Huawei

Huawei P9 Lite: Pros and Cons

Android OS v6.0 (Marshmallow)
HiSilicon Kirin 650
Mali-T830 MP2
2 GB / 16 GB
5.2 inch (1080 x 1920 px)
13 MP, 4160 x 3120 px, autofocus

Huawei announced the launch of the P9 Lite smartphone in 2016. The manufacturer is offering this smartphone with 5.2 inch IPS display, HiSilicon Kirin 650 SoC, and 2 GB of RAM. It comes with Android OS v6.0 (Marshmallow) out of the box, and a Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable battery. This phone features a high resolution 1080 x 1920 px IPS display. The size of screen is 5.2 inch. This smartphone has a single camera on the back (13 MP, 4160 x 3120 px, autofocus). Is this phone worth its price? Hopefully, it will become clear by the end of my review.

Table of Contents

This article shares our personal experiences and thoughts about using the Huawei P9 Lite smartphone. We hope to offer helpful insights to others interested in this device. The specifications below are from the official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you've seen any mistakes or things missing in these specifications, please let us know.

Huawei P9 Lite / 1

Huawei P9 Lite specifications

BrandHuawei
NameP9 Lite
ModelVNS-L21
Release date2016

Weight, dimensions, colors

Weight5.19 oz
Dimensions5.78 x 2.86 x 0.3 inch
Colorsblack, gold, white
SIM typeNano SIM

The weight of Huawei P9 Lite is about 5.19 oz with battery. This is average for smartphones of the same size. Smartphones use a Nano SIM as a small chipcard for a subscriber identity module (SIM).

Huawei P9 Lite / 1

System, chipset, performance

OS versionAndroid OS v6.0 (Marshmallow)
SoCHiSilicon Kirin 650
CPUOcta-core, Quad-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A72, Quad-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53
GPUMali-T830 MP2

The Huawei P9 Lite comes with Android OS v6.0 (Marshmallow) out of the box. The Android operating system uses the Linux kernel as its foundation. It includes a user interface, middleware, and many pre-installed applications. It's a powerful HiSilicon Kirin 650 octa-core processor. It can handle complex tasks and run many applications. Many mobile devices use ARM Mali GPUs. They are well known for their good performance and power efficiency.

Huawei P9 Lite / 2

Display type, size, resolution

Display typeIPS
Screen size5.2 inch
Resolution1080 x 1920 px
Multitouch supportyes

The 5.2 inch IPS display has better features. These include optimal viewing angles, color accuracy, and unchanging color reproduction. The 5.2 inch display make this smartphone pocket-friendly. The size of the screen is measured diagonally, from corner to corner.

Huawei P9 Lite / 3

Memory, storage

RAM2 GB
Internal storage16 GB
Memory card slotmicroSD

The smartphone has 2 GB of RAM. It can run many apps at once without much lag or slowness. The needed RAM amount for good performance depends on factors. These include the OS, the apps, and the services you use. Most people think a smartphone needs at least 32 GB of storage. The P9 Lite has only 16 GB. You can expand the internal storage (16 GB) with a compatible microSD card.

Cameras, flash

Main camera13 MP, 4160 x 3120 px, autofocus
FlashDual LED
Selfie camera8 MP

The single camera can be enough for many smartphone users. It depends on their photography needs and preferences. The P9 Lite comes with a basic camera setup and lacks any advanced features.

Connectivity, network, wireless

GSM 2G bands850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Network coverage2G / 3G / 4G
Wi-FiWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetoothv4.1, A2DP
GPSA-GPS, GLONASS
NFCyes
FM radioyes
USBmicroUSB 2.0
Headphone3.5 mm jack

Worldwide, people use 4G networks. They have become the standard for mobile networks in many countries. This phone like all modern smartphones, is capable of connecting to Wi-Fi networks. The P9 Lite smartphone is capable of connecting to Bluetooth devices. This phone has a built-in GPS. The P9 Lite has a built-in NFC chip, which allows it to support various NFC applications and services. The 3.5 mm headphone jack allows you to connect wired headphones or earphones to the device.

Battery type, capacity, charger

TypeLi-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable

The Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable battery gives the smartphone a good battery backup. The lithium polymer (Li-Po) battery is a light-weight, rechargeable battery. The battery of P9 Lite isn't removable without voiding the warranty.

Features, sensors, specials

Sensorsaccelerometer, compass, fingerprint, hall, light, proximity
SpecialsDual SIM

Today, smartphones come with many sensors. They help make the user experience better. The P9 Lite smartphone has an accelerometer. The P9 Lite phone has a fingerprint scanner. The light sensor detects the level of light in the environment. Dual SIM is great for businesses. They want to give staff a device with separate numbers and bills for personal and business use.

Verdict, pros and cons

Every phone has its strengths and weaknesses, and this Huawei phone is no exception. As with any device, there are aspects that shine and others that fall short. By examining both sides, we can paint a complete picture of what this phone has to offer. Let's explore its standout features and areas for improvement. Remember, this is just my opinion, and yours might be different.

Pros

  • microSD slot
  • Dual SIM support

Cons

  • limited-size screen
  • insufficient internal storage
  • single camera setup
  • no OIS function
  • no 5G support
  • no Type-C USB port
  • low-capacity battery
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Lucas Bradley I'm Lucas Bradley, the founder of the Phone42.com site. I love technology, especially smartphones, and I've been working with tech stuff for more than 20 years. This means I've seen a lot of changes and have learned a bunch about what makes a good phone. On Phone42.com, I look at all kinds of phones. They can be from big, well-known companies or new ones trying to make their mark. I want to help people understand what's new and cool in the world of smartphones, in a way that's easy to get.
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