Today Huawei have just finished their press conference which we covered live with the help of Paul O’Brien from MoDoCo. The event was full of glitz and glamour as their events usually are, and if you wish to relive the blow-by-blow report from the event then take a look at the live blog.
So what does the P9 bring to the table?Firstly we have a gorgeous design and Huawei were not afraid of going head-to-head with major players. Throughout the rather lengthy launch it was compared to the iPhone 6s and the Galaxy S7. The camera, or should we say cameras, also got compared heavily with the bigger competitors. The shooters are a result of a partnership with Lucia. The camera also has the Lecia shutter sound which is just awesome! Then, the last bit of news is that all of the UK networks will be carrying the phone – albeit in specific colours. More on that later.
Let’s have a look at the specs of the two devices
Specs DisplayP9 5.2-inch IPS LCD, 1920×1080, P9 Plus 5.5-inch Super AMOLED, 1920×1080 ProcessorKirin 955 octacore 4xA72 + 4xA53 Storage/RAMP9 32GB/3GB or 64GB/4GB, P9 Plus 64GB/4GB OSAndroid 6.0 with EMUI 4.1 Rear camerasDual 12MP (monochrome + color) 1.76-micron pixel equivalent Leica certification Front camera8MP ConnectionUSB-C SIM/SDDual SIM in Asia, Single SIM with microSD (128GB) in Europe BatteryP9 3000 mAh, P9 Plus 3400 mAh DimensionsP9 145 x 70.9 x 6.95mm,P9 Plus: 152.3 x 75.3 x 6.98 mm WeightP9 144g, P9 Plus 162g SecurityFingerprint PriceP9: £499, P9 Plus: £549 OtherInfrared, stereo speakers
These are definitely high-end devices but the P9 for £499 and the P9 Plus for £549? That’s certainly not too painful.
Both the phones will be working off USB-C for power with the P9 Plus offering dual-IC Rapid Charge. This gives users six hours of talk time after a 10-minute charge. The P9 however will provide five hours talk time from a 10 minute charge. The P9 Plus will also feature Huawei’s “force touch” technology which we first saw on the Mate S back in September last year.
As I mentioned above these phones will be arriving on our shores later this month across all the main networks…
CPW – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey
EE – Titanium Grey
O2 – Titanium Grey
Three – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey
Vodafone – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey
That is for the P9, the P9 Plus however will be an exclusive to Vodafone with them offering it from mid May starting on a £9 per month contract! I presume that there will be a steep one off payment for that deal though.
The P9 will be available SIM free through the Huawei vMall as of mid-April for £449 – that’s for the 3GB 32GB version. We don’t have the pricing of the 4GB 64Gab version yet (our men on the ground are asking).
The P9 will also come as an exclusive 64GB model to with a Haze Gold finish which is meant to be quite special.
The 64GB version of the P9 comes in a stunning and unique Haze Gold finish, setting new industry standards in industrial design, with the use of techniques including brushed hairlines and metal polishing at micron-level precision to create a translucent metal surface.
That is it for now guys. We will have some more info and a hands-on with the phones very soon once our boys have fought though the throngs of people at the event to to get to the phones.
We were given the following prices at the event..
P9
3GB + 32 GB €599
4GB + 64 GB €649
P9 Plus
4GB + 64 GB €749
The devices will be available from April 16th across Europe.
Huawei P9 Debuts in London with Dual Camera Lens, Reinvents Smartphone Photography in Collaboration with Leica
New Huawei Flagship Device Combines Groundbreaking Innovations and Exceptional Design, Setting a New Standard in Smartphone Photography
London – April 6, 2016 – Today at an exclusive launch event at London’s Battersea Evolution, Huawei Consumer Business Group unveiled the much anticipated Huawei P9 and P9 Plus. Created in collaboration with Leica, the dual-lens P9 sets a new standard in smartphone photography.
The Huawei P9 is the first smartphone co-engineered with the global iconic brand, Leica Camera AG. The P9’s dual-lens camera takes smartphone photography to the next level, allowing people to capture both vivid colors and striking black and white images.Huawei’s new B3 Talkband wearable wristband also made its global debut.
A groundbreaking moment for event guests included a first look at an exclusive trailer of the new Huawei P9 TV commercial starring Henry Cavill and Scarlett Johansson, Global Product Ambassadors for the Huawei P9 series. Showcasing the connection between two global stars in Shanghai and Hollywood, the trailer symbolizes the partnership between Huawei and Leica and the intersection of color and black and white. Cavill was joined at the P9 launch by iconic photographers Mary McCartney and David Guttenfelder from National Geographic as well as BBC Global News CEO Jim Egan, Condé Nast Chairman and Chief Executive Jonathan Newhouse, Vogue China Publisher Anita Chang and Huawei UK Board Members Sir Andrew Cahn and Dame Helen Alexander.
“Huawei is excited to give P9 users the best smartphone photography experience by leveraging the unrivalled capabilities of Leica, the leader in the world of imaging for more than 100 years,” said Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group. “Consumers around the world use their smartphones to take billions of pictures each year, making photography critical to user experience. P9 users can now capture images with unmatched clarity, richness and authenticity, with a masterfully designed and powerful smartphone that looks and feels incredible.”
Reinventing Smartphone Photography
Integrating the design values and engineering excellence of Huawei and Leica in a smartphone photography system co-engineered by the two companies, the P9 brings together best-in-class hardware and software, from optical lenses, to sensors, to image processing algorithms, empowering users to capture the highest-quality images.
Key to the P9’s superlative imaging capabilities is a dual-camera design that fully unleashes the power of Leica’s optical lenses, renowned for precision and attention to detail, and subject to the industry’s most stringent quality screening requirements. The RGB camera on the P9 specializes in capturing color, while the monochrome camera is outstanding at acquiring picture detail. The two rear cameras of the P9 work in tandem to enable users to create images of superior detail, depth and color. The P9 truly excels in low-light conditions, as the dual-camera design guarantees more light and detail can be captured.
Each picture taken by the P9 carries the unique emotional resonance and timelessness that are the hallmarks of Leica, as users may choose between three film modes: Standard, Vivid Colors and Smooth Colors, depending on their personal preferences. With meticulous calibration of the P9’s camera parameters, each film mode faithfully renders the authentic color and style of Leica. By selecting the monochrome mode, P9 users can use their devices as a true monochrome camera to capture powerful and evocative black and white images of superior quality.
Deploying Huawei’s Hybrid Focus technology, the P9 captures images with superior speed, accuracy and stability. The P9 supports camera focusing based on three methodologies – laser, depth calculation and contrast – and automatically selects the one that yields the best result in any given environment.
The wide-aperture photography feature on the P9 allows users to experiment with innovative visual effects to create unique images and content. The P9 makes it easy to adjust the camera aperture to create bokeh and other depth-of-field effects, while keeping the main object in sharp focus.
“Leica and Huawei share an uncompromising commitment to imaging excellence, and our partnership will put outstanding photography into the hands of more consumers around the world,” said Oliver Kaltner, CEO, Leica Camera AG. “We are deepening our collaboration to give users a more optimal smartphone photography experience.”
Taking Industrial Design to a Higher Level
The P9 is a masterpiece of state-of the-art industrial design, with the same minimalist design DNA as earlier products in Huawei’s acclaimed flagship P-series of premium smartphones. Each P9 device is a perfect construct of superior-grade 2.5D glass and an aerospace-class aluminum, with diamond-cut edges rounded out by carefully balanced curvatures.
The 64GB version of the P9 comes in a stunning and unique Haze Gold finish, setting new industry standards in industrial design, with the use of techniques including brushed hairlines and metal polishing at micron-level precision to create a translucent metal surface. Additionally, the Ceramic White version of the P9 is smoother than the painted bodywork of premium cars, reflecting and refracting light to present different shades of awe-inspiring colors as ambient conditions change.
Power and Performance
The P9 is equipped with the power, connectivity and speed that today’s high-end smartphone user expects from Huawei. With a 5.2-inch 1080p display, the P9 is powered by the new Kirin 955 2.5GHz 64-bit ARM-based processor for leading-class mobile performance. The 3,000mAh high-density battery offers P9 users outstanding mobility and battery life.
Huawei is also unveiling the P9 Plus, featuring a 5.5-inch Press Touch display and a larger 3,400mAh battery. The P9 Plus also offers dual-IC Rapid Charge, giving users six hours of talk time after a 10-minute charge.
Leveraging Huawei’s industry-leading capabilities in telecommunications, the P9 and P9 Plus offer unrivaled new features including a virtual-triple-antenna architecture, designed for users who need robust and seamless connectivity to cellular and Wi-Fi networks to fully harness the power of the mobile Internet no matter where they are in the world.
The P9 and P9 Plus also protect users’ privacy and information security with Huawei’s world-leading biometric fingerprint recognition technology. The enhanced fingerprint sensor allows users to personalize and safeguard their devices by significantly lowering the possibility of fraudulent or accidental device access, while also ensuring users can quickly and securely access their smartphone.
Pricing and availability
The Huawei P9 will be available in Mystic Silver and Titanium Grey. It comes with an RRP of £449 (3GB + 32GB) and will be free on contract, subject tariff.
The Huawei P9 will be available to buy in the UK in early May from Carphone Warehouse, EE, O2, Three and Vodafone.
The P9 will also be available SIM free from vMall in mid April.
Please see below details on the colours each channel will be offering.
CPW – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey
EE – Titanium Grey
O2 – Titanium Grey
Three – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey
Vodafone – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey
vMall – Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey
The Huawei P9 Plus in Quartz Grey will be exclusively available to buy from Vodafone from mid May. It has an RRP of £549 (4GB + 74GB) and will be available from £9 on Vodafone contract tariffs.
The camera also has the Lecia shutter sound which is just awesome! Then, the last bit of news is that all of the UK networks will be carrying the phone – albeit in specific colours. More on that later. 
