The HUAWEI nova 9 features an RYYB Ultra Vision camera and a 32 MP selfie camera for those who enjoy taking photos and videos!
Find out if the nova 9 is the smartphone you have been waiting for!
HUAWEI nova 9 With RYYB Cameras For Content Creators!
The HUAWEI nova 9 smartphone is targeted at millennials who love taking photos and videos, and enjoy creating content and vlogging too!
To cater to photo + video enthusiasts, the nova 9 comes with a 50 MP RYYB Ultra Vision Camera and a 32 MP selfie camera with ultra slow-mo capability, and a slew of other cool features.
Here’s a quick round-up of its key features!
6.57-inch 120 Hz OLED Smooth Display
The first thing you will notice is the large, beautiful 6.57-inch OLED display, which boasts a P3 colour gamut with ΔE < 1 colour accuracy.
On top of that, it can refresh at up to 120 Hz, and has a touch sampling rate of 300 Hz – giving you silky smooth visuals with lightning quick touch response.
Powerful Mid-Range Platform!
The HUAWEI nova 9 is built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G mobile platform, which offers :
a Kryo 670 Prime (A78-based) core running at 2.4 GHz,
three Kryo 670 Gold (A78-based) cores running at 2.2 GHz,
four Kryo 670 Silver (A55-based) cores running at 1.8 GHz
Adreno 642L GPU running at 490 MHz
Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G is a new mid-range mobile SoC built on the 6 nm process, which offers preppy performance without the higher power consumption of flagship mobile SoC.
The nova 9 also uses Graphene and VC Liquid Cooling technology to keep the Snapdragon 778G cool, even in the most strenuous gaming session!
Flagship-Class Cameras In A Mid-Range Smartphone!
To cater to vloggers and content creators, HUAWEI introduced new camera technologies and a new RYYB sensor in the nova 9 smartphone.
In the front, it boasts a magnificent 32 MP selfie camera, with a large f/2.0 aperture and support for slow-motion 720p video recording at up to 240 fps!
At the back, it has a very high resolution 50 MP RYYB Ultra Vision camera, which features a larger sensor size of 1/1.56-inch and a wide aperture of f/1.9 . This camera not only records 4K video, it can record ultra slow-motion 720p video at up to 960 fps!
In addition, the 50 MP camera has an innovative RYYB colour filter array that lets it collect 40% more light, delivering superior low-light performance.
The nova 9 also sports an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, a 2 MP macro camera and a 2 MP depth sensor. But the camera hardware is just one part of the story.
Its XD Fusion Engine uses computational photography techniques to enhance the photos you take, while its Ultra Vision HDR Technology helps you shoot with ease in all kinds of environment.
Content creators will also love the new Dual-View video function, which gives you greater creativity for your videos and vlogs!
Stylish Ultra-Thin Design!
The HUAWEI nova 9 has a stylish ultra-thin design that is only 7.77 mm thick, and weighs just 175 grams.
Its chassis features a new advanced anti-glare Starry Flash AG Glass coating with a double-film and double-coated matte finish, with a star-inspired Star Orbit Ring on its rear camera.
It comes in two colour options – Pristine Black and the signature Starry Blue colour!
66W SuperFast Charging Battery!
The HUAWEI nova 9 comes with a large 4,300 mAh battery, that supports 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge.
You never need to worry about running out of battery, because a quick 38 minute charge gives you a full charge!
Full Suite Of Apps Through HUAWEI Mobile Services (HMS)
The HUAWEI nova 9 has access to a full suite of important apps through the HUAWEI AppGallery, for banking, social media, food & beverage, e-wallet, shopping and of course, games!
Best of all – you only need to use a single HUAWEI ID to access the HUAWEI AppGallery across your different HUAWEI devices. Parents can also enable parental control function to restrict access and limit how much time children can use their devices or browse the Internet.
Its built-in Email app lets you manage multiple email accounts – Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo; while Petal Search gives you access to an AI-powered mobile search engine for a better browsing experience. It can even look for apps in trusted third-party stores, giving you even more options outside of HUAWEI AppGallery.
HUAWEI nova 9 : How To Pre-Order One!
You can pre-order the HUAWEI nova 9 from 8 to 19 November 2021 for just RM1,999 at these online and offline stores in Malaysia :
Every pre-order will come with freebies worth up to RM829!
HUAWEI nova 9 : Contests!
To celebrate the launch of the nova 9, HUAWEI has arranged two contests for you to join :
Be A Nova Star Karaoke Battle!
From 5 November until 18 November 2021, you can join the #BeANovaStar Karaoke Battle for a chance to win THREE (3) brand new HUAWEI nova 9 smartphones!
Click “sing now” and record video of you singing or in your own creative ways with the “nova star” branded filter.
Upload the video to the Karaoke Battle, set it as “Public” and hashtag #HUAWEInova9star #BeAnovaStar.
Be A Nova Star Dance Challenge!
From 7 November until 13 November 2021, you can join the #BeANovaStar TikTok Dance Challenge to win a HUAWEI band 6 smartwatch!
Do the #BeAnovaStar TikTok Dance Challenge (“Dance”) with branded filter;
Record and upload a video of yourself doing the movements of the Dance with the hashtag #BeAnovaStar #HUAWEInova9 on to your TikTok profile; and
Make your TikTok profile public.
The winner will be announced on 18 November 2021!
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We had some time with the HUAWEI MatePad Pro – a premium 10.8-inch tablet built around the Kirin 990 flagship platform.
Find out why we love its complete tablet experience so much, we gave it our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
HUAWEI MatePad Pro : 10.8-inch Flagship Tablet
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro (US | UK | MY | SG | AU) is a flagship tablet with a 10.8-inch display. It uses an LCD panel, with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 and a wide DCI-P3 colour gamut.
Built around the HUAWEI Kirin 990 flagship mobile platform, it features fast CPU and GPU cores and two neural processing cores.
HUAWEI is offering it in 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi variants, with 6 GB or 8 GB memory options, and storage options of 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB.
Our review sample is the Wi-Fi only model (MRX-W09), with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. Here is our hands-on experience!
Holding the MatePad Pro vertically, on the left side, you will find its SIM / NM card tray.
In 5G / 4G models, the tray accepts either two nano SIM cards, or one nano SIM card and an NM card.
In Wi-Fi only models like this one – the tray only accepts a single NM card.
The Volume control buttons are located at the top of the right side, near the front and rear cameras.
Next to it is another one of the five microphones that are used to help you record better audio with noise cancellation.
The Power button is located at the top, near the Volume control buttons on the right side. You will also see two rows of speaker ports at the top.
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro actually has a Harman Kardon-tuned quad-speaker system. The other two speakers are located at the bottom, flanking its USB Type C port.
HUAWEI MatePad Pro : A Complete Package
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro (US | UK | MY | SG | AU) can be purchased as a tablet alone. But HUAWEI offers a bundle (Midnight Grey | Pearl White) which includes the Smart Magnetic Keyboard and M-pencil.
The Smart Magnetic Keyboard doubles as a case, and offers two stand angles, and a keyboard with 1.3 mm keystroke travel.
The HUAWEI M-pencil is a full-sized stylus with a built-in battery, that lets you writer and draw directly on the MatePad Pro with 4,096 pressure levels.
Both accessories lock magnetically to, and is powered by the MatePad Pro. The M-pencil can also be recharged by any device that supports the Qi wireless charging standard.
This nice bundle (Midnight Grey | Pearl White) gives you a complete tablet experience, right out of the box.
HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Price + Availability
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro is available in the Midnight Grey or Pearl White colour options at these launch prices :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Key Features
Flagship Kirin 990 Mobile Platform
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro (US | UK | MY | SG | AU) uses the latest Kirin 990 mobile SoC, which also powers the P40 Pro smartphones.
The HiSilicon Kirin 990 features a triple-tier architecture, with :
two ARM Cortex-A76 high-performance cores at 2.86 GHz
two ARM Cortex-A76 sustained performance cores at 2.09 GHz (2.36 GHz for Kirin 990 5G)
four ARM Cortex-A55 low-power cores at 1.86 GHz (1.95 GHz for Kirin 990 5G)
It also comes with a powerful 16-core ARM Mali-G76 GPU, and a new Da Vinci neural architecture.
The regular Kirin 990 has with 1 Big Core NPU + 1 Tiny Core NPU, while the Kirin 990 5G has 2 Big Core NPUs + 1 Tiny Core NPU.
RAM + Storage
Our review sample was the MRX-W09 model, with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.
Out of the 8 GB of RAM, 5.46 GB is available to use – more than enough to easily run multiple apps at the same time.
For perspective, high-end mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 use less than 1.2 GB of RAM.
And out of the box, you have a whopping 241 GB of free storage space – enough to store some 68,000 photos!
256 GB of storage is definitely more than sufficient for most users. But if you ever run out of storage, you can always add additional storage through an NM card.
The NM card is basically a microSD card in the size of a nano SIM card. However, because it is a proprietary HUAWEI storage technology, NM cards cost more than microSD cards, and are harder to come by.
10.8-inch DCI-P3 Display
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro (US | UK | MY | SG | AU) comes with a large 10.8-inch display, with a high resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.
Thanks to its punch hole camera and narrow 4.9 mm bezels, it has a very impressive 90% screen-to-body ratio.
The display has a maximum brightness of 540 nits, which allows for pretty good viewing outdoors, just not under direct sunlight.
More importantly, its wide DCI-P3 colour gamut allows it to accurately replicate the digital movie experience.
Front Camera
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro comes with a decent 8 MP front camera, hidden in a punch hole.
Surprisingly, it can record 4K videos at 30 fps, or 1080p videos at 60 fps. And its large f/2.0 aperture allows for better low-light performance.
Rear Camera
At the back, it has a 13 MP camera with a large f/1.8 aperture for even better low-light performance.
Like the front 8 MP camera, it is capable of recording 4K videos at 30 fps, or 1080p videos at either 30 fps or 60 fps.
This camera is supported by a single LED flash, and a microphone for better audio recording.
HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Specifications (5G / 4G / Wi-Fi)
For your convenience, we created this table to make it easier for you to compare the 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi versions of the HUAWEI MatePad Pro :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Battery Life
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro comes with a massive 7,250 mAh battery. To test its battery life, we turned off Automatic Brightness, and set its display brightness to 50%.
Why 50%? That is actually slightly higher than the average indoor brightness level of 40% during the day, and is what we usually use in all our mobile battery life tests.
It is important to fix the brightness level, to make sure the screen brightness does not change as the room brightness changed.
We then ran the PCMark Work 2.0 battery life test until its battery capacity dropped to 20% several times, and this was the best result we obtained :
That’s a phenomenal 14 hours of battery life on a large 10.8-inch display! Very impressive!
Do remember that the display was set to a slightly higher brightness while running the benchmark non-stop for a full 14 hours.
HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Recharging Speed
Our Wi-Fi only model supports 20 watt fast charging, like the 4G models. But do keep in mind that the 5G models support 27 watt fast charging.
Take a look at how fast the HUAWEI MatePad Pro recharges its 7,250 mAh battery using 20 watt fast charging!
Impressive! The HUAWEI MatePad Pro only took 1 hour 38.5 minutes to fully recharge its battery from 20% to 100%.
That gives it a recharging speed of about 58.9 mAh per minute, which is actually faster than some devices that support 25W or 27W fast charging.
This gives it a good battery life : recharging ratio of 8.5:1. A general rule of thumb – for one of hour battery life, you just need to charge it for 7 minutes.
Incidentally, it recharged fastest up to the 90% point, which took just 1 hour 15.5 minutes. The final 10% required an additional 23 minutes.
HUAWEI MatePad Pro Work Performance : PCMark
We tested its performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Our Verdict + Award
If you are looking for a powerful tablet that is also affordable, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro (US | UK | MY | SG | AU) will be right at the top of the list.
Built around the powerful Kirin 990 mobile platform, it comes with a large 10.8-inch DCI-P3 display, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.
All that is powered by a large 7,250 mAh battery (which lasted 14 hours in our test!), packed in a sleek metal chassis that is less than 8 mm thin, and weighs just 460 grams.
Best of all – HUAWEI is only selling it at the RRP of RM 2,399 / ~US$551 / ~£445 / ~A$909 / ~S$790.
Its closest competitor is the 11-inch Apple iPad Pro, and that costs a whooping RM 3,949 / ~US$923 / ~£739 / ~A$1,342 / ~S$1,285 – a 65% premium over the MatePad Pro!
And it gets even better when you add in the accessories. To make it easier to compare, we created this table :
HUAWEI MatePad Pro
(8GB + 256GB)
Apple iPad Pro
(11-inch)
Difference
Tablet Only
RM 2,399
~US$551
~£445
~A$909
~S$790
RM 3,949
~US$923
~£739
~A$1,342
~S$1,285
+65%
Tablet
+ Stylus
+ Keyboard
RM 3,197
~US$747
~£596
~A$1,086
~S$1,040
RM 5,847
~US$1,367
~£1,091
~A$1,986
~S$1,903
+83%
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro with all of its accessories has a RRP of RM 3,197 / ~US$747 / ~£596 / ~A$1,086 / ~S$1,040.
But while Apple products have fixed prices, you can actually get the full MatePad Pro bundle at lower prices. For example, the official bundle deals for Midnight Grey | Pearl White here in Malaysia.
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro definitely wins hands down, based on value proposition alone. You can actually buy two full MatePad Pro bundles (Midnight Grey | Pearl White) for the price of a single 11-inch iPad Pro bundle, and have enough money leftover for a nice meal for two!
That is why we are very glad to give the HUAWEI MatePad Pro (US | UK | MY | SG | AU) our Reviewer’s Choice Award!
HUAWEI MatePad Pro : No Google Mobile Services?
Now, let’s address elephant in the room – the HUAWEI MatePad Pro (US | UK | MY | SG | AU) runs on EMUI 10.1, with HMS (HUAWEI Mobile Services), instead of GMS (Google Mobile Services).
This means you no longer have access to the Google Play Store, and have to use HUAWEI AppGallery instead.
This is really not a big issue for many users, because HUAWEI has worked hard to add many key apps to their AppGallery. You can see just how many apps are already available on AppGallery in this video :
Even so, there is simply no way for HUAWEI to replicate the tons of Android apps that are already on Google Play Store.
For apps that are not available on the HUAWEI AppGallery, you will have to use HUAWEI Phone Clone, or directly download their APK installation files from APK repositories.
The lack of Google Play Services and the Google Play Store will, undoubtedly, be an issue for many users. Some Android require GMS for certain features :
Telegram : GMS is required for location services. You can use it, you just cannot search for a location, or share your location.
Gmail : You will have to use a different email client, like Outlook. Or just use a web browser to get access to Gmail.
YouTube : The YouTube app requires GMS, so you will have to watch YouTube on a web browser.
Grab : The Grab app requires GMS for mapping functions. You can use it, but you won’t be able to locate your current position, or track your trip.
That’s why we cannot give the MatePad Pro our Editor’s Choice Award, even though it would have qualified.
But if you can live with what’s available on HUAWEI AppGallery, or are comfortable downloading from APK repositories, then the HUAWEI MatePad Pro (US | UK | MY | SG | AU) offers truly great value for your money.
HUAWEI MatePad Pro : Price + Availability
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro is available in the Midnight Grey or Pearl White colour options at these launch prices :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
HUAWEI nova 7 Series : How To Install The Apps You Want!
All HUAWEI nova 7 series smartphones run on EMUI 10 with HUAWEI Mobile Services replacing Google Mobile Services.
Many potential buyers are concerned about what apps they can install on HUAWEI Mobile Services. So here are the two ways you can install the apps you want.
Using HUAWEI Phone Clone
HUAWEI Phone Clone offers an easy way to migrate all of your favourite Android apps from your old smartphone to any HUAWEI nova 7 series smartphone.
HUAWEI Phone Clone comes pre-installed on the HUAWEI nova 7 series smartphone, and you are given the option to use it during the installation process.
Just let it link, and sync both devices, to transfer all of the data and apps from your old smartphone to your HUAWEI nova 7 series smartphone. It’s that easy!
HUAWEI AppGallery is the replacement for Google Play Store, and serves as a way for HUAWEI to deliver apps through HUAWEI Mobile Services (which replaces Google Mobile Services).
When it first started out, it was quite bare, but HUAWEI spent an incredible amount of time, money and resources to entice developers to add their apps.
Here is a quick look at the number of apps you can now download through HUAWEI AppGallery.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Purchased the HUAWEI P40 Pro, but not sure how to set it up? Or you are planning to buy one, and want to find out if it’s easy to setup?
In this guide, we will show you step-by-step how to setup the new HUAWEI P40 Pro smartphone!
HUAWEI P40 Pro : A Quick Primer
The HUAWEI P40 Pro is the middle brother of the new P40 family of smartphones, and is only available as 5G variants.
It is powered by the Kirin 990 5G mobile SoC, and comes with 8 GB of RAM, as well as a very large 6.58-inch OLED display, with a resolution of 1200 x 2640 pixels, and a 90 Hz refresh rate.
Designed for those who enjoy taking photos, it comes with a 32 MP camera, paired with an IR depth camera, in the front.
In the back, it boasts a Leica quad-camera system, with a 50MP main camera, a 40 MP ultra-wide camera, a 12 MP SuperZoom camera and a 3D depth-sensing camera.
For those who are planning to setup the HUAWEI P40 on your own, we recorded this video to show you step-by-step how to do it!
After the HUAWEI P40 Pro boots up, the first thing you need to do is to select the language of choice.
Then tap the Get Started button.
In the next screen, you need to select your Country, which will enables localised presets for your phone.
Next, you will need to agree to the End User License Agreement.
Tap to check the box, and then tap Next at the bottom of the page.
You will be warned if you did not installed your SIM card.
The same screen also gives you the option of adding an eSIM.
If you have a Wi-Fi network, you can now log into your Wi-Fi network.
Wait until the P40 Pro connects to your Wi-Fi network and gains Internet access.
Then tap Next at the bottom of the screen.
The next screen details HUAWEI’s data and privacy policy.
Tap the Details link for more information, or tap Next to continue with the setup process.
Now it’s time to sign into your HUAWEI account, or create a new HUAWEI ID.
You can also choose to log in via SMS, if you don’t want a HUAWEI account.
If you prefer to skip this part and do it later, but remember – you need a HUAWEI account to make use of key features like the AppGallery and Find My Phone.
But to skip this for now, tap Later, and tap Later again in the reminder pop-up at the bottom.
In the next page, you will be allowed to disable certain HUAWEI Mobile Services.
Ad-ID statistics is enabled by default. We recommend disabling it.
– Tap Enabled to go into the Ad-ID statistics option page.
– Tap Disable collection of Ad-ID statistics, and then go back to the HUAWEI Mobile Services page.
For enhanced privacy, you might want to disable personalised ads as well.
Now it’s time to protect your HUAWEI P40 Pro. We recommend using Fingerprint ID.
First, you will need to set a 6-digit PIN number as a backup.
You’ll need to key in those 6 digits again to verify.
Next, tap the Add Fingerprint button to start training the fingerprint sensor.
To train the fingerprint sensor, repeatedly press your finger firmly on the fingerprint icon and lift when you feel a vibration
Midway, you will be asked to tilt your finger to capture the edges of your fingerprint
Once you have successfully enrolled your fingerprint, tap OK to continue with the setup process.
Next, you will be given the opportunity to setup Face Recognition as well.
Tap Skip if you want to stick with just the fingerprint and PIN number.
In the next page, you are given the opportunity to opt out of certain Enhanced services.
Have no clue what you are opting for? Tap Set Up Enhanced services to find out!
– The Wi-Fi+ and Weather service are safe to opt for.
– HiSearch basically lets you search both data on your smartphone, as well as on the Internet
– Finally, MeeTime lets you make high definition video and voice calls using your HUAWEI account.
Next, the Share Analytics page lets you opt out of sharing usage data with HUAWEI.
We recommend you tap Later.
HUAWEI Location Services is an important feature, so definitely tap Enable.
You should certainly let HUAWEI keep your software updated. So tap Enable And Continue.
Now, you will be given the opportunity to import data from your old smartphone. Remember – you cannot download backups from your Google Drive.
After you are done, you will need to go through a tutorial on the new on display navigation gestures.
Finally, HUAWEI gives you a selection of popular apps you can install through the AppGallery.
If you don’t want to install the pre-selected apps, just uncheck them.
After you finish selecting the apps you want, tap Next.
Then you can decide if you want to install the apps now, or wait until you have Wi-Fi
That’s it! Your HUAWEI P40 Pro is ready to use!
HUAWEI P40 Pro : Price + Availability
The HUAWEI P40 Pro is available in selected markets, with a recommended retail price of €999 / RM 3,899 / ~US$1,089 / £899.99 / ~A$1,699 / S$1,448 for the 8GB+256GB variant.
HUAWEI will offer five colour options – Black, Deep Sea Blue, Ice White, Silver Frost and Blush Gold globally, although colour options will be limited in most countries.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
