. Even users accustomed to mid‑range devices are often pleasantly stunned by how smoothly the phone handles everyday tasks.
A Cooling System That Feels Pro‑Level
Long sessions of gaming or video playback can heat up phones, yet the honor 9x pro addresses this with a built‑in liquid‑cooling system. It dissipates heat efficiently, allowing the Kirin 810 chip to stay cool under load. The feeling inside is subtle yet powerful: the device remains composed even when pushed hard. This kind of thermal stability is rare at this price tier and adds credibility to its flagship claim.
A Camera That Surprises—and Sometimes Disappoints
The triple rear camera setup features a 48 MP primary lens with pixel‑binning for better low‑light performance, accompanied by an 8 MP ultra‑wide and a 2 MP depth sensor. In daylight, photo quality is pleasing with balanced exposure and fine detail. Night shots in dedicated Super Night Mode improve low‑light clarity. But over sharpening and HDR missteps sometimes overexpose skies or flatten skin tones. The ultra‑wide lens delivers wider scenes but softer details—particularly indoors.
The Pop‑Up Selfie Camera Escapade
The pop‑up 16 MP front camera is a sensory delight—it emerges with a satisfying mechanical motion, which is gorgeous to watch. The selfies it captures under good lighting look sharp, with pleasant skin tones and detail. The mechanism includes a drop‑protection feature, retracting if the phone senses a fall. Yet the beauty filter is often tuned too aggressively, smoothing out facial texture. The popup action is seductive, but the execution is not perfect.
Battery Grace That Defies Expectations
A 4,000 mAh battery powers the honor 9x pro, and despite its large screen, battery life is simply reliable. Users report full-day endurance easily, and even moderate users may stretch to two days. With EMUI optimizations and the absence of Google services draining background power, the phone conserves energy well. However, charging remains slow by today’s standards, with only 10 W support, meaning full charge cycles can take more than two hours.
Audio Quality: Functional, Not Flattering
Audio comes through a single downward‑firing speaker, which delivers serviceable sound for media or calls. The quality is clear in mid‑volume ranges but lacks bass depth and fullness. It becomes tinny at higher volumes. Thankfully, the 3.5 mm headphone jack remains included—a rare comfort in modern phones. Plugging in wired earphones offers a crisp, distraction‑free listening alternative.
Software Reality: A Mixed Bag
Honor 9x pro ships the device with EMUI 9.1 on Android Pie, upgradeable to version 10. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, but without Google’s services, much of app usability depends on workarounds. Browsing via browser becomes the fallback for Gmail, YouTube, Maps, and streaming platforms. AppGallery has grown but remains incomplete. Casual users may manage, but those reliant on core Google applications may feel stranded.
Adaptation Options: Fans Share Their Fixes
Some users have found workarounds by sideloading APKs via third‑party stores like APKPure. Solutions like YouTube Vanced or microG can restore basic app access, but these require technical confidence and involve trade‑offs. While the community has shared tips, the process is not seamless. Some apps may break or lack features. In essence, the phone can work like a regular Android device—but only if you’re willing to navigate digital complexity.
The Emotional Weight of Missing Services
There is a bitter emotional tension in using such a beautiful and powerful phone, only to discover it lacks the everyday software many users take for granted. It is like owning a sports car that cannot open certain roads. The honor 9x pro teases great potential and delivers sensory beauty—but its software restriction leaves a hollow echo in user experience. That dichotomy is its most haunting flaw.
Day‑to‑Day Performance: Mostly Smooth
Despite limitations, daily use of the honor 9x pro feels generally satisfying. Scrolling through apps, watching web content, and capturing photos are all executed with no major glitches. The Kirin 810 processor still delivers speed that rivals many contemporary mid‑range offerings. In tasks that don’t rely on Google dependencies, the experience remains dependable and near‑smooth—something many users in this segment appreciate.
Build Quality and Ergonomics
The phone feels substantial yet comfortable. The side fingerprint sensor unlocks with precision and speed. Despite its size, most users find it manageable with one hand. The honor 9x pro 206 g weight gives it presence without becoming burdensome. The Gorilla Glass front and curved glass back offer a premium feel without fragility fears. Overall, the build creates confidence in daily handling and long‑term durability.
Who Should Buy This Phone?
The Honor 9X Pro is built for people who crave bold visuals and powerful hardware. Gamers, photographers in daylight, and users who cherish battery life and modern design will feel excited. But those who rely heavily on Google apps may find frustration overwhelming. The device suits tech‑savvy users ready to tinker or those content with web versions of services. For buyers wanting plug‑and‑play Android, it remains a leap of faith.
Hidden Costs and Workaround Trade‑offs
Because the phone lacks official Google certification, installing GMS unofficially can void warranty or cause instability. Some users report honor 9x pro app crashes or broken features, especially banking or secure apps. Updates also come infrequently, and support is limited. These trade‑offs may prove uncomfortably real for many consumers relying on long‑term reliability.
Real‑World Case: Users on Reddit Weigh In
Community voices express enthusiasm and frustration in equal parts. One Reddit user praised performance but lamented: “With no Google Services it feels like a feature phone again.” Another celebrated the camera and battery, yet acknowledged the awkward workaround for apps. As one reviewer wrote, “Amazing phone with best processor…and yet no GMS is a huge deal breaker.” That emotional honesty echoes across many real‑world impressions.
Compared to Alternatives Under ₹18,000
At its price point, alternatives like the Galaxy M series, Redmi Note series, or realme devices offer Google Play support out of the box. These phones may lack the bold pop‑up design or the Kirin 810 chip, but their software ecosystem is fully native. For buyers weighing pure value, that trade‑off may tip the balance. Yet honor 9x pro design and performance remain compelling for those seeking stand‑out style.
An Unexpected Taste of Liberation
Using the Honor 9X Pro sometimes feels like stepping into a filtered reality—beautiful hardware, easy gestures, light speed in hardware response, yet you miss the heart of Android’s ecosystem. It’s like traveling in first class with no passport. You get the luxury, the space, the sleek interface—but you can’t land in many places. It is an emotional tug between wonder and frustration.
Final Verdict: Beauty and Burden in Balance
The Honor 9X Pro is a rare blend: stunning hardware, bold visuals, flagship‑level performance—all wrapped in an under‑₹18,000 package. But without Google Mobile Services, that power feels constrained. For tech enthusiasts who relish workarounds or Indian users who prefer AppGallery alternatives, it might feel like an inspired choice. Yet for mainstream users expecting a seamless app ecosystem, the disappointment could be significant.
Summary of Strength and Weakness
Strengths: Honor 9x pro widescreen immersive display, powerful Kirin 810 chipset, liquid cooling, strong rear camera performance in daylight, fast and accurate side‑fingerprint unlock, solid battery life, and premium design.
Weaknesses: missing Google services, difficulty installing mainstream apps, slow 10 W charging, mid‑level speaker quality, and occasional overheating or app instability when sideloading.
Final Reflection: Does It Deliver?
Ultimately, the Honor 9X Pro is a sensory and performance‑oriented phone that delivers bold aesthetics and capable specifications at an affordable price. But it hides a fundamental missing piece—Google services—that makes the experience feel hobbled for many. If you are ready to embrace workarounds, explore AppGallery, and value design and battery life, it stands as a bold offering. Otherwise, it remains a beautiful but flawed silhouette in a sea of safer choices.