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Price and specifications of Huawei nova advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Release Date
2016, October
Camera
12MP
Battery
3020mAh
Battery Type
18W
Processor
Snapdragon 625
Screen
5.0"
Storage
32GB , microSDXC
Ram
3GB RAM
Operating System
Android 6.0.1, up to 7.0, EMUI 4.1

Overview of Huawei Nova

The Huawei Nova, first announced in September 2016 and released in October of the same year, quickly made its mark in the smartphone market with its elegant design and competitive specifications. Though it has been discontinued now, it remains a notable device from Huawei, reflecting their push towards producing devices that blend style with functionality at an accessible price point.

Design and Build

The Huawei Nova sports a smooth and sophisticated design, featuring a glass front combined with an aluminum back and frame, providing both aesthetic appeal and durability. Its dimensions stand at 141.2 x 69.1 x 7.1 mm and it weighs only 146g, making it a sleek and lightweight device that easily fits into one hand. It's available in several striking colors: Prestige Gold, Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey, and Obsidian Black. The design is additionally refined by a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security and ease of access.

Display

With a 5.0-inch IPS LCD, the Huawei Nova provides vibrant and clear visuals with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and a 16:9 ratio, amounting to a density of approximately 441 PPI. This creates sharp, bright, and colorful displays, making it an optimal choice for media consumption - be it browsing, gaming, or watching videos. The screen’s size and quality offer an immersive viewing experience while ensuring the device stays compact.

Performance

Under the hood, the Huawei Nova runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, upgradable to 7.0 Nougat, layered with EMUI 4.1. Its processing power comes from the Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 chipset, incorporating an octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and Adreno 506 GPU. This combination ensures efficient performance for daily tasks and moderate gaming, with an emphasis on power-efficiency due to the 14 nm process technology.

Camera

Photography on the Huawei Nova is handled by a single 12 MP rear camera with a 1/2.9" sensor size, 1.25μm pixel size, and PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus). This camera is capable of recording 4K videos at 30fps, as well as 1080p videos at the same frame rate, offering clear and high-resolution video capture. For selfies, there is an 8 MP front-facing camera, also capable of shooting 1080p videos, ensuring sharp and vibrant image capture whether in videos or selfie shots.

Battery

The device is powered by a non-removable 3020 mAh Li-Po battery that supports 18W wired charging. The battery life promises substantial usability, with an endurance rating of 84 hours according to tests. This longevity ensures users can go through their day with consistent and reliable performance without frequent need for recharging.

Memory and Storage

Huawei Nova is equipped with 3 GB of RAM, facilitating smooth multitasking and application management. For storage, it comes with 32 GB internal storage, which can be expanded via microSDXC, using the developed SIM slot. This allows users the flexibility to store more apps, media, and files according to their personal needs.

Network and Connectivity

The phone operates on GSM / HSPA / LTE technology, covering 2G, 3G, and 4G bands. It offers Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, WiFi Direct for wireless connectivity, Bluetooth 4.1 for close-range connections, and is equipped with GPS and GLONASS for navigation. Notably, it lacks NFC, but it includes an FM radio for local music and news broadcasts, alongside a USB Type-C port for data transfer and charging.

Audio

The device includes a loudspeaker providing standard audio output for calls and media, and features a 3.5mm headphone jack for traditional wired audio connectivity. Audio quality is decent, with measurable parameters indicating clean sound and minimal distortion during playback.

Sensors and Features

Beyond its fingerprint sensor, the Huawei Nova is outfitted with an array of sensors including an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass. These facilitate various functionalities such as responsive navigation, improved gaming controls, and better usage of augmented reality applications.

Conclusion

In summary, the Huawei Nova presents a solid option for those seeking a mid-tier smartphone experience. Its balance of design, performance, and camera capability make it quite appealing. Despite its eventual discontinuation, it remains a notable part of Huawei's mobile lineup from the mid-2010s, representing a synthesis of style and reliable function that characterized many of the brand's releases in that period.

Network
Technology GSM / HSPA / LTE
2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - CAN-L01L11
4G bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 38 - CAN-L01L11
Speed HSPA, LTE
Launch
Announced 2016, September. Released 2016, October
Status Discontinued
Body
Dimensions 141.2 x 69.1 x 7.1 mm (5.56 x 2.72 x 0.28 in)
Weight 146 g (5.15 oz)
Build Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame
SIM Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
Display
Type IPS LCD
Size 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~70.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density)
Platform
OS Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat), EMUI 4.1
Chipset Qualcomm MSM8953 Snapdragon 625 (14 nm)
CPU Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU Adreno 506
Memory
Card slot microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal 32GB 3GB RAM
Main Camera
Single 12 MP, 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF
Features HDR, panorama
Video 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Single 8 MP
Video 1080p@30fps
Sound
Loudspeaker Yes
3.5mm jack Yes
Comms
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth 4.1, A2DP, LE
Positioning GPS, GLONASS
NFC No
Radio FM radio
USB USB Type-C
Features
Sensors Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Type Li-Po 3020 mAh, non-removable
Charging 18W wired
Misc
Colors Prestige Gold, Mystic Silver, Titanium Grey, Obsidian Black
Models CAN-L01L11, CAN-L02L12, CAN-L03L13, CAN-L11, CAN-L01, CAN-L12, CAZ-AL10, CAZ-TL10, CAN-L13
Price About 200 EUR
Tests
Performance Basemark OS II 2.0: 1218Basemark X: 10511
Display Contrast ratio: 1540:1 (nominal), 2.467 (sunlight)
Camera Photo / Video
Loudspeaker Voice 69dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 80dB
Audio quality Noise -68.9dB / Crosstalk -95.9dB
Battery (old) Endurance rating 84h

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