Huawei Nova 9M.SR

Analysis and testing

Huawei Nova 9 tramples down on photography, design and mobile charging, where the brand's effort to compensate for Google's lack with apps and features is noticeable.

Huawei Nova 9 hit stores in Spain in October from the middle-shelf. Its main plant is photography, in addition to ultra-fast charging, high-quality design and increasingly complete software. The brand is betting firmly to make up for the gap left by Google and other companies in their products after a veto imposed by the United States.

Since the US government has banned companies in this country from cooperating with Huawei, the Chinese manufacturer has worked to create its own app store and developed an ecosystem that connects all its devices. This mobile phone aims to demonstrate the progress made by the brand to be as independent as possible.

At EL ESPAÑOL-Omicrono, we tested the Huawei Nova 9 for several weeks to see if the manufacturer is once again closer to being a tough competitor in the market or is still hampered by the lack of a Google app. With a price of 449 euros, the Nova 9 enters the most competitive price range on the market. this market.

Premium design

Huawei has been proving for years that it knows how to design a phone with style, although some aspects of the Huawei Nova 9 depend on each's taste. The hand-held terminal is light (175 g) and thin only 7.77 mm, but with a good screen of 6.57 inch diagonal.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

The first thing that stands out is the 6.57-inch screen with infinity, framed by bright edges, and the sides overflow into the curved end, which creates a feeling of continuity with the back of the mobile phone. Not everyone will like this type of screen with curved edges. because it causes accidental touches.

By attaching the plastic sleeve that is in the box, you avoid rubbing the edge of the screen. The writing on the panel is comfortable and smooth, although it is true that when using a flat screen phone you need an adaptation period. Also at the edges the brightness of the image is lower and sensitivity in the corners slightly lost.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

Nevertheless, the OLED panel has everything it takes to offer high-quality images with Full HD + resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels) and vivid colors. It has a refresh rate of 120 Hz and 300 Hz touch sampling for those looking for a smooth experience, such as before the video game.The system can adjust the frequency in the range from 120 to 60 Hz depending on the use of the phone, so as not to drain the battery in a short time, similar to the automatic brightness adjustment, which is also efficient when needed.

The display is completed by a selfie camera with perforation built into the panel, although the frame surrounding it is so thick that it does not remain as unnoticed as it should. This camera is responsible for providing the image so that the face recognition software allows you to unlock the phone, although the fingerprint reader under the screen is much faster and more reliable.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

On the right are the power and volume buttons, while on the bottom is a USB-C port for charging the terminal, a slot for installing two SIM cards and a loudspeaker. It does not offer a dual speaker, although the volume achieved is good and without distortion, there is no headphone jack on the cable or not in the box, as as indicated later, Huawei is committed to facilitating wireless connection to its own headphones.

On the back, the other heroes of this phone, its cameras, are grouped vertically. Two orbs collect the main camera and the other three secondary plus a flash, so they look like two large lenses instead of four. We'll talk about the quality of this equipment later.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

The plastic housing protects against possible impacts on the cameras, which rise a few millimeters above the housing, also made of plastic, which seems to be a more exclusive material than it really is. Huawei has opted for a smooth and metallic structure that can serve as a mirror. The review is elegant and subdued in black, although it attracts all instantly recognizable fingerprints and dust spots.

Software without Google

The first impression of the Huawei Nova 9 is very positive, but when it is used as the main mobile phone on a daily basis, it is inevitable to find its Achilles' heel. A bureaucratic wall that greatly complicates the use of these mobile phones in Europe and other countries.

Since the United States banned its companies such as Google and Qualcomm from doing business with Huawei, their mobile phones have lost the ability to have Google Play, an app store from which you can download WhatsApp, Instagram, and many other popular apps in the West.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

As compensation, Huawei has created its own AppGallery store and Petal Search, each time more complete, but apps like Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, and even Spotify are not available. Instead, you need to download available APKs, which are unofficial versions that can cause safety and performance problems.

Over time, the App Gallery has been enriched with a larger offer, with Telegram and major banks among the best-known options, so with a little patience and skill, using Huawei phones becomes less of a trick.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

The manufacturer has also created many functional applications for its EMUI 12 operating system (based on Android), such as a clock, calendar, calculator, recorder, photo gallery, e-mail service where the account can be used. Gmail and receive emails, as well as a suggestion service, so you won't miss any mobile tool, everything you need to use your phone comfortably.

The operating system also suggests other applications for playing video games, checking messages, checking bank accounts, or organizing documents, but these are not preinstalled and can be easily removed if you want to clean the screen. Huawei wants users to easily see the potential of their mobile phones. Obviously, there is no drawer for apps, so it's imperative to stay organized if you don't want to get messed up with icons everywhere.

A hassle-free experience

At the same time as developing its app store and improving its operating system, Huawei has worked to create a strong link between all devices in its catalog, similar to what other companies such as Apple are already offering.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

Having a Huawei mobile phone and a computer ensures that communication between the two products will be easier and faster than other brands. Just hold the phone close to the Huawei laptop's trackpad and the phone connects to the computer in seconds, allowing you to control the entire operating system from the computer mouse: transfer photos with each other, answer calls, check messages and more.

This is one of the main advantages that Huawei now has and which makes this mobile an interesting option for those who have other products of the brand in their possession. The connection is not always smooth, but it is a very useful tool to increase productivity during work.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

Inside the terminal, the Snapdragon 778G processor supports the weight of the cameras and the fast screen. Both the EMUI 12 chip and this chip are responsible for the smoothness of the Nova 9. It is a powerful processor, the strength of which is noticeable in times of maximum activity, but lacks 5G connectivity because it is another American veto. Offers 8GB RAM and 128GB storage that is not expandable.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

All the hardware is backed up by a 4300mAh battery to keep the phone active all day long and withstand the 120Hz frequency of the screen and its high brightness. These features significantly shorten the battery life, although they can be easily adjusted and when the battery runs out with the help of comes a 66W charger. In a few minutes a Huawei quick charge brings the terminal back to 100% of the battery.

Half an hour is enough to fill it with energy and continue using Nova 9. And so that this quality is not lost, the charger and the cable reflect an orange tone inside the USB-C connector, so you always know that they are correct and that the load is working at full capacity .

Bright photo

Huawei Nova 9 has a 50-megapixel ultra-vision camera, then an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2-megapixel depth camera. Finally, Huawei has sacrificed a fourth macro camera to capture fine details from a distance of 4 cm. The main camera integrates a 1/1 sensor, 56 inch and a RYYB filter, which according to the brand collects 40% more light than RGGB sensors.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

Using the full 50 megapixels takes a bit of digging in the app to find the feature. It's not very accessible, but like a macro camera or slow motion recording, this tool doesn't need to be used all the time. 50 megapixels takes a few seconds to do photo, so it is not suitable for shooting moving scenes.

The camera kit takes good photos with only the most basic functions. Daytime photos are bright and the artificial intelligence filter adjusts the highlights and shadows as well as corrects the colors without any artificial effect. At night, the night mode evens out street lighting and brightens the darkest scenes, although some forced or shaky passages are noticed when it takes a few seconds to capture all the shots which are then processed by the software.

The front camera is 32 megapixels and has the same weight as the main camera on the back. Both the front and rear record 4K and 30ps videos, Huawei knows that landscape orientation videos are now as important as the selfies you can transfer to social networks.

To be in line with the internet fashion, you can switch from the rear camera to the front camera without stopping recording, even both can be activated at the same time. Huawei has also developed the Petal Clip app to edit recordings.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

While these features are not intended for all users, the editing app is very complete and you will learn to use it quickly, you can use it to cut out or make some tweaks before sharing your moments with your family. In addition, the front camera photos get a good light and very much. balanced colors.

I buy it?

When it comes to judging whether it is worth buying this phone or not, one more question needs to be added to the usual questions. In addition to writing down how much money you are able to spend on the purchase and what the most needed functions are on your mobile phone, it is important to analyze what applications and tools you will use.

If you look into Huawei's AppGallery you'll find most of the apps available, and if you want to get your hands on others with unofficial versions that may not be very secure then the Huawei Nova 9 is a phone to consider. Huawei ecosystem and you will be able to control them from your phone or share documents quickly.

Huawei Nova 9M.SR

The 449 euros that the Huawei Nova 9 costs are balanced by powerful hardware adapted to the circumstances, interesting photographic hardware and a sleek design that feels more premium than it really is. The company gives its best in its operating system to offer the most complete software possible and have many features and applications that users are looking for.

Granted, it doesn't have 5G connectivity and doesn't offer stereo sound or a headphone jack, but it's hard to think that if it weren't for that Achilles' heel, the Nova 9 would be one of the most recommended phones in this price range, hence the first thing prospects should ask themselves. buyers is what they are aiming for. use it for.