Honor has expanded its entry-level lineup with two new budget phones that target buyers who want long battery life, a 90Hz display, and a low price tag. The new Honor X5d and Honor X5d Plus were introduced in Malaysia, and both are positioned as affordable options for everyday use.
The key appeal is simple: both models combine a 6.74-inch screen, a 5,260 mAh battery, and Android 15-based MagicOS 9.0 at prices that stay well below the mainstream midrange segment. Honor also added a fresh Tidal Blue color option, while keeping the overall formula focused on practical features rather than major hardware changes.
What Honor actually changed this time
Honor X5d is not a fully new device. It is essentially a rebrand of the earlier Honor X5c, while the X5d Plus continues the idea of the Honor X5c Plus with similar hardware. The company appears to have refreshed the lineup mainly through naming, a new color, and a few specification differences.
That approach is common in the entry-level market, where brands often reuse proven designs to keep prices competitive. For buyers, the most important question is not whether the phones are radically new, but whether the balance of features still makes sense in 2026.
Display and design stay familiar
Both phones use a 6.74-inch IPS LCD panel with HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The display setup should feel smoother than standard 60Hz screens, especially during app scrolling and light gaming.
The panel still uses a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera, which shows that Honor kept the design simple to control costs. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor is also included, giving users a faster unlock method without adding to the price.
Battery life is one of the main selling points
One of the strongest parts of the Honor X5d series is the 5,260 mAh battery. On paper, that capacity should help the phones last through a full day of calls, messaging, social media, and light streaming with room to spare.
Honor pairs the battery with 15W charging, which is not fast by 2026 standards but remains typical for the budget category. For shoppers in this segment, battery endurance often matters more than speed, and Honor seems to have understood that clearly.
Performance is built for daily basics
Under the hood, both phones run on the MediaTek Helio G81 chipset with 4GB of RAM. That combination places the X5d series firmly in the entry-level class, so users should expect performance that is best suited to basic tasks rather than heavy multitasking or demanding games.
Honor X5d comes with 64GB of internal storage, while the X5d Plus doubles that to 128GB. Both models run MagicOS 9.0 based on Android 15, which gives them a more current software platform than many cheap phones still shipping with older builds.
Camera differences separate the two models
The main distinction between the two phones appears in the rear camera setup. Honor X5d Plus brings a 50MP main camera with f/1.8 aperture, while the regular Honor X5d uses a 13MP main camera with f/2.2 aperture.
Here is a simple comparison of the two models:
- Honor X5d: 13MP main camera, 64GB storage, about $93
- Honor X5d Plus: 50MP main camera, 128GB storage, about $115
- Shared features: 6.74-inch HD+ LCD, 90Hz refresh rate, 4GB RAM, 5,260 mAh battery, Android 15
Both phones also include a tiny 0.08MP QVGA secondary sensor, which functions as a basic add-on rather than a major imaging tool. The front camera is a 5MP unit placed inside the waterdrop notch, which is typical for inexpensive phones aimed at casual selfies and video calls.
Pricing keeps the phones competitive
Honor has launched the phones in Malaysia at very accessible prices. The Honor X5d starts at MYR 369, or around $93, for the 4GB/64GB version.
The Honor X5d Plus costs MYR 459, which is approximately $115, for the 4GB/128GB configuration. That price gap is small enough to make the Plus model attractive to buyers who want more storage and a stronger main camera.
Why this matters in the entry-level market
The budget smartphone market has become more competitive, and buyers now expect more than just a cheap body and a large battery. A 90Hz display, Android 15, side fingerprint security, and IP54 protection against dust and splashes all help the Honor X5d series look more complete than many ultra-low-cost rivals.
Honor has also added IP54 certification, which is a useful extra for everyday durability. It will not make the phones waterproof, but it does offer a better level of protection against minor environmental exposure.
The Honor X5d series shows how manufacturers keep refining affordable phones without drastically raising prices. With a big battery, smoother 90Hz display, and a starting price of about $93, the lineup gives budget buyers a practical option that focuses on the features they are most likely to use every day.
