Huawei nova 9 review
The Huawei Nova 9 boasts a premium design with a glossy glass back in two color options: Story Blue or Black. The phone has a unique look, but its least flattering feature is the glossy plastic frame that's prone to fingerprints. Weighing just 175 grams, it's one of the lightest phones at this size. The 6.5-inch OLED panel features a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10 support, and a Full HD resolution. It delivers excellent brightness levels, but its battery life is only average with 96 hours in our test. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 778G chipset and 8GB of RAM, which provides smooth performance for everyday use. However, it lags behind competitors that feature more powerful chipsets like the Snapdragon 888 or 870. The international version of the Nova 9 runs on EMUI 12, based on Android 11, but without Google Mobile Services. This means you won't have access to popular apps like YouTube, Google Maps, and Chrome. The quad-camera setup features a 50MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro cam. While daylight photos are decent, they lack detail and have a slight magenta tinge. The ultrawide camera produces soft images with a narrow dynamic range. Overall, the Huawei Nova 9 is a stylish phone with impressive display quality, but its mediocre performance and average battery life hold it back from being a top contender in its class. While it may be worth considering when prices drop, there are better options available at this price point that offer more powerful chipsets, better cameras, and access to Google Mobile Services.
Build Quality and Design
The Huawei Nova 9 boasts a premium feel and unique looks, particularly with its glass back. The phone's design is impressive, with the frosted finish providing a grippy texture that resists fingerprints. However, the glossy plastic frame is somewhat lacking, as it can become a fingerprint magnet. Despite this, the overall build quality feels great in the hand, especially considering its lightweight nature at 175 grams. The curved screen and aggressive design elements make for a visually striking phone, but may not appeal to everyone's taste. The waterfall-like curves on both the front and back add an extra layer of visual interest, although some users might find them polarizing. Unfortunately, the Nova 9 lacks ingress protection (IP rating) and Gorilla Glass, which would have made it even more durable. In terms of design choices, Huawei has opted for a more modern look that should appeal to younger generations. The availability of the phone in two colors - Story Blue and Black - provides some variety for those who want to personalize their device. Overall, while there are some minor drawbacks, the Nova 9's design is undoubtedly one of its strongest features. In an era where mid-range phones are often competing on price alone, Huawei's decision to focus on aesthetics might pay off. The Nova 9's sleek design and premium feel make it stand out in a crowded market, even if other aspects like performance and camera capabilities might not be as competitive. For those who value visual appeal, the Nova 9 is certainly worth considering, especially at its price point.
Battery Life
In our battery life test, the Huawei Nova 9 scored an average of 96 hours, which is on par with its competitors in the mid-range market. However, considering the phone's less power-hungry Snapdragon 778G chipset, we would have expected a slightly better endurance, perhaps around 117 hours like some other devices in this category. While the Nova 9's battery life is adequate for everyday use and moderate gaming, it doesn't quite stand out from the crowd. The phone's ability to last a full day without needing a recharge will likely suffice for most users, but those who need more juice or have heavy usage habits might find themselves needing to top up their battery before nightfall. It's worth noting that the Nova 9 does support fast charging, which is a nice feature to have. However, when compared to other devices in its price range, the Nova 9's battery life feels somewhat average rather than exceptional. Overall, while the Nova 9's battery life won't impress you with its performance, it will get the job done for most users. If you're looking for a phone with standout battery life, you might want to consider other options in this price range.
Display
The Huawei Nova 9 boasts a stunning 6.5-inch OLED panel with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and HDR10 support. The display is truly one of its highlights, offering vibrant colors and crisp details that make it a joy to use. In terms of brightness, the Nova 9 delivers an impressive 433 nits in manual mode and a maximum of 608 nits in auto. This means that you'll have no issues viewing content on sunny days or in well-lit environments. The display is also quite responsive, with a high refresh rate that provides a seamless viewing experience. One of the standout features of the Nova 9's display is its ability to adapt to different usage scenarios. In dynamic mode, the screen automatically adjusts its refresh rate and brightness to optimize performance. This means that you can enjoy smooth video playback and fast responsiveness without sacrificing battery life. In standard mode, the screen stays at a fixed 60Hz refresh rate, which is perfect for everyday tasks such as browsing and social media usage. The display also limits its refresh rate to 60Hz when watching full-screen videos, which helps conserve battery life. The Nova 9's display is a significant upgrade over previous Huawei models, offering improved brightness, color accuracy, and responsiveness. While it may not be the most powerful or feature-rich display on the market, it is certainly one of the best in its class. Overall, the Huawei Nova 9's display is a major selling point that makes this device stand out from the competition. With its vibrant colors, crisp details, and adaptive refresh rate, it's an ideal choice for anyone looking for a top-notch viewing experience on their smartphone.
Camera
The Huawei Nova 9's camera system is a mixed bag, with some decent results but also some notable limitations. The phone features four cameras: a 50-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro cam. In good lighting conditions, the Nova 9's photos are sharp, clean of noise, and with good dynamic range. Colors are pleasant but perhaps slightly saturated. However, there is a noticeable magenta tint on all shots, which is a bit disappointing. When zoomed in two times, shots look like they've been cropped and upscaled from regular photos – okay but not stellar. The ultrawide camera performs similarly to the competition, with soft images lacking detail and a narrower dynamic range than the main camera. Barrel distortion is well-controlled, though. At night, there's some resolved detail in shadows, but highlights are nicely contained. Color temperature and contrast are on point, and colors are lively. However, shots are inconsistent, and some come out rather soft as if out of focus. The lack of a significant difference between regular photo mode and night mode is also worth noting. The ultrawide camera doesn't have a night mode option, which might be debatable given its mediocre performance in low light. Portraits look sharp with natural colors, wide dynamic range, and plenty of fine detail. However, edge detection can be rough, and the faux bokeh effect is too strong for some tastes. Selfies taken with the 32-megapixel front camera are a highlight, with plenty of fine detail, a wide dynamic range, and natural colors. The subject's face is always well-exposed. Video recording up to 4k at 30 fps with both main and ultrawide cameras is possible, but unfortunately, footage often lacks sharpness. Stabilization is impressive, however, smoothing out vibrations during movement. Overall, the Nova 9's camera system has some nice moments but also falls short of expectations in key areas. While it may not be a major letdown for casual users, enthusiasts will likely find themselves wanting more.
Price and Value
The Huawei Nova 9 is a mid-range phone that aims to stand out in a crowded market with its flashy design and features. While it looks premium and has a great display, the phone's performance is somewhat disappointing. The Nova 9 uses the Snapdragon 778G 4G chip, which is less powerful than some of its competitors. Although it can handle everyday tasks and some gaming, it lags behind in terms of overall performance. This may be a concern for those who want a more powerful mid-range phone. In terms of price and value, the Nova 9 is an average performer. It retails at a similar price to other mid-range phones with better specs. Considering its lower-performing chipset and lack of 5G support, it's hard to justify paying a premium for this device. The camera setup on the Nova 9 is decent but not impressive. The photos taken during the day are okay, but they lack some details and have a slight magenta tint. The ultrawide camera takes soft images with a narrow dynamic range. Nighttime photography is better, but inconsistent, and the ultra-wide camera lacks a night mode option. Overall, while the Nova 9 has some great features like its display and speedy charging, it falls short in terms of performance and value. Its lower specs and lack of 5G support make it hard to recommend as a top choice for mid-range buyers. The Huawei Nova 9's price point is around the same as other phones with better specs, making it feel overpriced considering its shortcomings. If you're looking for a more powerful mid-range phone or one with 5G support, there are better options available in this price range.
Performance
The Huawei Nova 9's performance is where the phone falls slightly short of its competitors. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G chip, it performs adequately but doesn't quite meet expectations. The lack of a 5G option might not be a significant drawback, given the current limited availability of 5G networks. However, the choice of chipset does put the Nova 9 at a disadvantage compared to its rivals. Many competitors boast more powerful processors such as the Snapdragon 888 or 870 chipsets. This difference becomes apparent in demanding tasks and gaming, where the Nova 9 shows slight lag and reduced performance. While it still manages to deliver satisfactory results for everyday use, the margin of superiority is not substantial enough to set it apart from its peers. Furthermore, the phone's EMUI 12 operating system, based on Android 11, might raise some concerns among users accustomed to Google Mobile Services. The app catalog has grown, but popular apps like YouTube and Google Maps are still inaccessible due to Huawei's licensing agreements. This limitation may require users to adapt to alternative apps or services. In terms of overall performance, the Nova 9 is an acceptable choice for those seeking a reliable device with solid battery life. However, potential buyers should consider other mid-range options that offer more powerful processors and improved app compatibility. The phone's respectable specs and features, such as its OLED display, may not be enough to make up for its performance shortcomings. Ultimately, the Nova 9's performance is average at best, failing to stand out in a crowded market. Its slightly underwhelming capabilities might make it less appealing to those seeking a top-tier experience. Nevertheless, it remains a viable option for users who value aesthetics and decent battery life over pure performance.