Huawei Nova 12i Smartphone Review – For the last year, Huawei has released several phones in the Nova 12 lineup from the flagship killer Nova 12 Ultra to fan favorite Nova 12 SE and Nova 12s. Not too long ago, the company also came up with a new phone known as the Huawei Nova 12i, which will target the entry-level segment. Like most smartphones, you will notice a fabulous set of features with a unique design.
However, the design aspect might be subject and your opinion might differ. But still, the smartphone makers are providing good configuration of specs. However, we can’t determine the value of a phone based on specs, and in-hand usage is something that matters too. Therefore, let’s know more about the Huawei Nova 12i review to find out whether it’s worth purchasing or not!
Table of Contents
Huawei Nova 12i Smartphone Review
Highlights
- The phone comes with a 6.7-inch IPS LCD panel with a 90Hz refresh rate smoothness.
- In terms of software layering, the EMUI 14 supports the interface with a wide range of customization abilities.
- As for the hardware configuration, the device is equipped with the Snapdragon 680 4G chipset.
- A decent 108MP dual camera with an 8MP selfie camera will appear on this phone.
- The phone is powered by a 5000 mAh battery with 40W wired charging support.
Design and Display
The Huawei Nova 12i device arrives with a glossy finish with fabulous color points like Green and Black. Both of them come with a solid color design without any additional texture or appealing aspect. The plain layout does feel slightly bland. But still, the circular camera layout does look quality and appealing. At the same time, you are getting a fabulous built quality with this phone.
As far as the built quality is concerned, the Huawei phone arrives with a standard build, while the company used a plastic body for the back panel. Following this, the device comes with a standard side panel and a fingerprint scanner on the power button. Through this, the users can enhance the security attribute.
On the other hand, the Huawei Nova 12i comes with an average 6.7-inch IPS LCD panel. It brings immersive colors and accurate contrast while watching content. At the same time, the users can enjoy content in FHD resolution, while the brightness is lacking slightly. Though the screen is visible outdoors, you have to max out the brightness level. Lastly, the phone offers a 90Hz refresh rate touch response.
Memory and Internal
Under the hood, the Huawei Nova 12i phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G chipset, which is known for providing decent performance output in mid-range phones. Moreover, the phone can handle normal levels of gaming and multitasking to a certain extent, while the processing speed is average. Although, the user won’t face any serious problems like overheating or lags in extreme gaming.
But still, it’s worth noting that the screen provides a 90Hz refresh rate. Through this, you won’t face any problems with the navigation. Alongside this, you are getting the EMUI 14 custom skin, while tons of Chinese apps are available in the interface. But you won’t find any Google ecosystem apps under the hood. Yet, the users can download alternative apps and tools to compensate for those losses.
On the other hand, the Huawei Nova 12i brings enough storage capacity according to the average user’s needs. With 256GB storage, the users can efficiently manage the space to store apps, media, and office files. Moreover, the phone can allocate storage smartly and save space. At the same time, you’re getting 8GB RAM support on the Huawei Nova 12i.
Camera
Undoubtedly, the phone has a unique camera module. But realistically speaking, the combination of a 108MP primary and 2MP depth lens does provide above-average photos and videos. In daylight photos, you can utilize the native camera app and let the camera app handle colors, saturation, and white balance. It includes various camera modes so that you can capture precious moments with ease.
On top of that, the dynamic range improved thanks to the HDR support and crisp 108MP pro shots. Besides this, you can also rely on the beauty mode for clicking social media-ready images with no trouble. Alongside this, the night mode handles low light. But, you will notice grain and noise in the background. The camera quality does improve a bit with the camera tech.
Yet, the 8MP selfie camera can only produce average photos and videos. The reason for that would be low-quality lenses, which provide mediocre camera results. However, you can use a third-party camera app to enhance the overall results. But, you can’t do much about the 1080p video recording since the phone lacks proper video stabilization support.
Battery and Others
Under the hood, the Huawei Nova 12i is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery. It has a massive battery capacity that will bring amazing screen time whether you are gaming or enjoying social media or streaming content. In general, users can expect up to four hours of screen time for daily activity, whereas the phone can support up to two hours of gaming without any hassle.
In terms of charging speed, the phone can refuel the battery in less than an hour using 40W wired charging. The device can refill the battery up to 60% in 30 minutes. At the same time, the phone will deliver decent sensors, comms, and good loudspeakers. Last but not least, the Huawei Nova 12i is priced around $300 (Rs 24,990 in India) approx.
Huawei Nova 12i Specifications Detail
Down below you can see the full specifications of the Huawei Nova 12i smartphone.
| Specifications | Huawei Nova 12i |
| Network | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Announced | March 2024 |
| SIM | Dual SIM |
| Dimensions | 6.43 x 2.94 x 0.33 inches |
| Weight | 199 g |
| Size | 6.7 inches |
| Display | IPS LCD 90Hz ~391 PPI density |
| Protection | No |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels |
| OS | EMUI 14, no Google Play Services |
| Chipset | 6nm – Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G |
| CPU | Octa-core 4×2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 4×1.9 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| GPU | Adreno 610 |
| Card slot | No |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Internal | 256GB |
| Camera | 108 MP (wide), PDAF 2 MP (depth) LED flash, HDR, panorama Max – 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie | 8 MP (wide) Max – 1080p@30fps |
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | No |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| NFC | Yes |
| Infrared port | No |
| Radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| Sensors | Side-mounted fingerprint, accelerometer, compass |
| Battery | 5000 mAh 40W wired fast charging |
| Colors | Green, Black |
| Expected Price | $300 (Rs 24,990 in India) approx |
Conclusion
Finally, let’s discuss whether this Huawei Nova 12i smartphone is worth purchasing or not. From the specs and features overview, one thing is clear Huawei Nova 12i can handle performance, battery life, and display experience. On the other hand, the camera department does perform well with daylight photos and videos. But the same thing didn’t apply to lowlight photography or videography.
Anyway, the phone is exclusively available in China, and it would be tough to get this phone in other countries. In that scenario, you should check alternative options like Nothing Phone 2A. It’s a complete package of performance, camera, and features. Meanwhile, make a decision based on your requirements and needs.
