Price and specifications of Huawei Y9 Prime (2019) advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Introduction to Huawei Y9 Prime (2019)

The Huawei Y9 Prime (2019) was introduced in August 2019 as a mid-range smartphone offering from the Chinese tech giant, Huawei. It was marketed towards tech enthusiasts looking for a feature-rich device without a hefty price tag. With its distinctive pop-up selfie camera and large display, it made an impression in the smartphone market.

Design and Build

The Huawei Y9 Prime (2019) features a glass front and a plastic back, giving it a premium look and feel despite its affordable price. The dimensions of the phone are 163.5 x 77.3 x 8.9 mm, and it weighs approximately 196.8 grams, making it comfortable to hold and use. The phone comes in three different colors: Emerald Green, Midnight Black, and Sapphire Blue, providing a variety of choices for consumers. Its design decision to use a motorized pop-up selfie camera means that the front of the device is almost entirely screen, minimizing bezels.

Display

The Huawei Y9 Prime (2019) boasts a 6.59-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. The display offers a 19.5:9 aspect ratio with a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 84.3%, ensuring an immersive viewing experience for video streaming and gaming. The pixel density of ~391 ppi allows for crisp and vibrant visuals. The large display size makes it a good choice for users who prioritize screen real estate for media consumption.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Kirin 710F chipset, built on a 12 nm process technology. The octa-core processor has four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7 GHz, providing a balanced mix of performance and energy efficiency. The Mali-G51 MP4 GPU takes care of graphical tasks, supporting smooth visuals for games and video playback. The device initially ships with Android 9.0 (Pie) but is upgradable to Android 10 with Magic UI 2.1, offering a user-friendly interface and additional features over time.

Memory and Storage

The smartphone comes in two storage variants: 64GB and 128GB, both paired with 4GB RAM. For users needing more storage, the phone includes a dedicated microSDXC slot, allowing expansion without sacrificing dual SIM functionality. This combination of RAM and storage is adequate for most users, providing smooth multitasking and ample space for apps, photos, and media files.

Camera Capabilities

The Huawei Y9 Prime (2019) features a versatile triple rear camera setup: a 16 MP (f/1.8, wide) main sensor with PDAF for accurate focus, an 8 MP (f/2.4, ultrawide) lens for capturing expansive scenes, and a 2 MP (f/2.4) depth sensor for enhanced portrait shots with bokeh effect. This configuration allows for various photographic opportunities, from landscape shots to close-up portraits. The rear camera setup supports LED flash, HDR, and panorama features, and it can record videos at 1080p@30fps.

The standout feature is the motorized pop-up 16 MP (f/2.0) selfie camera. This design choice not only maximizes the screen area but also catches the attention of users with its futuristic appeal. The pop-up mechanism means the front of the phone is free from any notches or holes, providing an uninterrupted display experience. The selfie camera also supports 1080p video recording at 30fps.

Battery Life and Charging

The device comes equipped with a Li-Po 4000 mAh battery, which is non-removable. This large battery capacity ensures the phone can easily last through a full day of typical usage, including calls, texting, web browsing, and multimedia playback. However, the absence of fast charging technology means users might experience longer charging times compared to some competitors.

Connectivity and Network

The Huawei Y9 Prime (2019) supports multiple network technologies, including GSM, HSPA, and LTE. It is compatible with a wide range of 4G bands (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41), ensuring good network coverage in different regions. With HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps and LTE Cat12 600/50 Mbps, users can enjoy fast internet speeds where available.

On the connectivity front, the device offers Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with dual-band and Wi-Fi Direct support, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS with GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, and a USB Type-C 2.0 port with OTG capability. The inclusion of FM Radio and a 3.5mm headphone jack is a plus for users who still enjoy listening to radio broadcasts and prefer wired audio connections. However, it lacks NFC support, which might be a drawback for users dependent on contactless payments.

Additional Features

The device comes equipped with several sensors crucial for a modern smartphone experience: a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass. The rear fingerprint sensor provides quick and secure access to the device, while the other sensors enhance the usability of the smartphone's features and applications.

Price and Availability

When launched, the Huawei Y9 Prime (2019) was available in many regions, priced at around 220 EUR. This pricing made it a competitive choice within the mid-range smartphone segment, providing a considerable set of features and performance capabilities at an attractive cost.

Conclusion

Overall, the Huawei Y9 Prime (2019) offers a compelling combination of design, performance, and features for its price point. Its pop-up selfie camera and large display stand out among competitors, and its good battery life and decent performance make it a solid choice for everyday use. However, lack of NFC and fast charging might be considerations for some buyers. The device remains a noteworthy option for those seeking a modern smartphone experience at an affordable price.