Looking for a budget-friendly Huawei phone? The P8 Lite and P9 Lite Mini are popular choices, but which one offers the best value? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their features, performance, and overall user experience to help you make an informed decision.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Huawei P8 Lite generally edges out the P9 Lite Mini thanks to its superior octa-core processor and impressive battery life. While the P9 Lite Mini offers a slightly faster CPU core, the P8 Lite's overall performance and endurance make it the more compelling option for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 3, 7, 8, 20 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, April. Released 2015, May | 2017, August. Released 2017, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 143 x 70.6 x 7.7 mm (5.63 x 2.78 x 0.30 in) | 143.5 x 71 x 8.1 mm (5.65 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Micro-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 131 g (4.62 oz) | 145 g (5.11 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~68.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~67.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Kirin 620 (28 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8917 Snapdragon 425 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-450MP4 | Adreno 308 |
| OS | Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow), EMUI 3.1 | Android 7.0 (Nougat), EMUI 5.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), AF | 13 MP, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP |
| Video | 720p | - |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | v4.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired
Reverse wired | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 380 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 11 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2200 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3020 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Gold | Silver, black, gold |
| Models | ALE-L21, ALE-L02, hi6210sft, ALE-L23, ALE-UL00, ALE-21, ALE-CL00 | SLA-L02, SLA-L22, SLA-L03, SLA-L23 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.39 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise-89.0dB / Crosstalk -74.2dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 53h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 802 (nominal), 2.078 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB
| - |
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 691Basemark X: 3648 | - |
Huawei P8lite
- Better Performance (Octa-Core)
- Excellent Battery Life (53h Endurance)
- Superior Contrast Ratio Display
- Likely better camera quality
- Older Model
- 10W Charging (Slower)
Huawei P9 lite mini
- Compact and Lightweight
- Potentially more affordable
- Slightly faster single core CPU
- Lower Performance (Quad-Core)
- Shorter Battery Life
- Less impressive display
- Likely lower camera quality
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display, but the P8 Lite boasts a significantly better contrast ratio, especially in sunlight (802 nominal, 2078 sunlight vs. likely lower on the P9 Lite Mini). This translates to better visibility and more vibrant colors on the P8 Lite.
Camera Comparison
While both offer Photo/Video capabilities, the P8 Lite is generally considered to have a slightly better camera system. The P8 Lite likely has a 13MP main camera and an 8MP front camera, while the P9 Lite Mini likely has a 8MP main camera and a 5MP front camera. Image quality and low-light performance are expected to be better on the P8 Lite.
Performance
The P8 Lite's Kirin 620 chipset with an octa-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU provides a noticeable performance advantage over the P9 Lite Mini's Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 with a quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. The P8 Lite handles multitasking and demanding apps more smoothly.
Battery Life
The P8 Lite shines in battery life, achieving an impressive endurance rating of 53 hours. The P9 Lite Mini's battery life is likely shorter, though still adequate for a full day of moderate use.
Buying Guide
The Huawei P8 Lite is ideal for users who prioritize performance and battery life, and want a slightly more powerful device for multitasking and gaming. The Huawei P9 Lite Mini is a good choice for those seeking a very compact and lightweight phone with a focus on basic functionality and affordability.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the P8 Lite still worth buying in [current year]?
Yes, the P8 Lite remains a solid choice for budget-conscious users, especially if you can find it at a good price. Its performance and battery life are still competitive.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Huawei P8 Lite is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful octa-core processor and more RAM (likely 2GB vs 1GB on the P9 Lite Mini).
