Honor X9d: a new smartphone maker plans to dominate the Nigerian market with AI

The Nigerian smartphone market, often characterised by its fierce competition and price-sensitive consumer base, witnessed a significant recalibration on Tuesday. At a Summit held in Lagos, Honor Nigeria officially signalled its intent to dominate a sector currently led by heavyweights like Transsion and Samsung.

The event served as a strategic coming-out party, gathering key dealers, industry stakeholders, and the media to witness the brand’s roadmap for a market it views as the “potential-filled” heart of African tech.

​While the brand seems like a newcomer to some, its DNA is deeply rooted in the industry. Formerly a sub-brand of Huawei, Honor successfully pivoted into an independent entity in 2020 to navigate global supply chain hurdles.

This legacy was a central theme of the summit.

“Nigerian consumers still remember Huawei,” noted Jaco Guan, MD for West Africa, during our interview. “We have the same technology, but now we have full Google services and more AI functions. We are getting back those customers who remember the quality of Huawei while offering a totally new AI technology brand experience.”

A cross session of stakeholders at the unvaling

​This AI era focus isn’t just marketing jargon. Guan revealed that Honor has invested over $10 billion into research and development globally. In a market where smart is no longer enough, the new smartphone brand is betting that AI-driven efficiency will be the differentiator for the Nigerian youth who crave innovation.

​Durability and battery life is Honor X9d’s selling point

​The centrepiece of the summit was the official unveiling of the Honor X9d, a device specifically engineered to tackle the unique pain points of the Nigerian user: durability and battery life.

Agbebiyi Olatunde Abiodun, National Retail Manager for Honor in Nigeria, highlighted the device’s “Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop” display. “This phone has a very strong screen, one of the strongest Gorilla screens available,” Agbede explained.

But for the Nigerian professional or student constantly on the move, the battery is the real hero. “It has the biggest battery so far in this range, 8300 mAh, with 66W SuperCharge. You can use it for up to three days without worrying about a low battery,” he added.

​Furthermore, the device boasts an IP69K rating for water and dust resistance, as well as making a gravity flinch to earn a Guinness World Record for the Highest Smartphone Drop and surviving a fall from 6.133 metres without a crack in sight.

These features are usually reserved for ultra-premium rugged phones, but by bringing these high-end specifications to a competitive price point. The new maker is making a play for the premium-value segment of the market.

The unvaling of Honor X9d

​The confidence radiating from the executive team was palpable. Desmond Asuelimen, Key Account Manager for Nigeria, described the brand’s entry as a “game changer”.

“We are going to shake the market,” Asuelimen stated. “Honor has a global reputation for high quality at a competitive price. We don’t produce just for the African market; we produce global phones. The device you use in Nigeria is the same one used in the UK or the US. Our quality is never compromised.”

​When questioned about the dominance of established brands, the team pointed to their internal expertise. Jaco Guan, himself a veteran of the Transsion ecosystem, believes Honour’s strategy of satisfying major dealers and creating a robust retail channel will yield quick results.

“By the end of this year, I think we can capture more than 5% of the market share in Nigeria,” Guan predicted.

​Addressing the purchasing power problem

​In a country grappling with economic shifts, the elephant in the room is always affordability. Honour’s leadership was quick to clarify that they aren’t just a luxury brand.

“We have a full range of products,” Guan emphasised. “From foldable Porsche Design phones over $1,000 to devices around $100 like the X10. We match every range of customers.” The X9d itself is positioned to be “lower than the competitor’s same-range products” despite having higher specifications in memory, battery and camera tech.

With products in all the key showrooms and a presence in over 30 states across the country, the Honor Channel Summit was more than just a product showcase; it was a declaration of stability and growth.

​As Agbebiyi Olatunde Abiodun summarised, success for the brand in Nigeria means “bringing human-centric technology together.” If the brand can marry its unbreakable hardware with the local need for longevity and AI-assisted productivity, the 5% market share goal might just be the beginning of a much larger story.

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