We quite liked the Huawei P9 (review), offering a great dual-camera setup and a sleek design. So we’re glad to see the Huawei Mate 9 arrive on our doorstep.
The Mate 9 takes a similar approach to the 2016 flagship, but ups the ante with a 20-megapixel black and white camera, in addition to its 12-megapixel traditional shooter (the P9 has two 12MP shooters). This means you can take 20-megapixel black and white snaps, while 20-megapixel colour snaps are also possible (with the help of some software trickery).
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Otherwise, the addition of optical image stabilisation is another feather in the Mate 9’s cap.
But what are the photos like? We took some snaps with our review device — check them out below (click on the photo to get the full-sized version).
Huawei Mate 9 Sample
A snap at 12-megapixels, offering a good level of detail. Check the slogans underneath each building sign.
Huawei Mate 9 Sample
The 20MP shot -- I was hard-pressed to find any notable differences.
Huawei Mate 9 Sample
The Mate 9 keeps the P9's simulated aperture feature, but it's not perfect. Check the top of the glass.
Huawei Mate 9 Sample
After several failed attempts with the aperture adjustment feature, I switched to the normal photo mode and got this decent snap. Lovely.
Huawei Mate 9 Sample
The Mate 9 tends to excel at macro shots, from the looks of things. The time of day helps as well.
Huawei Mate 9 Sample
Low-light shots with the flash off tend to be rather noisy, it would seem.
Huawei Mate 9 Sample
At this early stage, it's clear that aperture adjustment trickery still has a bit of trouble with fine edges (such as the insect's wingtips). The iPhone 7 Plus isn't immune to some extra blur either.
Huawei Mate 9
Huawei Mate 9 Sample
A good level of detail in this photo, while colours were pleasantly (and accurately) reproduced as well.
Huawei Mate 9 Sample
Is it just me or does the black and white version have a bit more detail? Check the sign ('hardware shop entrance') on the left-hand side.
Huawei Mate 9 Sample
