Huawei Mate 8 vs Huawei P9 Plus: A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei Mate 8 takes the crown for sheer battery endurance and impressive sunlight readability. However, the P9 Plus boasts a slightly faster chipset, a superior camera system (particularly with Leica co-engineering), and a more vibrant display. It's a close call, but the P9 Plus edges ahead for overall refinement.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei Mate 8 | Huawei P9 Plus |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (optional) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - NXT-L29, NXT-L09 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - VIE-L09, VIE-L29 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 38, 39, 40 - NXT-L29 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40 - VIE-L09 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40 - NXT-L09 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - VIE-L29 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2015, November. Released 2015, November | 2016, April. Released 2016, May |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 157.1 x 80.6 x 7.9 mm (6.19 x 3.17 x 0.31 in) | 152.3 x 75.3 x 7 mm (6.00 x 2.96 x 0.28 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM (NXT-L09)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (NXT-L29) | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 185 g (6.53 oz) | 162 g (5.71 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~368 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 98.7 cm2 (~78.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS-NEO LCD | Super AMOLED |
| - | 3D Touch display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex A53) | Octa-core (4x2.5 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Kirin 950 (16 nm) | Kirin 955 (16 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T880 MP4 | Mali-T880 MP4 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat), EMUI 4 | Android 6 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7 (Nougat), EMUI 5 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR | Laser AF, Leica optics, dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/2.8", PDAF, OIS | 12 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF 12 MP B/W, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm |
| Video | 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide) | 8 MP, f/1.9, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE | 4.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, 37% in 30 min | 18W wired, 38% in 30 min |
| Music play | Up to 98 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 528 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3400 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Champagne Gold, Moonlight Silver, Space Gray, Mocha Brown | Haze Gold, Quartz Grey, Ceramic White |
| Models | NXT-AL10, NXT-CL00, NXT-DL00, NXT-TL00, NXT-L09, NXT-L29 | VIE-L09, VIE-L29, VIE-AL10 |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 430 EUR |
| SAR | 1.49 W/kg (head) 0.32 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.46 W/kg (head) 0.21 W/kg (body) | 1.48 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -97.8dB / Crosstalk -97.3dB | Noise -97.4dB / Crosstalk -96.9dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 103h | Endurance rating 69h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1361:1 (nominal), 2.949 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.956 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 67dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 66dB | Voice 71dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 81dB |
| Performance | Basemark OS II 2.0: 2017Basemark X: 15593 | Basemark OS II 2.0: 2099Basemark X: 15058 |
Huawei Mate 8
- Exceptional battery life
- Excellent sunlight readability
- Robust build quality
- Good performance for everyday tasks
- Camera not as advanced as P9 Plus
- Design feels a bit dated
- Software experience can feel clunky compared to newer devices
Huawei P9 Plus
- Superior camera quality (Leica co-engineered)
- Slightly faster processor
- More vibrant display
- More modern design
- Shorter battery life than Mate 8
- ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio is marketing hype
- Can be prone to software bugs (depending on updates)
Display Comparison
The Mate 8's display shines in direct sunlight with a remarkable 2949 contrast ratio. The P9 Plus, however, boasts an 'infinite' nominal contrast ratio (likely marketing) and a slightly better 3956 sunlight contrast, suggesting a more vibrant and potentially color-accurate display. Both use AMOLED technology, offering deep blacks and rich colors.
Camera Comparison
This is where the P9 Plus truly shines. The P9 Plus's dual-lens Leica co-engineered camera system offered significantly improved image quality, particularly in low light. It also provided better color accuracy and dynamic range. The Mate 8's camera was competent, but lacked the P9 Plus's advanced features and overall refinement.
Performance
The P9 Plus features the Kirin 955 chipset, a slight upgrade over the Mate 8's Kirin 950. While both are octa-core processors, the P9 Plus's slightly higher clock speeds on the Cortex-A72 cores translate to a marginally faster and smoother experience, especially in demanding tasks and gaming. Both phones have 4GB of RAM.
Battery Life
The Mate 8's battery life is its standout feature. With an endurance rating of 103 hours, it significantly outlasts the P9 Plus's 69 hours. This makes the Mate 8 a clear winner for users who need a phone that can last for days on a single charge.
Buying Guide
The Huawei Mate 8 is ideal for users prioritizing long battery life and excellent outdoor visibility. The Huawei P9 Plus is better suited for those who value camera quality, a slightly faster processor, and a more modern design.