Huawei P8 Lite 2017 vs Huawei P9 Lite vs Huawei P10 Lite comparison review: Huawei just launched the P10 Lite, a more budget-friendly version of the Huawei P10 with stripped-back specs. But how does it compare to two other great-value Huawei Lite phones, namely the P9 Lite and P8 Lite 2017?
Huawei only launched the great-value Huawei P8 Lite 2017 last month, offering a solid user experience for just £185 here in the UK. We thought it was rather lovely and threw it a five-star review, but that wasn’t enough for the smartphone giant apparently. So today, Huawei has revealed its latest Lite smartphone – the Huawei P10 Lite.
The P10 Lite is a good chunk of change cheaper than the full-blown Huawei P10, with more basic specs and a single lens camera replacing the premium phone’s flagship features. Question is, how does the Huawei P10 Lite compare with the P8 Lite 2017 and that other Lite phone from 2016, the P9 Lite? Here’s our full comparison to help you decide which Huawei Lite mobile might be best for you.
Read next: Huawei P10 Lite vs P10 vs P10 Plus, what’s the difference?
Huawei P8 Lite 2017 vs Huawei P9 Lite vs Huawei P10 Lite: Specs
| Phone | Huawei P8 Lite 2017 | Huawei P9 Lite | Huawei P10 Lite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size and type | 5.2-inches IPS | 5.2-inches IPS | 5.2-inches IPS |
| Screen resolution | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 |
| Fingerprint sensor? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OS | Android 7.0 + EMUI 5.0 | Android 6.0 + EMUI 4.1 | Android 7.0 + EMUI 5.1 |
| Processor | Kirin 655 | Kirin 650 | Kirin 658 |
| RAM | 3GB | 2GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB (TBC) |
| microSD? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 3000mAh | 3000mAh | 3000mAh |
| Rear camera | 12MP | 13MP | 12MP |
| Front camera | 8MP | 8MP | 8MP |
| Price | £185 | £199 | £299 |
Huawei P8 Lite 2017 vs Huawei P9 Lite vs Huawei P10 Lite: Design
Both the Huawei P9 Lite and P10 Lite boast a metallic finish, which means they’re reassuringly rugged and resistant to scratches. You can pick them up in a couple of colours, with the P10 Lite available in two at the time of launch (black and gold).
By contrast, the P8 Lite 2017 offers up a glossy surfacing which reminded us of the Honor 8 phone. For under £200 it’s definitely a respectable design, even if it’s not the most exciting handset around. Plus, all three phones are easy enough to use one-handed.
Flip any of these mobiles over and you’ll find a fingerprint sensor mounted on the back end. It’s a responsive and comfortable way to unlock your handset in all three cases.
None of the Lite phones are water-resistant, although they will survive in a sudden burst of rain. Not a massive shock considering the low asking price.
Huawei P8 Lite 2017 vs Huawei P9 Lite vs Huawei P10 Lite: OS
Huawei’s Lite phone family all boast EMUI, Huawei’s feature-packed software which sits neatly on top of Android Nougat. However, the P10 Lite packs the latest version, EMUI 5.1, along with support for the Knuckle Mode gesture control for split-screen multitasking. The P8 Lite 2017 is still on EMUI 5.0 while our P9 Lite is still waiting for an update to version 5.
Hopefully all three phones will be on EMUI 5.1 soon, following Huawei over-the-air updates.
Read next: EMUI 5 tips and tricks to get the most from your Huawei phone
Huawei P8 Lite 2017 vs Huawei P9 Lite vs Huawei P10 Lite: Screen and media
All three of Huawei’s recent Lite phones sport a Full HD display, which gives you detail-packed and pleasingly crisp visuals on a budget. If you want something affordable that can also make the most of your high-def movies on the go, these handsets will do the job nicely. Those IPS screens all produce natural-looking colours, complete with a blue light filter (or ‘Eye Comfort Mode’) for those late-night web browsing sessions.
You can expand the on-board storage of all three phones with a microSD memory card, to carry around a big media collection. Good news if you don’t have all-you-can-eat data on your mobile contract.
Huawei P8 Lite 2017 vs Huawei P9 Lite vs Huawei P10 Lite: Performance and battery life
The Huawei P8 Lite 2017 offered a performance boost compared to the older P9 Lite, packing the Kirin 655 processor backed by 3GB of RAM. By comparison, the P9 Lite has a Kirin 650 and just 2GB of RAM. That extra gig of memory definitely helps with everyday performance, allowing the P8 Lite 2017 to open apps much quicker and avoid the stumbles and trips of the P9 Lite.
Bump up your budget to the P10 Lite and you’ll get the new Kirin 658 processor, backed by 4GB of RAM. We’re yet to fully test the P10 Lite but we’re expecting a silky smooth everyday experience, plus dependable frame rates when playing the latest games.
Huawei P8 Lite 2017 vs Huawei P9 Lite vs Huawei P10 Lite: Cameras
None of these phones sport Huawei’s funky dual lens camera tech, as found on the likes of the Huawei P9 and P10. However, you can still expect a solid everyday snapper no matter which handset you choose.
The P9 Lite’s very basic camera is best used for simple shareable snaps rather than keepsake photos. Shots of subjects in motion are often blurry and colours are occasionally washed out, although detail levels are still quite strong thanks to the 12-megapixel sensor.
The P8 Lite 2017 is a definite step up, offering accurate colour reproduction and strong results in everything but low light. Most people should be satisfied with the performance on offer, and we’re expecting the same results from the P10 Lite. In fact, the P10 Lite should offer improved low light capture thanks to its large 1.25μm single pixel sensor.
All three phones max out at 1080p Full HD video recording, with no support for 4K resolution footage. And you get an 8-megapixel selfie camera in all three cases.
Check out our P9 Lite vs P9 camera comparison for our full thoughts on the P9 Lite’s snapper, plus our P8 Lite 2017 camera review for more on this satisfying budget shooter.
Read next: Huawei P10 Lite UK price, release date and other essential info
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