Introduction
The Huawei Nova series has always been a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone segment, offering sleek designs, powerful cameras, and competitive pricing. The Huawei Nova 9, launched in late 2021, continues this tradition, showcasing Huawei’s commitment to style, performance, and camera innovation—even amid ongoing restrictions affecting its access to Google Mobile Services. Despite these challenges, the Nova 9 presents a compelling package, particularly for users who prioritize aesthetics, display quality, and photography.
Design and Build Quality
One of the first things you'll notice about the Huawei Nova 9 is its striking design. It features a curved OLED display, ultra-slim bezels, and a lightweight build that feels premium in hand. The phone weighs around 175 grams and is just 7.77 mm thick, making it comfortable for long usage without feeling bulky.
The back panel sports a glossy, iridescent finish in colors like Starry Blue and Black, which shift under light, giving it a sophisticated and futuristic vibe. The camera module, shaped in what Huawei calls the “nova ring” design, draws inspiration from the P-series and Mate-series, featuring a large primary lens and smaller accompanying sensors.
Display
The Huawei Nova 9 boasts a 6.57-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2340 x 1080 (FHD+) resolution. This high refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations, while the OLED panel delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast.
Support for 1.07 billion colors (10-bit color depth) enhances the visual experience, especially when viewing HDR content or high-quality videos. The curved edges of the display not only enhance aesthetics but also provide an immersive experience, whether you're watching movies or playing games.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Huawei Nova 9 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset. While this is a capable mid-range processor known for solid performance and power efficiency, it's worth noting that due to U.S. sanctions, this variant only supports 4G connectivity, not 5G.
Paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, the Nova 9 handles multitasking, gaming, and everyday tasks with ease. The phone runs smoothly with minimal lag, whether you're browsing social media, playing graphics-intensive games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile, or editing photos and videos.
Camera Capabilities
One of the standout features of the Huawei Nova 9 is its camera system. The quad-camera setup includes:
50 MP Ultra Vision main camera (f/1.9, RYYB sensor)
8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens
2 MP depth sensor
2 MP macro lens
The 50 MP RYYB sensor, commonly seen in Huawei’s flagship phones, allows for more light intake and better low-light performance. Daylight shots are sharp, colorful, and detailed, while night photography benefits from Huawei’s advanced AI algorithms and Night Mode. The ultra-wide lens performs well in good lighting, and the macro lens, though not the best, can be fun for close-up shots.
On the front, the Nova 9 features a 32 MP selfie camera capable of 4K video recording, which is rare in this price segment. Selfies are crisp and detailed, and video bloggers will appreciate the vlog mode that allows simultaneous front and rear camera recording.
Software and User Interface
The Huawei Nova 9 runs on HarmonyOS 2 (in China) or EMUI 12 (for global markets). While these are different branches of Huawei’s software ecosystem, they offer similar user experiences—fluid UI, smart features, and tight integration with Huawei’s services.
However, the biggest caveat is the absence of Google Mobile Services (GMS). This means apps like Gmail, Google Maps, and the Play Store are not available by default. Instead, users rely on Huawei AppGallery, Petal Search, and web versions of certain Google services.
Although AppGallery has grown significantly and now includes many popular apps, the lack of full GMS support may still be a dealbreaker for some users depending on their reliance on Google’s ecosystem.
Battery Life and Charging
The Huawei Nova 9 is equipped with a 4,300 mAh battery, which offers decent endurance for a day of moderate to heavy use, thanks to the efficient Snapdragon 778G processor and optimized software.
One of the biggest highlights is its 66W Huawei SuperCharge support. With this fast-charging technology, the phone can charge from 0 to around 60% in just 15-20 minutes and reach 100% in about 38 minutes. This makes it one of the fastest-charging phones in its segment and significantly reduces downtime.
Connectivity and Other Features
Due to trade restrictions, the Huawei Nova 9 does not support 5G. However, it offers dual 4G SIM support, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC (availability may vary by region).
There is no 3.5mm headphone jack, and the storage is not expandable—factors to consider if you're a power user. It also lacks an official IP rating for water and dust resistance.
Conclusion: Is the Huawei Nova 9 Worth It?
The Huawei Nova 9 is an excellent choice for users who value:
Premium design and build
High-quality display
Strong camera performance
Fast charging speeds
However, the absence of Google Mobile Services and 5G might be a concern for some. If you're comfortable navigating Huawei’s alternative app ecosystem or primarily use web-based apps, the Nova 9 remains a very capable and stylish device.
Pros:
Stunning OLED 120Hz display
Excellent primary camera
Slim and lightweight design
Very fast charging
Cons:
No 5G support
No Google services (GMS)
No headphone jack or expandable storage
In conclusion, the Huawei Nova 9 is a beautifully crafted smartphone that punches above its weight in design, display, and photography. While it has some limitations, especially in software and connectivity, it’s still a strong contender for those willing to adapt to Huawei’s ecosystem.