I posted my First Impressions of the Huawei Y9 2019 last November. For a lot of people, those first impressions were already good enough as a review, because they ended up buying the phone last Christmas! In spite of this, I still like to post my full review that will be part of my basis for the DR’s Choice of the Year Awards 2018. So here it is – the Huawei Y9 2019 Review.
HUAWEI Y9 2019 REVIEW SPECS:
| OS: | Android 8.1 Oreo with EMUI 8.2 |
|---|---|
| Processor: | Huawei Kirin 710 2.2 GHz Octa-Core processor | MALI-G51 |
| Display: | 1080 x 2340 6.5" Full HD+ 19.5:9 |
| Wireless Connections: | LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Memory: | 64GB Internal Storage expandable with a Nano Memory Card up to 400GB, 4GB RAM |
| Connectors: | Micro USB 2.0 |
| Cameras: | 13 Megapixels f/1.8 + 2 Megapixels f/2.4 (Main) 16 Megapixels f/2.0 + 2 Megapixels f/2.4 |
| SIM Card Slots: | 2x Nano SIM Card |
| Battery: | 4,000 mAh |
| SRP: | P12,990 |
THE UNBOXING – HUAWEI Y9 2019 REVIEW
Inside the packaging of the Huawei Y9 2019 are the phone, USB cable, USB Charger Head, Earphones, SIM card ejector, Silicon Case, User Manual and warranty card.
THE LOOKS AND FEEL – HUAWEI Y9 2019 REVIEW
I liked the form factor of the Huawei Nova 3 series and the P20 series, which are somewhat identical with each other. I expected the Y9 2019 to have the same looks as them, but it turned out to be quite different. The curved back is made of plastic, making the phone lightweight and easy to hold. My issue with it though is it’s vulnerable to scratches. Even some light scratches can leave the phone a lil’ bit ugly to look at. I should have used the silicon case that came with the package.
On the right side of the phone are the volume and power buttons. On the other side is the SIM Card tray which can hold two Nano SIM Cards and a Micro SD card. Thank goodness it’s not hybrid.
At the bottom of the phone are the speaker grills, Micro USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The fingerprint scanner is found on the back.
It’s not as flashy like the Nova 3i or OPPO F9 but thanks to its glass-like cover, the Y9 2019 can look appealing to young people.
THE DISPLAY – HUAWEI Y9 2019 REVIEW
At 6.5″, the Huawei Y9 2019’s screen display is bigger than the Nova 3i. It uses an IPS display, has a Full HD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 19:5:9. Screen looks vibrant and colors look really good. There is a notch but it’s smaller than usual seen in other phones.
THE PERFORMANCE – HUAWEI Y9 2019 REVIEW
I haven’t reviewed a Huawei phone in a long time so I’m not that familiar with the newer Kirin processors. I’ve managed to do a few benchmarks on the phone to give me an idea how it compares with other phones’ scores. Here they are:
The scores garnered by the Y9 2019 are better than the phones that are priced higher in the midrange segment – the ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M2 and the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018. The results made me more interested to test the phone.
Generally speaking, operating the phone works well from phone calls, messaging, to jumping to various mobile apps. The Kirin processor coupled with the 4GB of RAM on board is very much capable of playing the latest games. PUBG Mobile was played with the highest allowed settings by the game at HD graphics and High Frame rate. Gameplay was smooth in all the games I’ve played. There’s a little bit of heat, but very much tolerable. All the other games like Ragnarok and Asphalt 9: Legends were playable as expected.
In terms of security, the Y9 2019 has a fingerprint scanner and face recognition. Both of these work almost flawlessly. The face recognition of the phone is the most consistent among all the mid-range phones I’ve tried.
THE CAMERA – HUAWEI Y9 2019 REVIEW
The Y9 2019 has four cameras. The rear has 13 Megapixels and 2 Megapixels while the front has 16 Megapixels and 2 Megapixels. As far as I know, this is the most affordable phone that has a quad-camera setup. The two other phones in the mid-range segment with quad-cameras are the ASUS Zenfone 5q and the Huawei Nova 3i. Both phones are now priced at P14,995. Huawei also added A.I. into the mix to help users take better photos based on their subjects.
Here are some sample photos:
Photos turned out really good when taken under daylight or whenever there’s enough light in the area. A.I. was used most of the time and it was effective in taking photos on most scenarios, especially at night. Unlike its more expensive contemporaries in the mid-range segment, the Y9 2019 has the ability to take night photos that appear to be sharp. Selfie photos taken were fine, but I prefer turning off beauty mode. Selfies without beauty mode look a lot better and more natural.
THE BATTERY LIFE – HUAWEI Y9 2019 REVIEW
Aside from the ASUS Zenfone Max Pros, the Y9 2019 is the other phone that is equipped with at least a 4,000 mAh battery capacity.
The Y9 2019 gives me an average of two days on a single charge which is very impressive. That involves a lot of YouTube streaming, around 2 hours of accumulated gaming, phone calls, and access of apps. I actually have more confidence on this phone’s battery life than the Zenfone Max Pro M2 which has a bigger 5,000 mAh capacity.
While I like the battery life, the supplied charger takes a lot of time to gas up the Y9 2019.
DR’S CONCLUSION
Honestly speaking, my expectations were a lot less with the Huawei Y9 2019 after getting a lot of good feedback about the Nova 3i. Boy, I was wrong. The phone’s above-average performance was truly admirable, and for a price of only P12,990 you can’t go wrong!
The Huawei Y9 2019 is given a DR’s Choice Award for its Performance and Overall Value. It is now a strong candidate for the Mid-Range Phone of the Year in the upcoming DR’s Choice of the Year Awards 2018.
PROS
- Large Screen
- Above Average performance
- Quad-Cameras take good photos
- Excellent battery life
- Affordable Price
CONS
- Surface can be easily scratched
- Charging takes too long with supplied charger.
