In today’s smartphone market, many brands are focusing on making cameras one of their top selling points. The Huawei Nova 9 SE is one of the most exciting mid-range smartphones when it comes to photography. Despite its affordable price tag, the phone offers a range of camera features that are capable of capturing stunning photos in various lighting conditions. In this review, we’ll dive into the camera performance of the Huawei Nova 9 SE and explore how it stands out in the competitive mid-range segment.
Camera Setup: A Versatile Array
The Huawei Nova 9 SE boasts a quad-camera setup, with the main sensor leading the charge. The camera array consists of the following:
- 108MP Primary Camera: This high-resolution sensor is the star of the show, designed to capture detailed and crisp photos.
- 8MP Ultra-Wide Camera: This camera allows you to capture wide-angle shots, perfect for landscapes or group photos.
- 2MP Depth Sensor: It helps enhance portrait shots, creating that beautiful bokeh effect that blurs the background and focuses on the subject.
- 2MP Macro Camera: Designed for close-up shots, this sensor lets you get as close as 4cm to your subject for detailed and sharp macro photos.
On the front, the Huawei Nova 9 SE features a 16MP selfie camera, which offers sharp, vibrant selfies even in less-than-ideal lighting.
Image Quality: Stunning Detail and Clarity
The 108MP main camera on the Huawei Nova 9 SE is a standout feature in the mid-range category. At this price point, having such a high-resolution sensor is impressive. When capturing daylight photos, the Nova 9 SE delivers excellent detail and clarity. Whether you’re taking landscape shots or portrait images, the camera’s ability to capture intricate details makes it stand out.
The AI capabilities built into the phone’s camera software help optimize images, enhancing the colors and sharpness without oversaturating or making them look unnatural. The dynamic range is impressive as well, especially when shooting in bright outdoor settings or during sunset shots, where the phone is able to capture both the highlights and shadows effectively.
In low-light conditions, the 108MP camera still performs admirably, though it’s not on the same level as flagship devices with larger sensors. Huawei’s Night Mode feature helps reduce noise and boost brightness, allowing you to get clearer photos even in darker environments. However, you may notice some loss of detail compared to photos taken in better lighting.
Wide-Angle and Macro Photography: Creative Options
The 8MP ultra-wide camera allows you to capture more expansive scenes with a wider perspective. Whether you’re capturing cityscapes, large group photos, or nature shots, this camera provides a solid performance. It does tend to lose some sharpness towards the edges of the frame, but for the most part, the ultra-wide shots are vibrant and detailed. The color reproduction is quite accurate, and the dynamic range is good, though not as impressive as the primary camera.
The 2MP macro camera lets you explore the world up close, capturing tiny details in flowers, insects, or everyday objects. While the resolution is on the lower end, the close-up shots still have decent clarity, especially when well-lit. However, the lack of autofocus limits its use compared to higher-end macro cameras.
Portrait Mode: Creating Bokeh Effect
The 2MP depth sensor on the Huawei Nova 9 SE is optimized for portrait photography. When using portrait mode, the phone’s AI and depth sensor work together to produce a bokeh effect that blurs the background, allowing your subject to stand out. The effect is smooth and natural, giving your portraits a professional feel.
However, while the bokeh effect is quite good, the edge detection can sometimes struggle, especially if the subject has fine details like hair. But, in general, the portrait shots are sharp and aesthetically pleasing, particularly in well-lit environments.
Selfie Camera: Sharpening Your Self-Portraits
For selfie lovers, the Huawei Nova 9 SE is equipped with a 16MP front-facing camera, which produces sharp, vibrant selfies. The camera has an AI beautification mode, which smooths the skin and enhances facial features, but it doesn’t go overboard, preserving the natural look of your selfies.
The front camera performs well in outdoor lighting and indoor settings, with accurate skin tones and rich colors. In low light, the selfie camera does an adequate job, but it may introduce some noise. For users who like taking selfies in varying conditions, the Nova 9 SE provides a solid experience, but there are slightly better options in this price range when it comes to low-light performance.
Video Recording: Smooth and Steady Footage
The Huawei Nova 9 SE supports 4K video recording at 30 frames per second (fps) on the rear camera, which is a great feature for a mid-range phone. The video quality is impressive, with sharp details and good color reproduction. The stabilization works well for most types of shots, ensuring that your videos are steady even if you’re moving around.
For users looking for more cinematic shots, the Nova 9 SE offers AI-powered video modes, which can automatically enhance the footage and improve the overall look. The front camera, while not as advanced as the rear one, is still capable of recording 1080p video with good clarity and smooth motion. Selfie video recordings come out vibrant, and the AI beautification works in real-time.
AI and Software Features: Enhancing Your Photos
One of the standout features of the Huawei Nova 9 SE camera is its use of AI. Huawei’s AI technology automatically detects the scene you are shooting—whether it’s a landscape, portrait, or night scene—and adjusts the camera settings accordingly. This AI optimization ensures that your photos are well-exposed, sharp, and vibrant, even in challenging conditions.
The AI portrait mode also adjusts lighting and color tones to give your photos a professional touch. Additionally, Huawei’s Super Night Mode and HDR capabilities further improve low-light and high-contrast shots, making the Nova 9 SE a versatile phone for a wide range of photography needs.
Conclusion: A Great Mid-Range Camera Phone
The Huawei Nova 9 SE is a standout in the mid-range smartphone market when it comes to camera performance. With its 108MP primary camera, AI-powered features, and solid selfie camera, it delivers stunning photos in a variety of conditions. The camera setup is versatile, allowing users to experiment with different types of photography, from landscapes to portraits and even macro shots.
While it might not compete with flagship devices in terms of low-light performance or overall camera quality, it offers impressive performance for the price. Whether you’re a casual photographer or someone who enjoys taking photos for social media, the Huawei Nova 9 SE provides great value and the ability to capture high-quality images without breaking the bank.
For anyone looking for a mid-range phone that punches above its weight in the camera department, the Huawei Nova 9 SE is definitely a top contender.