Huawei delivers a really good smartphone with the Nova 9. A chic design, good performance, an impressive display and great camera performance come together here. However, many users will sorely miss Google services and 5G.

Without Google services, without 5G and without other features that would stand out in its price range, the Huawei Nova 9 is not worth a recommendation. It is all the more incomprehensible that Huawei, after a long absence from the German market, is returning first with the 9 and not with the top-of-the-range P50 Pro model, since the former subsidiary Honor presents a smartphone that is virtually identical...

We can make it short: If the Nova 9 appeals to you, get the Honor 50. That sounds nasty and harsh, but it is reality. With almost identical performance data and prices in the basic version, we can only advise categorical refusers of any Google services to go for the Nova 9. And then the Huawei even lacks 5G, which also makes it less future-proof than its sister model.

Of course, the Huawei Nova 9 is a decent phone for the price. The camera is okay, even strong in parts. The display is pleasing, as are the feel and look of the device. However, the lack of water resistance, 5G and the annoying Google story tarnish the whole thing considerably.