Honor 9X Pro similar to some of its predecessors and siblings of Honor and Huawei brands. New is the upgraded hardware and especially the 7nm chipset with more AI and graphics performance. In addition to fast work and game speed, the affordable smartphone also takes good photos thanks to its triple camera. Unfortunately, the software is not yet in a competitive state.
Rating
pros
- Large display without frame
- Long battery life
- High computing power
- Good cameras
Cons
- Google services not completely replaced
- Poor notification system
- GPU Graphics Errors
Honor 9X Pro, release date and price
The Honor 9X Pro has been available in some European markets since March 2020 for an MSRP of € 249 (around $ 270). For this price, you get a version with 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory.
In our example, there were no headphones for the existing 3,5 mm connection for the article. The included USB-C charger provides only ten watts. So far, the 9X Pro is only available in purple.
Externally almost identical 9X
The design of the Honor 9X Pro is very similar to the design of the Honor 9X. Only the fingerprint sensor distinguished devices: Honor 9X Pro carries it on the side in the power button; on a normal 9X it’s behind. Honor calls mirrored glass front and back “3D Dual Curved Glass”. In addition to the color gradient, the purple pattern also creates a cruciform reflection. This is a real eye lure.
The 9-inch 6,6X Pro is undoubtedly a fairly large smartphone. A weight of 206 grams contributes to this experience. In addition, a smooth surface constantly threatens to slip out of your hand. A protective case, or at least a rubberized, transparent case, would have been nice, but at least I still see this beautiful pattern on the back.
Although there is no IP (water and dust protection) certificate, Honor provides detailed information about its quality tests on the product page. Unfortunately, this does not indicate the degree to which the device is protected from bumps or scratches. Experience shows that in case of a problem, quick and inexpensive support is provided either on the spot in one of the service centers or by mail.
No display updates
The display is a 6-59-inch IPS-LCD, which Honor calls its FullView Display.
With a screen-to-body ratio of 92 percent. The resolution is 2340 × 1080 (391ppi). This is essentially the same display we've seen on the Honor 9X since late 2019. At the time, our editor said that it has vibrant colors, good viewing angles, and convinces with its brightness, all of which are still relevant today.
So there is not much to see in terms of what's new with the display then. I am still a fan of pop-up cameras, though solely because they give you a proper front panel without a notch. In my opinion, this is the area of the smartphone that did not really need to be updated.
Where is the Google Play store located?
The Honor 9X Pro still runs on EMUI 9.1 based on Android 9. At a February presentation, it was announced that the device would ship later with Android 10. However, an update to EMUI 10 was not yet presented in our press release for this article. But that would not solve the biggest software flaw.
On this, as on all other really new Honor devices (as well as on Huawei devices), we no longer find Google services. Honor wants to solve the problem with Huawei's AppGallery. But in practice, most of you will not find your favorite applications there.
In practice, most of you will use the Phone Cloning tool to move your applications from your old phone to the Honor 9X. Thus, you can continue to use your old applications and their settings on the new smartphone. However, this does not always work. It is so error prone that it is not a long term solution.
In short, this means that the notification system in applications, which is often based on Google Firebase, does not work, so applications either crash at startup or never notify you of new messages, emails, etc. Aggressive management energy then kills the background processes that wanted to support an alternative notification system. There was a suspicious silence with the Honor 9X Pro because you just missed everything
In the medium term, you should add alternatives to the Play Store or use the AppGallery. In the long run, you'll have to say goodbye to the Play Store and in-app purchases made there, because they probably won't work on the Honor smartphone anymore - officially.
If you are highly dependent on Google services for business or personal reasons, there are a number of alternatives. You can still use Gmail, Google Maps, Hangouts, Meet, Google Calendar, and Co. We will explain how to do this in a separate article.
Kirin 810 is a 7nm chipset for a limited budget
Performance is one of the main areas Honor has focused on. The new chipset is the HiSilicon Kirin 810, which works internally. The production process is reduced from 12 to 7 nm; to catch up with top chips like Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Apple A13 Bionic and HiSilicon Kirin 990.
Huawei gives the Kirin 810 a clearly bored GPU; specifically modified Mali G52. Thanks to the liquid cooling system, extensive gaming sessions with the Honor 9X Pro are not a problem. In game test tests, we overcame the 3000 mark for the “average” value in the Vulkan performance test, but we had some image errors.
Graphic errors also occurred after the release of Huawei Mate 10, after the manufacturer tripled the graphics performance from one generation of chips to the next. The manufacturer fixed the problems at that time for several weeks with the update. In the case of the Honor 9X Pro, I expect the same quick response from Honor's mother, Huawei.
In this regard, I so far refrain from an extensive series of tests.
Honor 9X Pro Audio System
Earphones were not included in our Honor 9X Pro press sample. You can continue to use your previous pair because there is a headphone jack. The only speaker housing is also on the bottom edge. He is too weak to talk on the speakerphone if you also fry the onions on the side.
Despite the two existing microphones, recordings are recorded only in mono. Wind noises are not filtered out, which is annoying when calling. The speaker volume is enough for calls on the street.
Same camera equipment, new software
The camera remains unchanged in terms of hardware from the Honor 9X to the Honor 9X Pro.
This means that you get the following setting:
- 48-megapixel main camera, f / 1,8, 1/2 inch CMOS sensor, 4-in-1, Light Fusion (effective 1,6 microns), AIS, Super Night mode, AI video stabilization
- 8-megapixel ultra-wide, f / 2.4, 120-degree ultra-wide, with distortion correction support
- 2-megapixel auxiliary camera, f / 2.4, bokeh effect
On the front panel you will see a 16-megapixel sensor using a pop-up camera. It is f / 2.2 and uses what Honor calls 3D Portrait Lighting.
In our test, the images look blurry or noisy. Truly sharp pictures can only be taken in daylight. But even then there is not enough detail and brightness of colors. Honor will probably also fix these flaws sequentially in updates, but will never be able to completely fix them.
Although the hardware remains compatible with the previous generation, the Kirin 810 AI chipset uses its own fourth-generation Internet service provider to increase pixel throughput and uses the latest AWB algorithm. It also integrates the DE module and RAW noise reduction to improve image processing. These new AI algorithms should help, for example, eliminate hand shake. Honor says it has increased its ISO capacity from 25600 on 9X to 102400 on 9X Pro.
Again, I will not make a final decision until the EMUI 10 update. But it seems to me that Xiaomi can offer more in this price range.
4000mAh no-frills battery
The Honor 9X Pro battery is a 4000 mAh battery
, Since due to aggressive energy management and the lack of Google services, the application practically does not work in the background, the smartphone has excellent battery life. This is due to notifications that either land too late or do not appear at all.
The 9X Pro runs for almost two days before it needs to be recharged to 10 watts via the USB-C connector. During this time, the battery turns on for seven hours. Competing devices like the Samsung Galaxy M30 are slightly better.
Technical specifications Honor 9X Pro
| Dimensions: | X 163,1 77,2 8,8 mm x |
|---|---|
| The weight: | 206 g |
| Battery size: | 4000 mAh |
| Screen size: | 6,59 in |
| Display technology: | LCD |
| Screen: | 2340 × 1080 pixels (391 ppi) |
| Front-camera: | 16 megapixel |
| Rear camera: | 48 megapixel |
| Android version: | 9 - Pie |
| User interface: | Huawei EMUI |
| RAM: | 6 GB |
| Internal storage: | 256 GB |
| Removable storage: | microSD |
| Communication: | HSPA, LTE, Bluetooth 4.2 |
The final verdict
The question you need to ask yourself is: Can the Honor 9X Pro provide enough arguments to make up for the lack of Google services? Because Honor and Huawei now need convincing arguments to make the transition attractive to users. Our sample press for this Honor 9X Pro review does not give us the slightest idea about the future.
In the price area of about 250 euros there are interesting competitors who do not require switching from their customers and offer similar advantages. Unless a miracle happens with regard to AppGallery or possible Google support, this could be a tough fight for the brand.
