Honor has quietly dropped its fourth smartphone of the month—the X70i—a sleek, feature-packed device that punches well above its category. But here at Evercomm, we don’t just read spec sheets—we ask the bigger question: Would this phone shake up the South African market?
At first glance, the X70i delivers a strong lineup of features that could easily appeal to the South African audience. It comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen boasting a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, making everyday scrolling and media consumption a treat. The phone’s camera setup is led by a 108MP main sensor that promises sharp, vibrant shots—ideal for creators and social media users. Under the hood, the Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset ensures fluid performance, while users can choose up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, giving it the muscle to run multiple apps and store a wealth of content without breaking a sweat. The device is further supported by a 6,000mAh battery, which should comfortably last more than a day on a single charge, and it charges swiftly thanks to 35W USB-C fast charging. It also includes Android 15 with MagicOS 9.0, an under-display fingerprint scanner, 5G, Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and GPS, all wrapped in an IP65-rated chassis.
South Africans are savvy mobile users who seek maximum value from their purchases. The Honor X70i, if introduced to this market, would resonate with a wide range of users—from university students to young professionals—who demand power, longevity, and premium display quality without the prestige price tag. A smartphone with this kind of battery capacity, screen responsiveness, and feature set would be especially beneficial in environments where power outages are common and multitasking is essential.
The X70i finds itself up against strong contenders in the local space, including the Samsung Galaxy A24 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13. Both rivals bring solid specs to the table, but Honor’s newest release pushes the boundaries in a few key areas. The A24 features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 50MP camera, while the Note 13 mirrors the X70i’s 108MP camera and 120Hz AMOLED screen. Where the X70i leaps ahead is with its unmatched 6,000mAh battery, something neither competitor can match. This could be a key differentiator for local consumers prioritising all-day usage without constant top-ups.
Despite its promising spec sheet, the Honor X70i remains officially exclusive to the Chinese market. While a global variant called the Honor 400 Lite does exist, it features a smaller 5,320mAh battery and a different camera setup, making it a less exciting option. Whether or not South Africa receives the full-power X70i remains to be seen, but the potential is clear.
If Honor brings the X70i to South Africa with its full capabilities intact, it could spark a shake-up in the mid-range segment. With high-end performance features packaged in a sleek body, this phone fits perfectly into the needs of South African users looking for reliable battery life, excellent media capabilities, and smooth everyday performance. It might just be the phone we didn’t know we needed—until now.
