Huawei nova 7 SE Complete Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of the Huawei nova 7 SE

The Huawei nova 7 SE is a feature-rich smartphone that was launched in April 2020. It was designed to offer high-end features at a mid-range price, making it a strong competitor in the smartphone market. Despite being discontinued, it still holds interest for its robust performance specs, sleek design, and innovative features.

Design and Build

The Huawei nova 7 SE measures 162.3 x 75 x 8.6 mm and weighs 189 grams, which makes it a comfortable fit in the hand. The dual SIM phone supports Nano-SIM and dual standby modes. The device is available in a variety of colors, such as Black, Space Silver, Midsummer Purple, and Crush Green, allowing users to choose a device that matches their personal style. The modern aesthetic and quality craftsmanship are clear indicators of Huawei’s commitment to design excellence.

Display

The phone features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with HDR10 support, with an impressive screen-to-body ratio of approximately 83.8%. The resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels at a 20:9 aspect ratio ensures that images and videos are sharp with vibrant colors. This display is perfect for streaming content, gaming, and general use, providing an immersive viewing experience.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the nova 7 SE boasts a Kirin 820 5G chipset, built on a 7nm process. This is an octa-core processor configuration featuring a 1x2.36 GHz Cortex-A76, 3x2.22 GHz Cortex-A76, and 4x1.84 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The GPU is a Mali-G57 with 6 cores, which efficiently handles graphic-intensive tasks with aplomb. The device runs on Android 10 with EMUI 10.1, yet it notably lacks Google Play Services due to ongoing trade restrictions. Despite this, the EMUI interface is user-friendly and offers a host of useful features and optimizations.

Network and Connectivity

Huawei nova 7 SE supports GSM, CDMA, HSPA, LTE, and 5G technologies, providing users with a wide range of network compatibility. It includes frequency bands for 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, ensuring superior connectivity across various regions and networks. The 5G capability is particularly notable for future-proofing the device as the technology becomes more widespread.

Camera Capabilities

The nova 7 SE is equipped with a quad-camera setup that includes a 64 MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8 MP ultrawide lens, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. This array supports features like PDAF, LED flash, panorama, and HDR. It can capture video at 4K and 1080p and offers a slow-motion capability at 720p@960fps. The selfie camera is a 16 MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture and HDR support, recording video at 1080p, making it adept at capturing high-quality images and videos.

Memory and Storage

The device comes in variants of 128GB storage with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB storage option with 8GB of RAM. Storage can be expanded further using a Nano Memory (NM) card, in a shared SIM slot, up to 256GB. This flexibility ensures sufficient storage for all user needs, from apps and games to photos and videos.

Battery Life

The nova 7 SE is powered by a non-removable Li-Po 4000 mAh battery. It supports 40W fast charging, which can charge the battery to 70% in just 30 minutes, according to the advertised speed. Additionally, the phone supports 5W reverse wired charging, which can be useful for charging other compatible gadgets.

Sensors and Other Features

The device includes a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors enhance the user experience by enabling ease of use and interaction with the device. Additionally, the phone supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, and USB Type-C connectivity, but lacks NFC and radio features.

Pricing and Availability

Originally sold at approximately 320 EUR, the Huawei nova 7 SE provided excellent value for its features and capabilities. Although it has been discontinued, it remains a noteworthy option in the second-hand and refurbished markets, particularly for those seeking a powerful device with 5G capabilities.

Conclusion

The Huawei nova 7 SE is a formidable smartphone that combined top-notch performance, a versatile camera system, and excellent battery life at an affordable price. Its build quality and design cater to a variety of users, and despite the lack of Google Play Services, it remains a viable option for those who favor Huawei’s approach to software and hardware integration. The addition of 5G support positions it as a future-ready device, though it's now available only through secondary markets since its discontinuation.