Discover the full review of the Huawei Nova 9 SE, including detailed specifications, features, pros, and cons. Released in March 2022, this mid-range smartphone packs a powerful 108MP camera, a sleek 6.78-inch display, and rapid 66W fast charging.
Introduction
In March 2022, Huawei introduced a highly competitive mid-range smartphone, the Huawei Nova 9 SE. This smartphone is designed to captivate users with its stunning aesthetics, powerful performance, and impressive camera capabilities, especially the 108MP quad-camera system. While it offers an attractive package, it also comes with certain limitations like the lack of Google Play Services. In this review, we will dive deep into the Huawei Nova 9 SE and explore everything from its performance to its battery life, camera features, and more.
This review is particularly beneficial if you are in the market for a feature-rich phone that delivers strong camera performance while remaining budget-friendly. Without further ado, let’s delve into the specifications and features that make the Huawei Nova 9 SE stand out.
Design and Build
The Huawei Nova 9 SE is an elegant smartphone that weighs 191g and has a thickness of just 7.9mm. With its slim profile and light weight, the phone offers a comfortable hand feel despite its large screen size.
Dimensions: The device measures 164.6 x 75.6 x 7.9 mm, making it a good choice for those who prefer bigger displays. It features a Hybrid Dual SIM slot, which allows users to either use two Nano-SIM cards or one SIM card and one microSD card for extra storage.
The Nova 9 SE comes in three stunning colors: Midnight Black, Pearl White, and Crystal Blue, each contributing to its premium appearance. The phone’s rear panel has a reflective finish, and its rounded corners give it a sleek modern look. However, the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack may be a dealbreaker for some.
Display
The display is one of the most significant selling points of the Huawei Nova 9 SE. The phone comes with a 6.78-inch IPS LCD screen that offers a 90Hz refresh rate.
With a resolution of 1080 x 2388 pixels and a pixel density of around 387 ppi, the display is sharp, vibrant, and large enough for enjoyable media consumption. The screen covers 89.5% of the body, giving you an immersive visual experience whether you’re watching videos or playing games.
Performance
Under the hood, the Huawei Nova 9 SE is powered by the Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G chipset. Built on the 6nm process, this chipset offers an Octa-core CPU with four high-performance Kryo 265 Gold cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and four energy-efficient Kryo 265 Silver cores clocked at 1.9 GHz.
The GPU is an Adreno 610, which offers decent performance for mid-range gaming and everyday multitasking, though it may struggle with more demanding gaming titles at higher settings.
The phone runs Android 11 with EMUI 12, but it does not come with Google Play Services, which can be a disadvantage for users heavily reliant on Google apps.
Camera
One of the standout features of the Huawei Nova 9 SE is its quad-camera setup, headlined by a 108 MP primary camera.
- Main Camera: The 108MP primary sensor comes with f/1.9 aperture, delivering sharp, detailed photos in well-lit conditions. It also features PDAF for quicker focus.
- Ultrawide Camera: The 8 MP ultrawide sensor captures a 112˚ field of view, making it ideal for landscape shots and group photos.
- Macro and Depth Sensors: Two 2 MP sensors for macro and depth photography round out the setup, enhancing portrait shots and close-ups.
On the video front, the phone can record 1080p videos at 30fps, though it lacks 4K support. It does, however, feature gyro-EIS for stable video recording.
The front-facing 16 MP selfie camera captures detailed selfies with an f/2.2 aperture and is also capable of recording 1080p videos.
Battery and Charging
The Huawei Nova 9 SE comes with a 4000 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery. While the battery capacity isn’t the largest in its segment, Huawei compensates with 66W wired charging, which can charge the phone to 75% in just 20 minutes (as advertised by Huawei). This fast-charging capability is excellent for users who need to top up quickly.
Connectivity and Other Features
The Huawei Nova 9 SE offers the following connectivity options:
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
- Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE
- USB Type-C 2.0, OTG support
- NFC (JLN-XL1 model only)
In terms of positioning, it supports GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and QZSS.
A side-mounted fingerprint sensor adds a layer of security, while other sensors include an accelerometer, gyro, compass, and virtual proximity sensing.
Storage and Memory
The Huawei Nova 9 SE is available in multiple memory configurations:
- 128GB storage + 6GB RAM
- 128GB storage + 8GB RAM
- 256GB storage + 8GB RAM
- 512GB storage + 8GB RAM
It also supports storage expansion via a microSDXC card, but this uses a shared SIM slot.
Pricing
The Huawei Nova 9 SE is priced at approximately $655.00 or €152.77, depending on the region and memory configuration.
Full Specifications of Huawei Nova 9 SE
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 75.6 x 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 191 g |
| SIM | Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Display Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Display Size | 6.78 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~387 ppi density) |
| OS | Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4×1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 |
| Memory Options | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | 108 MP (wide), 8 MP (ultrawide), 2 MP (macro), 2 MP (depth) |
| Selfie Camera | 16 MP |
| Battery | 4000 mAh, non-removable, 66W wired charging (75% in 20 min advertised) |
| Colors | Midnight Black, Pearl White, Crystal Blue |
Conclusion
The Huawei Nova 9 SE offers excellent value for those seeking a mid-range smartphone with high-end features like a 108MP camera, 66W fast charging, and a large 6.78-inch display. Its design is sleek and modern, and the performance is more than adequate for day-to-day tasks and light gaming. However, the lack of Google Play Services and the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack might be drawbacks for some users.
In conclusion, the Huawei Nova 9 SE is a stylish and capable phone that delivers strong performance, particularly in photography and fast charging. It’s a solid choice for those who can overlook the absence of Google services.
Disclaimer: We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
