Honor X5c Plus

Value depends heavily on what you pay. Our database lists the Honor X5c Plus 4GB + 128GB at Rs. 35,795. That is far above the price it launched at, so check current store prices before you buy.

Strengths:

• 128GB storage plus a microSD slot, when many big brands give only 64GB at this level
• A 5260 mAh battery with very good endurance
• A 15W charger and a case in the box
• Clean, smooth MagicOS 9 software with no ads, and a capable 50 MP main camera for the money

Weaknesses:

• Slow 15W charging
• A 720p TFT screen that is dim in harsh sunlight
• A single, average speaker, a 5 MP selfie camera, no gyroscope and no NFC

Against the Samsung Galaxy A07 (Rs. 35,599), the Honor gives you more base storage, a bigger battery and a charger in the box. The Samsung has the faster Helio G99 chip, a dedicated memory card slot, an 8 MP selfie camera and up to 6 major Android upgrades, but it needs a separate charger.

Verdict: a sensible pick for students, parents and light users who want storage, battery life and clean software. If you plan to keep the phone for years or play games, the Galaxy A07 is the stronger long-term choice at a similar price.

The Honor X5c Plus has a 6.74-inch TFT LCD at 720 x 1600 resolution with a 90Hz refresh rate. The refresh rate switches between 60 and 90 to save power.

• Everyday use: scrolling feels smooth and there is no lag in daily use. Colours look good for a TFT panel, and you can warm them up with the colour temperature setting.
• Brightness: fine indoors and in shade. One hands-on test found it noticeably dim in harsh direct sunlight, while another found the brightness quite high, so outdoor visibility is only average.
• Video: the phone supports Widevine L3, so streaming apps like Netflix play in standard definition, not HD.
• Design: a waterdrop notch sits at the top, which looks a little dated but is normal at this price.

TFT panels have narrower viewing angles than IPS screens, but that matters little when you look at the phone straight on. Overall, it is a decent budget display, not a strong point.

The phone uses the MediaTek Helio G81 (12 nm), with two Cortex-A75 and six Cortex-A55 cores and a Mali-G52 MC2 GPU, paired with 4GB RAM and eMMC storage.

• Daily use: calls, WhatsApp, YouTube and social media run smoothly. Heavy multitasking with 4GB RAM can cause occasional slowdowns.
• Gaming: PUBG Mobile runs at up to 40fps (Smooth graphics with Ultra frame rate, or HD with High). Casual games play well.
• No gyroscope: the phone lacks a gyroscope, so gyro aiming in shooting games will not work.
• Storage: eMMC storage is slower than UFS, so installing and opening big apps takes a little longer.

The G81 was a strong chip at the original launch price, but at today's listed price the Samsung Galaxy A07's Helio G99 is clearly faster. For light users it is enough; for gamers it is not the best choice.

The rear has a 50 MP main camera with an auxiliary lens and an LED flash. The front has a 5 MP selfie camera without a flash, so it uses the screen as a flash.

• Daylight photos: this is the phone's camera highlight. Pictures have good detail, accurate colours and balanced dynamic range for the price.
• Portraits: edge detection is impressively accurate, even around fine details like the edge of glasses.
• Selfies: the 5 MP front camera is decent in daylight, but its low resolution means less detail than rivals with 8 MP selfie cameras.
• Video: both cameras record at up to 1080p 30fps. There is no video stabilisation, so walking shots will look shaky.
• Modes: portrait, photo, video and a high-resolution mode. Basic AI photo editing tools are missing from the gallery, but you can use Google Photos for them.

For its class, the main camera is one of the better ones, while selfies and video are basic.

The Honor X5c Plus has a 5260 mAh battery, slightly bigger than the usual capacity at this price.

• Battery life: endurance is excellent. Even heavy users get a long screen-on time, and Honor's software is well optimised, so a full day is easy for most people.
• Charging: the phone supports only 15W charging, and a 15W charger is included in the box. A full charge takes well over two hours, so it is best charged overnight.
• Charger included: unlike the Samsung Galaxy A07, which supports faster charging but comes without a charger, you do not need to buy one separately.
• Weight: despite the battery, the phone weighs 186 g and is 7.9 mm thin.

The trade-off is clear: very good battery life, but slow charging.

The phone runs MagicOS 9 on Android 15, and its software is the X5c Plus's strongest feature.

• Smooth and clean: app opening and closing animations, smooth transitions and good haptic feedback, even when changing the volume. These touches are rare at this price.
• No ads or bloatware: the software experience is clean, with no ads, unlike many budget phones.
• Customisation: plenty of themes and customisation options.
• Google and AI: full Google services are included, with Gemini support. There are no built-in AI photo editing tools, though Google Photos covers the basics.
• Missing features: there is no built-in call recording option and no NFC for contactless payments.
• Updates: Honor has not published an update commitment for this phone, so we cannot say how many Android upgrades it will get. The Samsung Galaxy A07 promises up to 6 major Android upgrades.

For buyers who care about a smooth, ad-free experience, MagicOS 9 is a real reason to choose this phone.