Huawei P9

THE MARKINGS OF A LEGEND.

Smartphones are becoming more intelligent and are fast transforming into serious imaging devices, sometimes even giving compact cameras a run for their money. In fact, we see lot of technological innovation in the smartphone space with every brand trying to outsmart the other. Till about a year ago, serious smartphone imaging was confined, or rather perceived to be confined, to Apple and Samsung. Now, more companies are in the fray, and Huawei is one such brand that does not seem to be in any mood to back off. The new Huawei P9 represents a bold stride in smartphone photography with a dual-lens system that has been designed in partnership with the legendary Leica optics.

DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY

The P9 is carved out of aerospace class unibody aluminium with diamond-cut edges which has resulted in an elegant design. A 2.5D glass (slightly curved edges) enhances the visual appeal. The matte-textured back surface, though, gives a ‘hollow’ feel, which takes away some of the toughness that is evident in the front surface. The highlight of the camera is its two rear lenses and the Leica brand name etched within a glass window. The square fingerprint sensor resides below the camera unit. The USB Type-C port and the 3.5mm audio jack sit at the bottom along with the microphone and speaker holes. The volume rocker button and power button are on the right side.

Huawei has created the phone with user comfort in mind. The size is just about right for an average-sized hand, enabling one-hand operation. The device is a bit slippery, but not quite as much as the latest glass backed gadgets that slide off the desk.