Hot topics

100 days with the Honor 9: A good companion

AndroidPIT Honor 9 0811
© nextpit

As in any relationship, you have to spend time together to find your companion's faults and strengths. I spent 100 days with the Honor 9, and in this article, I'll share the highlights, pros and cons of the experience to help you decide if it's the right smartphone for you.

Pro: an elegant and ergonomic design

The Honor 9 is distinguished by its elegant design. Beautiful to look at, and ergonomic, it also inspired the design of the recently revealed Mate 10 Pro. Light glistens on the shiny body of the device, and the slight curvature of the edges makes it comfortable to hold. Due to its slender and lightweight form, it's easy to use one-handed or keep in your pocket.

I prefer the Glacier Gray version to the Sapphire Blue version, but I must say that both are beautiful options. Compared to devices equipped with a matte outer shell, the Honor 9 the shine catches the eye more, though the overall design is really compelling regardless. Though, design tastes are subjective.

AndroidPIT Honor 9 0780
The light effects created by the hull of the Honor 9 are really nice. © NextPit

During my 100 days with the Honor 9, the smartphone fell several times on the floor. From the couch or table, flat surfaces are usually a problem because the smartphone tends to slip. Fortunately, despite countless falls, it is still intact.

It is best to protect the Honor 9 with the clear plastic protector that is provided.

After three months, my Honor 9 showed slight scratches on the body and along the left side. To avoid this, I recommend using the clear plastic protector included with the smartphone. I'm not a fan of the cases, but I must admit that the one supplied with the Honor 9 doesn't hide its wonderful design.

Pro: fingerprint scanner

Like any self-respecting Honor or Huawei smartphone, the Honor 9 incorporates a fast and accurate fingerprint reader. Placed at the front, just like on the Huawei P10, it unlocks the device in an instant, and the physical key allows you to navigate the menus. Its configuration is also fast.

If you are used to a Huawei P9 or another smartphone with a fingerprint reader on the back, it will seem strange at first. However, I assure you, it only takes a few hours to become familiar with this new positioning. And if you are used to leaving your smartphone on the table while you work or study, you will find it even more convenient.

AndroidPIT Honor 9 0884
The fingerprint reader is a success. © NextPit

Con: It heats during charging and heavy use

The Honor 9 features a 3,200 mAh battery that can be fully charged in about two hours with Huawei's QuickCharge technology. The battery life is standard. During charging, the device sadly tends to heat up.

I also noticed this overheating when the device is used intensively, or during this summer when it was exposed to sunlight. In some of these situations, the body heats up so much that having the smartphone in your hand is no longer so pleasant.

Pro: Good user experience at a fair price

I can't say that the Honor 9 has the best camera on the market, but for this price range, it does its job, and it does it well. You will not have problems during daily use. The combination of the hardware (the Kirin 960 from the P10 and the Mali G71-MP8 GPU) and the software ensure smooth performance. The software is mature and incorporates interesting features like Phone Clone (to transfer data from one Huawei to another) and App Twin (to use two WhatsApp and Facebook accounts simultaneously).

Honor 9 benchmarks

 
  Honor 9 OnePlus 5 Huawei P10
3DMark SlingShot ES 3.1 2011     3341 2033
3DMark SlingShot ES 3.0

2907

4337 2627
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited 29132 39419 28128
Geekbench Single Core 1858 1944 1913
Geekbench Multi Core 6446

6666

6032
PCMark Work Performance 6155 6545 6194
PCMark Storage

9019

5044 -

The camera app is fast and easy to use, but there are no real-time filters or bokeh effects. Photos taken in good lighting conditions are full of details, but when it's dark, the photo quality suffers due to the absence of optical image stabilization.

  • Photos taken with the Honor 9
AndroidPIT Honor 9 0790
The absence of OIS is reflected in pictures taken in low light. © NextPit

The verdict after 100 days

After 100 days of using it myself, I would wholeheartedly recommend for you to purchase an Honor 9. For under $500, you will have a stunning smartphone that feels nice to hold in your hand. And, even if it doesn't have a particular stand-out gimmick or feature, it offers a fantastic quality-price ratio. Protect it with a clear plastic protector to keep it intact in all its splendor.

What do you think of the Honor 9? Is it your preferred device of the moment?

 The Best Portable Projectors in 2024

  The best choice The best value for money The best for less The all-rounder The challenger The best laser TV
Product
Image Xgimi Halo+ Product Image Dangbei Neo Product Image Technaxx TX-127 Product Image Samsung Freestyle Product Image Nebula Anker Capsule 3 Laser Product Image Formovie Theater Product Image
Offers

To find out more, browse through our comprehensive Portable Projectors buying guide.

nextpit receives a commission for purchases made via the marked links. This has no influence on the editorial content and there are no costs for you. You can find out more about how we make money on our transparency page.
Go to comment (2)
Jessica Murgia

Jessica Murgia
Editor

Italian editor and Android lover: with her, all the most intimate secrets of Android will be revealed! Chronic traveler, a lover of good wine and good food, Jessica is crazy for shopping and passionate about technology! What's never missing in her bag? A book, an MP3 player, her Android smartphone and an external battery!

To the author profile
Liked this article? Share now!
Recommended articles
Latest articles
Push notification Next article
2 comments
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing
Write new comment:
All changes will be saved. No drafts are saved when editing

  • CJ Brown 29
    CJ Brown Nov 13, 2017 Link to comment

    Both Honor and Mate are impressive models competing for consumer $ (all you need here in the USA is for No Contract Carriers to start selling them as a lower cost alternative to Samsung and iPhone)👍

    I'm currently using the ZTE Blade Z Max until the Honor 7X comes in the mail 😀


  • Stan M. 4
    Stan M. Nov 13, 2017 Link to comment

    Thanks for sharing. I used to think the Honor 9 is break-proof, not until yesterday:(