Rumor: HUAWEI Mate 9 to pack 6GB RAM, 256GB storage, Leica-branded dual-camera

Camera has been the major talking point of previous rumors surrounding the next-generation HUAWEI Mate 9 flagship. And for good reason: an unconfirmed leak that surfaced on Chinese social networking site Weibo claims the Mate 9 will tote a Leica-branded dual-camera on the back.

Details about the Leica branding for Mate 9’s rear shooter make sense, considering a recently inked joint venture agreement between HUAWEI and the German camera maker. More to the point, it’s only natural for HUAWEI to infuse Leica’s technology into its upcoming and future smartphones given the positive reception to Huawei’s Leica-branded mobile cameras.

The leaked Mate 9 camera specs also align with previous leaks that show the smartphone would boast an impressive 20 MP sensor and an aperture of f/2.0, a leap from HUAWEI P9’s f/2.2. Additionally, expect 4K video, if the leak is to be believed.

As if these details were not enough, the images leaked by Weibo user ichangezone also shed some light on other powerful specs squeezed into the Mate 9. Under the hood, HUAWEI Mate 9 is likely to feature the eight-core HiSilicon Kirin 960 64-bit chip. HUAWEI Mate 9 could also be powered by a massive 4000 mAh battery.

Three variants of the handset could also hit the store shelves, with the premium variant packing a 6GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage for 4700 yuan ($700). The mid-range version could be budget-friendly at 3,899 yuan ($580), with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory, while the low-end model could include 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for 3,199 yuan ($480).

According to the leak, the handset could come in six or eight different hues, though it remains unclear since some devices seem to resemble the other in terms of color. Either way, a broad color selection won’t certainly be a cause for complaint for HUAWEI fanboys.

On the display side of things, HUAWEI Mate 9 appears to sport an immense 5.9-inch QHD display in an all-metal body and run on Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

Contrary to earlier rumors, the leak said the HUAWEI Mate 9 could see the light of day around November instead of December. Meanwhile, peek through the gallery below and let us know in the comments your initial impression of the handset.