Discover the Huawei Nova 9 Pro review, a 6.72-inch OLED display smartphone with a 50MP camera, Snapdragon 778G, and 100W fast charging. Released in September 2021, it offers flagship-level features in a mid-range device.
Introduction
The Huawei Nova 9 Pro, released in September 2021, is a high-end mid-range smartphone that delivers premium features like a 6.72-inch OLED display, 120Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset, and a versatile 50MP quad-camera setup. It also boasts an impressive 100W fast charging capability, making it one of the fastest-charging phones on the market.
Running HarmonyOS 2.0, the Nova 9 Pro provides a seamless and fluid experience, making it a strong contender in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. However, like many recent Huawei devices, it lacks Google Play Services, which may affect user experience for those heavily reliant on Google apps.
In this review, we will explore the design, display, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and more, helping you decide if the Huawei Nova 9 Pro is the right choice for you.
Design and Build
The Huawei Nova 9 Pro features a sleek and stylish design with a glass front, glass back, and an aluminum frame that adds to its premium look and feel. The phone measures 163.4 x 74.4 x 8 mm and weighs 186g, making it easy to hold and use despite its large display. Its thickness of 8mm contributes to a slim and elegant profile.
The phone is available in several colors, including Black, Blue, Green, and Violet, giving users plenty of choices in terms of style. It supports Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), allowing users to manage two phone numbers simultaneously.
One downside is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack, so users will need to rely on wireless headphones or use a USB Type-C adapter for wired audio.
Display
The Huawei Nova 9 Pro is equipped with a stunning 6.72-inch OLED display that supports 1 billion colors, HDR10, and a 120Hz refresh rate. This high refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and a seamless gaming experience. The display offers a resolution of 1236 x 2676 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 439 ppi for sharp and detailed visuals.
The screen covers 91.2% of the phone’s front, providing an immersive viewing experience for gaming, streaming, and browsing.
Performance
Under the hood, the Huawei Nova 9 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset, built on the 6nm process. The Octa-core CPU consists of 4×2.4 GHz Kryo 670 high-performance cores and 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 670 power-efficient cores, delivering excellent multitasking performance and smooth app handling.
The Adreno 642L GPU ensures that the phone can handle graphically intensive games and apps without any noticeable lag or stuttering.
While the Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset provides solid performance for everyday use, the lack of 5G connectivity may be a drawback for users in regions where 5G networks are already widespread. The Nova 9 Pro comes with 8GB of RAM and two storage options—128GB or 256GB—but it lacks a microSD card slot for additional storage, so users will have to manage the internal storage wisely.
Camera
The Huawei Nova 9 Pro features an impressive quad-camera setup on the rear, offering versatile shooting options for different scenarios:
- 50 MP main camera with f/1.9 aperture and PDAF: This wide-angle sensor captures sharp, detailed images with excellent color reproduction in good lighting conditions. The RYYB sensor improves low-light performance, allowing for better nighttime photography.
- 8 MP ultrawide camera with f/2.2 aperture: This sensor is ideal for landscape shots or group photos, providing a wider field of view.
- 2 MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture: The depth sensor helps with portrait shots by adding natural-looking background blur (bokeh effect).
- 2 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture: Designed for close-up photography, this sensor captures fine details in small subjects.
The rear camera supports 4K video recording, 1080p recording, and slow-motion capture at 720p@960fps. It also includes gyro-EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) to ensure stable videos, even during motion.
On the front, the Huawei Nova 9 Pro boasts a dual 32 MP selfie camera setup, which includes a 32 MP wide lens and a 32 MP ultrawide lens for group selfies. The front cameras support 4K video recording with gyro-EIS, making the Nova 9 Pro an excellent choice for vloggers and selfie enthusiasts.
Battery and Charging
The Huawei Nova 9 Pro is equipped with a 4000 mAh battery, which may seem modest for a device of this caliber. However, the phone compensates for this with its 100W fast charging capability. According to Huawei, the phone can charge from 0% to 100% in just 20 minutes, making it one of the fastest-charging phones available.
The phone also supports reverse wired charging, allowing users to charge other devices using the Nova 9 Pro.
Connectivity and Other Features
The Huawei Nova 9 Pro offers a range of connectivity options, including:
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
- Bluetooth 5.2, A2DP, LE
- USB Type-C 2.0, OTG support
- GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC for precise positioning
- NFC for contactless payments and data transfer
Unfortunately, the phone lacks 5G support, limiting it to 4G LTE speeds. There is also no 3.5mm audio jack, but the device has a loudspeaker for audio output.
In terms of sensors, the Nova 9 Pro comes with an under-display optical fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass for various functionalities.
Software
The Huawei Nova 9 Pro runs on HarmonyOS 2.0, Huawei’s custom operating system designed to work seamlessly across a variety of devices. While HarmonyOS offers a fluid and intuitive user experience, the lack of Google Play Services may be a limitation for users who rely heavily on Google apps. However, Huawei’s AppGallery offers a growing range of apps, and users can still sideload apps if necessary.
Pricing
The Huawei Nova 9 Pro is priced at around €460, positioning it as a premium mid-range device. The price is justified by the phone’s high-quality display, fast charging, and powerful camera system, making it a competitive option in its category.
Full Specifications of Huawei Nova 9 Pro
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE |
| Dimensions | 163.4 x 74.4 x 8 mm |
| Weight | 186 g |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Display Type | OLED, 1B colors, HDR10, 120Hz |
| Display Size | 6.72 inches |
| Resolution | 1236 x 2676 pixels (~439 ppi density) |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G (6 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Kryo 670 & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 670) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L |
| Memory Options | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | 50 MP (wide), 8 MP (ultrawide), 2 MP (depth), 2 MP (macro) |
| Selfie Camera | Dual 32 MP (wide) and 32 MP (ultrawide) |
| Battery | 4000 mAh, 100W fast charging (100% in 20 min) |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, Violet |
Conclusion
The Huawei Nova 9 Pro is a well-rounded smartphone that delivers excellent performance, a beautiful display, and versatile camera capabilities. Its 100W fast charging sets it apart from other devices in its category, making it perfect for users who are always on the go. While the absence of Google Play Services and 5G might be drawbacks for some, the Nova 9 Pro remains a solid option for those looking for a premium mid-range device with a focus on design, display, and charging speed.
Disclaimer: We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
