Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Huawei P9 vs. P10: Which stylish Huawei phone is best for you?

Huawei P10 Our first take
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Chinese smartphone giant Huawei unveiled the newest addition to its flagship smartphone lineup, the P-series. The new P10 is laden with new features and improvements over last year’s model. The P9, however, was largely well received and universally praised. Does the P10 live up to the standards set by its predecessor? Read on to find out how the P9 and P10 stack up against one another in the spec department.

Specs

Huawei P10

Image used with permission by copyright holder

 

Huawei P9

Size 145.3 x 69.3 x 7 millimeters (5.72 x 2.73 x 0.28 inches) 145 x 70.9 x 7 millimeters (5.71 x 2.79 x 0.28 inches)
Weight 5.11 ounces (145 grams) 5 ounces (144 grams)
Screen 5.1-inch IPS-NEO LCD capacitive touchscreen 5.2-inch IPS-NEO LCD capacitive touchscreen
Resolution 1,080 x 1,920 pixels (432 ppi) 1,080 x 1,920 pixels (423 ppi)
OS Android 7.0 Nougat (EMUI 5.1) Android 6.0 Marshmallow (EMUI 4.1), upgradable to 7.0
Storage 64GB 32/64GB
MicroSD card slot Yes Yes
NFC support Yes Yes, EVA-L09 only
Processor Kirin 960 2.4 GHz Octa-core Kirin 955 2.5GHz Octa-core
RAM 4GB 3/4GB
Connectivity LTE, GSM, HSPA, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, GALILEO GPS LTE, GSM, HSPA, a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
Camera 20-megapixel monochrome + 12-megapixel color rear cameras with OIS, 8-megapixel front Dual 12-megapixel rear, 8-megapixel front
Video 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.2 Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor Yes Yes
Other sensors Gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity, compass Gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity, compass
Water resistant No No
Battery 3,200mAh (TYP) 3,000mAh
Ports USB-C, headphone USB-C, headphone
Marketplace Google Play Store Google Play Store
Color offerings Ceramic White, Dazzling Blue, Dazzling Gold, Prestige Gold, Graphite Black, Mystic Silver, Rose Gold, Greenery Ceramic White, Haze Gold, Rose Gold, Titanium Grey, Mystic Silver, Prestige Gold, Red, Blue
Availability None in USA Amazon
Price €650 $429
DT review Hands-on 4 out of 5 stars

Power and productivity

Huawei P9
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Assuming there aren’t any unforeseen problems with the P10, it promises to be more powerful than the P9 in nearly every way. The P10 is equipped with a Huawei Kirin 960 processor, which is simply a newer iteration of the Kirin 955 chip that runs the P9. This translates to quicker performance overall, allowing apps to load quicker, games to perform better, and video to play without pause. Both phones are also available with 64GB of onboard storage — and both can be upgraded via an SD card — though there’s a cheaper model of the P9 that comes with 32GB.

Each phone runs on 4GB of RAM — the cheaper models of the P9 have 3GB — and in terms of connectivity, there’s very little separating the two. In fact, the only notable difference here is the P10’s inclusion of the superior GALILEO GPS system, which provides a higher degree of location accuracy than the traditional GPS systems installed in the P9.

Winner: Huawei P10

Design and display

In comparison to most smartphone lineup, the P-series is practically bursting with personality. Each phone is available in a bevy of cool colors, so you won’t get stuck with drab blacks and grays that might otherwise cramp your style. The unique “hyper diamond cut” technique used on the body of the P10 also gives it a reflective sheen (especially in the dazzling blue color) and promises to reduce fingerprint visibility. Don’t sleep on the P9, though. The P9 is a handsome phone in its own right, even if it’s not quite as vibrant.

Both phones are nearly the exact same size, though the P9 is a bit lighter than its younger sibling. Their screens are basically identical, boasting the same 1,080 x 1,920-pixel resolution, and they’re both wrapped in Cornish Gorilla Glass 3 for maximum protection. While the P9’s fingerprint sensor was located on its rear, Huawei decided to relocate the feature on the P10, bringing the gesture-sensitive sensor to the front of the phone, directly below the screen.

While the P9’s touch sensor allowed users to access the notifications menu and perform other actions related to the camera, the front-mounted sensor on the P10 supports several different gestures, replacing the traditional “Home,” “Back,” and “Multi-task” buttons. It’s a cool idea, but we’re not sure if the change will make for any practical use. Really, Huawei didn’t introduce anything groundbreaking in terms of design. The P9 was a well-designed phone to begin with, and we expect the P10 to be more of the same.

Winner: Tie

Software, Camera, and Pricing

Software

Huawei P9
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

From the outside, it doesn’t look like Huawei changed much with the P10. Taking a deeper look, though, they’re not as similar as they might seem. While the P9 runs natively on Android 6.0 Marshmallow and uses Huawei’s custom EMUI 4.1, the P10 easily outstrips it. On top of Android OS 7.0 Nougat, EMUI 5.1 — the skin that introduced machine learning capability to Huawei’s phones — makes the user interface and experience much simpler and more enjoyable. Both configurations are based upon Huawei’s Emotion UI, which is similar to the iPhone.

With the P10, apps are quicker to open and close, and the interface is set up in such a way that nearly all functions can be accessed in less than three taps. The new EMUI’s “learning” ability automatically manages resources based on recently-used apps, thus ensuring that your phone performs best while you’re using your favorite apps and functions.

Winner: Huawei P10

Camera

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Last year’s P9 was well-received, namely because of its photo-taking and video-recording capabilities. Dual 12-megapixel Leica cameras with F/2.2 apertures adorn the phone’s rear, along with a back-illuminated CMOS sensor. The front camera isn’t too shabby either, clocking in at a more-than-respectable 8 megapixels. At the time of the P9’s release, few smartphones boasted cameras this sharp.

Nearly a year later, however, Huawei has improved upon its winning formula. The P10 is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to photography, featuring dual Leica cameras — this time, one 20-megapixel monochrome sensor and one 12-megapixel color sensor — in the rear, and an 8-megapixel selfie camera. Also, while the P9’s camera and camera software focused largely on landscapes, the P10 boasts unique, 190-point facial mapping to improve visibility and clarity in all types of lighting.

In addition, Huawei took the popular bokeh mode and added it to both rear lenses, and the front camera (also a Leica collaboration) has improved brightness and a wider dynamic range. The P10 is simply a superior shooter.

Winner: Huawei P10

Pricing and availability

Image used with permission by copyright holder

So far, Huawei hasn’t announced any plans to bring the P10 to America, though it’s not out of the question. At CES 2017, the Mate 9 was released domestically, several months after its international release. The P9 can now be purchased anywhere — though, some colors are restricted — and costs an upwards of $400.

The P10 is currently available from UK retailer Carphone Warehouse for 570 pounds, which translates to roughly $730. However, there is no indication the phone will ever be sold in the states. The P9 is more widely available, and slides in at a considerably cheaper price, so it gets the win here.

Winner: $429

Overall winner: Huawei P10

Despite the fact that you can’t currently purchase the Huawei P10 in the United States, it’s still clearly a superior phone. Generally speaking, when it comes to flagship phone lines, a higher number means a better phone, and the P-series is no exception.

Camera fiends — especially Leica enthusiasts — will love both phones, but the P10 is simply more powerful and features a better, more efficient UI. If at some point, you have the opportunity (and the funds) to acquire either the P9 or P10, your decision should be an easy one.

Article originally published on 03-26-2017 by Nick Hastings. Updated on 04-25-2017 by Adam Ismail: Updated P10 pricing and availability.

Editors' Recommendations

Nick Hastings
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick is a Portland native and a graduate of Saint Mary's College of California with a Bachelor's of Communication. Nick's…
Huawei P40 Pro Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: Uber-flagship throwdown
samsung galaxy s20 ultra vs huawei p40 pro camera zoom comparison and cameras

What does it mean to be Pro, Plus, or Ultra? The newly released Huawei P40 Pro Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra will certainly help you define those terms. Both boast some of the best displays, performance, and smartphone cameras you'll find on the market today. They'll also cost you a pretty penny. If you're ready to drop some cash for the best of the best, though, look no further.

To help you decide which is better, we break down the two phones and even give you our overall winner. Sit back and grab your score chart, because we're pitting the Huawei P40 Pro Plus against the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.
Specs

Read more
These are the best Huawei P30 cases to protect the triple-lens flagship
Huawei P30

Despite having a more impressive bigger sibling, the Huawei P30 is a heck of a flagship phone, with Huawei's latest and most powerful processor, a variety of stunning colors (check out the Breathing Crystal and Amber Sunrise variants), and an amazing triple-lens camera with a 3x optical zoom and Huawei's new SuperSpectrum technology.

But while it's an impressive flagship phone, it's just as prone to damage as any other phone. Since you're likely to be spending upward of $650 on it, protection is a must. We've done the hard work for you; here are the best Huawei P30 cases you can buy right now.
Spigen Rugged Armor Case

Read more
Huawei P40 Pro vs. Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max
huawei p40 pro hands on features price photos release date back

As Huawei phones slowly make their way into the American public consciousness, many techies have taken notice that their flagship devices are an absolute ode to power, performance, and imaging capability. Whether you're an Apple fan or not, Huawei's newest P40 Pro is worth a look, and we're going to break down the two phones to help you make your ultimate decision if you're in the market for an upgrade. We'll be putting the Huawei P40 Pro up against Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max, two of the best large smartphones on the market. Let's take a look.
Specs

Huawei P40 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max

Read more