Honor 9i first impressions: Huawei joins the full-screen bandwagon.
Since the debut of Xiaomi Mi MIX last year, a number of smartphone players have launched their own version of edge-to-edge screen phones. This includes the latest iPhone X and Samsung’s flagship smartphones, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8. The latest brand to join the bezel-less bandwagon is Huawei, which launched its first full-screen phone, the Honor 9i, in India on October 5.
With the Honor 9i, Huawei is not just offering a bezel-less phone, but also four cameras (two cameras each on the back and front) in order to woo the mobile photography enthusiasts and millennials who are obsessed with selfies. The smartphone went on sale in India on Saturday with a price tag of Rs 17,999. Ahead of the launch, we briefly spent some time with the bezel-less Honor 9i, and here are our first impressions.
At the very first glance, the Honor 9i impresses with its ultra slim profile. Weighing 164 grams, the mobile phone feels featherweight. The design though feels reminiscent to the Xiaomi A1, the Android One smartphone which launched in India last month. But that’s certainly not a negative. Corners are gently curved whereas the metal fluidly merges with the side panels to achieve a uniform look and feel.
That being said, the Honor 9i does not really go for the kill when it comes to the edge-to-edge display, as you might have seen on the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2. Both on the top and bottom have relatively thicker bezels. And with a white front, the design uniformity feels lagging. The Honor 9i best comes closest to the LG Q6 or Micromax Canvas Infinity smartphones in terms of delivering a full-screen phone. Looking at the price point, we think this aspect can be overlooked.