The Huawei Y9a offers a large display, quad-camera setup, and solid performance at an affordable price. Check out its specs and performance in this detailed review.
Introduction
The Huawei Y9a, also known as the Huawei Nova Y9a, is a mid-range smartphone released in September 2020. With its large display, quad-camera setup, and impressive battery life, it aims to deliver an all-round performance at an affordable price point. The phone stands out with its pop-up selfie camera, which allows for a true full-screen experience, making it ideal for media consumption, gaming, and photography.
In this review, we’ll explore the design, display, camera performance, battery life, and overall user experience of the Huawei Y9a.
Design and Build Quality
The Huawei Y9a features a modern design with a glass front, plastic frame, and a smooth finish on the back. Weighing 197g and with a thickness of 9mm, the phone feels solid in hand without being too bulky. The 6.63-inch display takes up most of the front, thanks to the motorized pop-up camera that eliminates the need for a notch or punch-hole.
The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is quick and responsive, doubling as a power button. The phone is available in attractive color options: Space Silver, Sakura Pink, and Midnight Black.
Display
The Huawei Y9a boasts a 6.63-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a pixel density of ~397 ppi. The display offers sharp visuals and vibrant colors, making it great for watching videos, browsing, and playing games. While it doesn’t have the deep blacks of an OLED screen, the IPS panel still delivers good viewing angles and decent brightness levels.
One of the standout features of the Y9a is the pop-up selfie camera, which allows for an uninterrupted full-screen experience. This makes it an ideal device for media consumption, with no distractions from notches or cutouts.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Huawei Y9a is powered by the Mediatek Helio G80 chipset. This octa-core processor is paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on the variant, and offers sufficient performance for day-to-day tasks, such as web browsing, social media, and multitasking. It’s not the most powerful chip on the market, but it handles most apps and games without too much lag or stutter.
Running on Android 10 with EMUI 10.1, the Y9a delivers a smooth user experience. However, it is important to note that it does not come with Google Play Services, meaning users will need to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery and other third-party app stores for app downloads. While the software has matured, some users may find the absence of Google apps like YouTube and Gmail a dealbreaker.
Camera
The Huawei Y9a comes equipped with a quad-camera setup at the rear, offering versatility for different types of photography. The camera system includes:
- 64MP main sensor (f/1.8): Delivers sharp and detailed images, especially in well-lit conditions.
- 8MP ultra-wide sensor (f/2.4): Captures a wider field of view, perfect for landscapes and group shots.
- 2MP macro sensor (f/2.4): Allows for close-up shots with good detail.
- 2MP depth sensor (f/2.4): Helps with portrait mode, adding depth effects to photos.
The main camera performs well in daylight, producing vibrant and sharp photos. In low light, the results are decent, thanks to Huawei’s software enhancements, but some noise and loss of detail can be noticed.
The pop-up 16MP selfie camera is also a standout feature, delivering clear selfies with minimal distortion. It’s a great option for selfie enthusiasts who want a full-screen display without sacrificing camera quality.
For video, the Y9a can shoot 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30fps. It also has gyro-EIS, which helps stabilize videos and reduce shake during recording.
Battery Life
The Huawei Y9a is powered by a 4200mAh or 4300mAh battery (depending on the region), providing excellent battery life. The phone can easily last through a full day of moderate usage, including social media, gaming, and video streaming.
In regions where the 40W SuperCharge feature is available, the phone charges quickly, reaching 70% in just 30 minutes. For other regions, the phone supports 22.5W fast charging, which is still respectable for a phone in this price range.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Y9a supports dual SIM (Nano-SIM) with 4G LTE connectivity. Unfortunately, there’s no 5G support, which may be a drawback for users looking for future-proofing. It also lacks NFC, which means you won’t be able to use it for contactless payments.
Other connectivity features include Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, Wi-Fi Direct, and USB Type-C 2.0 with OTG support. The phone also retains the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is becoming a rarity in smartphones today.
Specifications Table
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 76.5 x 9 mm |
| Weight | 197 g |
| Display | 6.63 inches, IPS LCD, 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Operating System | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 |
| Memory | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | 64 MP (wide), 8 MP (ultrawide), 2 MP (macro), 2 MP (depth) |
| Selfie Camera | Motorized pop-up 16 MP |
| Battery | 4300 mAh, 40W fast charging |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, GLONASS, Wi-Fi |
| Price | About 200 EUR |
Conclusion
The Huawei Y9a offers a solid mid-range smartphone experience with its large display, quad-camera setup, and good battery life. Its pop-up selfie camera adds to its appeal, providing an uninterrupted full-screen experience that is great for media consumption. However, the lack of Google Play Services and 5G support may be a drawback for some users.
Overall, if you’re looking for a stylish phone with decent performance and camera capabilities at an affordable price, the Huawei Y9a is worth considering.
Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
