Honor 9 Lite Review: Another Affordable Smartphone To Perfectly End The Year

If we talk about smartphone manufacturers that have literally created a lot of buzz around their new launches, then Huawei’s sub-brand Honor has to be right there at the top. They started with Honor 6X which competed with the likes of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 and Moto G5 followed by the Honor 8 Pro which went head-to-head with OnePlus 5. Then came the Honor 9i which completely changed the face of mid-budget competition with its four cameras.

The one thing that Huawei has mastered throughout this year is, offering a VFM tag with a formidable package. One such smartphone is the Honor 9 Lite, which the Chinese smartphone maker has just unveiled.

From edge-to-edge display to dual cameras both at the front an rear, from an Android Oreo to a sleek design, Honor 9 Lite comes with everything one can expect from a mid-ranger. However, we have learned something this year as well which has made us believe that there is nothing like perfection and Honor 9 Lite is no exception.

It too has its drawbacks but can the latest addition to Honor’s lineup compete with the likes of Xiaomi Mi A1, Moto G5S Plus, and LG Q6? Let’s see.

Honor 9 Lite Specifications

• 5.65-inch (2160 x 1080) Full HD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio, 2.5D curved glass, 75.5% screen-to-body ratio and 428 ppi.

• 1.7GHz Octa-Core Kirin 659 processor coupled with Mali T830-MP2 GPU

• 3GB RAM/32GB storage, 4GB RAM with 32GB and 64GB storage options, expandable up to 256GB via microSD

• EMUI 8.0 Hybrid based Android 8.0 (Oreo)

• Fingerprint sensor at the rear panel and Dual SIM (nano+nano/microSD)

• 13MP+2MP (monochrome + RGB) rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, PDAF and LED flash.

• 13MP+2MP (monochrome + RGB) dual front camera with PDAF and f/2.0 aperture.

• 3000mAh battery with fast charging

• Dimensions: 151× 71.9 × 7.6mm and Weight: 149g

• 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth v4.2, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS / GLONASS, 3.5 mm audio jack, Micro USB support and NFC.

Honor 9 Lite Price And Availability

While the smartphone will be available in Black, Grey, and Blue color options, it is priced at 1199 yuan (Rs. 11,670 approx.) for the 3GB/32GB version, 1499 yuan (Rs. 14,590 approx.) for the 4GB/32GB version and 1799 yuan (Rs. 17,500 approx.) for the 4GB/64GB version. It is already available for pre-order in China and goes on sale from 26th December.

As for its availability in India, we expect the device to be launched soon.

Honor 9 Lite Review

What we like about Honor 9 Lite

• The 5.65-inch edge to edge display offers great viewing angles as well as color production, and visibility under direct sunlight is also up to the mark for multimedia consumption.

• The metallic back adds to the premium feel and oozes confidence.

• It comes with Android Oreo out of the box.

• The dual cameras on both sides of the phone are capable of capturing depth effect as well as bokeh shots.

• The camera units excel under both outdoor as well as indoor conditions and offer good detailing.

• Octa-Core Kirin 659 chipset, ample of RAM and a hardcore GPU, makes up for a great performance oriented package for heavy gaming and multitasking.

• The 3000mAh battery offers enough juice for a full day’s worth of mixed usage.

What we didn’t like about Honor 9 Lite

• No optical image optimisation.

• It comes with Micro USB rather than the newer USB Type-C.

• Pictures come out a little grainy in low lighting conditions.

Conclusion

Recommending the Honor 9 Lite is a no-brainer as it offers anything that one can expect from a smartphone at this price range. Moreover, when we talk about the overall package, from camera and performance capabilities to a premium design, from a clean user interface to a great display for multimedia consumption, Honor 9 Lite has got is all.