Honor Decided Battery Life Matters More Than 5G — And Launched The X7e With A 7500 mAh Battery

Honor has launched a new budget smartphone, the X7e, whose main selling point is a battery rated at up to 7500 mAh. The newcomer is aimed at users willing to ditch 5G and high display resolution in favor of longer runtime.

The phone features a 6.61-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1604 × 720 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. The company claims support for eye-care features, including dynamic dimming. The hardware platform consists of a MediaTek Helio G81 Ultra processor paired with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There’s no microSD card slot, but virtual RAM expansion using internal storage is available. The main camera relies on a 50MP sensor, assisted by a secondary lens. Selfies and video calls are handled by a 5MP front shooter. Given the price, photo capabilities remain basic – no claims of night photography or optical zoom.

The device’s main trick is the battery, though capacity will vary by region – either 7000 or 7500 mAh. It supports 45W fast charging over USB-C; wireless charging is absent. Connectivity includes 4G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, and NFC. There’s no 5G modem, which puts it on par with a number of early 2025 budget phones, even though many rivals have already started moving to fifth-generation networks. You also get a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, face unlock, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. In recent months, more and more smartphones are getting big batteries in the race for longer endurance.

The smartphone runs MagicOS 10 based on Android 16. Seeing such a fresh OS version on an ultra-budget device with a basic chip is unusual – manufacturers usually reserve new Android releases for mid-range and flagship models. This could help keep the device relevant for longer, but Honor hasn’t yet commented on how many major updates the X7e will receive. Earlier, Honor refreshed its 600 series, where phones in that lineup also got larger batteries.

Sales have already kicked off in Asia, where the 6/256GB version costs around $225 (about 16,000 rubles), and the rollout will expand soon. In the sub-$250 price bracket, buyers usually have to choose between 5G support, an AMOLED screen, and a beefier battery. The Honor X7e sacrifices the first two for all-day endurance that should deliver two to three days away from an outlet.

What do you think matters more in an affordable phone these days: maximum battery life, or having 5G and a quality AMOLED display? Share your take in the comments.