Huawei, last week, and rather silently, announced that its Y9 Prime 2019 mid-range smartphone is available in South Africa.
Yet another Huawei mid-ranger, you ask? Well, yes, but this device packs a few novel features.
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For one, it has a P20-like multi camera array at the back, including a 16MP primary snapper, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP depth sensor. However, its biggest marketing tool is that 16MP front facing camera. Oh, and you can’t see it, because it’s tucked away when not in use and pushed up from the body by way of a motorised sled.
Activating the camera is quite entertaining. Select selfie mode in the camera app, and the camera slowly rises from the top of the phone accompanied by an electronic whirring. The selfie camera body feels strong too, and shrugs off pulls, pushes and tugs from human hands.
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I wouldn’t dare drop this thing, but it does come with a case that features minimal top covering.
Other features include a 6.6-inch display with 2340×1080 resolution, a HiSilicon Kirin 710F chipset, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
A rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, 4000mAh battery, 3.5mm headphone jack, FM Radio and Emerald Green sheen completes the package.
Huawei’s selling the Y9 Prime 2019 in South Africa for R5399, putting it in competition with its own cousins at Honor, and the Huawei P30 Lite, not to mention countless other devices in this price range from Hisense, Samsung, and Nokia.
All images: Andy Walker/Memeburn