What's the difference between the original Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite? As the name suggests, Honor 9 Lite is a lightweight version of last year’s flagship. These two smartphones have many differences and, as for me, the Lite version is in some ways even more interesting than its older brother.
From this comparison, you will learn how these two models differ from each other, and you can decide which one is best for you. By the way, we already had a review of the Honor 9 Lite smartphone, you can find it here.
Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite: Comparison of characteristics
| Honor 9 | Honor 9 Lite | |
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 147.3 x 70.9 x 7.45 mm weighing 155 grams | 151 x 71.9 x 7.6 mm, weighing 149 grams |
| Display | 5.15 inches FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 16:9 | 5.65 inches, FHD+ resolution (2160 x 1080 pixels) and 18:9 aspect ratio |
| CPU | Kirin 960 (4 cores x 2.4 GHz and 4 x 1.8 GHz) | Kirin 659 (4 cores x 2.36 GHz and 4 x 1.7 GHz) |
| MEMORY | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB built-in micro SD slot up to 256 GB | 3 GB RAM, 32 GB RAM, micro SD slot up to 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | Android 8.0 Oreo, EMUI 8.0 interface | Android 8.0 Oreo, EMUI 8.0 interface |
| CAMERAS | 12 MP (f/2.2, 27mm) + 20 MP (f/2.2, 27mm) rear camera, 8MP front camera | 13 MP (f/2.0) + 2 MP rear camera, 13 MP + 2 MP front camera |
| BATTERY | 3200 mAh | 3000 mAh |
| Price | from $359.99 | From $199.99 |
Characteristics
Traditionally, a review of devices will begin with characteristics. They are presented in the table below.
| Characteristics | Honor 9 | Honor 9 lite |
| Dimensions, weight | 147.3*70.9*7.45 mm, 155 grams | 151*71.9*7.6 mm, 149 grams |
| Materials | Metal + glass | Metal + glass |
| Screen | IPS, 5.15 inches, FHD, Gorilla Glass 3 | LTPS, FHD+, 5.65 inches |
| OS | Android 7, EMUI 5.1 | Android 8, EMUI 8 |
| Chipset | Kirin 960, octa-core, 4*2.4 GHz, 4*1.8 GHz | Kirin 659, octa-core, 4*2.36 GHz, 4*1.7 GHz |
| Graphics coprocessor | Mali G71 MP8 | Mali T-830 |
| RAM/ROM | 4/64GB + microSD | 3/32Gb + microSD 256 Gb |
| Interfaces | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, GPS, Glonass, NFC, IR | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, GPS, Glonass, NFC |
| Cameras | 20+12 MP, 8 MP | 13+2 MP, 13+2 MP |
| battery | 3200 mAh, QuickCharge | 3000 mAh, QuickCharge |
A comparison of Huawei Honor 9 and 9 lite should begin with the fact that the second device came out later than the main model. Why this was done is not difficult to understand. Huawei has taken a tendency to update many of its devices to install the now fashionable FullView displays on them, namely, to make a frameless smartphone.
In addition, the company decided to simplify the device. The processor here is weaker, there is less ROM and RAM. The result is a smartphone that did not require special development costs. Naturally, the model is cheaper than the main device, which allows it to be present in the expensive and mid-price segments.
There were some design changes, let's move on to it.
Smartphone Honor 9 lite
Huawei Honor 9
Design
At one time, Honor 9 was positioned as a flagship. This affected the design and hardware. The older model is created from a combination of metal and glass, the latter consisting of several nanolayers.
At the end, the body shimmers in the sun, and it all looks really beautiful. From this point of view, Honor 9 Lite turned out to be simpler, but this did not affect its appearance in any way. Glass is also used here, but it does not shimmer.
The downside is that scratches are noticeable, and it becomes covered with fingerprints faster. Despite this, the smartphone looks beautiful.
Huawei Honor 9 Lite
If we compare Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite head-on, we have the following. Lite has smaller frames, this is not surprising, because the main positioning of the smartphone is frameless .
The lightweight version has lost the touch button with the scanner; it is now located on the back of the device. On top, everything remains as before - a speaker, two camera modules, sensors. Honor 9 has one front camera - this is a significant difference.
Both devices have rounded edges, from this point of view they are similar.
Smartphone Honor 9
If we talk about the arrangement of elements at the ends, then everything is almost the same, only the younger model has an additional microphone not at the top, but at the back, and the IR port has also disappeared. The bottom end has a speaker, microphone, power and headphone jack. On the left is a combination slot. On the right is the volume rocker and power.
Important! From the back, Honor 9 Lite is distinguished not only by the presence of a finger scanner, but also by the camera module. If the 9 has two round camera eyes located separately from each other, then the 9 Lite has them combined into one element and protrudes above the body. In this case, it's more like Honor 10.
Another difference is that there is no laser autofocus, and there is an additional microphone between the flash and the camera.
The ergonomics of the phones are approximately the same. At the same time, the 9 Lite is slightly thicker and larger in size. But the weight of the model is lower. From an operational point of view, both devices behave well. The difference is that Lite is more easily soiled and will have to be carried in a case.
The iridescent coating of the 9 smooths out some of the imperfections that may appear on the case when worn without a case. The design in both models is good, everything here is for everyone, but if we talk about originality, the simplified version still smacks of something secondary.
Both phones have effective anti-glare coating and Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
Screen and battery
The next difference between Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite is the screens. They are made using the same technology, but the younger device has a larger diagonal, and the resolution is expected to be higher.
In general, the displays are the same in terms of perception, there are no significant differences, but there is a slight difference in the settings. The larger device now has several resolution settings – FHD+, HD+ and smart resolution.
This is done to save battery: the lower the resolution, the longer it will last.
General opinion about the displays: good viewing angles, brightness reserve, eye protection mode from ultraviolet radiation. In the summer the picture is visible in the sun, but in the dark it does not dazzle. At a very large angle, colors begin to distort, but in real conditions no one looks at the phone that way.
In terms of batteries, the models have almost the same parameters. The capacity of the 9 Lite is 3000 mAh, which is 200 amps less than that of the 9. Working hours are generally no different. About 30 hours at medium loads, 4 hours of games, 8 hours of movies.
Important! Honor 9 Lite is inferior to Honor 9 in terms of fast charging. The Lite takes about 2.5 hours to fully charge; the older device will handle the task in less than 2 hours.
Performance and Memory
Honor 9 vs Honor 9 Lite is a comparison not only of design, but, first of all, of the processor. And here the older device is many times more powerful. This is evidenced not only by reviews and reviews, but also by the results carried out in synthetic tests.
Important! If Honor 9 scores about 160 thousand points, then 9 Lite hardly reaches 70 thousand points. Despite this, the device is quite fast, does not slow down, games launch and behave quite well.
In this case, you may wonder - what is the difference? The fact is that the Kirin 960, which is in the 9, works better with wireless networks, allows you to shoot and work with 4K content, and will produce high results longer. The lightweight version will no longer cope with games over time.
The issue of processor performance often worries buyers: why buy a device with a more powerful chipset if the previous version copes with everything without problems. It's about the speed of aging. The development of computer technology is progressing at such a pace that you can buy a phone, walk out of the store, and it is already outdated. This is of course a joke, but there is some truth in it.
If the device is purchased for several years, then it is not worth saving. The next point where Light loses is memory: the 3/32 GB ratio is naturally worse than 4/64 GB. And if the drive can be expanded using a memory card, then nothing can be done about the performance. 3 gigabytes is not so little, but today more is required.
Camera
Readers may have noticed that the model with the Light prefix has four cameras instead of three, like a simple nine. Everyone knows what dual cameras are for – blurring the background, that is, the bokeh effect. For Huawei, this function works quite well, although some complaints remain. The device does not always make the blur accurate.
Honor 9 lite camera
Example photo of Honor 9 lite
The dual camera at the back is already a familiar element, but installing two modules at the front was necessary for a marketing ploy. Overall it's not bad, but it doesn't make much sense, just for fun.
If you remember the reviews of Honor 9, then everyone unanimously said that it is one of the best cameras on the market.
On a five-point scale, it can be rated a solid five, and in all respects - selfie, video, night and day photography, bokeh.
With Honor 9 Lite, everything is not so rosy: the bokeh is worse, selfies are a solid 4, the camera module has a smaller angle than that of the 9, the video is very mediocre, only FHD, and not the best . At night there is a lot of noise and artifacts. Thus, it turns out that there are more cameras, but they are less useful.
Important! Another difference is that the modules at the front and rear consist of a color and black-and-white matrix. And if with Honor 9 you could choose which one to shoot, which affects the photo resolution, then with Lite they only work together.
Honor 9 camera
The legacy of Honor 9 is live photos (short videos), an analogue of Live photos from Apple. The overall camera rating in Lite is 3.5. But this is in comparison with the camera of the older device. If you look at photos of phones from other manufacturers with the same price tag, then the picture of Honor 9 Lite will be even better in some cases.
Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite: Design
In terms of design, these two smartphones are very similar. They even come in the same color options: Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue and Glacier Grey.
Both devices have a fingerprint scanner, only Honor 9 has it on the front, while the Lite version has it moved to the back. There is also a slight difference in the dimensions of the phones:
- Honor 9 Lite : 151 x 71.9 x 7.6 mm, weighing 149 grams
- Honor 9: 147.3 x 70.9 x 7.45 mm, weighing 155 grams
Screen and battery
The next difference between Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite is the screens. They are made using the same technology, but the younger device has a larger diagonal, and the resolution is expected to be higher. In general, the displays are the same in terms of perception, there are no significant differences, but there is a slight difference in the settings. The larger device now has several resolution settings – FHD+, HD+ and smart resolution. This is done to save battery: the lower the resolution, the longer it will last.
General opinion about the displays: good viewing angles, brightness reserve, eye protection mode from ultraviolet radiation. In the summer the picture is visible in the sun, but in the dark it does not dazzle. At a very large angle, colors begin to distort, but in real conditions no one looks at the phone that way.
In terms of batteries, the models have almost the same parameters. The capacity of the 9 Lite is 3000 mAh, which is 200 amps less than that of the 9. Working hours are generally no different. About 30 hours at medium loads, 4 hours of games, 8 hours of movies.
Important! Honor 9 Lite is inferior to Honor 9 in terms of fast charging. The Lite takes about 2.5 hours to fully charge; the older device will handle the task in less than 2 hours.
Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite: Display
If you look at the display, you might think that it is not the Lite version, but vice versa. It features a 5.65-inch FullView display with FHD+ resolution (2160 x 1080 pixels) and 18:9 aspect ratio. The older version does not boast the currently fashionable tall screen, and its 5.15-inch FHD display (1920 x 1080 pixels) has a standard 16:9 aspect ratio.
Both displays have the same pixel density of 428 pixels per inch, but as we can see, the Lite version offers much better resolution.
Displays
Honor 9 is equipped with a 5.1-inch FullHD display (pixel density: 423/inch), made using IPS technology. It has frames around the edges up to 3 mm thick and an effective anti-reflective coating.
"Dry" characteristics:
- Brightness: 400 cd/m2.
- Contrast ratio 975:1.
The device also received an eye protection mode, when activated, the level of UV radiation drops, which reduces eye strain. In general, the Honor 9 matrix has good performance. The only drawback is the temperature change and the “weak” black color when viewed from different angles.
Now about Honor 9 Lite.
Usually Lite versions try to make it smaller - this is what logic suggests, but in our case it’s the other way around. Huawei Honor 9 Lite received a larger display compared to the “standard” model – the screen diagonal was 5.65 inches with a resolution of 1080x2160, which gives a pixel density of 427 per inch (approximately the same as in Honor 9). There is an effective anti-reflective coating.
The display has high brightness, viewing angles are the same as the older model, and works well in light. The advantage of the screen is the so-called smart resolution - the user will be able to choose between HD+ and FullHD+ formats in the settings. Selecting HD+ will speed up your phone and save battery power. This is the only important difference.
The displays are 90% equal. The differences are in the diagonal - the Lite version is 0.55 inches larger.
Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite: Equipment
The most significant difference between the two is the hardware under the hood. The Lite is powered by an eight-core mid-range Kirin (4 x 2.36 GHz and 4 x 1.7 GHz) with 3 GB of RAM.
The performance of Honor 9 is driven by a more powerful Kirin (4 cores x 2.4 GHz and 4 x 1.8 GHz) paired with 4 GB of RAM. Therefore, in terms of performance, the older model wins.
The same can be said about the built-in storage, with the Lite offering 32GB and the Honor 9 offering 64GB. However, the memory of both phones can be expanded up to 256GB using a microSD card installed in the hybrid SIM card slot.
Honor did not abandon the 3.5 mm audio jack, and both models are equipped with it. The phones are supplied with in-ear headphones.
In terms of software, Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite are no different. Both run Google's Android operating system in its latest Oreo format. The EMUI 8.0 graphical shell is installed on top of Android.
Memory
When comparing phones, one cannot ignore the memory characteristics. But you need to pay attention not only to the volume of storage, but also to the speed of its operation.
| Characteristic | Honor 9 Lite | Honor 9 |
| RAM capacity | 3/4GB | 4/6GB |
| RAM type | LPDDR3 | LPDDR4 |
| Frequency | 933 MHz | 1866 MHz |
| ROM capacity | 32/64GB | 64/128GB |
| Storage type | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| MicroSD support | Eat | Eat |
The flagship is offered in more impressive permanent memory configurations. The buyer can save money by choosing the 64 GB version, since memory cards can be installed in any case. The fact that even Honor 9 uses the eMMC 5.1 standard is a big minus. It is expressed in the speed of installing applications, copying and moving files.
As for RAM, victory will also remain on the side of Honor 9. Firstly, a larger volume affects the number of applications that can simultaneously run in the background. Secondly, the more modern LPDDR4 standard allows you to process information faster and watch videos in 4K resolution without any frills. Honor 9 Lite may have problems with this.
Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite: Cameras
Both smartphones come with a dual camera setup on the back. The Lite version has 13 MP (f / 2.0) with fast phase focusing and 2 megapixel sensors. The older version has a more serious pair: 12-megapixel (f / 2.2, 27 mm) and 20-megapixel (f / 2.2, 27 mm) sensors.
With front cameras the opposite is true. The light version on the front panel has the same pair of sensors as on the back: 13MP + 2MP. Honor 9 has a single camera, with an 8 MP sensor. Therefore, with the cameras of Honor 9 Lite you can get the best bokeh effect.
Cameras
Both models use 2 cameras on the back. Honor 9 lite also has 2 modules on the front panel. By tradition, let's start with the older version.
In Honor 9, two modules work as follows: one of them – monochrome – collects information about the light of the scene; the second - color - captures color. Then special software combines the information and creates a frame that is correct in terms of color rendering. This approach allows you to greatly expand the dynamic range - this will improve the quality of detail in light and dark areas of the scene at the same time.
Examples of photos on Honor 9
The images are clickable and open in full resolution.
Regarding the picture quality: not bad, but far from ideal. In low light, noise is clearly visible in the photo even without enlarging the image.
Honor 9 Lite camera
Here the Chinese took a different approach - they installed 4 cameras at once - two in front, and two in the back. Why was this done? And so that marketers and sellers can emphasize this in their advertising campaigns. Well, for blurring the background (Bokeh effect).
The main camera has a resolution of 16 megapixels, the secondary one – 2 megapixels. It doesn’t need more - it is used only to create the Bokeh effect and is not turned on separately.
In general, the photos on the Honor 9 Lite turn out quite good: the colors are spot on, the white balance is accurate, there is a lot of noise only in scenes with low light, and the focus is rarely missed.
Examples of photos on Honor 9 Lite
Images are clickable and open in full resolution.
What we have: there is no noticeable difference between the image qualities. The photos are worth each other, so it is impossible to name a winner in this comparison criterion.
Honor 9 and Honor 9 Lite: which one to choose?
If performance and more memory play a big role for you, as well as more detailed pictures from the main camera, you should definitely choose Honor 9.
On the other hand, Honor 9 Lite has a larger screen in the same size body but with better resolution. For selfie shots, this smartphone will also be a slightly better option.
And the main advantage of Honor 9 Lite is its price. At the time of writing, it can be purchased on AliExpress starting at $199.99 (global version). While Honor 9 is much more expensive – from $359.99 on Aliexpress.
Battery
Battery and autonomy are the final point of comparison.
The Honor 9X smartphone has a tiny advantage thanks to its decent 4000 mAh battery capacity. This is enough for about half a day of watching videos or the same half a day of Internet access, that is, 12 hours (plus/minus). In games, the smartphone sits down in 8 hours. If you use it only for calls, 100% of the charge will be used up in 24 hours. It’s a pity that the Honor 9X doesn’t support fast recharging. The supplied 10 W power adapter barely charges the battery by 27% in half an hour.
The Honor 9X lite smartphone has a more modest battery - 3750 mAh. But this is not a disaster! The aforementioned Kirin 710 chipset consumes energy sparingly, so under moderate load it is quite possible to recharge the smartphone every other day. The power supply power is the same - 5V/2A.
| Honor 9X lite | Honor 9X | |
| Battery capacity | 3750 mAh | 4000 mAh |
| Fast charging | No, 10 W | No, 10 W |
| Connector | micro-USB | USB-C |
Phone comparison - select the smartphones you want to compare
Comparison – Huawei Honor 30i vs Huawei Honor 9X Lite
Huawei Honor 30i is a 2021 smartphone with a weight of 171.5 g and dimensions of 157.2 x 73.2 x 7.7 mm.
It has a 6.3-inch screen, 48 megapixel camera and 128GB 4GB RAM. Its Octa-core processor (4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) Huawei Honor 9X Lite is a 2021 smartphone with a weight of 188 g and dimensions of 160.4 x 76.6 x 7.8 mm. It has a 6.5-inch screen, 48 megapixel camera and 128GB 4GB RAM. Its processor is Octa-core (4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×1.7 GHz Cortex-A53)
For a detailed comparison of all features, see the table below.
or
| General characteristics | |||
| Make and model | Huawei Honor 30i | Huawei Honor 9X Lite | |
| release date | 2020, September 11 | 2020, April 17 | |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 157.2 X 73.2 X 7.7 mm | 160.4 X 76.6 X 7.8 mm | |
| Weight | 171.5 g. | 188 | |
| Colors | Ultraviolet Sunset, Turquoise, Midnight Black | Emerald Green, Midnight Black | |
| Battery | 4000 mAh, Li-Po, Unchangeable | 3750 mAh, Unchangeable, Li-Po | |
| Approximate price | 200 EUR | 190 EUR | |
| Display | |||
| Technologies | AMOLED | IPS LCD | |
| Touch screen | yes, capacitive | yes, capacitive | |
| Color depth | 16M | 16M | |
| Size (Diagonal) | 6.3″ (inches) | 6.5″ (inches) | |
| Screen area | 95.8 cm2 | 103.2 cm2 | |
| Ratio (height:width) | 20:9 | 19.5:9 | |
| Ratio (screen:body) | 83.3% | 84% | |
| Resolution (pixels) | 1080 x 2400 px | 1080 x 2340 px | |
| DPI | 418 PPI | 397 PPI | |
| Other | — 600 nits typ. brightness | ||
| Cameras and video | |||
| Rear camera, main | 48 MP, Triple camera | 48 MP, Dual camera | |
| Characteristics | -48 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF -8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultra-wide) -2 MP, f/2.4, (for depth measurement) | -48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, PDAF -2 MP, f/2.4, (for depth measurement) | |
| Functions | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama | |
| Video recording | [email protected] | [email protected] | |
| Front camera, selfie | 16 MP, Single camera | 16 MP, One camera | |
| Characteristic | -16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide angle), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | -8 MP, f/2.0, (wide angle) | |
| Functions | HDR | ||
| Characteristic | [email protected] | [email protected] | |
| Productivity | |||
| Operating system (OS) | Android 10, Magic UI 2.1 | Android 9.0 (Pie); EMUI 9.1 | |
| Chipset | — HiSilicon Kirin 710F (12 nm) | — HiSilicon Kirin 710F (12 nm) | |
| Central Processing Unit (CPU) | — 8 core (4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 + 4×1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | — 8 core (4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 + 4×1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) | |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) | — Mali-G51 MP4 | — Mali-G51 MP4 | |
| External memory card | NM (Nano Memory), up to 256GB (use shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (use shared SIM slot) | |
| Inner memory | 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM | |
| Communication and communication | |||
| SIM card | Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual standby) | Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual standby) | |
| Net | GSM/CDMA/HSPA/LTE | GSM/HSPA/LTE | |
| Show all network frequencies: | |||
| Frequencies | -2G - GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA -3G - HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 -4G - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19 , 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | -2G - GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 -3G - HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 -4G - LTE (unspecified) | |
| Internet speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | |
| GPRS | Yes | Yes | |
| Edge | Yes | Yes | |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS | Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS | |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) | |
| USB | 2.0, Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, USB On-The-Go | microUSB 2.0 | |
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE | |
| Music and audio | |||
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio | |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes | |
| Other Additions | |||
| Sensors | — Fingerprint scanner (on-display, optical), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass | — Fingerprint scanner (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity sensor, compass | |
| Other Addons | — Loading 10W, 53% for 30 min. | — Standard loading 10W | |
| Versions | — Versions: LRA-LX1 (Russia) | — Versions: JSN-L21, JSN-L22, JSN-L23 | |
Comparison video - not found
Huawei Honor 30i vs Huawei Honor 9X Lite
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