Huawei Ascend P6 review: Zen droid slim

Unboxing the Huawei Ascend P6

Our retail package of the Ascend P6 came with a USB cable, an AC adapter, a headset and a semi-transparent rubber case, which fits well and looks reasonably good. The box itself is slim but wide, tucked into a cardboard sleeve, each accessory individually packed in its own container, which is a nice touch.

Huawei Ascend P6 retail box

360-degree view of Huawei Ascend P6

The Huawei Ascend P6 measures 132.7 x 65.5 x 6.2 mm and weighs just 120 grams. Not only is it the thinnest smartphone we've handled, but also one of the lightest quad-core devices we've held to date.

Design and build quality

The slim profile can certainly claim most of the credit, but the good looks of the Huawei Ascend P6 are a combination of features: the brushed metal finish of the rear, the curved bottom and the assertive angular frame.

The design is consciously minimalist, and even though we tend to prefer hardware Home keys, the neat button-free front of the Ascend P6 seems like the right choice for a phone this slim. The aluminum sides look suspiciously similar to the iPhone 4/4S design, but it's an accent that works well here and we didn't mind it at all.

Huawei Ascend P6

The unibody design has ruled out a removable battery, but has certainly contributed to the amazingly slim profile and good looks.

Huawei Ascend P6 next to an iPhone 5

With a 4.7" screen, the Huawei Ascend P6 is by no means a small device but the ultra-slim unibody feels refined and solid, yet surprisingly light. All bits fit perfectly together in a nearly seamless design and there are no cheap-looking accents whatsoever. The entire front is protected by a piece of Gorilla Glass, while the back is nicely textured like brushed metal. The frame around the sides is made out of aluminum. It's a combination that works quite well.

Handling the Huawei Ascend P6

The handling of the Huawei Ascend P6 is excellent for a device this size. The matte back is nice and grippy, while the slim body certainly helps single-handed use. The Ascend P6 is quite pocket friendly too - something we rarely get with everyone's obsession with big screens. We used the P6 for quite a while and we have to admit, it's one of those devices that you can slip into a pocket, which you'll pat now and then to make sure it's actually still there. Oh yes, it's that light and compact!