The Huawei P8 Lite, released in 2015, was a mid-range smartphone that aimed to offer a blend of decent specifications and an attractive design at a competitive price point. It was essentially a more affordable version of the flagship Huawei P8. Here’s an in-depth review of the Huawei P8 Lite:
Overview:
The Huawei P8 Lite was part of Huawei’s strategy to capture a larger share of the mid-range market. With its sleek design and competent specs, it aimed to provide a premium feel without the premium price tag.
Features:
- Operating System: Initially shipped with Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop) with Huawei’s EMUI 3.1 skin, later upgradable.
- Display: 5.0-inch HD IPS LCD with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels.
- Processor: Hisilicon Kirin 620 Octa-core.
- Memory: 2 GB RAM with 16 GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 128 GB.
- Camera: 13 MP rear sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a 5 MP front camera.
- Battery: A 2200 mAh non-removable battery.
- Other Features: Dual SIM capability, 4G LTE support, and a slim profile.
Pros:
- Design: The P8 Lite boasted a slim and attractive design, with a combination of metal and plastic that gave it a premium feel.
- EMUI Customizations: Huawei’s custom skin, EMUI, brought a range of additional features and customizations to the Android experience.
- Camera: For its price, the 13 MP camera delivered decent shots in good lighting conditions.
- Expandable Storage: The inclusion of a microSD card slot allowed users to expand the device’s storage.
Cons:
- Battery Life: The 2200 mAh battery was on the smaller side, leading to average battery life.
- Display Resolution: The 720p resolution was a bit behind the times, especially when competitors were offering Full HD displays in a similar price range.
- Software Updates: Huawei was not the fastest when it came to providing Android version updates.
Comparisons to Other Technologies:
In its segment, the Huawei P8 Lite faced competition from:
- Moto G (3rd Gen): Offering a 5.0-inch HD display, Snapdragon 410, and a near-stock Android experience.
- Samsung Galaxy J5: Featuring a 5-inch HD display, Snapdragon 410, and Super AMOLED technology.
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 3: With a 5.5-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 650, and a metal body.
Launch Date:
The Huawei P8 Lite was announced in April 2015 and released shortly after.
Common Issues/Problems:
- Performance Hiccups: Some users reported occasional slowdowns, especially when multitasking.
- EMUI Bloat: While EMUI offered many features, it also came with a number of pre-installed apps that not everyone found useful.
- Average Low-Light Camera Performance: The camera struggled in low-light conditions, producing grainy and sometimes blurry images.
Conclusion:
The Huawei P8 Lite was a solid mid-range offering from Huawei. While it had its limitations, it provided a good balance of design, features, and performance for its price. For those who were fans of Huawei’s EMUI and were looking for a stylish yet affordable smartphone, the P8 Lite was a worthy consideration.