P10 vs P9 Lite 2017 vs P9 Lite vs P8 Lite

There is little difference in terms of size and weight between P10 Lite, P9 Lite 2017 and P9 Lite since they have same sized screens and similar casings. Thus, you can choose with your heart on this aspect. The older P8 Lite has a smaller screen and it’s thus lighter more compact, however not by a huge margin: 2-4 millimeters and 15 grams.

Construction-wise, things stand completely different since these smartphones followed the same path as the P flagship. The newer P10 Lite and P9 Lite come with metallic rims and a glass-covered rear, making them the obvious choice for those who aim for trendy materials.

While P9 Lite only comes with a metal rim but plastic rear, its construction is still sturdy. By comparison, the older P8 Lite is fully made out of plastic.

Display

P10 Lite, P9 Lite 2017 and P9 Lite screens measure 5.2 inches, come with FullHD resolution and use an IPS panel. The old P8 Lite offers a smaller screen (5”) but still uses IPS technology on a 1280×720 resolution. Given the similar design, all phones have a screen to body ratio of 68 to 70% so those who aim for a thinner screen rim won’t be able to witness a big improvement between generations.

Processing power

You won’t see a large difference between the first 3 phones. P9 Lite, P9 Lite 2017 and P10 Lite use HiSilicon 650, Kirin 655 and Kirin 658 processors. These are actually faster versions of the same 8-core ARM Cortex-A53 base architecture and an ARM Mali-T830 MP2 graphic card. P8 Lite is powered by an older chipset with a lower spec 28nm technology, making a considerable impact on energy efficiency. HiSilicon Kirin 620 is throttled to just 1.2Ghz and uses a weak graphic chip (ARM Mali-450 MP4). However, the lower screen resolution reduces the amount of processing required.

P10 Lite and P9 Lite 2017 come with 3GB of RAM while P9 Lite and P8 Lite are available with just 2GB, making the first two models the primary choice for those whom are performance-oriented.

Internal Storage

P10 Lite offers 32GB of internal storage while the other 3 models are limited to just 16GB. Obviously, all models come with a MicroSD card slot which can extend storage to 256GB. On the downside, the microSD card will occupy the slot of the second SIM card, compromising the dual-sim ability of the smartphones.

Camera – which one’s better?

P10 Lite and P9 Lite 2017 come equipped with similar spec cameras. These use the 12MP sensor already known from P and Mate models, featuring 1/28” frame and 1.25 um pixels. This ensures better shooting in low light conditions. Both models offer fast focus with phase detection, single-LED flash and FullHD video recording.

Selfie enthusiasts should opt for P10 as it comes with an 8MP frontal camera and autofocus. P9 Lite 2017 and P9 Lite come with a similar sensor but without autofocus, while P8 Lite has a lower resolution frontal camera (5MP).

Huawei smartphone battery life

Huawei P10 Lite, P9 Lite 2017 and P9 Lite come with built-in 3000mAh batteries which hold enough energy for a day of intense usage. It is notable that only P10 offers fast charging capabilities. P8 Lite comes with a considerably smaller 2200 mAh battery which doesn’t help the less energy-efficient processor.

4G Connectivity

All 4 smartphones come with dual-sim and 4G capabilities. Wi-Fi is rather limited on P9 Lite 2017, P9 Lite and P8 since they only work on 2.4Ghz 802.11 b/g/n networks while P10 Lite comes with 5 Ghz and 802.11ac compatibility.

Other specs and differences between the 4 models

Those who wish for a fingerprint sensor in order to further secure their phone will need to skip the older P8 Lite. Apps or games that require a gyroscope will only work on P10 Lite as it is the only smartphone in the lineup to come with this function.

Conclusions

While similar in aspect and close together on the price range, Huawei P10 Lite and P9 Lite are the two most attractive options for those who aim for a cheap and performance-oriented smartphone. The older P9 Lite keeps a competitive appearance due to its price drop, however it lacks the new changes and features available on the newer models.