Android smartphones in the $200 to $250 USD range are quite common from Chinese manufacturers like Leagoo, Xiaomi, Bluboo, Oppo, and Vivo. What makes the Honor 7X so special compared to the deluge of other cheap alternatives is the harder worldwide marketing push from Huawei. Unlike most other smartphones from the aforementioned brands, the Honor 7X is actually compatible with 4G LTE networks in the US, is more widely available with no importing required, and has the financial backing of the largest Chinese smartphone manufacturer. Together, these advantages create a higher level of quality control that owners outside of Asia do not usually receive from lesser-known Chinese brands. The Huawei is much less of a gamble for the small investment.

There is tremendous value in the Honor 7X. Its small asking price nets users a 5.93-inch FHD display with the same 18:9 aspect ratio found on the latest flagships almost 5x the cost. Its fingerprint reader, dual 4G SIM slots, expandable storage, and 3.5 mm audio jack are features that even some costlier alternatives do not carry. The very slim form factor is another surprise as it looks similar to the expensive Mate 10 Pro down to the dimensions and placement of the buttons and ports. The end result is a smartphone that feels more expensive than its retail price.

Some corners had to be cut, though they thankfully seem limited to extraneous features rather than hardware quality. Owners will be missing out on NFC, IR, 802.11ac, Wi-Fi calling, wireless charging, and USB Type-C while some specific EMUI features are omitted including Hotspot and Navigation Dock. From this perspective, the barebones experience is not unexpected and will not likely dissuade the target budget-conscious audience.

More disappointing are the slower display response times, lack of Quick Charge, and the minimal raw performance benefits of the Kirin 659 over the Kirin 655 in the Honor 6X. Ghosting is more prevalent when browsing and the 2+ hour charge time can be a pain for heavy users. The Honor 7X doesn't necessarily feel any slower or faster than its immediate predecessor for better or worse. Higher quality cameras, a louder earpiece, and a potentially brighter backlight round up our list of what we'd like to see on the eventual successor.