The smartphone market is saturated with expensive pricetags that not everyone can afford, which is why I’m thrilled that handset manufacturers are improving their mid-range offerings.
Samsung recently unveiled a slew of new Galaxy A devices ranging from the ultra-affordable A2 Core to the ultra-advanced A80. Despite their recent woes, Huawei wasn’t going to sit back and let Samsung corner the mid-range market and are set to release the Y9 Prime 2019 pop-up camera smartphone.
If you’re looking to get a new handset but can’t decide between the Galaxy A30, A50 or the Y9 Prime 2019, this chart is for you.
| Name | Galaxy A30 | Galaxy A50 | Y9 Prime 2019 |
| Launch | April 2019 | April 2019 | August 2019 |
| OS | Android 9.0 | Android 9.0 | Android 9.0 |
| Display | 6.4” Infinity U | 6.4” Infinity U | 6.59” Ultra Full View Display |
| Chipset | Exynos 7904 (14 nm) | Exynos 9610 (14 nm) | Kirin 710 (12 nm) |
| Processor | 2 x 1.8 GHz A73 + 6 x 1.6 GHz A53 | 4 x 2.3 GHz A73 + 4 x 1.6 GHz A53 | 4 x 2.2 GHz A73 + 4 x 1.7 GHz A53 |
| Camera | Rear: 16+5MP Front: 16MP | Rear: 25+8+5MP Front: 25MP | Rear: Pop Up 16+8+2MP Front: 16MP |
| Memory | 4GB RAM + 64GB Storage | 4GB RAM + 128GB Storage | 4GB RAM + 128GB Storage |
| Battery | 4000mAh | 4000mAh | 4000mAh |
| Price | From R3 999.00 | From R6 249.00 | R5 399.00 |
It’s clear that Huawei is more than holding its own against Samsung’s most popular new A series handsets at a lower pricepoint. Having said that, the Y9 Prime 2019 is a huge phone and feels more weighty in the hand than Huawei’s P30 Pro.
Huawei says that the pop-up camera is able to withstand 15kg of pressure and is able to pop-up 100 000 times. The company is offering one free replacement of the camera for accidental damage which would normally cost R799.
To protect against accidental damage, the Y9 Prime 2019 retracts the pop-up camera when it detects that it has been dropped.
The Y9 Prime 2019 can be pre-ordered at the Huawei Store and is available in Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue, and Emerald Green.
