Buzz
Compared to the Nova 2i, the new Nova 3i from Huawei integrates many features and designs from the premium P20 Pro series. It's worth noting that this is also a mid-range version with up to 128 GB of memory in Vietnam.
1. Reviewing Huawei Nova 3i, the 'hybrid' smartphone with P20 Pro features
Compared to the Nova 2i, the new Nova 3i from Huawei integrates many features and designs from the premium P20 Pro series. It's worth noting that this is also a mid-range version with up to 128 GB of memory in Vietnam.
Design
The Nova 3i is a very eye-catching model in the current mid-range segment. Huawei continues to apply a 2.5D double-sided glass design that fits snugly into the metal frame, similar to the Nova 3e, but the major change is the striking color scheme. The company equips the device with a gradient color shift effect inherited from the P20 Pro - a combination of two colors on the same back, gradually changing from blue to purple.
On this new version, Huawei has effectively addressed the fingerprint sensor issue, improving it by at least 50% compared to the Nova 3e. Additionally, the build quality is a plus, with the 2.5D curved glass and metal frame seamlessly integrated, providing a comfortable grip.
However, the Nova 3i still disappointingly carries a drawback with its microUSB port instead of the now widely used USB-C on modern smartphones.
Display
The Nova 3i's display is large at 6.3 inches, yet the overall size of the phone is compact, allowing for easy one-handed operation. Huawei has also made the screen bezels very thin, optimizing the display space on the front.
Since the introduction of the notch display with the iPhone X, other manufacturers in the market have also quickly adopted this design for their products, from high-end to mid-range. The notch design on the Nova 3i has been refined and can be hidden if users do not prefer it through the settings on the device. The Nova 3i uses an IPS panel, FullHD+ resolution with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, the largest in Huawei's lineup, including the P20 Pro. The longer screen ratio helps mitigate the drawbacks of a notch display because when the notch area is removed, the remaining display area still has a ratio greater than 18:9, making entertainment tasks such as gaming and watching movies on the Nova 3i significantly better.
However, the color settings on the Nova 3i seem somewhat washed out, users should access the settings to customize the display modes and preferred color tones to best suit their visual needs.
Performance
Performance is the biggest highlight of the Huawei Nova 3i, as the device features a brand new processor produced by Huawei itself, the Kirin 710, coupled with 4 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB of internal storage, which is among the largest in its segment. With ample storage space, users can comfortably install games, apps, download music, and movies without affecting the user experience.
In terms of processing power, the Kirin 710 chip provides fast game and app launch speeds. The graphics processing capability of this new processor is also well-optimized for heavy games like PUBG Mobile, ROS, but not yet outstanding. However, Huawei has previously announced that it will release a new update integrating GPU Turbo, which will enhance the graphics processing capability for smoother gameplay of heavier games.
Camera
The camera system on the Nova 3i is Huawei's most confident weapon in conquering the mid-range market segment. The Nova 3i is the world's first smartphone to feature 4 AI cameras. The camera configuration specifications remain unchanged from the Nova 2i and Nova 3e, including a dual-camera setup with 16 and 2 MP resolutions, and a secondary camera that supports bokeh mode.
In bright daylight conditions, photos taken with the Nova 3i are detailed, not only in the central area but also in the surrounding areas, maintaining sharpness even when zoomed in. The dynamic range is also very wide, ensuring that photos taken in slight backlighting still reproduce overall brightness very well. Particularly, the foliage area in the picture will look very fresh. Part of this is due to the Nova 3i's integration of AI artificial intelligence, which helps recognize the scene being shot. Specifically, in the photo, it recognizes the green color as vegetation, so it intervenes in the processing algorithm, making the foliage color appear fresher and more vibrant. In addition, the photo capture and storage speed is very fast.
Even in low light conditions, the camera of the device still produces fairly good results.
In low light conditions, the photos are slightly grainy, and the colors are not reproduced as excellently as in daylight. However, the image quality is still ensured when users hold the device steady while shooting. Compared to other phones in the same segment, the image quality of the Nova 3i seems to be much better.
The selfie camera boasts an impressive 24 MP resolution along with intelligent beauty modes powered by AI. It has some interesting features such as 3D Qmoji, which reflects the user's face through accompanying stickers. Additionally, the beauty mode of the Nova 3i is very natural, retaining good detail, especially around the nose and eye areas, keeping the skin smooth and not losing details.
Furthermore, the ability to take portrait photos with the rear camera is also a major advantage. The photos have fewer errors compared to the Nova 2i. However, the likelihood of making errors in background removal still exists on this device...
Battery
The battery capacity used in the Huawei Nova 3i remains the same as the previous generation, the Nova 2i, at 3340 mAh, with support for Huawei's fast charging technology, reducing charging time. With average usage, including always-on Wi-Fi, occasional use of mobile data, calling, texting, browsing Facebook, watching YouTube, and playing mixed games, the device has an onscreen time of over 6 hours. Therefore, for the needs of a basic user, the Nova 3i can easily last a day.
Software
The Nova 3i comes pre-installed with the latest EMUI 8.2, based on Android 8.1. EMUI 8.2 offers many useful features such as split-screen multitasking, app lock, private space, and a range of utilities accompanying Huawei ID. In addition to the fingerprint sensor placed on the back, the Nova 3i also has another biometric security feature using facial recognition, which allows for quick unlocking in conditions where the user's hands are dirty or inconvenient for unlocking.
Overall, the Huawei Nova 3i is not yet the perfect product as there are still some minor drawbacks, but considering from the consumer's perspective, this is still a worthy product in the under 7 million VND segment. The device boasts a unique design, powerful chip, especially the world's first 4 AI cameras with good photo quality. The Nova 3i will be a strong contender in the mid-range segment, at least until the end of this year.
