Huawei has a new attractive offer for you – the P9 Lite smartphone plus the Color Band A1 smart bracelet. Two devices in a bundle – they work great together and have the common purpose of making your life more interesting, active and technological.
In this review we will take a closer look at both the smartphone’s and bracelet’s capabilities. This kind of offer will probably appeal to younger users who want to have a more active lifestyle and be up-to-date as well as stylish. Who would reject this kind of “buy 1, get 1 for free” offer? However, before purchasing it’s always good to make a detailed research as to what these devices offer.
If you are interested, you can check the current price and availability of this device here: http://amzn.to/2coJUKW
Contents
Design and construction
Display and sound
Specs sheet
Battery
Color Band A1’s features
Software
Performance
Temperatures
Camera
Verdict
Design and construction
Huawei P9 Lite preserves the stylish design of its predecessor but adds some small details which make it even more attractive. One of the differences that you will notice first is the available fingerprint scanner on the back of the device, and if you want to learn more about its features – read on. This side of the smartphone uses matte plastic which feels and looks nice. Fingerprints are rarely to be observed on it, at least this is the case with the white version, which we have at hand for testing. In the upper left corner you can observe the main camera and its LED flash, and Huawei’s logo plus some other product inscriptions are printed on the lower section.
On the front, we can see interesting horizontal lines which contribute to the fresh design. Other than that, there is nothing peculiar about it. Above the screen you can find the camera, earpiece, proximity and ambient light sensors. Below the screen and its really thin bezels there is only the Huawei inscription because the three Android buttons are on-screen.
P9 Lite’s profile is slightly thinner than that of P8 Lite (7.5 mm vs 7.7 mm) and its weight is a bit more (147 gr vs 131 gr). This does not at all make it a heavy phone. A metal frame goes around the model and contributes to P9 Lite being even fancier. On the right side you can find the volume controls and Power button, the latter having a texture which is a bit more uneven so that you could easily recognize the button. On the left you will notice the two nano-SIM card slots as well as the microSD card slot, which occupies the same position as the second SIM card slot. You can access them by using a special tool provided in the package. Additionally, the bottom holds the microUSB charging port, and on its two sides you can notice two groups of small openings which create the impression of there being two speakers but it’s only one. As far as the top is concerned, it only has the headphones jack and secondary microphone for background noise cancellation.
Color Band A1’s design
As for the bracelet, it comes with two bands in different colors – black and light blue. This will allow you to change it when necessary so that it suits your clothing. We prefer the classic black version which looks good with whatever it is that you are wearing. You can easily swap one for the other within not more than half a minute. You won’t have any problems with pinning it on or off either. On one of the band’s sides there are ten holes so that it will suit all wrist sizes. Once pinned on around your wrist, it stays there firmly until you decide to take it off. Also intriguing is the pleasant to touch rhomboid texture. Furthermore, the bracelet weighs only 20 grams and you may easily forget that it’s on you. It is water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins), which means that you can bathe with it or play even when it’s raining.
Display and sound
Mid-range devices are improving and this can be seen in terms of this device’s display. If last year’s P8 Lite came with a 5-inch HD screen, P9 Lite now has a 5.2-inch Full HD display. Additionally, we are now dealing with 424 ppi pixel density, which translates into a more than decent image detail. Also present is an IPS panel, and the colors are contrasty and more vivid. We don’t have any remarks as regards viewing angles or operating outdoors. Additionally, in the display settings menu you won’t find anything peculiar other than the option of manually adjusting color temperature.
Sound
Even though there is only one loudspeaker, we can determine the sound output as pretty good both in terms of its quality (no deviations) as well as its power.
Specs sheet
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OS
Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
CPU
HiSilicon Kirin 650 (4-core, 2.00GHz, Cortex-A53 & 4-core, 1.70GHz, Cortex-A53)
RAM
2GB
Internal storage
16GB
GPU
Mali-T830MP2
Display
5.2-inch IPS LCD capacitive multitouch display (1920 x 1080 p)
Connectivity
Bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, LE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS
Cameras
13MP camera with AF and an LED flash (rear), 8MP (front)
Features
microSD card slot (supports up to 256GB)
microUSB v2.0 port
integrated loudspeaker
3.5 mm audio jack
FM radio
camera with geo-tagging, touch focus, face recognition, Panorama, HDR
accelerometer
proximity sensor
compass
fingerprint scanner
Battery
3000 mAh
Dimensions
72.6 x 146.8 x 7.5 mm
Weight
147 grams
Battery
Huawei P9 Lite comes with a 3000 mAh battery which is a significant improvement over its predecessor. This, of course, raised our expectations for our durability tests. For this purpose we conducted five different checks – a phone call, Wi-Fi and 3G Web browsing, video playback and 3D gaming. The settings we used were the usual – screen brightness of 120 cd/m2, Wi-Fi module turned on, 3G turned off (with the exception of the 3G Web browsing test), Bluetooth and GPS turned off.
Talk Time
Web Surfing - Wi-Fi
Web Surfing - 3G
Video Playback
3D Gaming
In this test the screen doesn’t affect the battery life, since the proximity sensor turns it off during phone calls.
Smartphones
Results (min.)
Result
difference
Price
Huawei P9 Lite 3000 mAh, 5.2-inch, IPS, HiSilicon Kirin 650
984
0 %
Check price
Huawei P8lite 2200 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, HiSilicon KIRIN 620
772
- 21.54 %
Check price
Lenovo Vibe S1 2420 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, MediaTek MT6752
581
- 40.96 %
Check price
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus 2750 mAh, 5.0-inch, IPS, Huawei P9 Lite and Color Band A1 quick review – a combination that will appeal to anyone
1242
26.22 %
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Sony Xperia XA 2300 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10
669
- 32.01 %
Check price
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) 3100 mAh, 5.2-inch, Super AMOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916)
1657
68.39 %
Check price
We run our Web surfing test with a custom-made script, which browses through 70 popular web pages.
Smartphones
Results (min.)
Result
difference
Price
Huawei P9 Lite 3000 mAh, 5.2-inch, IPS, HiSilicon Kirin 650
781
0 %
Check price
Huawei P8lite 2200 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, HiSilicon KIRIN 620
532
- 31.88 %
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Lenovo Vibe S1 2420 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, MediaTek MT6752
414
- 46.99 %
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Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus 2750 mAh, 5.0-inch, IPS, Huawei P9 Lite and Color Band A1 quick review – a combination that will appeal to anyone
457
- 41.49 %
Check price
Sony Xperia XA 2300 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10
357
- 54.29 %
Check price
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) 3100 mAh, 5.2-inch, Super AMOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916)
748
- 4.23 %
Check price
This test uses the same custom-made script, but we use 3G connection instead of Wi-Fi.
Smartphones
Results (min.)
Result
difference
Price
Huawei P9 Lite 3000 mAh, 5.2-inch, IPS, HiSilicon Kirin 650
730
0 %
Check price
Huawei P8lite 2200 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, HiSilicon KIRIN 620
339
- 53.56 %
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Lenovo Vibe S1 2420 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, MediaTek MT6752
326
- 55.34 %
Check price
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus 2750 mAh, 5.0-inch, IPS, Huawei P9 Lite and Color Band A1 quick review – a combination that will appeal to anyone
226
- 69.04 %
Check price
Sony Xperia XA 2300 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10
240
- 67.12 %
Check price
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) 3100 mAh, 5.2-inch, Super AMOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916)
562
- 23.01 %
Check price
For this test we use a looping 720p movie.
Smartphones
Results (min.)
Result
difference
Price
Huawei P9 Lite 3000 mAh, 5.2-inch, IPS, HiSilicon Kirin 650
518
0 %
Check price
Huawei P8lite 2200 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, HiSilicon KIRIN 620
422
- 18.53 %
Check price
Lenovo Vibe S1 2420 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, MediaTek MT6752
561
8.3 %
Check price
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus 2750 mAh, 5.0-inch, IPS, Huawei P9 Lite and Color Band A1 quick review – a combination that will appeal to anyone
472
- 8.88 %
Check price
Sony Xperia XA 2300 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10
464
- 10.42 %
Check price
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) 3100 mAh, 5.2-inch, Super AMOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916)
1230
137.45 %
Check price
In order to simulate 3D gaming, we use Epic Citadel cycles at High Quality setting.
Smartphones
Results (min.)
Result
difference
Price
Huawei P9 Lite 3000 mAh, 5.2-inch, IPS, HiSilicon Kirin 650
304
0 %
Check price
Huawei P8lite 2200 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, HiSilicon KIRIN 620
220
- 27.63 %
Check price
Lenovo Vibe S1 2420 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, MediaTek MT6752
202
- 33.55 %
Check price
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus 2750 mAh, 5.0-inch, IPS, Huawei P9 Lite and Color Band A1 quick review – a combination that will appeal to anyone
218
- 28.29 %
Check price
Sony Xperia XA 2300 mAh, 5-inch, IPS, MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10
158
- 48.03 %
Check price
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) 3100 mAh, 5.2-inch, Super AMOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916)
357
17.43 %
Check price
Power saving mode
You are presented with three battery modes, the most impressive of which is the Ultra one. It is similar to Samsung’s Ultra Power Saving in that it is very extreme, leaving only the basic features available to the user against a dark wallpaper. All this leads to a significant increase of durability which somehow compensates for the not so consistent battery results.
Color Band A1’s battery
If you think that this is yet another smart device that you will have to frequently charge, we will make you happy with the news that Color Band A1’s battery can last for as long as a month after a single charge. 28 days, to be more exact, or at least this is the official information we can choose to trust. The charging becomes possible via a small panel with a microUSB port which is magnetically attached to the bracelet.
Color Band A1’s features
To make use of all features the bracelet offers, you will have to install the Color Band A1 app (from the Google Play store) on your phone. It, of course, is free of charge and is only 4 MB. For those of you who think that all this is a bit too complicated, we can say that the app is quite convenient and simplified. Additionally, the info it provides is very well structured in a way which is convenient and easy to understand for people who are new to all this. It’s not like you need a university degree to operate with such devices but still. This bracelet’s capabilities can be arranged in three sections – sports activity, sleep quality, and UV radiation monitoring.
Sports activity
We tested the sports activity monitoring in a game of mini football. After the game we checked the app. The information it displayed includes the number of steps made. In our case it showed a tad below 10 000 steps or converted into distance – 7.27 km. We can also see the calories burned. We got 295.2 kcal and this has been compared to two corns so that we can get a good idea. Additionally, the bracelet can automatically recognize the type of your activity – walking, running or cycling. This can happen after a certain amount of time has passed. For example, the football game we played took about two hours. The bracelet told us that the activity type had been walking. We can’t say that this is the best game we’ve had, but there were moments in which there was some serious running. However, if you go jogging in which constant running is mandatory, the smart device will register accordingly. At the bottom of the app you will find info about the daily progress you’ve accomplished. You can actually determine this target beforehand. What’s more, you can share your achievements on social networks and so we are planning to share with our friends how whole-heartedly we’ve played in that game.
Sleep quality
After the game one must let his/her body rest, and this is another area in which the smart bracelet can come in handy. In this app section you can obtain info not only about the duration of your sleep but also about its quality or sleep stages, to be more exact. You will find out the amount of time you’ve slept really deep or more lightly, as well as the periods you’ve been awake. Furthermore, there is a chart that displays what happens while you’re sleeping. Below it you can read some tips. In our case the app told us that we’ve slept enough but that we needed to sleep more deeply.
UV radiation
This is definitely a feature which is not that common for wearable tech and so it’s great to have it here. For this purpose, the bracelet has to be facing the sun and then you need to press the “Test” button in the app, and then wait for 5 seconds. The information that will appear shows what the UV radiation levels are, and adds some useful pieces of advice. For example, what SPF you need to be using or whether you need to take sunglasses/hat/parasol with you, or if you need to drink more water. Also available is a statistics with the exact date and hour in which you’ve performed the UV radiation check.
Smart capabilities
After all, this is a smart bracelet and it boasts several other functions. There are two additional menus – one dedicated to your profile, and another meant for the bracelet. The former includes some personal info such as gender, weight, height, and age. It is here that you can set a daily target. The second menu is slightly more feature-rich, and it informs you of the battery charge and whether your phone is connected to the bracelet. You can set a period of time in which the bracelet will notify you with its LED indicator if you have incoming calls or messages. Additionally, the same signal can be used if you select the intelligent alarm option or if you are looking for your bracelet (in case you’ve lost it and it still is within the Bluetooth range).
Software
Huawei P9 Lite uses Android 6.0 Marshmallow and you can read more about this OS in our review. Along with it, you get Huawei’s UI – EMUI 4.1. It brings many changes in menus and icons. If happen to enjoy different layouts, there is an app which brings different themes (there are a few available, and tens more downloadable). It really changes the entire layout – wallpapers and icons alike. There is no internal menu and all of the apps are available on the home screen (some of them are arranged in folders).
If you swipe up when the screen is locked, you will find a special menu that offers quick access to various options such as flashlight, calculator, voice recorder, camera, and a wallpaper menu.
Pre-installed apps
As it is the case with other Huawei models, this one too abounds in pre-installed apps, most of which are arranged in folders. For example, Top apps contains Twitter, Facebook, Todoist for task sync and WPS Office for reading or creating Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF documents. Even richer is the Tools folder – it contains a file manager, weather forecast app, calculator, radio, mirror, flashlight, compass, and others. There is also a games folder which contains Asphalt Nitro, Spider-Man, Ice Age: Scrat-Ventures and more.
Although out of folders, Health and HiCare are here to monitor your activity and healthy lifestyle. There is also a phone manager which monitors battery charge, protects you from malware, frees RAM, etc.
Settings menu
The settings menu looks really convenient and welcoming. It has several sections, each of which includes several submenus marked with small colorful icons. At the top, you have a search box because the available options are many and that’s a good and quick way in which you can find what you’re looking for, or at least until you get used to working with the menus.
Home screen style
This submenu offers you to choose between a standard or simplified layout, which includes basic features ordered in big colorful blocks.
Smart assistance
Most curious features have been put together in the Smart assistance menu. It contains the navigation bar which allows three different arrangements of the navigation buttons. What’s more, you can add a fourth button which opens the drop-down menu.
The next submenu is “Floating dock” and it brings the three navigation buttons into one which can be placed along the entire screen length. Additionally, it also includes a button that locks and one that closes opened apps.
Next is “Flip” and it allows you to mute sounds and stop vibration from incoming calls by flipping the phone down.
P9 Lite has a 5.2-inch screen but also available is a menu that facilitates one-handed operation. It scales down the operating area by swiping on the navigation bar and also moves the dial keyboard when dialing telephone numbers.
The next submenu is devoted to voice control. It gives you the opportunity to quick call by voice command, and you can also pick a language. Additionally, there is another option which says the name of your incoming calls (it is active when your headphones are plugged in).
You can also configure an automatic start or power off of your device. Furthermore, there are dedicated modes for when you’re working with gloves, or such that protect the phone against unwilling manipulation while it’s in your pocket, for example.
Fingerprint ID
As it was already mentioned, Huawei P9 Lite features a fingerprint scanner on its back. It is square and unlike most smartphones, it does more than simply unlocking your phone. For example, if you press for a short period of time, you can take a shot or start video recording, answer a call or stop an alarm. By swiping down you can open the drop-down menu, and by double-tapping – delete notifications. Last but not least, the sensor can be used for browsing images in your gallery.
Performance
P9 Lite uses a Kirin 650 mobile CPU which is a successor to Kirin 620 (available in P8 Lite). Kirin 650 has been manufactured through a 16nm FinFET technological process. The chip features four Cortex-A53 cores ticking at up to 2 GHz plus other four Cortex-A53, operating at up to 1.7 GHz. Additionally, Kirin 650 has an i5 core processor, which helps the processor in different tasks and has a really low energy consumption. Also, the GPU has been improved over the one in Kirin 620. It is Mali T830MP2. According to Huawei, the new chip will increase the CPU performance with 60%, and GPU performance with 100%. The specs also include LTE Cat. 6 and download speeds of up to 300Mbps. In P9 Lite’s case there are 2 GB of RAM, and the internal storage is 16 GB but you can expand via the midcroSD card slot, which supports up to 256 GB.
CPU
Geekbench 3.0 (Multi-Core)
Vellamo 3 Metal
Vellamo 2 Metal
Geekbench 3.0 is Primate Labs cross-platform processor benchmark which simulates real-world scenarios and gives a combined score, based on the results of integer, floating point and memory performance.
Smartphones
Results
Result
difference
Price
Huawei P9 Lite HiSilicon Kirin 650 (4-core, Cortex-A53, 2.0 GHz), 2GB RAM
3454
0 %
Check price
Huawei P8lite HiSilicon KIRIN 620 (8-core, Cortex-A53, 2GB RAM
2805
- 18.79 %
Check price
Lenovo Vibe S1 MediaTek MT6752 (8-core, Cortex-A53, 1.7 GHz), 3GB RAM
3599
4.2 %
Check price
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus Huawei P9 Lite and Color Band A1 quick review – a combination that will appeal to anyone 2GB RAM
2687
- 22.21 %
Check price
Sony Xperia XA MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10 (8-core, Cortex-A53, 2GB RAM
2866
- 17.02 %
Check price
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