The two main trends of the end of the year Huawei – is a line of smartphones, Nova. Rumor has it that originally they were to become new the Nexus, and perhaps the company simply decided to please buyers a good mid-priced smartphone segment. Previously, we had time to get acquainted with the Nova Plus is, but on the European market was only a small Huawei Nova review – compact devices companies are in great demand. Let’s try to understand why.
DESIGN AND USABILITY
Huawei Nova review – it’s pretty compact smartphone in a metal case. The model is slightly smaller flagship Huawei P9 and Galaxy S7, available in gray, gold and silver color casing.
Appearance resembles last year Huawei Nexus 6P, but with the much smaller device is perceived differently. Corners slightly rounded body, a chamfer on the metal done right, so nothing sticks into his palm. Huawei Nova review wants to be called the best – he has an average weight and rather neutral design, which is suitable for the maximum number of buyers.
In the exterior, there is nothing superfluous. On the front panel, there is only a manufacturer’s logo, plastic covers for wireless modules on the “back” written organically. It’s nice that regardless of the color of the housing around the display will not stray wide black frames, which periodically occur in devices of any brand. Therefore, all colors can be considered equally successful. Sami framework of medium width.
The only accent with which Huawei trying to flirt with the user – red bevel on the power key.
By formal things like assembly, precision fitting parts availability key management and usability elements have no complaints, everything is done well. There is an indicator of missed events.
DISPLAY
The entire front panel covers the protruding safety glass with rounded edges and oleophobic coating. Beneath it lies a 5-inch IPS display resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels. The manufacturer claims that the display has a contrast ratio of 1: 1500 and a brightness of 450 units.
Our measurements showed that the brightness varies from 3 to 403 cd / m2 and contrast ratio is 1 to 1080 – it is also a good performance.
In terms of the quality color display can brag a little-extended color gamut and color temperature slightly overpriced. The gamma curve deviates from the norm, but it can not be considered critical, as the eyes are no problems with color reproduction is observed. Display pleases rich natural colors, the image is pleasing to the eye.
Automatic brightness control of Huawei Nova review works accurately and exposes the corresponding ambient light illumination level. In the sun image is readable and legible but loses contrast.
Also in the settings you can change the color temperature to adjust the image for themselves. There mode “in gloves” which increases the sensitivity of the sensor layer, which is especially useful in winter. Another added, “Eye protection” mode. It may be useful for prolonged reading from a smartphone screen because it has the image becomes warmer and becomes yellow.
HARDWARE PLATFORM, OPERATING TIME AND MULTIMEDIA CAPABILITIES
As a senior Nova Plus, a normal Huawei Nova review is built on the current Qualcomm Snapdragon 625. The chipset hardware platform includes eight processor cores Cortex-A53 clocked at up to 2 GHz and Adreno 506 GPU.
The result is a relatively efficient solution. Better than last year’s phones on the Snapdragon 615, but it’s easier on the individual devices Snapdragon 650 and 800 chips on the flagship series. In any case, fast smartphone in daily use, and platform capabilities is enough for modern games.
The amount of memory standard for the modern smartphones medium-high segment: 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB internal. In Nova Hybrid SIM tray, so the choice is limited to users installing one NanoSIM and a memory card or Dual SIMs without MicroSD.
But the main thing is hidden inside. Unlike last year’s chip, the Snapdragon 625 made on 14 nm process technology.This enabled the body to get rid of the heating load (during the games, the active data transmission on 3G and so on), and significantly increase processing time.
From 3020 mAh battery with an average load, Smartphone works without problems for two days showing 6-7 hours of active display. In the high load mode, viewing the video over 3G and Wi-Fi, the frequent use of the camera or navigation device will work without any problems with a reserve day. Autonomy model is slightly smaller than that of Nova Plus, but in view of the case and the size of the battery capacity during operation is still good.
Not enough except that the functions of quick charging and support for Wi-Fi networks at 5 GHz – these shortcomings common to Nova models. The rest of the Huawei Nova performs a standard solution. There NFC module, FM-radio, fast and accurate fingerprint scanner. For charging and data transfer using a symmetric connector USB Type-C.
The single speaker is on the bottom. In the call mode, it is loud, and in most cases, you will not miss a call signal. The quality is also nothing to complain about – the sound is clear. The earpiece keeps recognition and caller’s voice has a normal volume.
Music playback quality is at a comparable level to competitors. The sound is clear and detailed, enough power to “shake” the majority of plug-in headphones. Separately, we note DTS Equalizer – sometimes it can make sound subjectively more interesting, detailed, three-dimensional. The dedicated app allows you to select the scene mode and adjusts to different headphones, including the brand Huawei.
Cams
Cams
The main camera of the smartphone Huawei Nova review is based on the sensor 12-megapixel resolution with an increased pixel size (1.25 m) and high-aperture optics (f / 2.2). Used hybrid AF system (phase contrast), there is an outbreak of a single diode.
Like most of its competitors, Huawei Nova review shoots well enough during the day and under normal lighting conditions. Images obtained with natural colors, fast and accurate autofocus works. With shooting in low light and camera copes worse at night. Squelch reduces detail, sometimes pictures are not sharp, but in terms of the color camera works out well. Overall, Huawei Nova would not be surprised, but it certainly does not disappoint – the smartphone normal by today’s standards the camera.
If time permits, you can try the special shooting modes. At Huawei has a fully manual mode that allows you to customize all the parameters of the shooting. There is easy night mode, in which you can only change the ISO and shutter speed.
The options “Light” allows you to take artistic photos of the city at night ( “Light of the Lantern”), figures flashlight or another point source ( “light graffiti”), there is a mode for taking pictures of waterfalls and a starry sky. They all do a photo with a slow shutter speed or “gum up” a few photos, so to get a great shot is best to use a tripod. Examples can be found in the Huawei P8 review.
The smartphone can record video in 4K resolution, but regardless of the resolution of its quality is average. The camera gives the senior Huawei Nova and it’s a little frustrating.
Front-end module is based on the sensor resolution of 8 megapixels with wide-angle lenses (f / 2.0). Selfies camera shoots reasonably well in most situations. The definition of “chip” are the special modes selfie shooting. There are the usual modes for smoothing skin roughness and removal of defects ( “Ornament”) and “Make-up” mode. Last works predictably – one of the selected options for coloring the lips make-up, eyes.
SOFTWARE PLATFORM
The smartphone Huawei Nova review runs on Android 6.0 and proprietary interface EMUI 4.1. In early 2017 the company promises to upgrade the Nova Android 7.0 and newer version EMUI 5.0 shell (presumably in March).
Someone can make a custom interface design or view a list of recently run applications, but in general, the shell quite functional. For example, the default screen smartphone updates on the lock screen, according to energy-intensive applications, spending a charge in standby mode. Own a calendar application, hours, phone and messaging functionality. There is support for themes.
“Phone Manager” allows you to customize many aspects relating to third-party applications work. You can choose the types of output notifications on or off for each such program. There is clear memory function is unnecessary cache files or remaining after the removal of the application. It also set an individual application access to the Internet via Wi-Fi and mobile connections.
Part of the functionality of a standard for Android, some available through third-party software, just in the “Phone Manager” all originally collected in one place.
PROS: DESIGN AND MATERIALS OF THE BODY, NICE SCREEN, MODERN PLATFORM, THE NORMAL TIME AND THE CAMERA
CONS: NO WI-FI SUPPORT 5 GHZ AND FAST CHARGING, THE CAMERA IS WORSE THAN THE NOVA PLUS
CONCLUSION
Huawei Nova review – a balanced smartphone average price segment. The right combination of good design, body size, operating time, high-quality screen, camera platforms, and capabilities helped to create the device, which is generally perceived much better than the more affordable smartphones and not much inferior to the flagship in the context of the use of experience. Of course, someone can not make specific characteristics of the model, but for the mass buyer, Nova can be a golden mean. We can recommend this smartphone to anyone who does not try to save on “the same» Meizu and Xiaomi but sees no objective need to purchase expensive flagship.