With today’s smartphones having more features and getting more powerful, Chinese handset manufacturer Huawei decided to take on the high-rollers by partnering up with German brand Leica to step up its mobile photography game.
Is Huawei‘s P9 the next choice after Apple and Samsung? We find out.
Table of Contents
Design and Construction
Huawei P9 (white)
Carrying over the P8’s all-metal build, the new P9 still gives a high-end feel with a solid block of aluminum as its chassis. Its display spans 5.2 inches across and has really thin strips for its bezels. From this angle, we also see its 8-megapixel front-facing camera together with its sensors.
Huawei P9 (black)
The Gorilla Glass display curves outward to meet the frame which is becoming the standard nowadays for the latest phones aiming for a premium look. The P9 also has the familiar curved edges that help gently plant the device in the center of the palm when you use it. The sides are outlined with chrome trimmings that sandwich the matte area of the sides.
If the previous model had the volume rocker and power button lined up along with the SIM trays, the P9 removed the SIM slots from the right side and left this area solely for the only physical buttons present.
If you’d look closely, the power button could be easily identified by simply feeling it with its textured surface.
The tray for SIM cards is now moved to the left side and pushed to the upper area. This specific model only has a single tray for a SIM but the units arriving for Asian markets will be dual-SIM variants.
We also see in the above photo the thinness of the device at just 6.95mm which is slimmer than both the iPhone 6S and Galaxy S7 at 7.1 and 7.9mm, respectively.
At the bottom, we see the connectivity ports comprising of the 3.5mm audio jack and the new USB Type-C in addition to the screws beside the main slot. The speaker grille is also situated here, visually balancing the things going on for this side.
The rear is where it gets interesting since the P9 carries dual rear shooters made by renowned camera brand Leica. Each camera has a 12-megapixel sensor and is made using 6-piece optics all working towards making the device produce life-like photos. The dual shooters are accompanied by two LED flashes and sensors that should help achieve better focus.
Other than the camera, the fingerprint sensor is what’s prominent here and the company says it has more layers of security for its users.
What’s interesting to note with the rear cameras is that they are made to be flat and not protruding. Unlike other flagships that have cameras bumping out of its back panel, the P9 could lay flat on its back when placed on a surface.
Overall, holding the P9 on the hand is light and could easily be grasped and operated using only one hand.
Display and Multimedia
Carrying a 5.2-inch Full HD display results to a healthy 423ppi count. Images are detailed with crisp edges and vibrant colors. The use of curved edges for its screen further makes the images seem to pop out and that is definitely good news in our book.
The speakers located at the bottom right of the device produce pretty loud audio and is generally clear. Although if you demand a full sound while watching movies, you’d still be better off with a pair of headphones.
Pretty fun to reread the comments to this
All your phones even if its samsung and iphone are also manufactured in china. Yes when it comes to low quality kilala ang china pero may mga totoo din naman na naglalabas at company na premium quality pinoproduce nila and hindi kasama ang huawei dun since international brand sila.. Oo pangatlo sila sa sales revenue globally syempre mas kilala sa pangalan ang samsung at iphone madami kasi Social climber kaya mas prefer nila yung kilala diba? And mas nauna nagexpand sa market kesa sa huawei pero when it comes sa technology at specs di nagpapatalo ang huawei.. Sila lang ang may processor na pinakamabilis ngayon na KIRIN processor na kaya imanage ang battery consumption ng phone kahit di nyo gamitin hindi siya nababawasan may sarili ding EMUI at sa camera panalo din.basta huawei is the best for me after all, i dont need a popular name in the market, i need a good specs and quality and that is for huawei. I am a brand promoter ng huawei madalang nag sasauli samen ng unit unlike sa samsung at iphone lol..
Shocks, Leica?!!!!!!!wow.Leica is a medical grade lense used for microsurgeries of the eye!!so meaning, maganda talaga quality ng image
Im using huawei P9 Ok sana pero nakakaStress ang bagal mag charge ng standard charger sobra nakakainis hays sana ginwa man lang nilang fast charger 2hrs charging time kahit naka off cp.
P9 free at globe plan 1,499. Worth more than what I was expecting.
Right.very worth it yung P9 sa plan 1499 ng globe
Dual Sim ba yung offered sa Plan ng Globe?:))
Yes
The P9 is only 23,990 on stores while the P9 Plus is priced at 29990. These prices are already good enough, and considering how polished EMUI 4.1 and battery life on these phones are so great, these devices are worth your second look
I am using a Huawei Honor 4c for more than a year now and I am very happy with it. Now, I want to upgrade to P9. Sayang, na-miss ko yung preselling promo sa MOA.
Leica only helped with the software part of the camera. But despite this, the Huawei P9 takes great photos and the phones performance is comparable to the flagship phones that are being released in our country’s market.
Though pricier than it should be, it’s still worthy to be part of the top phones for the year.
https://versus.com/en/huawei-p9-vs-samsung-galaxy-s7
Also do take note, that almost all of the phones we have are made or sourced from China. :P
well said. My first time to use a Huawei, the GR5 last January and it was awesome for a mid range phone. Upgraded later on to a P10 when I got my Globe line. It was amazing. Am a former Apple fan which later on shifted to Samsung. My eyes were opened that there are better brands as advised by a friend who’s a former Country Manager of a well known cellphone brand. Just last week, Huawei achieved another milestone surpassing sales of Apple and occupying the 2nd spot. Cheers to this brand who fearlessly reinvents.
It’s not made by Leica. They just certified the lens and helped with the software of the camera. The camera module was made by another company in China.
Makikisali lang sa gulo. Pareng wired_boy, nabasa mo ba pinost mo? Parang hindi e. Pangatlo sila sa listahan. Samsung at Apple pa din top 2. Kung baga sa elementary graduation, unang honorable mention. Di kinaya maging salutatorian at valedictorian. At ang bumenta sa kanila yung low cost devices. Tsaka, kasama ang mga benta sa China sa bilangan. Kaya malamang mabenta, China phone sold in China. Sus naman.
Ang pinag uusapan dito, e kung worth it bang bilin yang P9 na yan sa presyong S7 o 6s Plus. Ang sagot ko, hinde rin. Tapos may issue pa ngayon sa Leica lens kuno. Sinungaling daw sabi nila. Kung di pa nahuli, di pa magsasabi. Naka naman…
Dead on arrival yang telepono na yan pag labas. Unless ibenta nila ng mas mababa. Pag ginawa nila yan na mas mura, siguro presyong P8 ngayon na nasa 21k, sige papatulan ko. Gusto ko din naman sya e. Pero pag mas mataas pa dun, kanila na! Ipon na lang ako konti pa, bili na lang ako ng S7.
i am just making a point ANON that they are not an ‘unknown’ brand. Ever wondered why they outsold Xiaomi or Lenovo phones that sells also cheap mid-range phones? I don’t care if you think that they are selling overpriced phones, since they are ‘china’ phones and if you have issues with such chinese brands. It’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. Ok eh di bumili ka ng S7 di nmn kita pipigilan lol and you have a point there. What I am trying to say is why bad mouthed a brand if you haven’t experienced using them. I rest my case. Cheers!
And they just got busted! The lens are not made by Leica, it’s from another Chinese OEM. Hahaha! So we’re paying premium money just because it’s co-branded? Total BS. Inyo na.
@Wired Boy
Penetrated the US market? Oo andun sila, but are they selling enough to make money? I don’t think so. The Nexus 6P is undoubtedly a great phone, pero bumenta ba? Nakita ko nga nakasale na sa Google Play Store and locally on sale na din sa MemoExpress. Siguro di din bumenta.
Sony user ako, pero I don’t have issues with it. So I guess, di totoo yang sinasabi mo.
Kung maka Huawei ka, e di good for you. Pero tanong ko, ano ba phone mo now?
http://www.idc.com/prodserv/smartphone-market-share.jsp
Pakitingnan kung nasaan silang spot. THANK YOU. Ang sinasabi ko lang why bust brand if you haven’t experienced their phones and they are fairly new sa market. I don’t own a Huawei phone but two of my friends has the Nexus 6P and they’re very satisfied. I said a bad thing about sa sony kasi i have a friend with a z4, na nagkaroon ng moisture or water sa loob nung camera lens, pinaayos niya pa. I own a Note 4 btw. And Huawei phones are good contenders for replacement because of the camera, if only they have replaceable batts but still. Cheers!
I agree with Mark Lamangan. Mas premium tlga datingan ng Huawei . and china phone? I think you guys forgot where your iPhones and Samsungs are made (maybe not all, but halos lahat ng releases nila made in China)
Yey for Huawei! I’m so looking forward to it’s PH release.
In your dream Mark Lamangan this phone is nothing compare to samsung high end phone like my s6 Edge Plus..I’ve tried this china phone in Huawei store and very china quality means low quality waste of money..
so you mean low quality din ang One Plus phones, Xiaomi, Lenovo phones and laptops…..hmmm…K!
“High-end”??? THE EXPLODES with NORMAL use? LOL! STICK WITH YOUR SAMSUCK… Your IGNORANCE IS SHOWING ARROGANT FANBOY…
@Mark Lamangan
No I haven’t and I have no intention, even if Leica co-brands this Huawei phone. I own a Leica cam so yun na lang gagamitin ko for taking photos.
The Nexus 6P barely made a dent in the smartphone market. The Mate 8? I don’t know even a single person who uses it. So no, based on that alone, I’m not willing to part ways with my 34k for a brand that’s basically an unknown and untested brand in the PH market.
Lastly, no, I won’t be thanking you later. I’m very happy with my Sony and LG.
Sony phones has a lot of issues, LG is good but G5 is ugly. If they are ‘unknown’ how can they have penetrated US and Europe market? And also supported by Google to take the Nexus 6P, touted as the best ever Nexus phone? Before you comment such ignorance, get your facts straight first. I am allergic with close minded pricks. I don’t support China but quality wise they make one of the best.
Nakakainlove ung shot sa dulo, great review! :)
Expensive, yes. But Leica is no joke.
34k? For a Chinese phone?! Nah, I’ll stick to Sony, Apple, LG or Samsung. Brands that have been here longer and has a more established after sales support system.
Nakagamit ka na ba ng Huawei device? Honestly mas premium ang datingan nila kesa sa mga Samsung eh. Imba din ang warranty nila and after sales.
May nabasa ako 1 week lang ayos agad or if not palit agad lalo na kung high-end phone mo dahil sa warranty. Kung di mo alam even mga analyst sa US is calling Huawei the Samsung killer. Just take a look at Nexus 6P and Mate 8.
Thank me later.
Dude, Huawei is BIGGER than LG… So yeah… Do some research first before posting up biased comments… Your ignorance is showing…
Nakakatawa tong joke na to.wahahaha!
It is the 3rd when it comes to sales all over the world, and also a very good alternative to Samsung and Apple
For Lg samsung and Huawei I go with huawei..they gave me gift before and it is huawei G610 i dropped it more than 100 times but its screen havent change even its performance even up to now my nephew still using it..after getting my first salary i bought samsung I doesnt even dropped it..I accidentally stepped on it then the screen now is static there is a lines everytime I try to open the phone..when it comes to durability I go for Huawei..? but now I am using iphone..for a change and I love it..just sharing my experience..
Cheaper to buy it in China.Only about 28k for the 64GB Pro Plus.
Performance is between a midrange and a highend? Price is highend. For 34k+, its a NO.
maybe because of Leica :D