Huawei nova 11 Pro review
The Huawei Nova 11 Pro is a mid-range smartphone that prioritizes selfie-centric features. With two front-facing cameras, this device aims to impress the younger audience. While it boasts a unique leather design and super fast charging capabilities, the upgrade over its predecessor feels limited. The lack of significant improvements in camera quality, video recording, and chipset make it fall behind competitors. This review will delve into whether the Nova 11 Pro's features justify its existence as a worthwhile purchase.
Build Quality and Design
The Huawei Nova 11 Pro boasts a premium build quality that sets it apart from its competitors. The back panel is made from faux leather, or vegan leather as Huawei calls it, which gives the phone a unique look and feel. The debossed Nova logo pattern adds to the overall aesthetic, making it stand out in a crowded market. The frame of the phone is plastic and quite thin, curving into both the front and back panels. This design choice makes the phone extremely grippy, even for those with sweaty hands or who tend to drop their devices frequently. The lack of any real buttons on the frame also adds to the minimalist look. One of the most striking features of the Nova 11 Pro is its camera bump. Instead of a gold ring surrounding the main camera, Huawei has opted for a sleeker design that keeps the focus on the camera itself. This subtle detail makes the phone feel more premium and gives it a sense of sophistication. Inside the back panel, you'll find a large battery and the phone's main circuitry. While this may not be immediately noticeable, it speaks to the attention to detail Huawei has paid when designing the Nova 11 Pro. Unfortunately, the phone's design is somewhat let down by its lack of ingress protection (IP) rating. This means that the device is not waterproof or dustproof in any way, which could be a concern for those who plan on using their phone in harsh environments. Overall, the Huawei Nova 11 Pro's build quality and design are undoubtedly one of its strongest features. The use of faux leather gives it a unique look, while the sleek camera bump adds to the premium feel. If you're looking for a phone that stands out from the crowd, this may be an excellent choice.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Huawei Nova 11 Pro is average for its class, with an overall endurance rating of 89 hours. This means that you can expect to get about a day and a half of use from a single charge, depending on your usage patterns. In terms of charging speed, the Nova 11 Pro performs well. It's able to go from zero to 73% in just 15 minutes, and a full charge is achieved in around 23 minutes. This makes it easy to top up the battery when you're on-the-go. One thing to note is that the battery life of the Nova 11 Pro is the same as its predecessor, the Nova 10 Pro. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's worth considering whether an upgrade to the new model would be worthwhile if you're due for a new phone soon. Overall, the battery life of the Huawei Nova 11 Pro is average and reliable, but not particularly impressive. If you're someone who uses your phone heavily throughout the day, you may find yourself needing to charge it more frequently than others. However, if you're looking for a phone with excellent battery life, there are other options available that might be worth considering. But if you're already in love with the design and features of the Nova 11 Pro, you'll likely find its battery life to be sufficient.
Display
The Huawei Nova 11 Pro boasts a curved 6.78-inch OLED display with Looon glass protection and a 120Hz refresh rate. At first glance, it appears to be the same display as its predecessor, the Nova 10 Pro. And indeed, upon closer inspection, we find that the resolution has been slightly upgraded, but the design remains largely unchanged. The color accuracy is good, with support for 10-bit color and HDR 10+ video. However, the brightness, while decent, falls short of being among the best in class, reaching a maximum of over 500 nits with the manual slider. Auto brightness can boost this to 700 nits, but it's still not exceptional. The display also features a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a welcome upgrade for those who value smooth visuals and responsive interactions. However, it's worth noting that this feature may not be utilized by all users, particularly those who stick to standard gaming or video playback. One notable omission from the Nova 11 Pro's display is any mention of Ingress Protection (IP) ratings. This is a significant drawback, especially considering that many competitors in this price range have opted for water-resistant displays. In terms of overall performance, the Nova 11 Pro's display does its job well, but it doesn't particularly stand out from the crowd. It's a solid choice for those who value a good OLED screen, but if you're looking for something more exceptional, you may want to consider other options. The Huawei Nova 11 Pro's display is a decent, if unremarkable, offering in this price range. While it gets the job done, it doesn't particularly impress or stand out from the competition.
Camera
The camera department is one area where we were hoping to see some significant upgrades in the Nova 11 Pro over its predecessor. Unfortunately, it seems like Huawei has decided to stick with a tried-and-tested formula here. Starting with the main camera, you get the same 50-megapixel sensor as before, which still manages to deliver excellent results during the day. Photos are detailed, with natural colors and good textures. The dynamic range is also impressive, with well-balanced exposure and minimal noise. However, there's a noticeable drop-off in quality when zooming in - even the two-time digital zoom toggle can't quite match the level of detail you'd expect from a camera of this caliber. Low-light performance is where things get interesting. While not spectacular, photos from the main cam are still very good, with some impressive behind-the-scenes night processing that helps to retain highlights and shadows. The dedicated night mode isn't a game-changer here, but it does add a bit more sharpness and detail in certain scenes. The Ultra Wide camera is another story altogether. With an 8-megapixel sensor, you'd expect some compromises on quality - and indeed there are. Photos have a noticeably different color rendition than the main cam, with more saturated skies and sometimes a slightly washed-out look. However, this cam does excel at taking macro close-up shots, thanks to its autofocus. Video recording is another area where we were hoping for improvement, but unfortunately, it's just as average as before. 4K footage from both cameras is surprisingly soft, with limited dynamic range - though the color rendition is good. Lastly, let's talk about the dual selfie cams. The primary camera (60 megapixels) delivers excellent results, with great detail and a very good dynamic range. Autofocus ensures that faces always come out sharp, while the portrait telephoto cam does a nice job of isolating subjects in a natural bokeh. While not revolutionary, the Nova 11 Pro's cameras are still capable of delivering some great shots - especially during the day. However, with more competition from other manufacturers offering improved camera performance, it's hard to get excited about the Nova 11 Pro's snappers.
Price and Value
The Huawei Nova 11 Pro is a mid-range smartphone that promises a lot with its flashy looks and front cameras. However, upon closer inspection, it seems to be more of a facelift than a brand new model. In terms of price and value, the Nova 11 Pro is a bit of a mixed bag. The phone's starting price is around $450, which is not too bad considering its features. However, when compared to other mid-range smartphones on the market, it starts to feel a bit overpriced. One of the main drawbacks of the Nova 11 Pro is its lack of significant upgrades over the previous model. The phone still uses the same Snapdragon 778 chip as before, which has been surpassed by newer silicon from competitors like Samsung and Google. This means that performance-wise, the Nova 11 Pro feels a bit outdated compared to other mid-range phones. Furthermore, the camera system on the Nova 11 Pro is also not much of an improvement over the previous model. The main camera still takes excellent photos during the day, but in low light conditions, it struggles to keep up with its competitors. Considering all these factors, I would say that the Huawei Nova 11 Pro is a bit of a hard sell at its current price point. While it's not a bad phone by any means, there are other mid-range options on the market that offer more features and better value for your money. Overall, if you're in the market for a new smartphone and want a lot of bang for your buck, I would recommend looking elsewhere. However, if you're already invested in the Huawei ecosystem or love the unique leather design, then the Nova 11 Pro might still be worth considering.
Performance
The Huawei Nova 11 Pro, while an attractive mid-ranger with a focus on flashy looks and front cameras, falls short in terms of performance upgrades over its predecessor, the Nova 10 Pro. Under the hood lies the same Snapdragon 778 chip found in last year's model. This popular processor has been a staple for some time now, but newer competitors have since surpassed it. In benchmarking tests, the Nova 11 Pro's performance is predictably solid, but not surprising given its age. Thermal management also takes a hit, with significant throttling observed during CPU stress testing. Sudden dips and spikes in temperature could lead to stuttering issues while gaming. While this may not be a deal-breaker for casual users, it's a concern for those who demand smoother performance. Furthermore, the lack of Ingress Protection (IP) certification on the Nova 11 Pro means it's not built with dust or water resistance, which is now a standard feature in many mid-range smartphones. This omission can make it less durable and reliable compared to its contemporaries. While the camera and display may be noteworthy features, they don't compensate for the subpar performance. The older chipset limits the phone's capabilities, particularly when demanding tasks are concerned. In conclusion, the Huawei Nova 11 Pro's performance is a letdown considering its potential. While it may appeal to those who value design and cameras, others may find themselves looking elsewhere for more capable devices.
Pros
1. You get a unique leather design
2. The phone has a nice curved display with good color accuracy and support for 10-bit color and HDR 10 plus video
3. Super fast charging (0-73% in 15 minutes, full charge in 23 minutes)
4. Good selfie cameras, especially the 60-megapixel primary camera which saves 13 megapixels after binning
5. The phone has laser autofocus during the day and good low-light performance with no noise enabling dedicated night mode to make some difference
6. Unique design (leather back)
Cons
1. You don't really get enough improvement over the previous model, besides the design
2. No Ingress Protection for water and dust resistance
3. Unimpressive video recording capabilities, especially with the main camera which records soft footage at 4K resolution at 30fps
4. Older chipset compared to some competitors
5. Lack of Google services, which may be a concern for average users
6. Less detail in higher magnifications and digital zoom takes its toll