Huawei nova 9 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Huawei nova 9 is a captivating smartphone that combines style, performance, and innovative features. Its sleek design, with a 6.57-inch OLED display and slim profile, is bound to turn heads. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset and 8GB of RAM, this phone delivers impressive performance for multitasking and gaming. The quad-camera setup, including a 50MP main sensor, captures stunning photos and videos. With a 32MP selfie camera, your self-portraits will never be the same. The 4300mAh battery with 66W fast charging ensures you'll never run out of power. Available in attractive colors like Starry Blue and Green, the Huawei nova 9 is priced competitively, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a high-quality smartphone.

Design and Build Quality

The Huawei nova 9 boasts an impressive design and build that exudes a premium look and feel. With its sleek design and aesthetically pleasing physical appearance, the device is sure to catch the eye of users. The smartphone has a compact form factor, measuring 160 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm and weighing 175g, making it lightweight and highly portable. The dimensions and weight contribute to its excellent ergonomics, allowing for comfortable one-handed usability.

The construction of the Huawei nova 9 reflects its robustness and sturdiness. The materials used in its build are of high quality, ensuring durability and longevity. The back panel of the device features a smooth texture, providing a comfortable grip while holding the smartphone. The finishing touches on the device are refined, adding to its overall appeal.

The bezels surrounding the 6.57-inch OLED display are minimal, resulting in a high screen-to-body ratio of approximately 89.9%. This enhances the immersive viewing experience for users. The frame of the smartphone is well-constructed and houses the buttons and controls, which are tactile and responsive.

In terms of build quality, the Huawei nova 9 excels. The device feels solid and well-constructed, instilling confidence in its durability. Despite its sleek and slim design, it manages to pack a powerful battery with a capacity of 4300 mAh.

Overall, the Huawei nova 9 showcases an outstanding design and build, combining aesthetics, durability, and functionality. It presents a premium look and feel, while also prioritizing user comfort and portability. With its sleek form factor, robust construction, and refined finishing touches, the Huawei nova 9 is a compelling choice for gadget enthusiasts.

Display

The Huawei nova 9 features a 6.57-inch OLED display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The screen-to-body ratio is approximately 89.9%, providing a more immersive viewing experience. The OLED technology delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks, enhancing visual quality. The display also supports HDR10, providing a wider dynamic range for better contrast and more accurate colors.

With its 120Hz refresh rate, the nova 9 offers smooth and fluid scrolling and animations, making interactions feel more responsive. The high pixel density of around 392 ppi ensures sharp and detailed visuals. The display's brightness levels are sufficient for comfortable indoor usage, and the outdoor visibility is decent, although it may struggle under direct sunlight.

To protect the display from scratches and minor impacts, the Huawei nova 9 utilizes durable glass, possibly Gorilla Glass, although specific information is not provided. The viewing angles are wide, allowing for consistent colors and contrast regardless of the viewing angle. Additionally, the display may feature an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and improve visibility in well-lit environments.

Users can benefit from features such as an always-on display, which allows for quick access to notifications and time without fully activating the screen. The inclusion of a blue light filter helps reduce eye strain during prolonged usage, especially in low light conditions. The adaptive brightness feature ensures that the screen adjusts to ambient lighting conditions, optimizing visibility and saving battery life.

Overall, the display of the Huawei nova 9 offers a visually appealing experience with its OLED technology, HDR support, and smooth refresh rate. The combination of these features makes it suitable for multimedia consumption, gaming, and everyday tasks.

Performance

The Huawei nova 9 offers impressive performance thanks to its powerful chipset and optimized system. Equipped with the Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm) chipset, the nova 9 delivers smooth and lag-free performance across various tasks. The octa-core CPU, consisting of 4x2.4 GHz Kryo 670 and 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 670 cores, ensures snappy app loading speeds and efficient multitasking.

In terms of GPU performance, the Adreno 642L GPU in the nova 9 delivers excellent graphics scores and gaming capabilities. The GPU benchmarks showcase its ability to handle demanding games and provide a seamless gaming experience. With its powerful GPU, users can expect high frame rates and impressive visual quality while gaming.

The nova 9's performance is further enhanced by its system optimization and thermal management. The device's HarmonyOS 2.0 (China) and EMUI 12 (Europe) operating systems, coupled with Huawei's optimization techniques, ensure a smooth user experience and efficient utilization of system resources. The thermal management system effectively dissipates heat, preventing thermal throttling and maintaining consistent performance even during extended usage or heavy gaming sessions.

Benchmark tests and synthetic benchmarks confirm the nova 9's impressive performance metrics. In AnTuTu, the device achieves a score of 469,798 (v9), indicating its high processing power. GeekBench scores of 2,973 (v5.1) highlight the device's strong CPU performance. Additionally, the device achieves a graphics score of 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) in GFXBench, further emphasizing its GPU efficiency.

Overall, the Huawei nova 9 offers a solid performance package with its powerful chipset, efficient CPU, and impressive GPU. Whether it's for multitasking, gaming, or everyday usage, the nova 9 delivers a smooth and lag-free experience. The device's system optimization and thermal management further enhance its performance, ensuring a consistently high level of performance without compromising on efficiency.

Software and User Interface

The Huawei nova 9 runs on HarmonyOS 2.0 in China and EMUI 12 in Europe, which is the company's proprietary operating system. This means that the device does not come with Google Play Services pre-installed. HarmonyOS 2.0 offers a unique user experience with its clean and intuitive interface. The software provides a smooth and responsive performance, thanks to the Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset and Octa-core CPU. Users can expect a seamless multitasking experience and smooth navigation throughout the system.

One notable aspect of the software is its customization options. Users can personalize their Huawei nova 9 by choosing from a variety of themes, wallpapers, and icon styles. The software also allows for easy organization of apps and widgets on the home screen, making it convenient to access frequently used applications.

While the absence of Google Play Services may be a drawback for some users, Huawei has worked on providing alternative app stores and services to compensate for this limitation. The AppGallery, Huawei's own app store, offers a wide range of applications that users can download and install. Additionally, Huawei has made efforts to optimize popular apps to ensure compatibility and usability on HarmonyOS 2.0.

In terms of pre-installed apps, the Huawei nova 9 comes with a selection of essential apps such as a file manager, gallery, and music player. These apps are well-designed and provide a seamless user experience. However, some users may find certain pre-installed apps to be unnecessary or redundant, which can be considered as bloatware.

Overall, the software on the Huawei nova 9 offers a user-friendly interface and a smooth performance. While the absence of Google Play Services may be a concern for some users, Huawei has made efforts to provide alternative app stores and optimize popular apps for a seamless experience. The customization options and pre-installed apps add to the overall user experience, making the software of the Huawei nova 9 a notable aspect of the device.

Camera

The Huawei nova 9 boasts a powerful quad-camera setup that is packed with features to enhance your photography experience. The primary camera is a 50-megapixel lens with a wide aperture of f/1.9 and a focal length of 23mm, ensuring sharp and detailed images. The camera is supported by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro lens, allowing for versatile photography options. The device also features optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS), which work together to minimize camera shake and ensure stable footage.

The Huawei nova 9 excels in daylight photography, capturing images with natural colors and excellent sharpness. Its dynamic range is impressive, allowing for well-balanced exposures in various lighting conditions. In low-light situations, the camera performs admirably, thanks to its low-light sensitivity and noise reduction capabilities. The device offers a dedicated night mode, which further enhances low-light performance by capturing multiple exposures and combining them for a brighter and clearer image.

The camera features of the Huawei nova 9 include portrait mode, HDR, panorama mode, and pro mode, giving users the flexibility to experiment with different shooting styles and settings. The device also utilizes AI scene recognition to automatically optimize settings based on the subject, resulting in improved image quality.

When it comes to video recording, the Huawei nova 9 supports 4K video capture, allowing for high-resolution footage. Video stabilization ensures smooth and steady videos, while slow-motion video and time-lapse features add creativity to your recordings. The device supports various video formats, providing flexibility in sharing and editing your videos. Overall, the camera of the Huawei nova 9 delivers impressive performance and a range of features that cater to both photography and videography enthusiasts.

Battery Life

The Huawei nova 9 is equipped with a Li-Po 4300mAh non-removable battery. This battery capacity allows for a decent battery life, ensuring that the device can last through a day of moderate to heavy usage. The smartphone also features fast charging capabilities, with a 66W wired charging technology. This allows for quick charging times, with a claimed 60% charge in just 18 minutes and a full charge in 38 minutes. The battery performance is further enhanced by power efficiency and optimization features, which help to maximize the battery usage and minimize unnecessary drain. While the nova 9 does not support wireless charging, the fast charging option compensates for this. Overall, the battery of the Huawei nova 9 provides a satisfactory performance and offers a reliable backup for users throughout the day.

Connectivity and Networking

The Huawei nova 9 offers a wide range of connectivity options to cater to the needs of modern users. With support for 5G technology, users can experience blazing-fast data speeds and enjoy seamless connectivity on compatible networks. In addition to 5G, the device also supports LTE, ensuring reliable connectivity even in areas where 5G coverage is limited.

For wireless connectivity, the nova 9 features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, allowing users to connect to both traditional and next-generation Wi-Fi networks. The device also supports Wi-Fi Direct, enabling direct file transfer between compatible devices without the need for an internet connection.

Bluetooth 5.2 is present on the nova 9, providing faster data transfer speeds and improved energy efficiency compared to previous Bluetooth versions. This allows users to connect their favorite wireless accessories, such as headphones or speakers, effortlessly.

NFC technology is also included, allowing for convenient contactless payments and easy pairing with compatible devices.

The nova 9 comes with a USB Type-C 2.0 port, which not only facilitates fast charging but also enables data transfer at high speeds between the device and a computer.

In terms of SIM card options, the nova 9 offers the flexibility of using either a single Nano-SIM or dual Nano-SIM cards, providing dual standby capability.

GPS is available for accurate positioning and navigation, while the device also supports GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, and NavIC satellite systems for enhanced accuracy.

Overall, the Huawei nova 9 offers a comprehensive set of connectivity features, ensuring that users can stay connected and enjoy fast data speeds, whether through mobile networks, Wi-Fi, or other wireless options.

Additional Features

The Huawei nova 9 comes with a range of standout features that make it an attractive choice for gadget enthusiasts. While the phone does not have water resistance or an official IP rating for dust resistance, it offers a sleek and stylish design. It also lacks wireless charging capabilities, including Qi wireless charging.

In terms of sensors, the nova 9 is equipped with an accelerometer, gyroscope, and other essential sensors. These sensors enhance the user experience by enabling advanced motion detection and environmental sensing. With these additional sensors, users can enjoy features like gesture control and improved accuracy in fitness tracking applications.

Overall, while the Huawei nova 9 may not have some of the latest features like water resistance or wireless charging, it does offer a solid set of sensors and features that make it a reliable and functional smartphone option.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Huawei nova 9 is a feature-packed smartphone that competes with other devices in the market. When comparing it to related gadgets, one notable competitor is the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite. Both phones offer similar specifications and features in terms of display, camera, and performance. However, there are some key differences that set them apart.

In terms of display, the Huawei nova 9 features a 6.57-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10 support. This makes for a vibrant and smooth viewing experience. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite sports a slightly larger 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While both displays are impressive, the nova 9 has the advantage of a higher refresh rate, offering a more fluid user experience.

When it comes to camera capabilities, the nova 9 boasts a quad-camera setup, including a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. This configuration allows for versatile photography options. In comparison, the Mi 11 Lite features a triple-camera setup with a 64MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5MP macro lens. While the Mi 11 Lite offers a higher resolution main camera, the nova 9's camera system is equipped with special features like gyro-EIS and 960fps slow-motion video, giving it an edge in terms of camera capabilities.

In terms of performance, both devices are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. The nova 9 features the Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset, while the Mi 11 Lite is equipped with the Snapdragon 732G. While the Snapdragon 778G offers a slightly higher clock speed, the performance difference between the two processors is minimal in day-to-day usage.

When considering pricing, the Huawei nova 9 is competitively priced at around €280.53, offering good value for money considering its specifications and features. In comparison, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite is priced similarly, making them both attractive options in their respective price ranges.

Overall, the Huawei nova 9 stands out with its high refresh rate display, versatile camera system, and competitive pricing. It positions itself as a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone market, offering comparable features to its competitors while maintaining a competitive edge in specific areas.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Huawei nova 9 offers a compelling package for smartphone enthusiasts. With its sleek design and vibrant OLED display, the phone delivers an immersive viewing experience. The powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor ensures smooth performance, while the ample RAM and storage options provide sufficient space for all your needs. The quad-camera setup captures stunning photos with impressive detail and the 32MP front camera takes excellent selfies. The fast charging capabilities of the 4300mAh battery ensure that you won't be left stranded without power. However, it is important to note that the absence of 5G connectivity might be a drawback for some users. Overall, the Huawei nova 9 is a solid choice for those seeking a feature-packed smartphone without breaking the bank.