Gadgets & Gear

New Honor X7d hit the market at ~R4,000. Is it worth it?

A fresh R4,000 smartphone that claims to stretch every charge and gigabyte. The question is whether that’s enough in 2025’s value race.

Image: Andrey Matveev.

If you have about four grand to spend on a smartphone in South Africa, the HONOR X7d is now in the mix. The hook is simple: large battery, large screen, low price. If your mobile data habits are already trimmed and you are trying to avoid missioning for a charger by lunchtime, this device targets you.

Price first, because that is the question. Street listings for the X7d have hovered in the R3,3k to R4,5k range, depending on retailer and configuration, which puts it squarely in “value” territory for a new handset.

That range is based on current tracker sites and local storefronts, not a single promo. It also aligns with other phones on sale locally, but unlike these, a ±R4,000 price tag is more realistic.

The X7d sells the boring wins: battery that lasts, storage you do not have to babysit, and a screen that will not make Netflix look like a postage stamp.

What you get for the money

Battery and charging: HONOR’s local spec page pegs the X7d 5G at a typical 6,500 mAh battery with 35 W wired charging. That is well above the segment norm and is the headline reason to shortlist it if endurance matters.
Display: Large display in the 6.7–6.8 inch class with FHD+ resolution on related X7-series variants, which is again competitive at this price. Expect plenty of screen for socials, maps, and YouTube without feeling cramped.
Core hardware: Snapdragon-class silicon on the X7d line and up to 256 GB storage depending on variant. You are not buying a gaming rig; you are buying a daily driver that keeps apps open and behaves during multi-tasking.
Cameras: A practical main sensor setup led by a 50 MP primary on the X7d 5G page. Decent daylight shots, serviceable social video, and typical noise in dim restaurants unless you steady your hand.

If your week looks like WhatsApp, banking, ride-hailing, payments, YouTube, and the occasional Spur birthday video, the X7d is engineered to finish the day without rationing screen time.

Where it fits in South Africa

The R3,5k–R4,5k bracket in SA is crowded with sensible choices. Retailers push Samsung’s A-series, Xiaomi’s Redmi range, and Tecno’s Spark line. HONOR’s angle is stamina and storage at a fresh-out-the-box price rather than a clearance tag. Local listings for adjacent X-series models back up the ballpark, which matters when you are buying cash or on smaller store accounts.

If you are comparing across that range, pay attention to what is bundled in because some local deals include chargers and silicone cases, while others cut those extras to shave a few hundred rand off.

Where to buy (and price)

Availability is rolling out through general retail, and the X7d is already showing up across major South African channels:

Takealot: Prices vary (depending on colour), but start from R4,199.
Telkom: Competitive on entry-level handsets, with a monthly premium from R319 for 36 months. You also get Prime Video mobile, with the first three months free, followed by a R29 monthly subscription added to your Telkom bill.
Amazon SA: The HONOR X7B 256GB DS starts from R4,395 and includes free delivery.

Should you buy it?

Buy if:

Battery life is your top priority, and you want two days without babysitting;
you need generous storage in this price tier and prefer a big display for streaming.

Skip if:

You want a standout camera in low light or flagship-level performance. The silicon and optics are tuned for reliability, not bragging rights;
you can stretch slightly more for a device with stronger update commitments or water resistance. Those features usually start appearing higher up the range across brands.

Verdict

If your budget caps at around R4,000, the HONOR X7d earns serious consideration. The battery spec is best-in-class for the money, the screen is comfortably big, and local pricing tracks the value promise. Competition is fierce, yet the X7d’s endurance play is clear. Keep an eye on which exact variant a retailer is selling, and you will avoid “surprise” spec downgrades between listings.