News

Huawei’s new P9 and P9 Plus phones take a swing at low-light photography

Published

April 7, 2016

Monch Lopez

Huawei, it seems, is really into making premium phones now. Fresh off giving the world the Google Nexus 6P and Huawei Mate 8, the leading smartphone brand in China and number 3 worldwide, having shipped more than 100 million phones in 2015, has unveiled yet another high-priced product in the 5.2-inch P9 and 5.5-inch P9 Plus.

Whereas the Nexus 6P and Mate 8 were all about providing a speedy user experience and pushing the limits of screen size in somewhat manageable form factors, the P9 series’ most marketable quality can be found around the back. To be clear, that’s not to say the P9 and P9 Plus lag behind the curve, or other phones in Huawei’s portfolio for that matter (but we’ll get to this shortly).

A pair of 12-megapixel, Leica-certified cameras sit flush on the back of the P9 and P9 Plus, and Huawei is confident that you’re going to want to use them as soon as you get your hands on its latest creations.

Huawei P9 in rose gold

One of the rear cameras feature a monochrome sensor, while the other packs a traditional smartphone-camera sensor. When they work brilliantly together, just like the Wonder Twins from Superfriends, or for the younger crowd, Batman and Superman in the last act of Batman v. Superman, they’re supposed to produce brighter, clearer shots in low light.

Huawei says they can let in three times more light information and increase contrast by as much as 50 percent. And to that we say: Let’s leave it for consumers and experts in the tech community to determine whether or not the dual-camera setup is worth the money.

We do applaud Huawei’s efforts to try and get smartphones to do a better job of taking photographs where light is scarce. But adding another rear-facer and making the back of a very personal device look at you with horror, like you just plugged a 110-volt hair dryer into a 220-volt socket, isn’t what we had in mind. It certainly doesn’t help that the P9’s fingerprint sensor resembles an open mouth, thus completing the look of a shocked rear panel.

Huawei P9 Plus in gold

Huawei has also thrown in a laser autofocus module, two-tone flash, and optical image stabilization for less shaky photos and videos into the P9 range’s admittedly expansive set of photography-related features. For the selfie-obsessed youth, the 8-megapixel front camera should suffice.

The P9 and P9 Plus don’t skimp on computing power and memory options, either, with both phones sporting an in-house HiSilicon Kirin 955 chip — the fastest in a Huawei smartphone to date — with as much as 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage (for the higher-end P9 variant and P9 Plus).

The P9 has a 3,000mAh built-in battery, which is slightly less than the 3,400mAh cell packed into the back of the P9 Plus. But regardless of which P9 variant you go with, you’d be happy to know that there’s a USB Type-C connector with fast charging on the bottom of either handset.

The P9 and P9 Plus resemble last year’s P8, and to a lesser extent, the Nexus 6P, and the company says the phones make use of a metal unibody for a more cohesive and seamless construction.

They’re only 6.95mm thick and have bezels that measure 1.7mm, so Huawei continuing to build fairly compact handsets with big displays isn’t a trend that will likely fizzle out any time soon. A resolution bump to 1,440 x 2,560 pixels (from 1,080 x 1,920) would have been a welcome development, but unfortunately the P9 carries the same, full-resolution display as its predecessor.

The Huawei P9 is priced at £449 ($630 or Php29,000) in the U.K., while P9 Plus retails for £549 ($780 or Php36,000). Shipping starts mid-May.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPwpFojqFww

[irp posts=”2258″ name=”Huawei P9 and P9 Plus gear up for Southeast Asia release”]

Related Topics:Huawei P9 P9 Plus smartphones

News

Dreame enters smartphones with AURORA debut

Modular imaging, AI-native OS, and luxury design lead new “perception-first” push

Published

May 4, 2026

Her

Dreame has officially stepped into the smartphone space with the debut of its AURORA lineup in Silicon Valley, positioning itself beyond appliances and into next-generation intelligent devices.

Unveiled on April 29, the new AURORA brand introduces what Dreame calls three core breakthroughs: imaging, communication, and an AI-native operating system — all built around a “human-centric” approach to technology.

A new take on smartphones

At launch, Dreame showcased three key directions under the AURORA lineup.

Leading the charge is the AURORA NEX, a modular imaging flagship designed to unlock more advanced, flexible photography setups. The idea is to move beyond typical camera upgrades and give users more control over how they capture content.

Alongside it is the AURORA LUX, a luxury-focused series that leans into premium materials and craftsmanship. Dreame positions this as “heirloom-grade” tech — less gadget, more statement piece.

Completing the lineup is a new flagship range aimed at balancing performance, design, and everyday usability for high-end users.

Moving past spec wars

Dreame isn’t framing this as another specs race. Instead, it’s calling this shift a “perception revolution.”

The pitch is simple:

Better imaging should feel like creating, not just capturing
Connectivity should be stable and seamless everywhere
AI should be invisible but proactive, not something users have to manage

To get there, Dreame says it’s addressing familiar industry pain points — from camera hardware stacking to inconsistent signal performance and surface-level AI features.

Its solution is a full-stack approach:

A dedicated imaging system built with input from professional photographers
A “full-time signal” communication system for more stable connectivity
An AI-native OS designed to flip the model from users adapting to devices → devices adapting to users

From tools to partners

The bigger ambition here is clear. Dreame wants devices to evolve from passive tools into what it calls “proactive service partners.”

That means:

Devices anticipate needs
AI operates in the background
Hardware and software feel like a single system

It’s a familiar direction across the industry, but Dreame is betting on tighter integration and a stronger design identity to stand out.

A broader ecosystem play

The AURORA launch also signals something bigger: Dreame is expanding fast beyond its roots in home and personal care tech.

From hair tools to now smartphones, the company is building toward a full ecosystem anchored on AI and connected experiences.

Whether that vision lands will depend on execution — especially in a category as competitive as smartphones.

For now, AURORA marks Dreame’s most ambitious move yet, and a clear statement that it wants to compete not just on devices, but on how those devices fit into everyday life.

Laptops

MacBook Neo already “supply constrained” amid unexpected demand

New purchases are reportedly getting delayed.

Published

May 4, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

It’s been a crazy month for Apple fans on a budget. The debuts of the iPhone 17e and the MacBook Neo have brought the classic Apple experience to a wider market. Though the former is a bright spot on its own, the new MacBook Neo is currently breaking the company’s expectations as new orders are already “supply constrained.”

Last week, Tim Cook held an earnings call (via Six Colors) which includes the latest additions to Apple’s lineup. For the affordable iPhone, Cook gave a special shoutout as “the newest addition to what is already the strongest iPhone lineup we’ve ever had.” However, he was much more appreciative for the MacBook Neo’s role in the company’s notebook lineup.

Responding to a query about the new notebook, Cook says that the company “undercalled the level of enthusiasm” generated by the MacBook Neo. He also cited “tremendous enthusiasm” for the device in his main presentation.

Though he didn’t have the numbers to bolster his claims, he did give anecdotal examples of public schools switching over to Apple from Chromebooks and Windows PCs.

Finally, he says that the MacBook Neo is currently “supply constrained,” meaning new purchases will likely come with a delay before delivery.

Outside of the corporate perspective, there has been a lot of excitement for the notebook. Even if it uses the A18 Pro chip, the MacBook Neo promises a powerful notebook experience as is typical of Apple’s more traditional MacBooks. And to top it all off, it starts at only US$ 599, creating one of the most tempting offers for users who want to dip their toes into the Apple ecosystem.

News

Apple reportedly gives up on the Vision Pro

But Apple will continue to sell the current model.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When they unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, Apple touted the wearable as the next big thing after the iPhone. Now, almost three years removed from the launch, the Vision Pro hasn’t really taken over the coveted spot occupied by the iPhone. Apple, according to a report, is allegedly canning the short-lived wearable.

According to MacRumors, Apple has reportedly given up on making the Vision Pro a thing. The team handling the wearable has supposedly been subsumed by other teams within Apple.

If true, the wearable’s end is unfortunate but not surprising. Despite being out for years, the Vision Pro has sold only a little more than half a million units with numerous returns from customers. Most recently, Apple updated the wearable with the M5 chip, but the move hasn’t revitalized the device’s status in Apple’s lineup.

Most of the complaints about the device stem from its exorbitant price or its cumbersome battery pack. Besides costing a whopping US$ 3,499, the Vision Pro is also difficult to move around with, especially because of its total weight and a battery pack that can get in the way.

To be clear, Apple has not officially discontinued the Vision Pro yet. The company continues to sell the version with the M5 chip. Apple can also restart development in the future.

However, the meantime retirement on future development does coincide with the recent restructuring inside the company. Tim Cook recently decided to step down as CEO with John Ternus as his replacement. Canning the Vision Pro might be Ternus’ first step in redefining Apple according to his plans.