Huawei Nova 9 announced as a Pixel 6 rival with two big issues
Good specs with two problems
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TheGoogle Pixel 6range unsurprisingly has all the attention right now, but these aren’t the only new phones on the block, as the Huawei Nova 9 has also just been unveiled.
Technically this was actually unveiled in September, but back then it was only announced for China, whereas now it’s getting a wider launch. That said, while we’ll likely see it in the UK and possibly Australia, a US launch won’t be on the cards.
For those who can buy it though, the Huawei Nova 9 has a lot of tempting tech inside – enough that it could even sway some buyers away from theGooglePixel 6. The Huawei Nova 9 has a 6.57-inch 1080 x 2340OLEDscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a mid-range Snapdragon 778G chipset, 8GB of RAM, and a choice of 128GB or 256GB of storage.
The phone also has a 4,300mAh battery with 66W fast charging, and there’s a quad-lens rear snapper, with a 50MP f/1.9 main sensor, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, a 2MP f/2.4 macro one and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. Then on the front there’s a 32MP f/2.0 camera.
Those rear cameras are housed in a distinctive oval camera block with two big circles – a design that’s similar to what we’ve seen on theHuawei P50. The rest of the design here includes a glossy back in Starry Blue, Crush Green or Black, and an all-screen front with a punch-hole camera.
They’re promising specs – if the price is right, but sadly that detail hasn’t been revealed yet, and nor has the release date or availability, though as noted we wouldn’t expect this in the US given theHuawei ban.
Analysis: a Pixel 6 rival with two big problems
Looking at these specs, the Huawei Nova 9 could stand up well to the Pixel 6 in many ways. It has a larger screen with a higher refresh rate, more cameras and faster charging – though its chipset is likely lesser, and it has a slightly smaller battery.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
The real problems the Huawei Nova 9 face though are firstly that it doesn’t include 5G, which at this point is basically a standard feature in mid-range and above phones.
An even bigger problem though is that while the Nova 9 runs Android (with Huawei’s EMUI 12 overlay), it lacks access to theGoogle Play Storeor Google’s apps.
This is a problem Huawei phones have been facing for years now, and it makes them harder to recommend – though there are alternative app stores where many apps can be found.
James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.
Huawei’s tri-fold phone is so expensive you could buy four PS5 Pros for the same price
Huawei posts the first official image of the tri-fold Mate XT, and reveals storage options
Singapore Criterium live stream 2024: How to watch FREE UCI cycling online
