Apple Watch Series 2 vs Apple Watch Series 1 vs Apple Watch (2015): What’s the difference?
Apple announced a new smartwatch at the beginning of September in the form of the Apple Watch Series 2. This comes in a standard model, a Nike+ model, Hermès model and an Edition model.
The new device sits alongside the Apple Watch Series 1, which is essentially the same as the original device that hit shelves in April 2015, but with a new dual-core processor.
It’s all a bit confusing so to make matters a little more simple, we’ve compared the Apple Watch Series 2 to the Apple Watch Series 1 and the original Apple Watch (2015) so you can see exactly what the differences and similarities are.
Apple Watch Series 2 vs Apple Watch Series 1 vs Apple Watch (2015): Design
The original Apple Watch features a rectangular solid body that sees the crown and separate button on the right, with a speaker and microphone on the left. The heart rate monitor sits on the underside of the body, along with the release buttons for switching out the straps and the OLED Retina display sits on top.
The Apple Watch Series 1, which replaces the original model, is exactly the same as the original in terms of design. Nothing has changed. It is still splash resistant, it still features Ion-X glass on top of the display and it still offers the same functionality.
The Apple Watch Series 2 also offers the same design, meaning all those straps you may or may not have bought, will still be compatible. There are a couple of differences compared to the Series 1 and original though. For starters, Apple has waterproofed all the entry ports meaning the Series 2 is not just splash proof, but swim-proof up to 50-meters.
The new device also has a second-generation OLED Retina display that is two times brighter than the Series 1 and original at 1000nits, compared to 450nits. The Series 2 uses Ion-X glass to protect the screen on the aluminium case models, like the Series 1, but sapphire glass is present for the stainless steel and ceramic models.
Apple Watch Series 2 vs Apple Watch Series 1 vs Apple Watch (2015): Models
When the original Apple Watch launched, its case was available in aluminium, stainless steel and special materials including solid gold, all of which came in two size options of 38mm and 42mm.
As we mentioned, the original has now been discontinued with the Series 1 taking its place, but although the size options remain, this model only comes in the aluminium case option with a Sport Band. You can of course buy separate straps, but you won’t be able to get the Series 1 in stainless steel or any other special material.
The Series 2 comes in the same size options again, and in a standard model, the Nike+ model, the Hermès model and the Watch Edition model, as we mentioned at the start. The standard model comprises the aluminium case with a Sport Band or Nylon Woven band, or the stainless steel case with Sport Band, stainless steel band or leather band.
The Nike+ model is an aluminium case with Nike Sport Band, while the Hermès model is a stainless steel case with Hermès branding and it comes with a Hermès band and Sport Band included.
The Watch Edition model is a ceramic case with Sport Band. The solid gold Apple Watch is no more on any model.
Apple Watch Series 2 vs Apple Watch Series 1 vs Apple Watch (2015): Hardware
The Apple Watch Series 1 and original Apple Watch are identical in terms of hardware, except the processor. The Series 1 has an upgraded dual-core processor called the S1P, while the original model has the S1 processor.
Both models feature Bluetooth 4.0, 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi 802.11/b/g/n, a heart rate sensor as we mentioned, accelerometer and a gyroscope. They also both have an ambient light sensor and they are splash resistant but not waterproof, as we mentioned. A built-in lithium-ion battery is under the hood of both with a life of up to 18 hours.
The Apple Watch Series 2 offers the same hardware as the Series 1 when it comes to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, the various sensors and battery.
It adds a different dual-core processor called the S2 however. This chip allows for built-in GPS, which combined with the waterproofing and the brighter display make for some significant differences between Series 2 and Series 1.
Apple Watch Series 2 vs Apple Watch Series 1 vs Apple Watch (2015): Software
The Apple Watch Series 2 will launch on WatchOS 3, which the Series 1 and the original device will get updated to from 13 September.
There have been several new features added to the new software including enhancements to messages, a new app called Breathe that wants to help you better manage everyday stress and a new Workout app.
The Series 2, Series 1 and original Apple Watch will all therefore offer almost identical user experience but thanks to the added hardware features of the Series 2, the newer device will have a few extras here and there.
The waterproofing means the Series 2 will be able to track swimming and Apple has added features like automatic stroke recognition for an accurate calories burned measurement, while built-in GPS means outdoor hikes, runs and bike rides can be mapped precisely without the need to bring your iPhone along.
Apple Watch Series 2 vs Apple Watch Series 1 vs Apple Watch (2015): Price
The original Apple Watch is no longer available to buy, but the Apple Watch Series 1 starts at £269.
The Apple Watch Series 2 starts at £369, as does the Apple Watch Nike+ model. The Hermès model starts at £1149 and the ceramic Watch Edition model starts at £1249.
The Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 will be available to buy from 16 September.
Apple Watch Series 2 vs Apple Watch Series 1 vs Apple Watch (2015): Conclusion
The difference between the original Apple Watch and Series 1 is literally just the processor, meaning upgrading from the original to the Series 1 would probably not be worth it.
If you didn’t invest in the original and you’ve decided the Apple Watch is now something you want, buying the Series 1 over the new model will save you £100, but you miss out on some key features.
The Apple Watch Series 2 not only adds a new processor, but it offers a much brighter display, built-in GPS and that all important waterproofing. All the other features might remain the same, including design, but for some, the built-in GPS and waterproofing will be the two features they needed to take the smartwatch plunge.
PS4 Pro ditches 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player for cost and one other reason…
There’s little doubt that the PS4 Pro, announced on Wednesday, is a spectacular 4K gaming powerhouse, but we were shocked to learn that it doesn’t feature a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player for disc playback.
Considering the Xbox One S, which hit stores in August, does have a 4K Blu-ray deck, it seemed odd that Sony, a company with a vested interest in the technology, decided against following suit.
Now we know why.
- PS4 Pro preview: Stunning 4K HDR gaming monster you can own this year
- Sony PS4 Pro: Release date, specs and everything you need to know
- PS4 Slim preview: Svelte, smaller but similar
- New PS4 (slim): Release date, specs and everything you need to know
Pocket-lint spoke to Masayasu Ito, executive vice president of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s hardware engineering department, who told us that cost was a major factor in skipping the disc drive for this mid-generation machine: “It’s a balancing act, you have to look at the cost and a 4K Blu-ray disc player would be costly,” he said.
It wasn’t the only reason though. Ito explained that PS4 users are also more likely to stream video than buy conventional discs: “We also considered user trends,” he added.
“A lot of people are now just streaming 4K content and there’s Netflix 4K HDR support from day one. So judging from what our users tend to do and looking at overall costs, this is why a UHD Blu-ray player is not included.”
Pocket-lint
Matching a sub-£350 price point also meant that hard drive capacity couldn’t be expanded for the Pro: “That was one of the main objectives. And, of course, a 2TB hard disk is still costly. This is why we decided on 1TB,” Ito said.
“Having said that, as with the previous PS4, users are free to interchange and upgrade the hard disk to what they want.”
The PS4 Pro will be available from 10 November, priced £349. It is capable of 4K HDR gaming and playback of streamed Ultra HD content from online services, initially Netflix and YouTube.
Virgin Galactic returns to the skies after two years
Virgin Galactic has announced that it has successfully test-flown its new (edge of) space plane. It’s the first time in two years that Galactic craft has taken to the skies as the program was put on hold after the fatal crash in 2014. This flight, which lasted nearly four hours over the Mojave desert, involved the SpaceShipTwo-class launch vehicle, VMS Eve, carry the passenger cruiser, VSS Unity, at heights of over 50,000 feet.
The company described the flight as a “captive carry” test, in which the launch vehicle and spacecraft are held together. As well as ensuring a safe flight, engineers used the event as a real-world wind tunnel, examining how well the Unity coped with the strains of near-stratospheric flight. The flight proved another milestone, since the Unity was the first craft to be built by Virgin Galactic’s in-house manufacturing division. Now that the flight has been completed, Virgin will study all of the flight data in order to ensure safe practices for the next one.
It’s right and proper that the firm would concentrate on safety since it will need to restore its reputation in the wake of the VSS Enterprise crash. That incident was blamed on a variety of structural issues that were exacerbated by an error made by the co-pilot. That error, however, would never have been made if better safety systems had been constructed, and the FAA had paid better attention before the flight proceeded.
Source: Virgin Galactic
iPhone 7 contracts on EE, O2, Vodafone and Three: which is best?
For many smartphone fans, today is Christmas morning. Apple unwrapped the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus earlier this week and now, they’re available to pre-order. Both smartphones are an upgrade over their 6s predecessors, boasting better cameras, processors and water-resistant shells. The lack of a headphone jack is…divisive to say the least, but hey, at least you get an adapter and some Lightning headphones in the box. If you’re ready to take the plunge with one of the new models, here are your best options.
Apple
First and foremost, there’s the Cupertino company itself. Apple is selling both models with three storage options: 32GB, 128GB and 256GB.
| Price | £599 | £699 | £799 | £719 | £819 | £919 |
If these prices seem a little steep, it’s worth considering Apple’s new iPhone upgrade programme. You’ll be signing up for a long-term plan with (sort of) low monthly payments — they start at £33.45 per month, with a £49 upfront fee, for the iPhone 7 with 32GB of storage. Just be aware that the phone doesn’t come with a SIM card or any kind of cellular plan, so you’ll need to pick one up elsewhere. The scheme does grant you instant upgrades to the latest model, however, so if you’re the type that buys a new iPhone every year, this is one way to fund an expensive habit.
Contracts
Prefer to deal with your carrier? It’s a minefield out there. Networks are always tweaking their plans and it’s notoriously hard to compare them. You have to consider the phone, the upfront cost and the monthly instalments, as well as the number of calls, texts and megabytes you’ll be getting each month. To help you out, we’ve broken down the plans that will put the smallest dent in your bank account each month. As a consequence, however, you will be forking out more up front.
| Vodafone | £28pm, £400 up front | £32pm, £400 up front | £37pm, £500 up front | £32pm, £400 up front | £37pm, £400 up front | £42pm, £500 up front |
| O2 | £38pm, £180 up front | £43pm, £180 up front | £48pm, £170 up front | £43pm, £190 up front | £48pm, £190 up front | £53pm, £180 up front |
| EE | £46pm, £100 up front | £51pm, £100 up front | £56pm, £100 up front | £51pm, £130 up front | £61om, £130 up front | £66pm, £130 up front |
| Three | £36pm, £149 up front | £43pm, £149 up front | £50pm, £149 up front | £44pm, £149 up front | £51pm, £149 up front | £58pm, £149 up front |
| BT | £44pm, £120 up front | £44pm, £240 up front | £44pm, £290 up front | £44pm, £240 up front | £44pm, £290 up front | £44pm, £380 up front |
| iD | £42.50pm, £340 up front | £42.50pm, £440 up front | £42.50pm, £540 up front | £42.50pm, £440 up front | £42.50pm, £540 up front | £42.50pm, £640 up front |
| Carphone Warehouse | £33.49pm, £230 up front | £33.49pm, £330 up front | £33.49pm, £430 up front | £33.50pm, £320 up front | £33.50pm, £420 up front | £33.50pm, £520 up front |
If you’re tight on cash right now and would prefer to spend a little more each month, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve listed some of the cheapest plans if you want to spend the absolute minimum up front.
| Vodafone | £53pm, £30 up front | £58pm, £50 up front | £68pm, £50 up front | £63pm, £50 up front | £68pm, £50 up front | £73pm, £90 up front |
| O2 | £43pm, £60 up front | £48pm, £60 up front | £53pm, £50 up front | £48pm, £70 up front | £53pm, £70 up front | £58pm, £60 up front |
| EE | £46pm, £100 up front | £51pm, £100 up front | £56pm, £100 up front | £51pm, £130 up front | £61pm, £130 up front | £66pm, £130 up front |
| Three | £72pm, no upfront cost | £79pm, no upfront cost | £86pm, no upfront cost | £72pm, no upfront cost | £79pm, No upfront cost | £86pm, no upfront cost |
| BT | £59om, £90 upfront cost | £59pm, £120 up front | £59pm, £170 up front | £59pm, £90 up front | £59pm, £120 up front | £59pm, £170 up front |
| iD | £49.50om, £120 up front | £49.50pm, £220 up front | £49.50pm, £320 up front | £49.50pm, £220 up front | £49.50pm, £320 up front | £49.50pm, £420 up front |
| Carphone Warehouse | £57pm, No upfront cost | £85pm, £10 up front | £90pm, £40 up front | £85pm, £10 up front | £90pm, £40 up front | £90pm, £140 up front |
HemaApp gives smartphones the power to detect anemia
A team of researchers from the University of Washington have developed an app that turns smartphones into anemia detectors. See, the condition often goes undiagnosed in developing parts of the world. And seeing as it’s the most common blood disorder out there, it likely affects more than 25 percent of the population that the World Health Organization believes it does. HemaApp gives medical professionals a way to see if patients have anemia simply by shining the phone’s flash against their skin.
The app estimates hemoglobin concentrations — anemia is characterized by low levels of hemoglobin or red blood cells — by analyzing the color of a person’s blood. UW’s researchers found that it was most accurate when used with a low-cost LED lighting attachment on top of the flash, allowing it to see more of what’s under the patient’s skin. In fact, it was as accurate as the Masimo Pronto, the expensive FDA-approved machine that can measure hemoglobin non-invasively using a device clipped to a person’s finger. A smartphone loaded with the HemaApp will be much cheaper and accessible for medical professionals in developing nations.
This team of researchers built on the work by another U of Washington group that developed an app that can detect jaundice in babies. They plan to improve their technology further to be able to screen for sickle cell disease and other blood disorders. Despite what it can do, HemaApp will mostly be used for initial screening, and people who exhibit low hemoglobin levels still have to get a blood test. It will at least allow doctors and nurses to pluck those who need further tests from a bigger number of people, though, so they won’t have to take blood samples for anemia if they don’t have to.
Via: Technology Review
Source: University of Washington
Apple Still Working to Perfect Wireless Charging Technology for ‘iPhone 8’
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple today that details how new brushing and polishing tools could be used to finish a wireless charging station.
While the application covers general polishing techniques for cylindrical and contoured surfaces, Patently Apple notes that the patent also details ways to create a space for an inductive charging coil, confirming that the tools are designed specifically for the creation of a wireless charging device.
In describing how the tools would work, the application includes multiple illustrations of a charging station used to provide electrical current to another device via inductive power transmission. An inductive transmitter coil wraps around a metal core and is designed to pair with a receiver coil and charge the battery in the electronic device.
Apple notes that the charging station could include an electromagnetically transparent support surface for the device to be charged, allowing it to sit on the station unencumbered and receive power wirelessly via the induction coupling technology. The charging station is also described as including a port for a USB-type connector cable to connect with an external power source, such as a laptop.
The patent application was filed in late 2015, and provides ample evidence that Apple’s engineering teams continue to investigate wireless charging solutions. Indeed, Apple has had an interest in the technology ever since the first iPhone, gaining patents for wireless charging stations and wireless charging via near field magnetic resonance, which wirelessly charges a device within a certain region.
Earlier this year, one rumor source suggested the iPhone 7 would feature wireless charging as well as better waterproofing and no headphone jack. However, that report warned that the charging feature could be pulled from the iPhone 7 for a future iteration of the device, since Apple was still working on the technology.
Indeed, only two of the aforementioned features were ultimately realized this week, indicating Apple may have purposely held back the charging technology in order for it to be included in its tenth anniversary “iPhone 8”, said to be debuting next year.
The suggestion will undoubtedly grate for some readers, given that this would have been the perfect solution for charging an iPhone and listening to music through wired headphones at the same time, rather than using the more cumbersome charging dock method suggested by Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller.
Back in September 2012, however, Schiller said that Apple wasn’t sure of how convenient the then-current state of wireless charging technology was, since most wireless charging systems had to be plugged into a wall. This may explain why Apple is still exploring the technology. Indeed, the company has shown an interest in WiTricity’s wireless charging tech, which uses a “hidden charging” method that allows magnetic fields to wrap around barriers, which would allow users to place their charging pads wherever they want.
Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
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Google Photos App Gains ‘Motion Stills’ Stabilization Feature for Enhancing Live Photos
Google has integrated the technology from its Motion Stills app into Google Photos for iOS, enabling users of the latter to benefit from the Live Photos stabilization feature without having to download another app.
Google’s Motion Stills feature uses advanced stabilization and rendering to further manipulate Apple’s Live Photos – pictures taken on supporting iPhones with a second and a half of video footage captured either side of the photo.
The added feature means Google Photos can now freeze the background in Live Photos or create sweeping cinematic pans, and save the resulting creation as a looping video.
In addition, the latest update to Google Photos includes the ability to sort photos in albums chronologically or by recently added. Google says it has also listened to feedback and users can now choose new thumbnails for faces in ‘People’ photo collections.
Users can learn more about the technology behind Motion Stills stabilization here.
Google Photos is a free download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Tag: Google Photos
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Sony Action Cam FDR-X3000 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Sony
If there was ever a camera type that desperately needed optical image stabilization, it’s action cams. Oddly, though, it hasn’t been available until now on the new 4K-resolution Sony Action Cam X3000R and full HD AS300.
The cameras were announced earlier this year for other regions, including the UK and Australia, but they are now making their way to the US. While Sony and others have had electronic image stabilization (EIS) in the tiny, mountable cameras, EIS typically hurts image quality, narrows the field of view and reduces resolution.
Sony’s BOSS system joins the lens and sensor to counteract shake.
Sony
Sony’s BOSS system, which stands for Balanced Optical SteadyShot, joins the camera’s lens and image sensor into one unit that moves together to compensate for camera shake. Since it’s mechanical and not electronic, you get the full view from its 17mm ultrawide-angle lens (35mm equivalent) and in 4K or full HD.
The two new cameras can be paired with an updated version of Sony’s Live-View Remote that the electronics giant says is 30 percent smaller than the previous model. The remote gives you a view from the camera and full controls, which now includes being able to power the camera on and off using low-power Bluetooth. Sony also improved the interface and menu system and added a high-power Wi-Fi mode so the remote can be used from greater distances from the camera.
The 4K Sony FDR-X3000 arrives in late September for $400 or $550 bundled with the Live-View Remote (as the X3000R). The full HD HDR-AS300 is $300 for the body only or $450 with the remote. Pricing for the X3000 bundle in the UK is £500 and AU$650 in Australia. The AS300 bundle in Australia is AU$500, but is currently not listed for availability in the UK.
Feds arrest two men for hacking top intelligence officials
American authorities have arrested two men from North Carolina for hacking into the emails of top intelligence officials, including CIA Director John Brennan. Andrew Otto Boggs, 22, and Justin Gray Liverman, 24, are reportedly part of a hacker collective you might have heard of in the past: Crackas with Attitude. If you’ll recall, UK authorities nabbed two other members back in February for the same offense. They were both teenagers, and one of them was apparently the leader codenamed Cracka.
According to The Washington Post, these four — along with another person under investigation in the UK — used social engineering to gain access to the email accounts of various intelligence officials. In Brennan’s case, Cracka posed as a Verizon technician to dupe one of the carrier’s tech personnel into giving him the CIA chief’s password. He then used the details he got to steal (and release) a 47-page top secret security clearance Brennan filled out with all his personal details.
WP said that the team also used social engineering to hack into the accounts of Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr., former FBI deputy director Mark Giuliano, FBI executive assistant Amy Hess, CIA contractor Centra Technology’s chief Harold Rosenbaum and Gregory Mecher, the husband of White House communications director Jen Psaki. They got access to Giuliano’s details, in particular, simply by calling an FBI help desk and asking the the person on the phone to reset his password. The group then used his info to access a database containing information on law enforcement officials, which they then released online. When authorities looked at Liverman’s computer, they found 80 Miami police officers’ details taken from Giuliano’s database.
Based on the FBI’s affidavit, the teens from the UK did most of the social engineering. Boggs and Liverman are mostly being suspected of compromising the victims’ accounts and releasing stolen information on the internet. The two Americans are scheduled to make their first federal court appearance next week in Alexandria, Virginia.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: The Washington Post
Huawei P9 Second Opinion: A well-rounded smartphone with a brilliant camera
The quick take
The latest flagship smartphone from Huawei, the P9, has a lot of things going for it in tandem to offer a great Android smartphone experience, along with arguably the best mobile photography credibility a smartphone has offered yet.
The Good
- Brilliant camera
- Excellent fingerprint sensor
- Good display
- Elegant design and build quality
The Bad
- Not cheap
- EMUI is overwhelming
- Occasional lags
- Single SIM only
Huawei P9 Full Review
Huawei does a lot of things right. It’s made some great hardware for the past couple of years, like the Nexus 6P and the P8. Then there’s the Honor sub-brand that has offered some very capable and nice-looking smartphones for customers on a budget. It took the Nexus 6P, obviously aided by the Google branding, to make a lot of people aware about the company’s research, engineering, and design capabilities.
The Huawei P9 with Dual Leica Lens is an engineering marvel on paper, and has much improved EMUI software – the biggest showstopper for Huawei phones till date. Let’s see how the P9 fares against the flagship smartphones and the value-for-money flagship killers — because it sits right on the fence between the two.
About this review
I used the Indian retail variant of the Huawei P9 (EVA-L09) that ran EMUI 4.1 running on top of Android Marshmallow 6.0 out of the box. For most of the time, I used it with an Airtel 4G SIM in Delhi NCR. There is another higher spec’d variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage that is on sale in some markets. This 32GB variant had about 25 gigs of storage available out of the box.
Huawei P9 Design
The Huawei P9 has an industrial design that is consistent with the company’s design ethos, yet the metallic unibody construction gives it an elegant look. It’s solidly built and the craftsmanship with the chamfered edges and the nicely milled aluminum is impressive.
Because of the smaller screen size, the overall footprint is compact and it is a delight to use with one hand – something which is a thing of the past when it comes to the current trend in flagship smartphones. At 144 grams, it is light and easy to handle, and yet doesn’t feel flimsy because the weight is evenly spread across the surface area of the device. With less than 7mm of thickness and curved edges, it feels great to grip the P9 in your hand and you’d not want to reach for your pocket or bag to put it away all the time.
The back sports the camera unit which, despite the advanced optics, does not have a bump like the Nexus 6P had. Of course, there’s the Leica branding next to it which is something definitely worth flashing.
There’s no doubt the P8 and P9 are part of the same lineage, which isn’t a bad thing. The Huawei P8 was a well-designed smartphone, and the P9 is a nice evolution of the same. There’s nothing flashy about the Huawei P9 and yet it is one of the best designed smartphones on the market – not just in looks but in ease of use as well.
Huawei P9 Hardware
| Operating system | Android Marshmallow 6.0 with EMUI 4.1 |
| Display | 5.2 Inch Full HD (1080 x 1920) IPS LCD | 423ppi |
| Processor | 2.5GHz Huawei Kirin 955 Quad-core |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Internal Storage | 32 GB; expandable up to 128GB via a microSD card |
| Battery | 3000mAh |
| Rear Camera | Dual 12MP (color & monochrome) | ƒ/2.2 lens | Co-engineered with Leica |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Dimensions | 145 x 70.9 x 6.95 mm |
| Weight | 144 grams |
Powered by Huawei’s home-brewed octa-core Kirin 955 chipset with four Cortex-A72 cores clocked at 2.5GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.8GHz, the P9 packs in 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
The Kirin 955 packs in enough muscle for being a daily driver without breaking a sweat, and it’s a shame that many question Huawei’s decision to opt for its own chipset instead of going with a Qualcomm one without taking it for a spin in the real world. From multi-tabbed browsing to Full HD video playback to playing graphic-intensive games, the P9 handles everything thrown at it smoothly. It does tend to get a little hot when playing games for an extended period.
It’s not all hunky-dory though. While there’s a lot of memory management optimizations under the hood, I did run into occasional lags with the P9. It’s not a showstopper, but one wonders if packing in 3GB of RAM (or having a lower spec’d variant for India) was a wrong decision by Huawei. Overall though, the Kirin 955 does well to offer a fluid Android experience with a lot of tweaks for the camera experience.
The fingerprint sensor on the P9 is one of the fastest in the business and supports 360-degree recognition. You can also configure the fingerprint sensor for additional functionality like answering calls or taking phones et al. Also, the EMUI offers several gestures in conjunction with the fingerprint sensor for extended functionality — like swiping down on the sensor to bring down the notifications shade or double-tapping it to clear the notifications. One of the more useful gestures is the ability to swipe left or right on the sensor to browse photos without your finger blocking the view over the display.
Interestingly, the Huawei P9 has a single nanoSIM card slot that supports 4G LTE instead of the common hybrid Dual SIM slot – surprising considering the trend in the Indian market. So if you use two SIMs on an everyday basis or on your frequent travels, the P9 is a no go for you.
Huawei P9 Display
The Huawei P9 features a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS LCD. Unless you’re a fan of the 6-inch-and-around display sizes, the display on the P9 is just about perfect for most people. Huawei steers clear of the temptation for boundary-pushing 4K or even a Quad HD display, and the 1080p screen makes absolute sense on a 5.2-inch display. Anything higher would only drain the battery faster.
In any case, the display on P9 is extremely good and with a pixel density of around 423ppi, the P9’s panel makes images look incredible and the text crisp. The 2.5D curved glass looks beautiful and accentuates the display. The viewing angles are great and the color reproduction is pretty accurate. You can also adjust the color temperature of the display from the settings to make it warmer or cooler as you’d prefer.
The sunlight legibility is just good enough, though slightly marred by the reflective glass. Overall, the display is sharp, and watching a movie or viewing your photos is a treat.
Huawei P9 Software
Emotion UI, or EMUI, is Huawei’s custom UI layer running on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Far from just a skin, it adds a ton of features to the operating system including a variety of gesture controls. The number of features can actually be intimidating, so you may need to spend a couple of weeks moving things around to make everything work for you.
Like most of the proprietary UIs from Chinese brands, the EMUI lacks an app drawer. There’s a one-hand UI with shifting keyboard (not sure why you’d need it on a compact smartphone like the P9 though) as well as a simple UI mode for basic users and for those who are visually impaired. There’s the ‘Phone Manager’ app that gives easy access to, well, phone management options like system optimizations, memory clean-up, traffic manager, battery manager, as well as a harassment filter for blocking unwanted calls and messages.
The EMUI 4.1 is thankfully a good progression and takes care of some annoyances of the past. It’s a very usable user interface with a host of customization options. Once you get a hang of it, it becomes clear that EMUI 4.1 is the best version of the EMUI yet, and as powerful as any other launcher. Of course, if you don’t like what Huawei has done with the EMUI, you can switch to your favorite launcher just fine.
Huawei P9 Battery life
The Huawei P9 includes a respectable 3,000mAh non-removable battery, and big props to Huawei for packing a battery of that size into the slim form-factor of the P9. With average usage, the P9 easily lasts a day. The lack of Quad HD or 4K panel is a definite factor here, as well as the power-efficient optimizations of the Kirin 955 processor. You can squeeze out even more juice with the useful ‘ROG power saving’ mode which reduces the phone’s resolution to 720p — further knocking down the battery consumption.
Overall, the battery life on the P9 is pretty good — not stellar — and since it supports fast charging, you can charge it up to two-thirds in less than 30 minutes. Trouble is, the supplied charger is the normal 5V/2A charger and takes over two hours to charge the phone from empty to 100%.
Huawei P9 Camera
Of course, the highlight of the Huawei P9 is the camera — co-engineered with Leica, the legendary optics enterprise from Germany. It’s obviously less of a hardware partnership and more of a branding collaboration, similar to the Dolby Atmos or Beats tie-ups we’ve seen in the past for audio component.
Yet, imaging is a critical aspect of a smartphone experience today, and the collaboration with Leica and the execution is impressive, and so let me just say it outright. The photos clicked with the Huawei P9 are some of the best photos clicked with smartphones – the flagships included. Shots from the 12-megapixel rear camera offer a lot of details with impressive color reproduction.
The rear camera on the P9 packs in two sensors – RGB and Monochrome – with 27mm focal length and an f2.2 aperture, assisted laser AF as well as a dual-tone LED flash. The smartphones that boasted dual camera sensors in the past typically used them for 3D effect or for sensing depth of field, and hence never made a big impression. For Huawei, the dual camera sensors allow you to snap outstanding pictures using the two sensors, which work in unison with the RGB sensor capturing the colors and the monochrome sensor capturing the details. Despite sporting a smaller sensor as compared to the Samsung Galaxy S7 for example, the P9 has terrific low-light performance because of that monochrome sensor.
The P9 also includes a dedicated depth sensor which allows users to mimic depth of field just like shooting with DSLRs. Several other phone cameras with similar attempts end up clicking pictures that look unnatural. But the P9 excels here, allowing for bokeh effects that are pleasant to look at and look real.
Just as the marketing pitch of Huawei proposes, snapping monochrome photos on the P9 is an indulgence in itself. The monochrome mode captures photos with the monochrome sensor – unlike other smartphones where the photos are taken with an RGB sensor and then desaturated to look like a black-and-white photo. Nah, not the same thing! The monochrome photos with the P9 are brighter with more details. If you’re like me and love monochrome or B&W photos, you’ll end up shooting random things using the monochrome mode on the P9 all day for the sheer delight of the results.
On the front, there’s an 8-megapixel camera with a f/2.4 aperture. It does well for those selfies outdoors, and even in low light although they are a tad darker in the latter case. There’s also the functional beauty mode if vanity is your thing.
The brilliant results the P9 camera manages to offer are not just due to the optics hardware, but also the under-the-hood processing as well as the stock camera app. The latter may be intimidating as there is a lot going on here. There are almost too many options and features baked in, including 14 modes for clicking pictures and the option to shoot in RAW or the manual mode to granularly adjust ISO value, exposure, shutter speed, and focus.
At the end of the day, this is still a smartphone camera. It will not replace your DSLR (no smartphone can make such a claim at the moment) like some hyperbole headlines would suggest, but it’s a darn nice camera with tons of options to get the photos you want for those likes and shares.
The video recording tops out at 1080p and 60fps and the P9, despite all its camera credentials, doesn’t shoot in 4K. Frankly, like most people, I don’t care about 4K, but it’s a dent on the specifications sheet. Even on other flagships that support 4K recording, I record only 1080p to save storage space. You still get manual controls, and an option of standard, smooth, and vivid colors for video – but not the star monochrome option here. There’s no optical image stabilization as well. So, yeah, you can shoot decent videos on the P9 but nothing fantastic or extraordinary like the stills it manages to capture.
Huawei P9 Bottom line
After the Nexus 6P, which probably isn’t a Huawei phone in absolute terms, the Huawei P9 is the best smartphone from the Chinese brand. As Phil NIckinson says, the P9 is the “best mainstream phone Huawei has made.” It’s one of those smartphones that can’t be judged on mere specifications and impresses you when you hold it in your hand and start using it.
The EMUI is in its best avatar on the P9, and although a little overpowering, it offers what the best in business offer feature-by-feature. It’s got powerful internals with a well-executed dual-camera setup encased in a beautiful chassis with understated elegance. There are misses, too. Like the underwhelming RAM — in number or in memory performance. With all the camera hype, expert videographers and photographers — not me — would point at the lack of 4K recording and the just about average f2.2. aperture. And there’s no dual SIM variant, mind you.
Should you buy it? Yes
The Huawei P9 is a top-notch smartphone, but alas, it’s not a ‘value for money’ device like the Xiaomi Mi5 or OnePlus 3. At ₹39,999, the P9 is expensive but also a really impressive smartphone, and Huawei is within its rights to charge the premium for it.
Go ahead and buy it if you love mobile photography (who doesn’t?) or like a stylish-looking slab that fits snuggly in your hand.
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AIVAnet 