Almost every Android OEM follows a common trend of releasing different variants of their high-end handsets, mostly in the Plus and Lite versions. Both versions usually differ in size and specifications while maintaining the general design, in an attempt to capitalize on the original flagship’s brand image.
Huawei is also no surprise to this, and the Huawei P9 Lite, which was released after the P9 and P9 Plus, is another example. The P9 Lite is unquestionably the most budget-friendly of the series, but does it vary significantly from its flagship sibling?
Other than providing a variety of features, both phones appeal to different people. Now let’s see the differences between Huawei P9 vs P9 Lite, which features make them separate from each other.
Huawei P9 vs Huawei P9 Lite: Specs
| Huawei P9 | Huawei P9 Lite | |
| Display | 5.2-inch IPS-NEO LCD display Full HD resolution (1920×1080), 424 PPI | 5.2-inch IPS LCD display
Full HD resolution(1920×1080), 424 PPI |
| Processor | 1.8GHz/2.5GHz octa-core Kirin 955 | 1.7GHz/2.0GHz octa-core Kirin 650 |
| RAM | 3/4 GB RAM | 2/3 GB RAM |
| Storage | 32/64 GB expandable via microSD up to 128 GB | 16GB. expandable up to 128GB via microSD |
| Camera | 12 MP dual rear camera, f/2.2 aperture, dual LED flash and 8 MP front-facing camera | 13 MP rear camera, f/2.0 aperture, LED flash and 8 MP front-facing camera |
| Battery | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 4.2 GPS+GLONASS NFC USB Type C 1.0 |
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.1 GPS+GLONASS NFC microUSB 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 145 x 70.9 x 7 mm (5.71 x 2.79 x 0.28 in) | 146.8 x 72.6 x 7.5 mm (5.78 x 2.86 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 144 g | 147 g |
Huawei P9 vs P9 Lite: Design
When it comes to mobile design, Huawei has always been creative and effective, and the P9 series is no exception. All models feature a unibody metal design that gives the devices a solid appearance while retaining sleek details.
While the Huawei P9 Lite and P9 share the same styling cues, there are minor differences in design elements that emphasize the P9 Lite’s lower price point. For instance, unlike the P9, which has a complete unibody structure, the P9 Lite has a metal frame with a polycarbonate covering. The switch to plastic isn’t a bad one, and it doesn’t stand out too much at first glimpse, thanks to the fake brushed metal coating.
The P9 Lite, despite its name, is the larger and heavier of the two phones, although by a slight margin (144g vs 147g in weights), but the cosmetic differences are more visible on the rear.
The other significant difference between these two devices is noticeable on the back. The P9 has a black bar on top that houses the dual-camera setup, similar to the Nexus 6P, which is also made by Huawei. The P9 Lite, on the other hand, has a thin strip at the top that matches the color of the body and contains a single camera. On the back of both smartphones is a fingerprint sensor as well.
On both models, the power button and volume knob are located on the top right side. The P9’s headphone jack, on the other hand, is on the bottom, while the P9 Lite’s is located at the top. The Huawei P9 has a single bottom-mounted speaker unit next to the USB Type C port, while the P9 Lite features a micro USB port flanked by two grills. Despite the fact that there are two speaker grills, only one of them holds a single speaker unit.
Display
Each of them contains 5.2-inch screens and features a Full HD 1920×1080 resolution and also IPS LCD technology, which guarantees high overall brightness, good viewing angles, and precise coloring.
The P9’s display has a brightness of 500 nits, while the P9 Lite’s display offers a brightness of 450 nits. Although the P9 is significantly brighter, neither phone has a problem with daylight visibility. These displays produce bright, saturated colors, and the viewing experience will be enjoyable regardless of which device you use.
By exploiting JPD’s IPS NEO LCD technology, the P9 takes the lead by a lip, promising even better contrast and color schemes and also consumes less power.
Performance + Hardware
On paper, the most noticeable variations are those that aren’t visible. The Huawei P9 is fitted with an octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 955 processor clocked at 2.5 GHz, a Mali-T880MP4 GPU, and either 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM, depending on storage configuration and industry. The P9 Lite, on the other hand, has a mid-range octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 650 chipset which is clocked at the speed of 2 GHz, a Mali-T880MP2 GPU, and 2 GB or 3 GB RAM versions.
The P9 comes in 32 GB and 64 GB variants, with 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM depending on the model. The P9 Lite, on the other hand, contains just 16 GB of built-in storage. Both smartphones have microSD card slots that can be used to extend the storage up to 128 GB. However, since these use the place of a second SIM slot, users would have to choose between expandable storage and dual SIM functionality.
The Huawei P9 uses a beefed-up variant of the processing module that runs in the Mate 8, and you can expect high-end results. Anything from daily tasks to heavy gaming is handled with comfort by the device, and things stay smooth and punchy throughout. The P9 Lite’s efficiency will, unsurprisingly, fall short of that of its predecessor, but it still is a very good handset.
Huawei P9 Vs P9 Lite: Camera
Not all cameras are treated equally, and considering the P9 Lite’s higher megapixel count (13 vs 12 on the Huawei P9), we have a sneaky feeling that while it’ll take decent pictures on most occasions. It won’t reach the clarity, consistency, and overall flexibility of the P9’s dual-camera setup.
The Huawei P9’s camera, which was co-engineered with Leica, is one of the most significant features. The P9 has a 12 MP dual-lens configuration with an f/2.2 aperture, one with an RGB scanner for color accuracy and the other exclusively for black and white detail photography. With this camera, you can also get some great monochromatic shots, and the overall quality of the pictures has been excellent.
On the other side, the P9 Lite has a more traditional 13 MP single camera on the back with an f/2.0 aperture. Unfortunately, neither camera has optical image stabilization. While both phones have an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, the P9 Lite adds an LED flash to help in giving more brightness to the selfies.
Battery
The 3,000 mAh battery is owned by both devices. With about 4.5 hours of screen-on time on the P9, a full day of use is easily possible, and we can anticipate the very same, if not more, from the P9 Lite. The P9 also has fast charging abilities, but unfortunately, a fast charger is not included in the pack.
The company claims that its smartphones will last up to two days on a single charge. In the long run, the decision to go with a 1080p screen rather than a 2K display will be beneficial to battery efficiency. A USB Type-C port is included on both phones for charging and data transmission. When you combine all of this with Android Marshmallow’s battery-saving functionality, we could really see the company’s claims right.
Conclusion
When it comes to its new smartphone releases, Huawei seems to have checked all the boxes. The company has produced options for a wide range of people with its various versions. The phones have a sleek metal build, solid hardware, and a great camera system.
That concludes our comparison of the Huawei P9 vs P9 Lite. With its faster processing system, slightly better cameras, and more elegant design and build quality, the higher-end P9 proves to be the superior product.
The P9 Lite, on the other hand, isn’t far behind, keeping up with the competition in terms of display and features, and the build quality is also very good for a mid-range mobile. The P9 Lite is going to be a lot cheaper than its high-end counterpart, so if money is an issue, the P9 Lite is a great alternative.
