The Huawei Y9 is my favorite model among the phone brand’s Y-series. I reviewed the Huawei Y9 2019 and the Y9 2019 Prime last year and considered them as value-for-money alternatives to high-end models and even other mid-range phones. Today, we review the Huawei Y9s which was quietly released last January. Let’s find out what this phone can offer and if it’s still a good buy.
OS: | Android 9 Pie with EMUI 9.1.0 |
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Processor: | Huawei Kirin 710F 2.2 GHz Octa-Core processor | MALI-G51 |
Display: | 1080 x 2340 6.59" Full HD+ 19.5:9 |
Wireless Connections: | LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, A-GPS, GLONASS |
Memory: | 128GB Internal Storage expandable with a MicroSD Card up to 512GB, 6GB RAM |
Connectors: | Type-C USB |
Cameras: | 48 Megapixels f/1.8 + 8 Megapixels ultra-wide angle f/2.4 + 2 Megapixels depth f/2.4 (Main) 16 Megapixels f/2.2 (Front) |
SIM Card Slots: | 2x Nano SIM Card |
Battery: | 4,000 mAh |
SRP: | P12,990 |
THE UNBOXING: HUAWEI Y9S REVIEW
Unboxing the Y9s packaging reveals the phone, Type-C USB Cable, USB Charger, earphones, Silicon Case, SIM Card Ejector, User Manuals and other pamphlets. Nothing much to see in this area.
THE LOOKS AND FEEL: HUAWEI Y9S REVIEW
The colors of the Y9 2019 and Y9 Prime 2019 weren’t flashy and attractive. I initially found their colors cool to the eyes, but after a while I already found them dull. The Y9s on the other hand has this new color called Breathing Crystal, which is very refreshing to look at. What’s unique about it is its color changes with light, replicating the beauty of Salt Flats and the sky on the Y9s. It is also covered with a 21-layer glass process to create a gorgeous texture. Definitely looks better than the previous Y9s, though it also comes in Midnight Black which looks boring.
Sandwiched between the display and back glass panel is an aluminum frame. Both sides of the back panel are curved towards the frame making it comfy to hold. Found on the right side of the phone are the volume controls and power button which also doubles as a fingerprint scanner.
Underneath are the 3.5mm headphone jack, Type-C USB port and speaker grille.
On top are the SIM Card/MicroSD Card tray and the pop-up front camera.
Holding the phone feels a bit heavier at 206 grams than the Y9 2019 and Y9 Prime 2019. It might be caused by the glass layers on the Y9s but I don’t mind at all. Overall, I found its looks and feel to be premium which is why I love showing it off to everyone.
THE DISPLAY: HUAWEI Y9S REVIEW
Another feature I really like about the Y9s is its Ultra FullView Display, which measures 6.59-inches with Full HD+ resolution. Unlike the Y9 2019, the Y9s doesn’t have an annoying notch and with the aspect ratio of 19:5:9, it gets a high screen-to-body ratio of 91%. I watch a lot of YouTube and Netflix videos on the phone and having a borderless display is a lot more pleasurable since I’m able to utilize the whole screen.
THE PERFORMANCE: HUAWEI Y9S REVIEW
No changes were made with the processor of the Y9s. Just like the Y9 Prime 2019, it is still powered by a Kirin 710F. Not complaining here since the processor does a good job with the phone’s day-to-day operations with various apps. Huawei also applied the same 128GB storage of the Y9 Prime 2019 but increased its RAM to 6GB. Having this amount of memory made me very comfortable in leaving apps open and the ability to multi-task from one app to another.
When it comes to gaming, the Y9s is capable of playing the latest AAA mobile games. NBA2K20 with all the highest settings is very playable although it stutters once in a while. I would still recommend to adjust the settings to medium to avoid stuttering during the game.
For Call of Duty Mobile, Graphic Quality only has the LOW option but I was able to adjust the Frame Rate to MEDIUM. Gameplay was smooth even after playing a few matches.
Asphalt 9: Legends with Video Settings set to High produced smooth gameplay. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang can be played with High Frame Rate as well.
While the Mate 30 series and the new Nova 7i don’t have Google Play anymore, the Y9s still has this service and would be beneficial for those who are used to their usual Google apps. It also has the Huawei App Gallery if you want to try other apps outside Google Play.
THE CAMERAS: HUAWEI Y9S REVIEW
One of the Y9s’ triple Cameras of the Y9s gets an upgrade to 48 Megapixels which allows users to enhance their photos in low-light conditions. Retained in the cameras are the 8 Megapixel wide-angle lens capable of taking 120 degrees and a 2 Megapixel depth sensor. Here are our sample photos taken with the cameras:
Photos taken in daylight look superb and colors look sharp, though there were a few times that they looked washed out. Compared to the Y9 2019 and Y9 Prime 2019, I can say I have more confidence taking photos with the Y9s.
The Y9s has a wide-angle lens that’s useful for taking landscape photos as well as group photos. However, this lens is not available for night mode, which I think is a bummer.
Night Mode OFF Night Mode ON Night Mode OFF Night Mode ON Night Mode OFF Night Mode ON
The big improvement I noticed with the Y9s is its Night Mode. It enhances all my low light photos making them crisp with colors popping out. Your hands need to be steady since it takes three seconds to take a night photo.
For selfie photos, a 16 Megapixel camera pops-up when activated. Most of the photos I took with this camera looked washed out. I had to turn off AI mode just to make my photo look natural.
THE BATTERY LIFE – HUAWEI Y9S REVIEW
The 4,000 mAh battery capacity of the Y9s is sufficient for it to operate for a day. I usually unplug at 5am then would do these on the phone: four hours of YouTube/Netflix, 1 hour of mobile games, and the rest of the day making phone calls, messaging, browsing and social media browsing. By 9pm I still have 30% left.
DR’S CONCLUSION
It’s not a perfect phone, but I could use the Huawei Y9s as my main phone even without the other flagship features. It recently received a price cut, so for a phone with 6.59″ screen, 128GB/6GB storage and memory, decent cameras and long battery life, it’s a STEAL for P12,990!
PROS:
- Premium Look with Glass Breathing Crystal Back Panel
- Tried and Tested Processor for Apps and Games
- Cameras take Good Photos under Daylight, Night Photos with Night Mode
- Long Battery Life
CONS:
- Sometimes pictures taken by the rear and front cameras looks washed out
- Processor is tried-and-tested, but can’t Huawei supply anything new?