The Huawei Mate 9 was launched in November last year after news of the smartphone leaked out over several months and created a lot of anticipation. After enjoying success in several markets around the world, including the United States, the smartphone has now been launched in the Phillipines with a price tag of PHP 31,990 ($640).
For an Android flagship model, the price is set rather steep. Huawei has partnered with Leica, a German optics enterprise, to develop the camera on this smartphone which features laser focus, phase detection focus, depth focus, and contrast focus. The Mate 9’s stunning photography capabilities have justified its price-point globally.
Huawei Mate 9 Specs
- Android 7.0 Nougat, EMUI 5.0
- 5.9-inch Full HD IPS Display, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution
- Kirin 960 CPU (Octa-core, four 2.4GHz Cortex-A73 cores, four 1.8GHz Cortex-A53 cores)
- ARM Mali-G71 MP8 GPU
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB internal storage
- Dual 20-megapixel + 12-megapixel cameras, f/2.2, OIS, PDAF, dual-LED
- 8-megapixel front camera, f/1.9
- USB Type-C
- Bluetooth v4.2
- Fingerprint scanner
- GPS, A-GPS
- Dimensions: 156.9 x 78.9 x 7.9 mm
- Weight: 190 g
- 4000mAh non-removable battery with SuperCharge
The Huawei Mate 9 is packed with a setup that just can’t go wrong. It is powered by a Hisilicon Kirin 960 chipset which has been found to be more advanced than other smartphone chips currently in the market. It comes with a decent 4 GB of RAM however there are reports of a 6 GB version as well.
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The Mate 9 pairs an i6 processor with the Mali G71 GPU to power a 1920×1080 5.9-inch Full HD display. The phablet might sound like a power-drainer but it holds up surprisingly well! The Mate 9 is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery with SuperCharge. While 4,000 mAh isn’t exactly record-breaking for a flagship smartphone, the SuperCharge technology should make the phone last upto a whole day on a 20-minute charge.
What’s more is that Huawei have also implemented a 5-gate safety mechanism which will monitor in real-time the voltage, electric current and temperature of the battery. In light of the string of battery explosions, this, hopefully, should prevent the Mate 9’s battery from catching fire.
The Mate 9 sports a polished look with minimal bezel around the screen. The home button and fingerprint sensor have been moved to the back.
Tech fans in the Phillipines have been lapping up this news with all the excitement that it merits. We are certain that the Mate 9 will enjoy its fair share of the Filipino smartphone market.
Had a chance to play around with one of these a few weeks ago, another masterpiece from Huawei. They are quickly becoming my new favorite Chinese brand.