Honor 9 Lite Review: Is This A New Budget Phone JustInReviews comes with its Smartphone review of the latest handset by the Honor. Today we shall talk about the Honor 9 Lite. The Honor 9 Lite could be a great all-rounder, but as it checks all the boxes, it does not dazzle. The Honor 9 Lite has quad cameras, but the first thing to catch your notice about the device is its refined glass design with mirror-like effect at the rear. For this review, we talk about the higher Indian variant of Honor 9 Lite, the one with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB internal storage. •
Design :
It has a close resemblance to iPhone 8 Plus with the mirror-like glass finish at the rear. IN its price segment, the Honor 9 Lite feels premium than any other metal unibody phone and is outstanding. The build quality is amazing with an elegant touch and a minimalist finesse. The downside is that it has a plastic frame and not a metal. The volume and power buttons are plastic too, but with a nice tactile feel. With a 5.65-inch display and a body about 6-inch and about 7.6 mm thickness, the Honor 9 Lite is compact and fits well in the hand. The back of the device with 2.5D curved glass is quite reflective and is almost mirror-like – sufficient to check your hair before you go into a meeting. Amongst the three colour variants, there are Sapphire Blue, Glacier Grey, and Midnight Black; the blue being the most striking, and the grey one is almost a perfect mirror.
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Display:
The Honor 9 Lite has a 5.65-inch IPS LCD with 18:9 aspect ratio and a complete HD+ resolution that offers a high pixel density of 428 PPI. The resolution can be reduced to 720p to save battery if you so prefer. The display is amazing, and offers sharp text and pretty good colour reproduction, although the viewing angles are limited. •
Performance:
The device is supplied power by chipset as that in Honor 9i and Honor 7X, though the other two devices are priced higher. There are two kinds – one with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage and the other one with 4 GB and 64 GB. In daily usage, the phone performance is commendable. It gives a smooth multitasking experience and most games run fine. The device comes with a 3,000 mAh battery and supports the company’s fast charging technology. With the bundled charger, the phone takes a little over two hours for a full charge. •
Hardware:
The device sports a micro USB port instead of USB Type-C. Though not a showstopper, it’s a little bewildering choice in a 2018 smartphone. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack and comes with in-ear ear buds. •
Camera:
The Honor 9 Lite comes with a dual camera setup up on both the front and the rear. The 2 MP cameras help to improve the low-light performance. In good lighting, the device can capture some good shots at times. Sometimes the colours are dull, and with mild noise when you zoom the photos. The back cameras support PDAF, and the autofocus is quick. The selfies appear pretty good as well. The gist is that the Honor 9 Lite does a good job for a casual photographer. It’s not an exceptional thing but it does not disappoint. •
Software:
The device includes Android 8.0 Oreo wherelse other smart phones launched in January 2018 has come with Android Nougat. There is also the EMUI 8.0 layer on top of it, an awkward successor to EMUI 5.1. Pricing and final thoughts The phone is an affordable mid-range Smartphone that covers all the bases which include stunning design, latest Android version, front and rear dual cameras, and an 18:9 display. A good package!
The Honor 9 Lite appears to be a stunning all-rounder, but when it checks all the boxes, it does not amaze. For casual Smartphone users who want a stunning device, the Honor 9 Lite base variant at Rs.10,999 in India (~$171) is a good pick in the sub-$200 price-point. Even, at Rs.14,999 (~$234), the higher variant charges a premium for the extra bit of RAM and storage. It’s too high that you might wish to look at other options that include, Moto G5 Plus, Nokia 6, or even the LG Q6. •
Pros :
- Designed beautifully with striking looks - Clear and high-resolution display - Good front cameras •
Cons :
- Average battery life - Normal rear cameras That was all about the Honor 9 Lite in the category of latest technology. JustInReviews is the ideal place for phone ratings and Smartphone reviews.