After its attempt to replicate Apple’s design language with the Honor 600 series, Honor has returned with the new Honor x7e, which officially went global on June 3.
But this time, the conversation goes beyond design, focusing on value, and in the ₦300,000 price bracket, it quickly becomes one of the more difficult phones to recommend this year.
Apparently, Honor appears to be an experimental brand in recent releases. From borrowing heavily from premium design cues to now introducing a budget-leaning device that is still in a mid-range price bracket, the strategy seems inconsistent.
While previous models were easier to justify thanks to strong specifications, especially battery performance, the X7e leaves us with more questions than answers.
So, is the Honor X7e actually worth over ₦300,000? Does it offer enough real-world value and long-term usability to justify its price, or does HMD currently provide a more sensible entry point for buyers simply looking for affordable 5G performance in emerging markets?
To answer that, we compare it directly with the HMD Vibe 2 5G. Both devices come from relatively new or not too popular smartphone brands in Nigeria, making value-for-money the key deciding factor.
Performance Overview and Comparison
To be fair to Honor, the X7e is not a weak device. The brand has built a reputation for packing solid hardware into its smartphones, and there are still good strengths here.
- 7,500mAh battery with 45W fast charging and 7.5W reverse charging
- 6GB RAM and 128GB storage starting configuration
- 120Hz refresh rate on a TFT LCD
The biggest highlight of the X7e is its massive battery, which is very important in emerging markets like Nigeria.
This size provides enough power for more than a full day’s use, and also does not make the phone look bulky because of Si-C battery technology. For everyday tasks, this device performs above average for multitasking and entertainment.
The standard model starts from 6GB RAM/128GB ROM, which is enough for a start. The TFT LCD also offers more colours than the IPS LCD you find in most budget phones this year, and paired with a 120Hz refresh rate, it becomes a more enjoyable experience.
While these features are genuinely good, the bigger question remains whether it justifies the 200 Euro price tag. And this is where it becomes difficult to compare with the 80 Euro HMD Vibe 2 5G which offers more for less.
The Honor X7e is powered by the Mediatek Helio G81, a 12nm chip that may be outdated in today’s market.
When compared with the Vibe 2 5G’s 6nm chip set the gap becomes very obvious. For buyers who want to try out a new phone brand, the HMD Vibe 2 5G offers a better balance of specs and price with:
- 5G connectivity
- A more recent and efficient chipset [6nm]
- Better future proofing
- Similar refresh rate but with a wider display size
- More advanced camera hardware [50MP/8MP Vs 50MP/5MP]
- A 6,000mAh battery that is still more than average
The Honor X7e retails for around ₦300,000 for the base model, while the HMD Vibe 2 5G goes around ₦130,000 for the base version.
This is a massive gap. And for consumers whose primary aim is to get the smartest device for the lowest possible price, the HMD offers more value for money.
The Honor X7e is officially available for sale as of today, and we expect it to begin appearing in major Nigerian stores in a few days.
Some buyers will actually appreciate its large battery and support for multitasking, but most will eventually prefer the 5G support and affordability of the HMD Vibe 2 5G.
