Huawei P9 Lite Review: A Smartphone That Is Light On Price But Strong On Performance And Design

Summary

The Huawei P9 Lite succeeds the P8 Lite as the mini version of the 2016 flagship – the P9. In comparison to the P8, there are a couple of improvements that have been made specifically to the battery, display and build quality.

The P9 Lite amazes you from the time you hold it in your hands to when you start customising and using it. With the same design philosophy as the P8 Lite, the P9 Lite use a metallic frame and a polycarbonate back adding a fingerprint scanner and a couple of tricks that make using the P9 worth your dime.

As lite as it is, the P9 lite packs in 2/3GB of RAM, 16GB ROM, a 3000mAh battery, a fingerprint scanner, and a 13MP camera. However, not all things are rosy about the P9. In this review we break it down showing you our experience, the pros, cons and most of the information you need to know about the P9 Lite. Let’s start with the unboxing.

Unboxing

For the device we got, the packaging was rather disappointing as we expected premium packaging. All we got was a white little non branded box with serial numbers on the side. If I got that from a shop, I would doubt how genuine the device is but since we got it from Huawei itself, we were satisfied. In the box was;

• Huawei P9 Lite
• Earphones
• Travel charger with USB cable
• Screen Protector
• SIM ejection tool

The thing about the P9 Lite is the premium feeling you instantly get when you hold it in your palm. You begin to feel how solid the device is and when you power it on and set it up, it continues to wow you. Before we dive into what makes the P9 Lite wow, let’s see the specs its packs.

Huawei P9 Lite Specifications

Announced: April 2016 Available: April 2016 Colors: Black, White, Gold SIM: Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual standby) OS: Android OS, v6.0 (Marshmallow) Network: GPRS, EDGE, GSM, HSPA, LTE 4G LTE Bands: LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 19(800), 28(700), 40(2300) Dimensions: 1146.8 x 72.6 x 7.5 mm Weight: 147 g Display: 5.2 inches, FHD 1080 x 1920 pixels (~424 ppi pixel density) CPU: Quad-core 1.7/2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 Memory: 16 GB, 2/3 GB RAM, microSD up to 256 GB (dedicated slot) Camera: 13 MP, f/2.0, autofocus, LED flash, 8 MP, f/2.0 Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, LE Sensors: Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery

What’s New?

• Fingerprint Sensor
• HiCare App
• Huawei Health App
• Better battery Management

Setting Up

Huawei P9 Lite Design

The P9 Lite carries the same design philosophy like it’s predecessor the P8 Lite with a few tweaks. The biggest though is that the P9 ditched the plastic body for a metallic finish. The Finish is so good you may think it’s all metal but it is not. Only the frame is while the back is made of polycarbonate. The 5.2 inch P9 Lite is as slim as 7.5mm and 147g light with a 70% screen to body ratio. The ear piece as usual was placed top centre with the front camera and proximity sensor to the left.

The notification light that so many have come to love sits at the top right and the Huawei Logo at the bottom centre. The earphone jack was placed at the top slightly to the right. The left side carries the SIM & SD card slot while the right has the volume rockers and power button. The charging port and speakers were placed at the bottom edge. The textured back features the the camera placed top left with the LED flash. Slightly below it is the fingerprint sensor and more huawei brading at the bottom centre.

OS and Apps

The Huawei P9 Lite comes with the EMUI 4.1 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Fortunately the P9 comes with a few must have apps and let’s you install the rest. We were excited about apps like HiCare, Health and Phone Manager.

HiCare allows you access the device manual, and vital information including locating the nearest store you can get your device repaired.

Health App is a more integrated health assistant that helps you stay active by tracking your diet and exercise. Even if there are apps that already do this, Huawei designed the app to work best with their devices.

Phone Manager is another Huawei smartphone optimizer that helps you boost your phone’s performance automatically. Once again there are apps that do this but this is better because it is free and will not be laced in Ads.

As usual Huawei’s Emotion UI doesn’t come with an app drawer but that is something that most if its fans are probably used to by now. Android 6.0 is highly customisable allowing you to make your device truly yours. The P9 will allow you to choose from 6 themes, create folders to organize your apps, customise colors, transitions, how you receive and respond to notifications among others.

Even if not yet officially out, we also hope that Huawei will release an Android Nougat 7.0 update for the P9 Lite.

P9 Lite Tips and tricks

• Use the fingerprint scanner to access notification centre, scroll through pictures, take a selfie, answer a call and stop an alarm.
• Choose between Standard and Simple UI
• Set notification light to show different colors for different notifications
• Customise Notification centre, notifications, how you receive them and what actions to take
• Set up different user accounts for the same phone
• customise navigation bar
• Quick access floating dock
• Flip to mute incoming call
• Shifting keyboard and one – hand operation. Can shift the keyboard around the screen or reduce the size of the screen to help you use one hand.
• touch disable mode keeps the device from accidental operation while in your pocket or bag
• “Do Not Disturb” Mode
• Battery Manager helps you conserve battery

Huawei P9 Lite Camera

Forget the days when the battle was for hardware. If it was all about how many pixels, the Nokia Pureview with its 41MegaPixels would have been the world’s best selling camera phone. We now know that it is a combination of hardware and software interacting seamlessly to deliver crisp images.

The P9 Lite packs a 13MP primary camera and an 8MP selfie camera. The Camera features a 27mm SONY IMX214 lens, a 2.0 aperture and Back Side Illumination (BSI) technology that work together to give you crisp images. The P9 camera has a fast shutter and a good enough interpretation of low light enabling you to take photos in poor lighting conditions.

We had some time to take some still life photos and this is what we got.

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P9 Lite Battery: Great battery performance but charges slow

After multiple charge and recharge cycles we put the P9 battery to a stress test to see how good the 3000mAh hold up and we were impressed. The battery holds up really good especially with normal usage.

if you only pick a couple of calls, check emails, social media every once in awhile and may be listen to some music, the P9 battery could last you a whole day.

The P9 has a couple of battery saving features plus an ultra Saver mode that gets you about 20 minutes on 2% charge. The battery is strained most when you game and watch movies or video constantly. What we didn’t like though was that it took us between 3-4 hours to get a full charge and that wasnt cool. Huawei should have combined the good battery management with a quick charge feature to help you stay powered up.

Entertainment: Full HD display, impressive graphics and sound

The Huawei P9 Lite comes with 16GB memory on board expandable to 256GB. It also comes with a Radio that is a favorite for many. The 5.2 inch display is just enough to help you enjoy your games, videos and movies with ease. You will have to invest in a high speed memory card and you will be good to go.

The earphones were also impressive delivering good quality sound amidst other functionality. Even if the Huawei looks like it has what looks like dual speakers, the sound actually only comes from the bottom right speaker with the left just complementing the design. That aside, the P9 Lite still delivers good quality sound that we found loud enough if you need it to be. We enjoyed Games, Video, Music and Radio

Huawei P9 Lite Vs. P8 Lite

Thumbs Up

• HiCare App
• Huawei Health App
• Fingerprint Sensor
• Impressive Camera
• No Bloatware/unnecessary apps
• In built smartphone optimiser
• Good battery Management
• Highly customisable with interesting tricks

Thumbs Down

• You have to choose between a second SIM card or Memory card – You can’t have both.
• Slow charging
• No gesture support

Huawei P9 Lite Price and Where to Buy

Some of the dealerships include Banana Phone World Lugogo Mall, Kampala Road, Simba Telecom, MTN, Africell and Airtel Stores among others. We however strongly recommend that you purchase your devices from genuine vendors only who provide functional warranties.

Wrapping it Up

Nothing is perfect. I could have gotten into technical jargon talking about what Huawei could have done better and of course there’s a couple of things. In summary, we had an amazing experience with the P9 Lite and whatever wasn’t on point is something we could adapt or get used to. This is so especially because of the price point. If I reviewed a flagship costing an arm and a leg, I would be that lenient because we expect nothing but the best in a flagship device.

If you want a premium experience and good performance on a budget, then the P9 would be your best deal. It is a perfect upgrade to an entry level or mid range device. Huawei has gone ahead to create proprietary apps that make using the P9 fun and quite addictive. Combined with the affordability and customisation, the P9 makes for a good deal. We give it a Dignited Rating of 4 stars out of 5.

About Onyait Odeke

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Talkio Mobile , Uganda’s newest telecommunications service provider, is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Banana Life Investments, a leading chain of mobile phone and retail shops. This strategic alliance aims to bring Talkio’s innovative telecom services closer to Ugandans.

This collaboration will leverage Banana Life Investments’ extensive retail network of 26 stores strategically located across Uganda in major malls, towns, and cities to provide customers with unparalleled convenience. Through this partnership, Talkio Mobile will offer its full suite of services, including SIM cards, airtime, and exclusive product offerings at any Banana Life Investment location.

This partnership is more than a business initiative—it’s a shared commitment to transforming lives. By integrating Talkio Mobile’s forward-thinking services & nationwide reach with Banana Life Investments’ retail footprint, the two brands are setting a new standard for customer convenience and inclusivity.

READ ALSO: 5 Things You Need to Know About Talkio Mobile: New Telecom Company in Uganda

“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission of connecting Ugandans to innovative and transformative telecom solutions,” said Vianne Allan Ahura, CEO of Talkio Mobile. “By leveraging Banana Life Investments’ trusted presence and nationwide footprint, we are not only expanding our agent network but also bringing our services closer to the communities we serve. This collaboration ensures that our online customers can now enjoy a seamless offline experience right at their doorstep. Together, we are empowering Ugandans with the tools they need to stay connected, grow their businesses, and unlock new opportunities.”

Solomon Ssemuyaba, the assistant general manager at Banana Life Investments, echoed this sentiment: “We are proud to join hands with Talkio Mobile to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions. This partnership represents our shared vision of fostering a connected future for Uganda. Together, we are redefining what convenience and accessibility mean for our customers.”

The partnership goes beyond retail distribution, introducing joint initiatives aimed at value addition and personalized service. Customers can expect seamless access to:

• SIM Card Sales : Available at all Banana Life Investments locations.
• Talkio phone number bookings : Book your preferred Talkio number at any Banana Life Investments location.
• Airtime Services : Recharge easily through in-store purchases.
• Customer Support : Friendly and knowledgeable staff trained to assist with Talkio Mobile products and services.

Additionally, the two companies plan to launch promotional campaigns and expand services to even more locations, ensuring no Ugandan is left behind in the digital transformation.

Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]

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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona , the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry, has just concluded. This annual event gathers leading technology brands to unveil groundbreaking mobile, AI, and digital solutions innovations. At MWC 2025, TECNO showcased a range of AI-driven products, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge technology.

The key launches included:

• CAMON 40 Series – AI-powered smartphones with One-Tap FlashSnap and advanced mobile imaging features.
• MEGABOOK S14 – The world’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring AI-enhanced multitasking and Snapdragon® X Elite.
• MEGABOOK T14 Air & K15S – Lightweight ultrabooks with AI capabilities and extended battery life.
• TECNO AI Glasses Series – Smart eyewear integrating AI imaging, translation, and AR display.

Jan Stryjak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, shared, “In the past year, we have observed significant advancements in the field of AI. AI will continue to drive transformative changes in our daily lives. In this critical period for the economic development of emerging markets, TECNO’s AI technologies are unlocking potential for diverse needs.”

“The application of AI technologies is crucial and urgent in emerging markets. We’re committed to bridging the digital gap between emerging and mature markets,” said TECNO CMO, Laury Bai. “TECNO is taking a practical approach to make AI more accessible, ensuring users in emerging markets can access AI and cutting-edge technologies.”

Laury Bai, TECNO CMO

Driven by its commitment, TECNO has forged a robust partnership with MediaTek, establishing a joint AI laboratory dedicated to accelerating advancements in AI. At the event, James Chen, Vice President of Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek, emphasized, “The synergistic R&D efforts between TECNO and MediaTek are set to democratize AI technology. Our collaboration powers a seamless, interconnected AI experience, bringing users a future of truly connected intelligence.”

James Chen, Vice President, Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek

CAMON 40 Series Powered by AI One-Tap FlashSnap Revolutionizes Smartphone Snapshot Photography

TECNO’s Global Product Launch Officer, Olivier Mas, officially unveiled TECNO’s next-generation AI-driven products. Attendees at TECNO’s launch event witnessed the highly anticipated debut of TECNO’s new CAMON 40 Series, a device that embodies TECNO’s legacy of excellence in mobile imaging. Featuring One-Tap FlashSnap Mode and TECNO AI, the series sets a new benchmark in smartphone photography, delivering exceptional snapshot capabilities and AI-enhanced user experiences.

Olivier Mas, TECNO Global Product Launch Officer

The CAMON 40 Series exemplifies a commitment to innovation that transcends hardware and software, extending into strategic partnerships that deliver cutting-edge AI solutions to emerging markets. Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud, remarked, “Our collaboration with TECNO on the CAMON 40 Series is a standout example. Leveraging Google Cloud’s capabilities, we’ve introduced groundbreaking features such as Ask Ella, AI Image Generator, AI Writing, and AI Translate. I am particularly impressed by the industry-leading and competitive edge of some of these innovations. For instance, TECNO’s AI supports text translation in 136 languages, voice translation in 44 languages, and photo translation in 51 languages. We are excited to further strengthen our partnership with TECNO, unlocking limitless potential to bring advanced yet practical AI capabilities to emerging markets in a convenient and secure manner.”

Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud

The CAMON 40 Series’ innovative One-Tap FlashSnap leverages AI to enhance imaging capabilities, revolutionizing mobile photography. AI optimizes camera startup and continuous shooting for instant captures, while AI-powered multi-frame processing intelligently reduces noise and enhances details, delivering sharper, more refined images. Additionally, the BestMoment algorithm analyzes motion patterns, automatically selecting the optimal frames for precise, high-quality shots in dynamic scenarios, ensuring users an unparalleled mobile imaging experience.

TECNO CAMON 40 Demonstrates the Cutting-Edge FlashSnap Capability

To delve deeper into the imaging prowess of the CAMON 40 Series, TECNO invited Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK, to share the image performance of CAMON 40 Pro. Frédéric highlighted, “The CAMON 40 Pro 5G has demonstrated exceptional imaging and performance capabilities in our rigorous evaluations. We’ve been particularly impressed with photo performance being the best for devices under 600$, and the 1st eligible device to our Smart Choice Label.”

Onsite photo of Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK

Beyond its advanced rapid-capture functionality, the integration of TECNO AI further enhances the device’s capabilities. Intelligent imaging, a 360° AI Call Assistant, and productivity tools elevate creativity and efficiency. Powered by MediaTek’s latest chipsets, the series ensures smooth performance, fast processing, and extended battery life. With a sleek, durable, and water-resistant design, it seamlessly blends style with practicality for modern users.

MEGABOOK S14, the World’s Lightest 14-inch OLED Laptop, Inspires Creators and Game Lovers

The MEGABOOK S14 is TECNO’s first OLED laptop and the industry’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring a 2.8K OLED display and incredibly weighing only 899g (31.7oz). The laptop is equipped with the outstanding power of the Snapdragon® X Elite compute platform, the flagship chipset for AI PCs from Qualcomm Technologies, and integrates TECNO’s world’s first self-developed edge-side large-scale AI model, to achieve AI-enhanced multitasking.

World’s Lightest 14-inch Laptop MEGABOOK S14

Specifically designed for next-gen AI productivity, TECNO AI enhances the Ella AI Assistant, AI-powered PPT generation, AI-driven image search, smart albums, and offline meeting transcription with multilingual support. The External Graphics Dock, equipped with a powerful NVIDIA graphic card, delivers scalable, high-performance capabilities for design, gaming, and content creation. The laptop’s 2.8K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures exceptional visuals, while DTS:X Ultra dual 2W speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, fingerprint login, and PC Manager optimize connectivity and user experience.

TECNO’s strategic partnership with Qualcomm Technologies was a highlight of the TECNO AI Ecosystem Product Launch event, demonstrating a shared vision for the future of AI PCs. Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm, took the stage to discuss the integration of Qualcomm’s cutting-edge PC chipset into the new MEGABOOK S14 laptop, underscoring TECNO’s commitment to delivering high-performance computing solutions.

Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm

In addition, TECNO also introduced several standout new products. The featherlight 999g (35.2oz) ultrabook MEGABOOK T14 Air, features high-speed storage and LPDDR5 memory, while the ultra-thin, all-metal MEGABOOK K15S, equipped with a powerful 70Wh battery and supported by a 65W PD GaN charger, offers a smarter and more long-lasting user experience. Both devices are empowered by TECNO AI with advanced AI capabilities such as AI Album and AI Voice Assistant, making them perfect companions for all aspects of life.

The Next Game-Changing Tech Innovation: See the World with the TECNO AI Glasses Series

TECNO’s new AI Glasses Series also took center stage with the introduction of TECNO AI Glasses Pro and TECNO AI Glasses, reimagining eyewear with cutting-edge imaging, intelligent interactions, and a sleek aesthetic. The TECNO AI Glasses feature an aviator design, while the Pro model showcases a browline style, both embodying timeless elegance and modern fashion.

TECNO AI Glasses Redefine the Way People See the Future

Equipped with a 50MP high-definition camera, the series integrates an OV50D sensor, a 100° ultra-wide-angle custom lens, and an AI ISP imaging chip, forming a mobile-grade imaging system. This system lets users capture stunning, high-resolution photos with advanced AI noise reduction and HDR capabilities. With real-time translation supporting over 100 languages, TECNO AI’s Ella empowers accurate translation even for less common languages, as well as voice control, AI-powered object recognition, and intelligent information summaries for ultimate convenience.

Additionally, the AI Glasses Pro features a MicroLED display with 7th-gen resin waveguide technology, offering a 30° field of view, over 1,500 nits of brightness AR display, and a lightweight, ultra-thin design. The AR display allows users to effortlessly enjoy features like translation display, navigation, information prompts, and teleprompting.

Equipped with a 250mAh battery, these glasses offer over 11 hours of music playback and 8 hours of mixed use with just 30 minutes of charging. An advanced ultra-linear speaker, bass enhancement, and spatial sound deliver an immersive audio experience, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 ensure seamless connectivity.

With these innovative launches, TECNO is setting new standards in mobile imaging and AI-enhanced technology, shaping a more connected and empowered future for consumers in emerging markets. Once again, TECNO has showcased its cutting-edge innovation on the global stage at MWC. With the brand essence of “Stop at Nothing”, TECNO’s relentless pursuit of innovation is making AI-powered technology more accessible, allowing consumers to experience the future ahead of time.

Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]

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