First impressions: HONOR X5 Plus

HONOR is set to release its newest addition to the X series lineup with the HONOR X5 Plus. This entry-level smartphone features specs that make it more than competitive at a budget-friendly price point. 

The X5 Plus offers users peace of mind in a variety of ways. Sizable storage and an impressive battery life are its main draws, yet we are still eager to put this smartphone’s full capabilities to the test. 

Design and build

The HONOR X5 Plus is available in two colorways – Midnight Black and Cyan Lake. The former offers a sophisticated classic look while the latter adds a bit of vibrance and flair to the design. Both have a metallic finish that is quite easy on the eye. 

It also adopts the modern boxy frame as seen in a lot of current smartphones, while also maintaining a lightweight build for convenient use and portability (188g, 8.35mm).

What’s in the box?

The X5 Plus comes with a charging adapter, USB-C cable, a quick start guide, a SIM card ejector pin and a clear protective case. 

Display

This smartphone has a decent 6.56-inch LFT LCD display with a 720 x 1612 resolution. Its strength, however, lies within its 90Hz refresh rate and its ease on the eyes over extended periods of time. 

Camera

In this day and age, we expect even entry-level smartphones to be equipped with decent cameras that will help us both capture and create moments. We are keen on seeing just how much this camera system (50MP Main Camera, 2MP Depth Camera, 5MP Front Camera) can help us with this. 

Biometric unlock features

It is equipped with both a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for the biometric unlocking of the smartphone. Both are welcome features especially in the entry-level space. 

Performance

The HONOR X5 Plus is powered by the MediaTek Helio G36 (12nm). It is accompanied by 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage. The storage is expandable though. It is compatible with 1TB MicroSD card expansion storage which is sufficient for all the files you will need to keep. 

Battery and charging

It is also equipped with a 5200mAh battery. It’s advertised to be able to last you a full two days. We can’t wait to test this out. And props as well to HONOR for maintaining the lightweight build despite the large battery life. 

A 10W Honor charger is also included with the device. 

Initial thoughts 

HONOR provided everything that you would expect from an entry-level phone with a sprinkle of impressive specs. The expandable storage and impressive battery life provide a massive upside for users looking for a budget-friendly smartphone spiced with sought-after features. 

We can’t wait to test the HONOR X5 Plus.