Full review of Huawei nova. Huawei nova review. Workhorse. Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize
There's a new addition to the camp of mid-range smartphones. This time it’s very interesting - a metal case, a 5-inch screen with FullHD resolution, an 8-core processor with a frequency of 2 GHz, 3 GB of RAM, a capacious battery, and a high-quality camera. All these are the characteristics of Huawei Nova, which began selling in Russia in December. It is expected that the device will seriously compete with smartphones from Meizu, Xiaomi and ZTE. It remains to be clarified if the new product has any shortcomings.
As part of the IFA exhibition, held in September in Berlin, Huawei presented its Nova line of mid-range smartphones. Representatives of the developer then said that New episode In terms of functionality, it corresponds to the Honor line, looks like the Nexus 6P, but costs less due to slightly less powerful hardware. Only one model in the series has reached Russia - Huawei Nova with a 5-inch screen. It was he who visited us for testing.
The new product has a compact metal body, a 5-inch screen with FullHD resolution, a powerful processor, 3 GB of RAM, a fingerprint sensor and a camera with decent image quality. At the same time, the price of Huawei Nova at the start of sales is set at 22,000 rubles. Let's figure out whether the new product will become a bestseller among buyers and whether it will be the best gift for the New Year.
Technical characteristics of Huawei Nova
id="sub0">| Characteristic | Description |
| Case materials: | magnesium-aluminum alloy, glass |
| Operating system: | Android 6.0, custom shell EMUI 4.1 |
| Screen: | IPS touchscreen, 5-inch diagonal, resolution 1080x1920 pixels (441 ppi), recognition of up to ten simultaneous touches, protective glass with 2.5D effect |
| CPU: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953, 8 Cortex-A53 cores at 2.0 GHz each |
| GPU: | Adreno 506 |
| RAM: | 3 GB |
| Flash memory: | 32 GB + microSD card slot |
| SIM card type: | one - nanoSIM, the second - nanoSIM/microSD (combined slot) |
| Mobile connection: | EDGE/GPRS/GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), WCDMA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), LTE Cat.6 (300/50 Mbit/s) |
| Communications: | Single-band Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, connector USB Type-C(USB 2.0) for charging/syncing, NFC, 3.5 mm for headset |
| Navigation: | GPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BEIDOU |
| Sensors: | Light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), fingerprint scanner |
| Main camera: | 12 megapixel module, f/2.2, LED flash, autofocus |
| Front-camera: | 8 MP (3264 × 2448), without autofocus, f/2.4 |
| Battery: | non-removable, 3020 mAh |
| Dimensions, weight: | 141.2x69.1x7.1 mm, 146 g |
Delivery package and first impressions
id="sub1">Huawei Nova comes in an extremely stylish box made of hard black cardboard. The model name is printed on the front side of the package. The accessories included in the kit are placed in separate boxes. In addition to the smartphone itself, the box contains a USB Type C synchronization and charging cable, a power adapter, a clip for opening the SIM card tray, instructions and a warranty card.
Taking the smartphone out of the box, you notice how much it looks like the Nexus 6P. The device surprisingly fits perfectly in the hand. It is very compact, and this immediately catches your eye. The device has rounded edges, it is very thin and quite light. Dimensions - 141.2x69.1x7.1 mm, 146 grams, which almost completely coincides with the dimensions of the iPhone 7, which has a 4.7-inch screen.
By the way, its compact dimensions allow you to use your smartphone with much greater convenience than 5.2 or 5.5-inch “shovels”. It seems that Huawei remembered the words of Steve Jobs that a smartphone should easily fit in the hand. By the way, the reduction in size was achieved by reducing the edges around the display. In Huawei Nova on the left and right they reach only 2 mm.
Design and appearance
id="sub2">Huawei Nova is supplied to the Russian market in three color options: white (silver back), black and bronze. I had a white device at my disposal.
The developers placed special emphasis on the appearance of the new product. The rear panel of the case is made of aerospace magnesium-aluminum alloy. The use of sandblasting technology has created a textured surface that is pleasant to the touch and gives the body a glossy appearance. The upper part of the rear panel is made of contrasting glossy plastic. Rounded edges and a screen with 2.5D technology allow the smartphone to fit perfectly in your hand.
But the processing of the ends seemed somehow strange. It is stylized as rough sanding with textured stripes. This design approach is dissonant with the design of the other surfaces of the smartphone.
Along the perimeter of the case you can see small inserts - antennas for mobile communications, Wi-Fi, navigation receivers, GPS/GLONASS and NFC.
In the hands the device is perceived as a very expensive and solid device. Its design has many similarities with the appearance of the Nexus 6P smartphone, which was produced by Huawei. As a result, Nova is one of the most beautiful devices that the Chinese company has produced.
On the front there is a 5-inch diagonal screen. It is covered with protective glass in the 2.5D style, that is, it is slightly curved at the edges, as if hanging over the main part. Taking into account the very thin frames on the sides, it seems as if the gadget has no frames at all. Looks very interesting. The glass has an oleophobic coating, fingerprints remain, but are erased quickly and easily.
There is a speaker above the screen for telephone conversations. Its volume is enough to communicate in a noisy room or on the road. There is an LED indicator built into the right side of the speaker. It blinks when there are incoming messages, phone calls, or low battery. It can be disabled or reconfigured in the corresponding menu item. Here you can also see proximity and lighting sensors. The front camera is on the left side.
There are no buttons or other elements under the screen. Instead of them is the Huawei logo. Function keys are fully integrated into the screen shell.
On the bottom right side there are speaker holes for external calls and music, as well as a microphone. In the center you can see a USB Type C connector for connecting the phone to a computer and charging.
I would rate the performance of the main speaker as a four or a four with a minus. Firstly, the sound is not powerful and loud enough. Secondly, volume and detail are not felt. Not enough power. It feels like the speaker is not playing at full capacity. Thirdly, if you cover the speaker grill with your hand or finger, the volume drops by 90%.
On the top edge you can see a second microphone for noise reduction, as well as a hole for connecting a wired headset. On the right side there are volume buttons and a power/lock screen key. They decided to highlight the latter with a barely visible red edging.
On the left is a compartment for two nanoSIM-sized SIM cards. One of them can be used to expand memory. MicroSD memory cards are used here. This configuration does not allow you to use two SIM cards and a memory card at once. We'll have to choose.
On the back side you can see a 12 megapixel camera lens (Sony IMX286 sensor) with autofocus and LED flash. The area with the camera and flash is finished with a glossy insert that resembles the design of the legendary . It all looks very interesting and stylish.
A little lower in the center is a fingerprint scanner, which has a round shape. With it, you can not only unlock the device, but also answer calls, turn off the alarm, view the list of open applications (to do this, you need to swipe up on the sensor), open the notification panel (swipe down) and erase notifications (double tap on the sensor). Moreover, the user can create a secure area to store confidential information and classified applications, which can be accessed using a fingerprint.
The fingerprint sensor works quite quickly and, most importantly, accurately. The official Huawei website talks about 0.5 seconds for recognition, and this seems to be true. During testing, it accurately recognized my fingerprints and did not react to strangers. In total, you can save up to five prints in the device memory.
Screen. Graphics capabilities
id="sub3">Huawei Nova has a screen with a diagonal of 5 inches. The display is made using IPS technology with anti-glare coating and without an air gap. Resolution - 1080x1920, pixel density - 441 ppi. Due to the high resolution, the picture on the display looks great. Viewing angles are maximum. Under straight lines sun rays the image remains readable, the screen does not glare.
The backlight brightness is comfortable in most usage scenarios, plus auto-adjustment works correctly. The gadget is equipped with a light sensor, thanks to which it can independently adjust the brightness level that is comfortable for working in given conditions.
The picture on the display looks good, clean and believable. The frame around the screen is quite narrow: approximately 2 mm on the sides and 14 mm on the top and bottom.
If we talk about the sensitivity of the screen, it responds quickly to touches and recognizes gestures without problems. In total, the device supports up to ten simultaneous touches. The gadget also easily understands touches with loose gloves.
Huawei Nova has a proximity sensor that blocks the display when you bring the smartphone to your ear. The user can also configure the control of individual smartphone functions using gestures on the screen.
Hardware platform: processor, memory, performance
id="sub4">Huawei Nova is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953 chip, 8 Cortex-A53 cores of 2.0 GHz each. Graphics subsystem (GPU) - Adreno 506. Under load, the smartphone body practically does not heat up.
RAM 3 GB, and internal memory 32 GB. Memory cards up to 128 GB are supported, although the connector for them is combined with a slot for a SIM card. This means that you will have to use either a card or a nanoSIM.
If we talk about the operation of the interface, during the test I did not notice any glitches or slowdowns at all. Plus, the EMUI user shell is perfectly optimized, so there are no lags or slowdowns.
All games from the standard test suite launched without problems. FullHD video is played without stuttering, and the browser is also stable. To sum up the performance, I note that it is very, very sufficient.
Communication capabilities
id="sub5">Huawei Nova has two slots for nano SIM cards. The smartphone has one radio module. This means that when any activity occurs on one of the cards, for example, an incoming call, the second one goes offline. Working with SIM cards is implemented in the simplest way: after installing both SIM cards in the device, the smartphone will offer to assign which one to call, send messages and access the Internet with.
A SIM card in any slot can work with 3G/4G networks, but only one of them can function in this mode at a time. To change the assignment of slots, cards do not need to be swapped - this can be done directly from the phone menu.
The smartphone supports all modern communication networks: 2G/3G and 4G cat. 6 on Russian frequencies (4G TDD LTE: Band 38/40 and 4G FDD LTE: Band 1/3/7/8/20), confidently receives the signal and does not lose it for no apparent reason. It is noteworthy that Huawei Nova has a software option that allows you to improve the quality of signal reception, it is called “Signal+”. Huawei says that in their next smartphone they have used not a double, but a “triple virtual antenna Signal+ 2.0.”
Testing MegaFon's 4G network. Speeds according to Speedtest.Net are about 30 Mbit/s.
Talking on the phone is comfortable. The speaker has a good volume reserve, and the interlocutors did not complain about poor audibility during testing.
The device can work with wireless networks Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.5 GHz only), Bluetooth version 4.1. The modules work quickly and without failures.
The smartphone supports Wi-Fi Direct, you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. Smart Wi-Fi+ lets you automatically switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data networks. The USB 2.0 Type C connector supports connecting external devices in USB OTG mode. There is also NFC here.
Among the additional communication tools, it is worth noting GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou (standard cartography is built into the smartphone Google Maps). The navigation error radius during testing was about 3 meters, which is very little. The gadget copes well with the role of a navigator.
Duration of work
id="sub6">The smartphone has a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 3020 mAh. Under testing conditions, with 30 minutes of calls per day, browsing the Internet for about 2 hours via 4G, listening to an mp3 player through a headset for about 2 hours a day, the device worked for 26 hours. When watching a video, the gadget worked for 7 hours 25 minutes, in navigator mode - 3 hours 45 minutes. As a result, the device has to be charged every 1.5 days. If you use your smartphone in less intensive mode, then it will work for 2-2.5 days.
In terms of autonomy, the device is slightly better than most models in the same class. However, Huawei has provided three battery usage profiles with quite self-explanatory names: productive, “smart” (auto-adjusting processor power depending on the task being performed) and energy-saving.
The battery charges in about two hours. The device does not support wireless charging, but there is a “fast charging” mode. Fast charging technology provides a 45% charge level within 30 minutes. And if you charge Huawei Nova for just 10 minutes, the charge will last for 2 hours of talking or 6 hours of listening to music.
User Interface and Operating System
id="sub7">Huawei Nova running operating system Android 6.0 Marshmallow and Emotion UI 4.1.
For those who are familiar with this shell, it will not be difficult to figure it out. Work with gestures is supported, there is an additional virtual control button that folds out on the screen into a radial menu. The navigation panel has been modified, divided into several tabs, the first of which has a convenient timeline of events, the next you can find a quick access menu to the main settings, and by swiping up from the bottom you can call up another menu where you can find a flashlight, a voice recorder and some other useful functions and settings.
Among other things, the user can choose the effect when unlocking or moving between desktops, select the style of icons, fonts, and answer an incoming call when raising the phone to the ear. There is a function here to switch to silent mode when turning the screen down, as well as tilt the phone to organize widgets. In general, there are a lot of little things that especially impressionable people should like.
There are also several built-in themes with the ability to download new ones for free and for a fee, as well as very nice pictures for the lock screen. This is one of the rare cases when, when purchasing a new smartphone, you do not have to change the built-in backgrounds and themes to new ones. There is a mode for automatically changing wallpaper, when the pictures are displayed in a chaotic order; To do this, you just need to shake your smartphone.
Among the pre-installed applications there are standard applications for the manufacturer: free Yandex and Mail.ru programs, Opera browser, WPS Office for working with office documents, Clean Master, Booking.com booking service, Tripadvisor application, IVI.RU online cinema.
Camera. Photo and video capabilities
id="sub8">Huawei Nova uses a camera with a maximum image resolution of 12 megapixels. This is a Sony IMX286 module with a pixel size of 1.25. In terms of its characteristics, the camera is very similar to the one installed on the Huawei P9. The pictures are of good quality, the automation works as expected. Even in the evening you can get an acceptable quality photo. And if you have a tripod, you can take a really cool photo, since the phone has an advanced mode that allows you to customize all the parameters as you wish.
The camera control menu is generally familiar from previous models. A gesture on the left brings up a menu with various modes, on the right - a menu for camera settings (image resolution, button controls, etc.), and at the bottom brings up a menu manual settings shooting. In it, as usual, you can independently control focus, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation and white balance. There are practically no dark, undetailed areas in the photograph, or light areas without information. Colors and white balance are excellent. Focusing accuracy and speed are high.
In poor lighting, blurriness appears. But overall the picture is of adequate quality.
The Huawei Nova camera can shoot video with a maximum resolution of 4K, as well as 1920x1080 at 30 or 60 fps with stereo sound. There is also the possibility of slow-motion slo-mo recording in 720p resolution at 120 frames per second. For video shooting, you can turn on the stabilization function, but its operation is barely noticeable when shooting on the go. The camera's overall performance in recording video is average: the image is loose and not always sharp, although it is bright and without noticeable artifacts. But you still expect a lot more from shooting FullHD 60 frames per second. The sound during video recording is recorded quite well, and the noise reduction system copes well with wind noise.
I will also mention the front camera for selfies. It is 8 megapixels with an f/2.4 aperture. There is no autofocus. You can record videos in resolutions up to 720p. The camera performs its function well.
Results
id="sub9">Two weeks of intensive testing showed the stability of Huawei Nova. This smartphone may not have the most powerful hardware, but it does its job well. The device has an attractive appearance, excellent build, a bright and clear high-resolution screen, an excellent camera, supports 4G, has a slot for two SIM cards, and a fingerprint sensor. Battery life also corresponds to market averages.
The disadvantages include a combined slot for a memory card and a second SIM card, not the best video recording performance, as well as a USB Type C interface port. The latter is still extremely rare. For this reason, you will need to carry a cable with you.
By the way, Huawei Nova can really compete with smartphones from Chinese brands. The choice here is quite large. The main competitors of the model are Xiaomi Mi5, ZTE Nubia Z11 Mini and Asus ZenFone 3. You can also count it as competitors, although in terms of characteristics it is slightly inferior to the new product from Huawei.
Advantages
Metal body
Great appearance and high quality build
Fingerprint's scanner
Good screen
High quality camera
Support LTE cat. 6
Flaws
Average video quality from the main camera
The camera settings interface is displayed in a horizontal layout
The memory card slot is combined with a second SIM card (nanoSIM type)
Low external speaker power
Availability USB port Type C
On the day of publication, Huawei Nova could be purchased at a price of 22,000 rubles.
Today we will review a relatively new smartphone from Huawei - Nova and find out whether it is worth paying more for an average battery, a far from flagship processor and an already outdated Android 6 out of the box, because the price for this model is almost 1.5 times higher than that of its direct competitors from China.
When it comes to design, the Huawei Nova is simply gorgeous. Beveled edges, coupled with a literally flawless appearance, make this smartphone as attractive and convenient as possible, and the lightweight aircraft aluminum from which the device’s body is made makes it as light, thin and impact-resistant as possible. The smartphone is assembled just perfectly - there are no creaks or play, and the aluminum power and volume keys fit into their grooves like a glove.
Battery
The smartphone is equipped with a non-removable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 3020 mAh, which, at first glance, may not seem enough. However, we hasten to note that a 5-inch display will not consume a lot of energy, and in addition, the Snapdragon 625 chipset, which is one of the most energy-efficient processors, will also help reduce battery consumption, so it makes sense to consider the Huawei Nova as a gadget that will not last long will be discharged.
According to the device autonomy rating, with standard everyday load, Huawei Nova will stay afloat for about 11 hours, and if you talk on the phone for 1 hour a day, watch videos and surf the Internet, the battery charge will last for more than three days. In addition, by turning on the energy-saving mode, you can extend the battery life by another couple of hours. Well, in standard mode, the battery will allow you to continuously watch videos for almost 10 hours, surf the Internet for up to 11 hours, and make calls for up to 28 hours. 
Display
Huawei Nova is equipped with a 5-inch display with an IPS matrix, a resolution of 1920x1089 pixels and a pixel density of 441 ppi. The screen occupies 70.6% of the entire front panel.
Let us dwell in more detail on the characteristics of brightness and color. The Nova's display produces very deep and rich blacks, but the brightness is average, although the contrast can be quite high. The color field balance is wide, but there are still some deviations in colors that can be calibrated. In the sun, this smartphone may have difficulty operating due to the average brightness of the display.
Processor and performance
Huawei Nova is equipped with one of the most energy-efficient and heat-resistant eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chipset, which is assembled using 14 nm technology, which guarantees minimal battery consumption even under high loads. In addition, the processor is protected from heat, and as a result there is practically no reduction in its clock frequency.
The other side of the coin is the low processing power of the cores, and this reduces the results of synthetic tests in various benchmarks and, of course, generally affects the performance of the smartphone. In simple terms, this chipset from Qualcomm is significantly inferior to its direct competitors with improved processors, and the graphics accelerator here is also quite mediocre.
As you can see, this device is not the fastest among its competitors, but its power is quite enough for everyday work with the device. Many modern games can be easily launched at medium graphics settings, and the smartphone will not heat up or glitch. But if you want to purchase a smartphone with maximum power and performance, then it is better to look for models with other processors.
Cameras
And here's the camera in this smartphone I can't help but praise. Of course, to the development of the camera in this model Huawei phone The German company Leica did not have a hand, but the excellent pixel size of 1.25 microns, software photo processing, hybrid autofocus and HDR will help you get very, very good pictures (see photo examples). In general, the main camera of the smartphone has a resolution of 12 megapixels, an f/2.2 aperture, and also records video in 4k at 30 fps, while you will get a great picture, albeit with mediocre sound. The front camera here is 8 megapixels with an f/2.0 aperture and also records videos at 1080p quality and 30fps – for Instagram you don’t need more.
In good daylight, you can get simply magnificent pictures from such a camera. However, in low light, the level of detail decreases, and the amount of noise in the picture also increases, and even the special Super Night mode does not really help in this situation. But by adjusting the parameters manually and increasing the shutter speed, you can get a high-quality picture from night shots. The main advantages of the camera can be identified as follows:
- Low amount of noise;
- High level of detail in images;
- Excellent dynamic range;
- Realistic color rendering;
- One of the best panoramic shooting modes among competitors;
- HDR mode maximizes photo quality.
Sound
Here the picture is very atypical for a middle-class smartphone. In Huawei Nova headphones, it produces the purest sound, but at the same time some harmonic and intermodulation distortions are observed, and the signal when playing low and high frequencies increases evenly.
However, something strange is happening with the sound on the external speaker - the noise-to-signal ratio drops to a critical level, and the intermodulation distortion indicators, on the contrary, skyrocket. So if you are an audiophile and can’t imagine life without great sound, it’s better to look for another model, especially since you can find plenty of smartphones at a lower price with best sound. But if the smartphone is used exclusively as a player for listening to music on the go, the sound of the Huawei Nova will suit you, especially if you use a high-quality headset.
operating system
Out of the box, Huawei Nova already has the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system in Russian with the proprietary EMUI 4.1 shell installed. This platform runs smoothly, has a nice interface and many useful features. There were no crashes, glitches or freezes observed during the 2 weeks of testing; you get used to all the “tricks” quickly and when using a smartphone that is based on a different shell, you already begin to miss them. You can also update Android to version 7.
The smartphone has an NFC module, FM radio, and a high-speed and most accurate fingerprint scanner.
Network and quality of communications
A special LTE modem is responsible for the availability of wireless communication, capable of receiving data at speeds of up to 300 Mbit/sec, and sending data at speeds of up to 150 Mbit/sec. The smartphone’s signal reception is simply excellent - even where flagship models no longer receive the network, this gadget still shows one or two connection “sticks”, and where the Internet speed in other smartphones already drops to 2G, Huawei Nova will support 3G or even 4G compound. Has a built-in Wi-Fi module, which supports 2.4 GHz, and here, instead of the standard micro-USB, a USB Type-C connector is installed, which is undoubtedly an advantage in comparison with the same gadgets of the nearby Lite range.
Conclusion
Well, let’s summarize the review of the Huawei Nova smartphone. By purchasing this model, you get a very good smartphone with many advantages, ranging from stylish design and materials from which the body is made, to a camera and battery life. It is worth recognizing that the relatively high price of this device is fully justified, because Huawei Nova provides its user with well-balanced characteristics and ample capabilities. Of course, you can’t do without minuses, but they are not as critical as it might seem, because some of them are easily compensated by advantages, and some are their reverse side. The advantages of the device are:
- Stylish design, materials and build quality;
- Good autonomy indicators;
- Excellent quality of pictures and videos;
- A chipset that does not heat up under heavy loads;
- High display contrast and rich, deep blacks.
There are also disadvantages here:
- Brightness and color rendition are somewhat lame when reaching the lower limit of the norm;
- When connecting an external amplifier, the sound quality suffers;
- Average chipset in all respects;
- The need to use manual parameters in order to get a good picture in the evening or at dusk;
- Lack of tempered glass on the display.
We hope that our Huawei Nova review was useful to you. Write your questions in the comments, we will definitely answer!
The two main new products of the end of the year from Huawei are the Nova line of smartphones. There are rumors that initially they were supposed to be the new Nexus, or maybe the company just decided to please customers good smartphones middle price segment. Previously, we managed to get acquainted with , but only the small Nova entered the Ukrainian market - the company’s compact devices are in great demand. Let's try to figure out why.
Design and usability
Huawei Nova is a fairly compact smartphone with a metal body. The model is slightly smaller than the flagships and Galaxy S7, available in grey, gold and silver body colors.
The appearance is reminiscent of last year's Huawei Nexus 6P, but thanks to its much smaller size, the device is perceived differently. The corners of the case are slightly rounded, the chamfers on the metal are made correctly, so nothing digs into the palm. I would like to call Huawei Nova optimal - it has an average weight and a fairly neutral design that will suit the maximum number of buyers.
The only accent with which Huawei is trying to flirt with the user is the red chamfer on the power key.
There are no complaints about formal things like assembly, accuracy of fitting of parts, location of controls and convenience of keys; everything is done well. There is an indicator of missed events.
Display
The entire front panel is covered by a protruding protective glass with rounded edges and an oleophobic coating. Underneath it lies a 5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. The manufacturer claims that the display has a contrast ratio of 1:1500 and a brightness of 450 nits.
Our measurements showed that the backlight brightness varies from 3 to 403 cd/m², and the contrast is 1 in 1080 - these are also good indicators.
In terms of color quality, the display boasts a slightly expanded color gamut and slightly higher color temperature. The gamma curve deviates from the norm, but this cannot be called critical, since no problems with color rendering are observed by eye. The display pleases with rich natural colors, the image is pleasing to the eye.
Automatic brightness adjustment works quite accurately and sets the backlight level to match the ambient light. In the sun, the image remains readable and distinguishable, but loses contrast.
You can also change the color temperature in the settings to customize the image to your liking. There is a “With Gloves” control mode that increases the sensitivity of the touch layer, which is especially useful in winter. They also added an “Eye Protection” mode. It can be useful when reading from a smartphone screen for a long time, because the image becomes warmer and acquires a yellowish tint.
Hardware platform, operating time and multimedia capabilities
Like the older Nova Plus, the regular Huawei Nova is built on the current Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 hardware platform. The chipset includes eight Cortex-A53 processor cores operating at frequencies up to 2 GHz and an Adreno 506 video core.
The result is a relatively productive solution. Better than last year’s devices on the Snapdragon 615, but simpler than single devices on the Snapdragon 650 and flagships on 800 series chips. In any case, the smartphone is fast in everyday use and the platform's capabilities are sufficient for modern games.
The memory capacity is standard for modern mid-high segment smartphones: 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory. Nova has a hybrid SIM tray, so users' choice is limited to installing one NanoSIM and a memory card or two SIM cards without MicroSD.
But the main thing is hidden inside. Unlike last year's chips, Snapdragon 625 is made using a 14 nm process technology. This made it possible to get rid of the case heating under load (during games, active data transfer via 3G, etc.) and significantly increase the operating time.
With a 3020 mAh battery under average load, the smartphone works without problems for two days showing 6-7 hours of active display. In high load mode, with watching videos via 3G and Wi-Fi, frequent use of the camera or navigation, the device will work without problems for a day with a reserve. The autonomy of the model is slightly less than that of Nova Plus, but taking into account the size of the case and battery capacity, the operating time is still good.
The only thing missing is the fast charging function and support Wi-Fi networks 5 GHz - these shortcomings are common to Nova models. Otherwise, Huawei Nova is a standard solution. There is an NFC module, FM radio, and a fast and accurate fingerprint scanner. A symmetrical USB Type-C connector is used for charging and data transfer.
The only speaker is on the bottom edge. In call mode it is loud enough and in most cases you will not miss the ringing tone. There are also no complaints about the quality - the sound is clear. The earpiece retains the recognition of the interlocutors' voices and has a normal volume.
The quality of music playback is at a level comparable to its competitors. The sound is clear and detailed, with enough power to drive most in-ear headphones. We would like to separately note the DTS equalizer - sometimes it can make the sound subjectively more interesting, detailed, and voluminous. A dedicated application allows you to select the scene mode and adjustment for different headphones, including branded Huawei ones.
Cameras
The main camera of the smartphone is based on a 12 megapixel sensor with an increased pixel size (1.25 microns) and high-aperture optics (f/2.2). A hybrid autofocus system (phase-contrast) is used, and there is a flash from a single diode.
Like most of its competitors, the Nova shoots reasonably well during the day and in normal lighting. Pictures are obtained with natural color reproduction, autofocus works quickly and accurately. The camera copes worse with shooting in low light and at night. Noise reduction reduces detail, sometimes the pictures are not sharp, although in terms of color rendition the camera does a good job. In general, Huawei Nova will not surprise, but it will definitely not disappoint - the smartphone has a normal camera by modern standards.
If time permits, you can try special modes shooting. Huawei has completely manual mode, which allows you to independently configure all shooting parameters. There is a simplified night mode in which you can only change ISO and shutter speed.
A set of “Light” modes allows you to artistic photographs city at night (“Lantern Light”), drawings with a flashlight or other point source (“Light Graffiti”), there are modes for shooting waterfalls and the starry sky. They all take long exposure photos or “stitch” multiple photos together, so it’s best to use a tripod to get the best shot. Examples of work can be found in
The smartphone can shoot video in 4K resolution, but regardless of the resolution, its quality is average. The camera is inferior to the older Huawei Nova and this is a little disappointing.
The front module is based on an 8 megapixel sensor with wide-angle optics (f/2.0). The selfie camera is quite good in most situations. A definite “trick” is the special selfie shooting modes. There are the usual modes for smoothing out skin unevenness and removing defects (“Decoration”), as well as a “Makeup” mode. The latter works predictably - it completes one of the selected makeup options, coloring the lips and eyes.
Software platform
The smartphone runs Android 6.0 and the proprietary EMUI 4.1 interface. At the beginning of 2017, the company promises to update Nova to Android 7.0 and the latest version of the EMUI 5.0 shell (presumably in March).
Some may not be satisfied with the interface design or the non-standard appearance of the list of recently running applications, but in general the shell is quite functional. For example, by default, the smartphone updates the screensavers on the lock screen and reports energy-intensive applications that waste power in standby mode. The native calendar, clock, phone and messaging apps are functional. There is support for themes.
"Phone Manager" allows you to configure many aspects related to work third party applications. For each program, you can select the types of notifications displayed or disable them. There is a function to clear memory from unnecessary cache files or those remaining after uninstalling applications. Individual application access to the Internet via Wi-Fi and mobile connections is also configured.
Some of the functionality is standard for Android, some is available using third-party programs, but in Phone Manager everything is initially collected in one place.
True, the newcomer, compact by ZenFone standards, still remains unreasonably wide and thick, the operating system is disappointing with its outdated design, and pre-installed applications The devil himself will break his leg. But the screen in ZenFone 3 is much brighter and calibrated no worse than in nova, battery life is even slightly better (with a less capacious battery), the camera shoots rather stupidly in fully automatic mode, but is capable of producing a good picture in manual mode. The choice between these two models essentially comes down to taste and depends on personal sympathies towards Huawei or ASUS.
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016)
Surprisingly, even a year after its release, the “glamorous” Galaxy A5 does not look outdated - it is still beautiful, reliable and boasts a now scarce, perfectly calibrated AMOLED display. Last year, this Galaxy was so good that it crushed all competitors by a huge margin.
True, the years and months take their toll, so in comparison with the new “classmates” it is no longer so fast, is poorly adapted to overgrown applications (2 GB of RAM is not enough for a middle-class model today), takes photos worse and is very seriously behind in the quality of selfies. cameras. That is, the A5 (2016) is no longer suitable for geeks who are tired of the performance race, but it is still suitable for purchase as an inexpensive “eto-Samsung”.
It’s always interesting to be one of the first to receive a new product on the Android smartphone market, and this time it’s a model from Huawei with the nova index. On board the 5-inch device is an eight-core processor from Qualcomm, 3 gigabytes of RAM and 32 flash memory, which can be expanded microSD cards. In addition, the arsenal includes 8 and 12 megapixel cameras, a hybrid slot and 3D fingerprint, and all this is enclosed in an attractive metal case. Interesting? Very.
Huawei nova smartphone review. At the junction of segments
Huawei nova is the first gadget in the manufacturer’s new line, announced at the Berlin IFA 2016 exhibition. The model balances on the border of the mid-range and premium segment, which will allow the user to get a number of advanced options at an attractive price. Let’s look at who he will compete with and who else is playing in this segment in the comparative table.
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Huawei nova | Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) | Xiaomi Mi5S |
| operating system | Android 6.0 + EMUI 4.1 | Android 5.1.1 | Android 6.0 + MIUI |
| Display |
1920 x 1080 pixels |
1920 x 1080 pixels |
1920 x 1080 pixels |
| CPU |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, 820 |
8 cores, up to 1.6 GHz |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 |
| RAM | 3 GB | 2 GB | 3 GB |
| Flash |
MicroSD up to 128 GB |
MicroSD up to 128 GB |
64 GB |
| Camera |
Front: 8 MP |
Rear: 13 MP, autofocus, flash; Front: 5 MP |
Rear: 12 MP, autofocus, flash; Front: 4 MP |
| Communications |
2G 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, 3G HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps 4G LTE Cat6, FDD: Band 1, 3, 7, 8, 20; NFC 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.1; GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BDS |
2G 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, 3G UMTS LTE Cat6, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4 GHz/5 GHz GPS/GLONASS, NFC |
2G 900/1800/1900, 4G LTE-A Cat. 12, VoLTE 802.11 b/g/n/ac; GPS/GLONASS/BDS |
| Peculiarities |
3D fingerprint, |
Hybrid slot fingerprint |
fingerprint |
| Battery | 3020 mAh | 2900 mAh | 3200 mAh |
| Dimensions |
141.2 x 69.1 x 7.1 mm, |
144.8 x 71 x 7.3 mm, |
145.6 x 70.3 x 8.25 mm, |
| Price | i 22 900 | i 22 000 | i 22 000 |
Source: ZOOM.CNews
Appearance
The monoblock and monolithic body of Huawei nova made of magnesium and aluminum alloy is one of the competitive advantages of the new product. If the model resembles in detail, then in general the design of the smartphone is unusual and attractive: it has a certain charm and personality. Trendy colors - gray, silver and gold.
The dimensions of the case match the diagonal of the screen, which, remember, is 5 inches, while the weight is slightly above average, but this is a price to pay for autonomy.
The nova feels good in the hand: the smoothed lines of the rear panel and the chamfered body-shaping tray border on rounded ends and smooth corners, and the picture is complemented by a slightly curved display at the edges. The assembly of the case is traditionally at its best: the elements are tightly fitted to each other, no play or creaking was noticed even when squeezed.
Filling the case without frills: the front panel is almost completely occupied by the screen. Along with it, the manufacturer's logo was placed under the protective glass at the bottom, and the front camera, horizontal slot for the earpiece and the operation indicator were at the top. It is likely that there are also position/proximity sensors on top, but the blackening surrounding the screen hides them. The control keys are also invisible, but their role is played by virtual elements.
On the left end of the case there is only a hybrid nano-SIM/MicroSD slot, and the right is given over to a combined volume rocker and a lock key with a red border.
The bottom end is occupied by a USB Type-C connector, vertical slots for call speakers and, probably, a microphone, and on top there is a 3.5 mm audio jack and a noise-canceling microphone.
The rear panel is memorable with two plastic inserts: in the color of the body - on the bottom and gloss black - on the top, into which the rear camera and flash tab are inscribed. Also on the “back” is the vendor’s logo, service information and a fingerprint sensor made using 3D technology.
The Huawei nova case, as you understand, is not collapsible and the user does not have access to the battery.
Screen
The 5-inch LTPS screen of the new product has sufficient resolution for such a diagonal and the picture on it is displayed bright and juicy. Viewing angles are close to maximum, and the backlight brightness is comfortable in most usage scenarios, plus auto-adjustment works correctly.
The sensor is capacitive, capable of receiving up to 10 simultaneous touches and correctly processes the input of commands and text. One of the interesting features is the adjustment of color temperature to the user’s wishes, a kind of business card Huawei.
Software and interface
The device runs Android version 6.0 and comes with Huawei's proprietary shell, EMUI version 4.1. The main trend of the shell is the abandonment of the main menu in favor of desktops, but these are not the only changes.
The idle lock screen will display the pre-selected wallpaper, status bar, date/time, and camera launch icon. In addition, here you can enter arbitrary text, and also, by swiping from below, open the curtain for launching the player, settings and other “quick functions”.
Desktops are selected and filled according to the user’s wishes: there are wallpapers, widgets, and shortcuts to folders. In addition, you can personalize the flipping animation, not to mention activating circular scrolling and selecting the grid size.
The layout of the tables is standard: in addition to the starting main field, there is a changeable “dock” of frequently used functions at the bottom, as well as a status bar at the top. By swiping from top to bottom of the screen, we will open the notification area, and the launch matrix is located in the tab next to it wireless modules and a brightness slider.
An interesting, though not new, option is a simplified menu with large application and launch icons. This view is useful for people with low vision and elderly users.
The settings menu, unlike the main one, is present and does not shine with originality: we have a vertical lined and grouped list of available options.
Managing the Dual-SIM service is not entirely familiar: if we select and name cards traditionally, then for settings there is an advanced item with “smart” actions based on the last choice or manual defaults. The indication is clear, so no problems should arise here.
In the basic package, in addition to the standard operating system applications and Google services, the user has access to: WPS office, phone manager, weather informer, file manager, notes, flashlight, mirror, backups, compass, as well as applications from such popular services as TripAdvisor and Booking. Quite a lot, but not for everyone, although the Google Play store is available.
Hardware and Performance
As already mentioned in the preface, the heart of the nova is an 8-core processor from Qualcomm, and the brains are 3 gigabytes of RAM and 32 gigabytes of flash memory.
Such assistants are more than enough for a smartphone to smoothly scroll the interface and launch standard applications.
With peak loads, everything is a little more complicated: if the device plays HD video with virtually no delays, then with heavy games the jerks are still slightly noticeable.
| Geekbench 3 (Single core/Multi core) | 756/2724 |
| AnTuTu Benchmark | 60795 |
| 3D Mark (Ice Strom Unlimited) | 13738 |
| 3D Mark (Ice Storm Extreme) | 7656 |
| Epic Citadel (Ultra High Quality) | 41.1 FPS |
| Epic Citadel (High Quality) | 62.1 FPS |