Honor 9X Pro smartphone - pros and cons

Huawei Technologies has been delighting users with a regularly updated line of smartphones and tablets for the past few years Honor. Sleek design, constantly expanding functionality, introduction of new technologies - thanks to these parameters Huawei quickly climbed the top manufacturers rankings to prominent positions. Line devices Honor freely compete with well-known brands, gaining more and more fans.

However, last year the company Huawei decided to experiment with the release of the eighth generation smartphone in two variations 8X and 8X Max, betting on the difference in size. Users did not support the vector of the company's development direction, negatively assessing the size of the released device - equipment Max is more like a tablet than a phone.

The manufacturer took user feedback into account: leaving the idea of ​​varying sizes, Huawei decided to return to the development of functionality, announcing the release of the Honor 9X Pro with an improved camera, added chips for gamers, more memory and expanded functionality.

On July 23, in China, Huawei presented two new devices - Honor 9X and Honor 9X Pro, the main difference of which is the rear camera - the Pro version has three, and the regular one has two. Also, the differences include the amount of RAM and internal memory, which are significantly higher in the Pro version than its counterpart.

The devices went on sale worldwide on July 30. And in the first day, more than one hundred thousand devices were sold, which is twice the income from the previous Honor series! This is truly a huge success for Huawei.

It is assumed that they will appear in Russia no earlier than August 9. And while we are waiting for the opening of sales of the device in the Russian market, we will consider the main characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the "advanced version" - Honor 9X Pro.

Common parameters

Smartphone design and dimensions

The entire line of Honor smartphones has a unique design, and the Honor 9X Pro is no exception - this is a frameless phone with a seemingly holographic design of the letter X on the back cover. This is actually a gradient created by a special iridescent texture. However, this will only go to devices in blue, red (in the 9X version) and purple (9X Pro) - the black cover will be completely matte.

Most of the device is glass - the display and back cover, and only the side frame is made of aluminum. The smartphone is released in two color variations - Magic Night Black and Phantom Purple, the names of which already speak of their unusualness and attractiveness.

The new smartphone is notable for the location of the fingerprint scanner - it is located on the right side of the device, on the side, and is built into the power button. The volume buttons are also located there.

Another highlight is the pop-up front camera. Huawei placed it on the upper left side of the device. The solution is successful from the point of view of design and engineering, but many users fear for the fragility of this module, citing as an example moments with an accidental camera release, when the user did not notice it.At a presentation in China, manufacturers decided to refute such assumptions by launching a video in which a guy opens a bottle with an extended front-camera module, like an opener!

Smartphone dimensions:

• Width - 77.2 mm;
• Height - 8.8 mm;
• Length - 163.1 mm;
• Weight - 206 g.

The Honor 9X Pro is a really big and heavy smartphone, but early adopters have already noted the convenience of using the device, despite its impressive dimensions.

Screen

The manufacturer decided to follow the new trend and create a smartphone with a wide bezel-less display. The entire ninth series is equipped with IPS-matrix displays with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and a size of 6.59 inches with support for Full HD. The aspect ratio of the screen is 19.5: 9. The screens have an oleophobic coating that repels grease stains from the surface, and also protects against minor scratches and damage, and improves image quality in the sun.

However, Honor differs from the fashionable format by the absence of cutouts, "bangs", etc. This company was achieved by installing a sliding front camera.

In general, users mark the display of the new device as mediocre due to the simple matrix and standard extensions.

Cameras

The new Huawei device is equipped with three rear (rear) camera modules:

• First - 48 MP, f / 1.8, (wide), 1/2 ", PDAF;
• The second - 8 MP, f / 2.4, 13 mm (ultrawide);
• And the third is 2 MP, f / 2.4 (depth sensor).

Thus, the smartphone has a 48 MP main camera with f / 1.8 aperture and an 8 MP and f / 2.4 auxiliary camera (used to create bokeh), which are equipped with a third 8 megapixel camera with f / 2.4 and a wide-angle lens.

In addition, Honor 9X Pro is equipped with a huge number of software options for photo and video processing. For example, artificial intelligence for recognizing faces, scenes, lighting, etc., or the AIS Handheld Super Night View 2.0 mode, designed to set shutter speeds up to 30 seconds in order to get really high-quality photos in low light.

All standard functions such as autofocus, panorama, etc. are present in the device.

The front camera has 16 megapixels and, besides the sliding module on which it is installed, it has no other features. The same camera has a built-in Face ID function, but there are reviews stating that "it's such a pleasure in a device with a pop-up camera."

Sound

There is no detailed information about the sound of the new device at the moment. Users appreciated Huawei's commitment to sticking to standards and leaving the familiar 3.5mm headphone jack in the presented devices.

We can only say with confidence that the music speakers (and there are probably two of them) are located on the lower edge of the device. There are no assumptions about the sound quality and what kind of microphone and speakers the manufacturer placed in the new smartphone.

Price

The new Honor 9X Pro smartphone belongs to the mid-price segment, and with the known indicators, the expected price of $ 349 (22,700 rubles) is perceived by users to be quite justified. Of course, a few comments “Not more than 15,000 rubles. for such a device ”are also found. But the overwhelming majority of critics and netizens speak positively about the pricing decision of these devices.

Specifications

CPU

The manufacturer has equipped the Honor 9X Pro with its new development - the Kirin 810 processor. This circuit is made using a 7-nm process technology, has 8 cores (2 Cortex-A76 cores, the frequency of which reaches 2.27 GHz and 6 more Cortex-A55 cores 1.8 GHz ). The graphics processor in this device is Mali-G52 MP6.

But the main feature is not in the numbers of cores and frequencies: the Pro version has become an ideal option for gamers and active users thanks to the new cooling system. The nine layers of metal components associated with the heatpipe is what Huawei introduced as a mobile innovation in 2019.

In fact, installing such a cooling system makes sense - the video accelerator and the processor get very hot under load, which leads to skipping clock cycles to optimize operation (throttling) and protect the mechanism. The new CO may well save smartphones from this, making them both faster and more reliable.

The standard Android 9 Pie is already installed as software in the device, optimized for the needs of the 9X Pro.

Users respond positively to the hardware platform of this device. Both the processor and GPU, combined with the updated cooling system, promise to deliver excellent results.

Memory

The amount of RAM in the Honor 9X Pro amazed users with 8 GB of RAM. Many people had questions about why there is so much and whether the device can cope with it. However, based on the previous paragraph, where we highlighted the technical characteristics of the processor and its cooling system, we can say with confidence - yes, the system is quite suitable for this amount of RAM, and the phone will delight with the speed of operation and data loading.

Another nice thing is the amount of internal memory: the device comes in two variations - 128 and 256 GB. In addition, the manufacturer took care to leave the microSD familiar to many, the volume of which the new Honor supports up to 512 GB. You can be sure - unexpectedly, the memory on this device will not run out!

Communications

Of course, the announced device supports all the necessary communication standards:

• WLAN (Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot). At the same time, Huawei hinted that some new technologies are built into the Wi-Fi module that can maintain a stable signal even through several dense walls;
• Bluetooth (5.0, A2DP, LE);
• GPS (Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS);
• Radio (FM radio);
• USB (2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector).

Russian-speaking users are still in disputes regarding the number of SIM-cards. However, there is reason to believe that the device is released in two versions - with one and two SIM-cards. SIM size is expected like most new devices - Nano-card.

Smartphone network technology supports LTE, GSM (at 850MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 1900MHz), HSPA.

Battery

The new device has a lithium polymer (Li-Po) battery, which is used in most new devices of the latest generations. It has several advantages over Li-ion batteries:

• Higher density and larger capacity with the same dimensions;
• Low self-discharge rate;
• No need for recharge cycles to restore original capacity (although this plus is worth describing in comparison with nickel batteries).

The battery capacity is 4000 mAh, which guarantees with an average use up to two days without recharging. In active use the device will last about 7 hours, in standby mode - up to 6-7 days.

The battery in the smartphone is non-removable, that is, it does not imply the possibility of self-replacement for users.

The smartphone supports Fast battery charging with a power of 20 W - a fairly popular feature today, allowing you to quickly recharge your smartphone at the right time. It is not recommended to use Fast battery charging on a permanent basis.

Sensors and additional functions

The novelty, of course, is equipped with all the main functions used in modern devices: an accelerometer, proximity light sensors, a gyroscope, a compass, etc. right side of the smartphone. Thanks to this, the Honor 9X Pro is deprived of the Home button on the front and back cover, which users really enjoyed.

Not without Face ID - the first buyers abroad have already noted the fairly stable operation of this function in the new Honor. But, as mentioned above, the outgoing front camera is not very conducive to using this bun.

What there is no exact information about is the contactless payment chip. Considering the events of last year (the released 8X was also not accompanied by information about the chip, which later turned out to be built in and functions perfectly), we can assume that there will still be models with NFC for the European and Russian markets.

Equipment

Most likely, the delivery of the new item will be standard: a device, headphones (there are assumptions that these will be ordinary wired headphones), charging, warranty documents and manuals. The length of the cord is likely to be 1 meter.

To summarize: the pros and cons of the Honor 9X Pro smartphone

Let's consider the main pros and cons of the new product from Huawei.

• Attractive design, colors;
• Leaving camera - an interesting engineering and design solution;
• Display without frames and "bangs", with a large diagonal, Full HD;
• Three cameras, each of which is responsible for separate functions and capabilities;
• A large number of software options for photo and video processing;
• New location of the fingerprint for unlocking (however, this is a matter of taste and may seem like a disadvantage to many users)
• Powerful "filling": processor, GPU;
• Large amount of RAM and internal memory;
• Support for microSD 512 GB;
• Probably the presence of an NFC contactless payment chip;
• Quite good autonomy;
• Adequate value for money.

• Heavy, it is likely that it will cause the same response as its predecessor - too large a device;
• A simple display despite its size. Regular matrix and standard extensions;
• Probably there will be difficulties with the use of a sliding front camera;
• The first users note the inconvenience in using Face ID due to the new front-facing module;
• Catchy appearance that not all netizens appreciated. There is a solution - a smartphone in a laconic black color with a matte back cover.

The new Honor 9X Pro has many advantages. At the moment, this is a device that can well compete with Xiaomi - the company that holds the largest share of the market among devices in this segment.

It should be admitted that in this generation of smartphones Huawei made a big step forward and, in many respects, thanks to the fact that they listened to the fans and users of their products. It remains to wait for the release of the device on the Russian market and compare expectations with reality in order to confirm or refute guesses about the functionality and capabilities of the new Honor.