Huawei Nova 9 SE Review: Affordable Performance, Impressive Camera, and Fast Charging

Huawei unveiled its latest smartphone, the Huawei Nova 9 SE, on March 8, 2022, boasting impressive specifications and an attractive price tag, making it a competitive option in the mid-range market. With a large 6.78-inch display and a powerful 108MP quad-camera setup, the Nova 9 SE stands out for its high-end features at a more affordable price compared to other smartphones in the same category. Despite some limitations like a smaller 4000mAh battery and no Google Play Services, the phone still offers excellent value for money.

Huawei Nova 9 SE Specifications

1. Design and Build Quality The Huawei Nova 9 SE is designed with dimensions of 164.6 x 75.6 x 7.9 mm and weighs 191 grams, making it relatively light and comfortable to hold. The device sports a modern hole-punch display with a screen-to-body ratio optimized for media consumption and gaming.

2. Display The phone comes with a 6.78-inch IPS LCD display offering a 1080 x 2388 pixels resolution. With a 387 PPI pixel density and a 90Hz refresh rate, the screen delivers smoother visuals and better responsiveness compared to traditional 60Hz displays. This makes it an excellent choice for users who enjoy streaming, gaming, and general multitasking.

3. Camera Setup Huawei Nova 9 SE stands out for its quad-camera system:

• The 108MP primary camera (f/1.9 aperture) delivers exceptional detail and clarity, allowing users to capture high-quality images even in low-light conditions.
• The 8MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2) is perfect for capturing expansive landscapes or group photos.
• A 2MP macro lens (f/2.4) enables close-up photography with fine detail.
• The 2MP depth sensor (f/2.4) enhances portrait shots by providing accurate background blur (bokeh) for professional-looking results.

The front camera is 16MP (f/2.2), designed for crisp selfies and video calls. The phone also supports video recording in FHD 1080p at 30/60fps and HD 720p at 30fps, making it suitable for recording high-quality content on the go.

4. Performance The Huawei Nova 9 SE is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset, built on a 6nm process, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. This processor, alongside the Adreno 610 GPU, ensures smooth performance for day-to-day tasks, gaming, and multitasking. Although it doesn’t support microSD card expansion, the internal storage is adequate for most users.

5. Battery and Charging The 4000mAh battery in the Huawei Nova 9 SE may seem smaller compared to other smartphones in its class, but it is optimized for efficiency. It supports 66W fast charging, which means the phone can charge from 0 to 60% in just 15 minutes, and 100% in under an hour. This makes it one of the fastest charging devices in its segment.

6. Connectivity Huawei Nova 9 SE supports NFC, Dual SIM (Nano SIM), and a range of network bands, including 2G, 3G, and 4G. It also features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, and Hotspot, allowing for fast internet speeds and reliable connections. Bluetooth 5.0 supports A2DP and LE, while GPS capabilities include A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and QZSS for accurate navigation.

7. Security Features For security, the phone includes a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that works quickly and accurately. In addition, it supports Face Unlock for easy and secure access. The phone is equipped with the standard sensors, including accelerometer, proximity, and compass.

8. Software The Huawei Nova 9 SE runs on Android 11 with Huawei’s proprietary EMUI 12 user interface, which offers a sleek and user-friendly experience. However, it does not support Google Play Services, which means users must rely on the AppGallery for app downloads. The AppGallery is a secure and curated platform, offering a wide range of apps, though it may not have all the options available on the Google Play Store.

9. USB and Ports The device comes with a Type-C USB port, supporting OTG for transferring files between devices or connecting external accessories like USB drives.

Huawei Nova 9 SE Price and Availability

The Huawei Nova 9 SE is priced competitively in several markets:

• In Egypt, the price is approximately 8800 EGP for the 128GB storage variant with 8GB RAM.
• In Saudi Arabia, the price is around 800 SAR for the same configuration.
• In the UAE, it retails for about 750 AED.

These prices make the Nova 9 SE an attractive option for users looking for a feature-rich smartphone at a lower price point.

Advantages of the Huawei Nova 9 SE

• Affordable price for a phone with high-end specifications, including a 108MP camera, a 90Hz display, and fast charging.
• Dual SIM support and NFC for convenience in connectivity.
• The 64W fast charging support allows quick recharging, even with a smaller battery.
• Side-mounted fingerprint sensor and Face Unlock provide secure and fast access to the phone.
• Excellent camera performance for photography enthusiasts with advanced imaging technology.

Drawbacks of the Huawei Nova 9 SE

• No headphone jack, so users will need to rely on wireless or USB-C headphones.
• No support for 5G, limiting future-proofing as 5G networks become more widespread.
• The 4000mAh battery, while capable, is smaller than some competitors’ batteries, and it may not last as long during heavy use.
• No expandable storage since it lacks a microSD card slot.
• No FM radio and no infrared (IR) functionality.
• The lack of Google Play Services can limit access to certain apps, requiring users to rely on alternative app stores.

Huawei Nova 9 SE Box Contents

• Huawei Nova 9 SE smartphone.
• 66W fast charger.
• USB Type-C cable.
• SIM ejector tool.
• User manual for setup and usage instructions.
• Clear protective case to protect the back of the phone.
• Phone case for added protection.

Final Thoughts

The Huawei Nova 9 SE is an affordable and well-equipped smartphone that delivers excellent performance and value for money, especially for users looking for a high-quality camera experience and fast charging capabilities. With its stylish design, powerful quad-camera setup, and large screen, it is a solid choice for photography lovers, gamers, and those who need a reliable phone for everyday use. However, the absence of Google Play Services, expandable storage, and 5G support may be dealbreakers for some users. If you can look past these limitations, the Huawei Nova 9 SE offers fantastic features at a price that is hard to beat.