Huawei Enjoy 9 Review: Budget 4G Smartphone for Everyday Use

Huawei Enjoy 9 (2019)

The Huawei Enjoy 9 is an entry-level 4G budget smartphone released by Huawei in November 2019, serving as the direct successor to the 2018 Enjoy 8. Positioned as a refined large-screen daily driver for cost-conscious users in emerging markets and China, it features incremental upgrades over its predecessor—including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset, Android 9.0 Pie with EMUI 9.1, enhanced battery life, and a polished plastic build—while retaining the core 6.26-inch HD+ display and 13MP rear camera. As part of Huawei’s Enjoy series, it prioritizes accessibility, dual-SIM flexibility, and expandable storage, competing with the Redmi 7A and Realme C2 in the 2019 entry-level segment, and targets students, first-time smartphone buyers, and users seeking a reliable basic device at an ultra-affordable price.

Core Overview & Positioning

Attribute	Details
Launch Date	November 2019 (China exclusive; limited global rollout in Southeast Asia/Africa)
Model Number	JKM-AL00 (China); JKM-LX2 (select global markets)
Market Position	Entry-level 4G budget smartphone (refined large-screen daily driver)
Target Audience	Budget users, students, first-time smartphone buyers, emerging market consumers, elderly users
Key Selling Points	6.26-inch HD+ Dewdrop notch display, Snapdragon 450, 13MP rear/8MP front cameras, 4000mAh large battery, dual-SIM, dedicated microSD slot, Android 9.0/EMUI 9.1
Launch Price (China)	~¥899 (3GB RAM + 32GB storage); ~¥999 (4GB RAM + 64GB storage)
Launch Price (Global)	~$130–$160 unlocked (select markets)
Color Options	Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue, Aurora Purple (gradient finish), Amber Gold

Full Technical Specifications

Display

Type: 6.26-inch IPS LCD capacitive multi-touch (16M colors, 19:9 aspect ratio)
Resolution: 1520×720 pixels (HD+, ~269 ppi)
Design: Dewdrop (waterdrop) notch for front camera, narrow side bezels, 86.7% screen-to-body ratio (marginal upgrade over Enjoy 8)
Features: 5-point multi-touch, sunlight visibility enhancement, eye comfort mode (blue light filter), scratch-resistant plastic coating
Protection: Basic screen coating (no Gorilla Glass or premium scratch/drop protection)

Performance & Software

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 (MSM8954) (14nm FinFET process – power-efficient upgrade over 28nm Snapdragon 430)
CPU: Octa-core (8×1.8 GHz ARM Cortex-A53) – higher clock speed for smoother daily multitasking than the Enjoy 8
GPU: Adreno 506 (supports OpenGL ES 3.2, casual 2D/light 3D gaming e.g., Candy Crush, Subway Surfers)
Memory: 3GB/4GB LPDDR3 RAM; 32GB/64GB internal eMMC 5.1 storage
Storage Expansion: microSDXC slot (supports up to 512GB, dedicated slot – no SIM 2 sacrifice; higher capacity support than Enjoy 8)
Operating System: Android 9.0 Pie (customized with Huawei EMUI 9.1)
Software Features:
- Google Mobile Services (GMS): Full support on global variants (Play Store, Gmail, Maps); China variants use Huawei Mobile Services (HMS)
- Huawei Cloud Services (backup/sync contacts, photos, app data)
- EMUI 9.1 optimizations: AI power management, faster app loading, simplified UI
- Smart gestures (palm swipe screenshot, knock-to-wake, flip-to-mute), split-screen mode (selected apps)
- Basic productivity tools (document viewer for Word/Excel/PDF), FM radio (no wired headset required), Huawei HiVoice assistant
- Limited official updates: No OS upgrades (stuck on Android 9.0/EMUI 9.1); security patches discontinued after 2021
- Face unlock (2D basic) + rear fingerprint sensor for dual biometric access

Camera System

Rear Camera (Single Setup)

13MP primary sensor, f/1.8 aperture (wider than Enjoy 8’s f/2.2), fixed focus (no PDAF/autofocus), single LED flash
Photo Resolution: Up to 4128×3096 pixels
Video Recording: 1080p Full HD @ 30fps (no EIS/OIS; shaky motion/low-light video)
Features: AI scene recognition (22 categories), HDR, panorama, basic night mode, AI beauty mode, portrait mode (digital bokeh)

Front Camera

8MP sensor, f/2.0 aperture, fixed focus, Dewdrop notch placement
Photo Resolution: Up to 3264×2448 pixels
Video Recording: 720p HD @ 30fps
Features: 10-level AI beauty adjustment, screen flash (low-light selfies), HDR for portrait shots

Battery & Charging

Capacity: 4000 mAh non-removable Li-Polymer battery (33% larger than Enjoy 8’s 3000mAh)
Charging: 5V/2A standard wired charging (microUSB 2.0 port; no fast charging – 10W max)
Battery Life (4G LTE):
- Talk time: Up to 24 hours
- Standby time: Up to 300 hours
- Video playback: Up to 12 hours (continuous 720p streaming)
- Screen-on time (SOT): ~7–8 hours (mixed use: calls, social media, browsing)
Power Optimization: EMUI 9.1 AI power saving (background app freezing, CPU frequency dynamic adjustment, low-power mode)

Build & Design

Dimensions: 158.9×75.9×8.1 mm
Weight: 168 g (slightly heavier than Enjoy 8 due to larger battery)
Build Material: Full matte plastic body (textured back panel for anti-slip grip, plastic frame); curved edges for ergonomic one-handed use
Form Factor: Candybar; Dewdrop notch display; rear-mounted fingerprint sensor (oval, below camera module)
Buttons & Ports: Volume rocker (right side), power/lock key (right side), 3.5mm headphone jack (top), microUSB 2.0 port (bottom), single speaker grille (bottom), SIM/microSD tray (left side)
Sensors: Rear fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, proximity, ambient light, compass (no gyroscope)

Connectivity

Feature	Specifications
Cellular	4G LTE (FDD-LTE: 1/3/5/7/8/20; TD-LTE: 38/39/40/41), 3G HSPA+, 2G GSM; dual-SIM dual-standby (Nano-SIM ×2)
Wi-Fi	802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz only), Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
Bluetooth	4.2 (A2DP, AVRCP, LE – low-power for wearables)
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS (no BeiDou on global variants)
Other	3.5mm headphone jack, FM radio (RDS support), microUSB 2.0 (data + charging), no NFC, no USB OTG support

Core Features & User Experience Highlights

4000mAh Large Battery (All-Day Life): The biggest upgrade over the Enjoy 8, the 4000mAh battery delivers reliable all-day (and multi-day for light use) power—eliminating the need for frequent charging, a critical feature for budget users without easy access to power outlets.
Power-Efficient Snapdragon 450: The 14nm Snapdragon 450 (1.8GHz) offers smoother daily performance than the 28nm Snapdragon 430 (1.4GHz) in the Enjoy 8, with faster app loading, seamless social media/browsing, and better power efficiency (paired with the larger battery).
6.26-inch HD+ Dewdrop Display (Immersive Media): Retaining the popular large display size, the IPS LCD with eye comfort mode provides an immersive viewing experience for 720p video streaming (YouTube, Netflix), reading, and social media—ideal for media consumers on a budget.
Dual-SIM + Dedicated 512GB MicroSD Slot: The dedicated microSD slot (up to 512GB) solves storage limitations without sacrificing a SIM slot, while dual-SIM support caters to emerging market users who need separate personal/work numbers or local/roaming SIMs.
Refined EMUI 9.1 on Android 9.0: EMUI 9.1 brings a cleaner, more intuitive UI with AI optimizations (faster performance, better power management) and quality-of-life features (eye comfort mode, smart gestures)—a polished experience for entry-level users.
Lightweight & Ergonomic Design: The matte plastic build with curved edges and 168g weight makes the phone comfortable to hold and carry, even with the 6.26-inch display, perfect for one-handed use.

Advantages & Limitations

Advantages	Limitations
4000mAh large battery (all-day/multi-day life)	No fast charging (10W 5V/2A; full charge takes ~2.5 hours)
Power-efficient 14nm Snapdragon 450 (smoother performance than Enjoy 8)	720p HD+ resolution (pixelated on 6.26-inch screen vs. FHD+ rivals)
Dedicated microSD slot (up to 512GB) + dual-SIM (no storage sacrifice)	No PDAF/autofocus on rear camera (blurry close-up shots)
Android 9.0 Pie + EMUI 9.1 (polished, optimized UI)	No EIS/OIS (shaky motion/low-light video recording)
3.5mm headphone jack (retained for wired audio)	No Gorilla Glass (screen prone to scratches/cracks)
Ultra-affordable pricing (~$130–$160 unlocked)	No official OS upgrades (stuck on Android 9.0/EMUI 9.1)
Dual biometrics (2D face unlock + rear fingerprint)	Plastic build (feels cheap vs. metal/glass mid-range phones)
Eye comfort mode (blue light filter) for long screen use	No NFC (no mobile payment support)
FM radio (no wired headset required)	No USB OTG (cannot connect external storage/accessories)
2.4GHz Wi-Fi only (no 5GHz Wi-Fi support)	No gyroscope (cannot play motion-controlled games)

Target Markets & Use Cases

Chinese Domestic Market: The primary launch market, with affordable pricing and HMS integration (China variants) catering to budget users, elderly consumers, and students.
Emerging Markets (Southeast Asia/Africa/Latin America): Popular for dual-SIM support, expandable storage, and all-day battery life—core needs for consumers in regions with limited 5G infrastructure and power access.
Students & Young Users: Ideal for daily communication, social media, and 720p video streaming, with a low price point suitable for students and teens with limited budgets.
Elderly Users: Simple UI (EMUI 9.1), large display, and long battery life make it a user-friendly option for elderly consumers who only need basic smart features (calls, texts, video calls).
Secondary/Backup Device Users: An affordable, reliable backup phone for users with a flagship primary device, or for kids/family members who need a basic smartphone for emergency use.
Media Consumers on a Budget: Users who prioritize a large screen for streaming and reading without spending on mid-range/flagship devices.

Legacy & Market Impact

The Huawei Enjoy 9 was a incremental yet impactful upgrade to the Enjoy 8, solidifying the Enjoy series’ position as Huawei’s go-to lineup for ultra-affordable entry-level smartphones in 2019. Its biggest selling point—the 4000mAh battery—addressed the most common complaint of the Enjoy 8 (small 3000mAh battery) and set a new standard for battery life in the $130–$160 budget segment, forcing competitors like Xiaomi and Realme to upgrade battery sizes in their entry-level models.

In the context of Huawei’s 2019 product lineup (amid early U.S. sanctions), the Enjoy 9 was a critical device for maintaining market share in China and emerging markets, where budget smartphones dominated sales. It retained GMS support for global variants (a rarity for Huawei devices post-2019) and delivered on the core promise of the Enjoy series: a functional, reliable large-screen daily driver at an unbeatable price.

Today, the Huawei Enjoy 9 is a discontinued device, but well-preserved units are still widely used in emerging markets as a low-cost primary/secondary phone. It remains a representative example of Huawei’s 2019 entry-level strategy—prioritizing user-centric upgrades (battery, performance) over flashy specs to deliver value for budget consumers.