Huawei nova 11i review

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The Huawei Nova 11i is a budget phone that's making waves in the mid-range smartphone market. With its sleek design and plastic frame, this device boasts a comfortable and sturdy feel in the hand. The highlight of this phone lies in its impressive display - a 6.8-inch IPS LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate and 94.9% screen-to-body ratio. Priced at an affordable 949 Dirhams, it's hard to ignore the Nova 11i's potential as a daily driver that balances performance, battery life, and features without breaking the bank. Is this phone worth your consideration?

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Key takeaways
The Huawei Nova 11i's exceptional battery life is its standout feature, offering all-day power and fast charging capabilities.
The Huawei Nova 11i's impressive display offers vibrant colors and crisp visuals at an affordable premium price point.
The Huawei Nova 11i's camera is average for its price range, performing well in daylight but struggling in low-light conditions.
The Huawei Nova 11i delivers exceptional performance with seamless gaming experience, handling demanding tasks with ease always.

Build Quality and Design

The Huawei Nova 11i boasts an impressive build quality that sets it apart from its competitors in the budget smartphone segment. The phone's sleek and elegant design is characterized by a plastic frame, which adds to its durability. Measuring just 8.4 millimeters in thickness, the Nova 11i feels comfortable and sturdy in hand, with a curved back and rounded edges. One of the standout features of this phone is its fingerprint scanner, integrated with the power button on the right side. This fast and reliable feature adds an extra layer of convenience to the user experience. The phone also boasts a dual SIM slot, speaker grille, microphone, and a USB Type-C port at the bottom. Unfortunately, there's no headphone jack on this device, but that's not a deal-breaker for many users who can easily opt for Bluetooth headphones. The phone comes in two colors: Study Black and Mint Green (the color I have here), which looks clean and elegant. In terms of design, the Nova 11i has one millimeter narrow bezels, resulting in an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 94.9%. This is complemented by a 6.8-inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, making it perfect for watching videos or gaming on-the-go. The phone's rear camera module features a dual circular design, similar to the Huawei P60 Pro, which gives it a unique look. Overall, the build quality and design of the Huawei Nova 11i are top-notch, making it a great option for anyone looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with a premium feel.

Battery Life

The Huawei Nova 11i is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers impressive specs at an affordable price. One of its standout features is the battery life, which I'm excited to dive into in this review. The phone comes with a massive 5000mAh battery, which can easily last for a day or more on moderate usage. In my tests, I was able to go over 24 hours without needing to recharge, even with heavy use. The battery life is further enhanced by the fast charging capabilities of up to 40 Watts, which can charge the phone from 0 to 60% in just 30 minutes. I was impressed by how quickly the battery drained when watching videos or gaming on the phone. Even with extended usage sessions, I found that the battery level remained steady, and I didn't experience any sudden dips or shutdowns. The large battery size is a welcome feature for anyone who wants to use their phone without worrying about running out of juice. Whether you're streaming music, watching videos, or gaming on the go, the Huawei Nova 11i's battery life will keep up with your demands. In short, the battery life of the Huawei Nova 11i is a significant selling point for this budget-friendly smartphone. Its impressive battery size and fast charging capabilities make it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a phone that can keep up with their daily activities without breaking the bank.

Display

The Huawei Nova 11i boasts an impressive display that is sure to catch your attention. With a 6.8-inch IPS LCD screen, this phone offers a great visual experience. The resolution of 1080x2388 pixels and a 90Hz refresh rate ensure that every detail is crisp and clear. The screen-to-body ratio of 94.9% is also noteworthy, thanks to the one millimeter narrow bezels. The display's brightness and sharpness are impressive, making it easy to enjoy your favorite content on this phone. The viewing angles are also good, with minimal color shifting when viewed from the side. The punch hole cutout for the 16-megapixel selfie camera is unobtrusive and adds to the overall sleek design of the phone. One of the standout features of the display is its ability to showcase vibrant colors accurately. Whether you're watching a movie or browsing through photos, this screen delivers an immersive experience that will leave you wanting more. The screen's responsiveness also makes it ideal for gaming, with minimal lag and stuttering even during fast-paced action sequences. Overall, the display on the Huawei Nova 11i is a significant upgrade over its predecessors and offers a premium viewing experience at an affordable price. If you're in the market for a new phone and value a great screen, this might be worth considering.

Camera

The Huawei Nova 11i boasts a dual-camera setup that has piqued my interest. The phone features a 48-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, accompanied by a 2-megapixel depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. This configuration seems promising, but how does it perform in real-world scenarios? In ideal lighting conditions, the Nova 11i's primary sensor delivers impressive results. Images are crisp, with good color accuracy and minimal noise. The camera captures a wide dynamic range, making it suitable for everyday photography. However, I noticed that the autofocus sometimes struggles to lock onto subjects, leading to slightly soft images. In low-light conditions, the Nova 11i's camera performance is somewhat disappointing. While the main sensor manages to capture some details, the image appears noisy and lacking in contrast. The lack of an ultrawide-angle lens also becomes apparent in these situations, as I'm unable to capture the intended scene or subject. The phone's 16-megapixel selfie camera is decent for casual use. It captures good detail and color accuracy, even in bright lighting conditions. However, I found that the camera sometimes struggles with exposure, resulting in overexposed or underexposed images. While the Huawei Nova 11i's dual-camera setup shows promise, it falls short in certain areas. The primary sensor performs well in daylight but struggles in low-light conditions. The lack of an ultrawide-angle lens is also a notable omission. Overall, I would rate the camera performance as average for a budget mid-range smartphone. If you're looking for a phone that can handle everyday photography and don't mind some compromises on image quality, the Nova 11i's camera might be sufficient. However, if you're an avid photographer or require more advanced features, you may want to consider other options.

Price and Value

The Huawei Nova 11i is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers impressive features at an affordable price point. Priced at AED 949 in Dubai, this device provides a balance of performance, battery life, and display quality. One of the standout aspects of the Nova 11i is its value proposition. For AED 949, you get an 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant that packs a punch with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset, 6nm octa-core processor, and Adreno 610 GPU. The phone's performance is smooth, fast, and capable of handling multitasking and gaming without any noticeable lag or stutter. In terms of battery life, the Nova 11i shines with its massive 5000mAh battery that can easily last a day or more on moderate usage. Fast charging up to 40W is also supported, allowing users to quickly top up their battery from 0 to 60% in just 30 minutes. While some may argue that the Nova 11i's lack of an SD card slot and headphone jack are drawbacks, these omissions don't necessarily detract from its overall value. The phone still offers a compelling package that includes a large display, a powerful processor, and a big battery. In conclusion, if you're in the market for a budget-friendly smartphone that won't break the bank but still provides a solid set of features, the Huawei Nova 11i is worth considering. Its price and value proposition make it an attractive option for those looking to upgrade without overspending.

Performance

The Huawei Nova 11i is a budget phone that has been making waves with its impressive specs at an affordable price point. One of the standout features of this device is its performance, which is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset. Under the hood, the phone boasts a six nanometer octa-core processor with 4 cortex A7 and 3 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and 1.9 GHz respectively. This powerhouse is complemented by 8 GB of dedicated RAM, plus 3 GB virtual extended ROM to boost performance even further. The Adreno 610 GPU provides a seamless gaming experience, handling demanding titles with ease. The phone's processing speed is smooth and fast, with no noticeable lag or stutters, making it ideal for multitasking and everyday use. In terms of benchmarking, the Huawei Nova 11i delivers impressive results, outperforming many other budget phones in its class. This suggests that the device can handle demanding tasks and apps without breaking a sweat. However, it's worth noting that the phone doesn't have an SD card slot for memory expansion, which might be a drawback for some users. Nevertheless, the Nova 11i's performance is undoubtedly one of its strongest selling points, making it an attractive option for those seeking a reliable and efficient smartphone experience without breaking the bank. Overall, the Huawei Nova 11i's performance is a major highlight of this device, and it sets a new standard for budget phones in terms of raw processing power.

Pros

1. The phone has a sleek and elegant design with plastic frame including at the back, making it comfortable and sturdy in hand.

2. It features a 6.8 inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080x2388 pixels and a 90 Hertz refresh rate, providing good viewing angles and color accuracy.

3. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset, which provides smooth and fast performance without noticeable lag or stutters.

4. It has a large 5000 milliampere battery that can easily last for a day or more on moderate usage, with support for fast charging up to 40 Watts.

Cons

1. The phone lacks an SD card slot for memory expansion, which may be a drawback for some users.

2. There is no ultrawide camera, which might be a limitation in certain situations.

3. Unfortunately, there is no headphone jack, but the reviewer mentions that they can use a Bluetooth headphone instead.

4. It's priced at 949 Dirhams in Dubai for the 8 gigabyte of RAM and 128 gigabyte variant, which may not be the most affordable option.

FAQ

Structure
Width:
75.5
Height:
164.6
Depth:
8.6
Weight:
193
Usable surface:
90 %
Materials:
Plastic
Colors:
Black
Green
Hardware
Model:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (SM6225)
CPU:
4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold + 4x1.9GHz Kryo 265 Silver
Type:
Octa-Core
Nanometer:
6
Frequency:
2.4000000953674316
64 Bits:
GPU:
Adreno 610
RAM:
8
Capacity:
128
SD slot:
Fingerprint security:
Yes, on the side
Fingerprint sensor:
Proximity sensor:
Light sensor:
Accelerometer sensor:
Compass sensor:
Gravity sensor:
Antutu Score:
255000
Antutu Version:
Antutu v9
Antutu Standing:
Overall performance better than 60% of devices
Cooling system:
Gaming buttons:
Cameras
Phone rear cameras
Standard:
Resolution:
48
Type:
CMOS BSI
Aperture:
ƒ/ 1.8
Pixel size:
0.80 µm
Portrait mode (depth):
Resolution:
2
Aperture:
ƒ/ 2.4
Phone front cameras
Resolution:
16
Aperture:
ƒ/ 2.2
Flash:
LED
Optical stabilisation:
No
Slow motion video:
No, 30 fps
Rear camera features:
Digital zoom
Dual camera
Digital image stabilization
Autofocus
Touch focus
Phase detection autofocus (PDAF)
Continuous shooting
Geotagging
Panorama
HDR
Face detection
White balance settings
ISO settings
Exposure compensation
Scene mode
Self-timer
RAW
Screen
Diagonal:
6.8
Type:
LCD IPS
Aspect ratio:
20:9
Resolution in pixels:
1080 x 2388 px
Resolution quality:
FHD+
ppi:
385 ppi
Density:
High Density
Others:
Hole-punch Notch
Refresh rate 90 Hz
Touch sampling rate 270 Hz
2.5D curved glass glass
Capacitive
Multi-touch
Frameless
Battery
Capacity:
5000
Type:
Li-Polymer
Fast charge:
Yes, 40.0W
Others:
Non-removable
Connectivity
2G:
3G:
4G LTE:
5G:
SIM card:
Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM)
Standards:
802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11n 5GHz, 802.11ac
Others:
Dual band
Wi-Fi Hotspot
Wi-Fi Display
Version:
Bluetooth 5.0
Profiles:
A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)
LDAC
SBC
AAC
Navigation:
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
Charging:
Mass storage:
USB Type C:
NFC:
Audio jack:
Radio FM:
Computer sync:
OTA sync:
Tethering:
Software
Operating System:
Android 13
Google services: