HONOR South Africa took smartphone launches to an unprecedented level with an adrenaline-fueled event in Sandton.

• HONOR South Africa has seen remarkable growth, expanding its business by 180% by the end of 2024.
• The company unveiled the eagerly awaited HONOR X9c – the latest addition to its acclaimed X Series.
• This smartphone is setting yet another benchmark in the mid-range market, boasting outstanding durability, long-lasting battery life and a stunning display.
• Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za for more stories.

Drawing inspiration from the “Squid Game” series, media and VIP guests put the new device through an intense series of durability tests. Attendees shot at the phones with paintball guns, used them as makeshift hammer faces to drive nails into wood, and submerged them in water—all in the name of testing HONOR’s claims. The event also included passive demonstrations, such as boiling the phone in water and freezing it in an ice bucket.

With a cash prize of R30’000 on the line, challengers pushed the phone to its limits, yet the HONOR X9c emerged virtually unscathed – a testament to its cutting-edge claims. With over 1-million units sold, the brand is fast becoming a household name, bolstered by a surge in Google searches and an impressive 80% brand awareness rating.

In addition to strong smartphone sales, we’ve also experienced a significant rise in tablet sales, reinforcing our expanding product portfolio and commitment to South African consumers. We continue to foster deeper relationships with our stakeholders and solidify our position as the most trusted technology brand in the market.

// CEO of HONOR South Africa, Fred Zhou

The HONOR X9c tackles South Africans’ greatest smartphone fear – dropping their device (worst case, in the toilet). With the revolutionary HONOR Anti-Drop Display, ultra-tempered glass, and a bezier curve design, the phone can survive drops from up to 2 meters. Compared to its predecessor, the HONOR X9c boasts a 166% increase in durability, offering unparalleled peace of mind.

Engineered for extreme conditions, it features a three-layer waterproof structure, IP65M water and dust resistance, and even functions with wet hands. Withstanding up to five minutes underwater at 25cm, the HONOR X9c is redefining smartphone resilience.

Packing an industry-first 6600mAh Silicon-Carbon battery, the HONOR X9c delivers an extraordinary battery life. Whether streaming music for 48.4 hours or watching online videos for 25.8 hours, the phone keeps up with South Africans’ on-the-go lifestyle. Additionally, it performs seamlessly in extreme temperatures ranging from -30°C to 55°C.

For users facing the dreaded 2% battery warning, the AI-powered system ensures up to 50 minutes of continuous calls. And with 66W wired HONOR SuperCharge, a few minutes of charging provides extended usability.

The HONOR X9c’s 6.78-inch Eye-Comfort OLED Display is a visual feast, supporting 1.07 billion colours and a 1.5K resolution. With a 120Hz refresh rate, vibrant hues, and a peak HDR brightness of 4000nits, the device ensures a superior viewing experience. Eye-comfort features such as 3840Hz Risk-Free PWM Dimming, Circadian Night Display, and Dynamic Dimming further enhance usability.

Equipped with a 108MP Ultra-Sensing Camera and a 1/1.67” large sensor, the HONOR X9c delivers sharp and vivid images in any lighting condition. Its 9-in-1 pixel binning technology enhances brightness, while 3x Lossless Zoom and three distinct portrait modes ensure quality photography.
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) reduces blurring and shakiness, while AI-powered features like AI Motion Sensing and AI Eraser enhance image quality and streamline photo editing directly on the phone.

Weighing just 189g and measuring 7.98mm in thickness, the HONOR X9c combines cutting-edge technology with a stylish titanium finish. Running on MagicOS 8.0 based on Android 14, it introduces intelligent features such as Magic Capsule, Magic Portal, and Parallel Space for a highly personalized user experience.

The HONOR X9c is available in two striking colourways – Titanium Black and Jade Cyan. The device is priced at R10’999, with the more affordable X7c available at R5’999. During his speech, Fred teased the imminent arrival of the HONOR Magic Book X14 laptop—marking the brand’s entry into the South African laptop market.

HONOR has experienced phenomenal growth, and we’re not stopping at smartphones. In 2024, we introduced tablets to South Africa, and by the end of the year, we achieved over 50% market share in Vodafone post-paid. Now, we’re bringing more IoT products to the market.

// CEO of HONOR South Africa, Fred Zhou

With a strong emphasis on durability, innovation, and user experience, the HONOR X9c is redefining the mid-range smartphone category in South Africa.

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