Huawei Nova 8i review
The Huawei Nova 8i promises to deliver an impressive blend of style, performance, and features. Its sleek design, complete with slim bezels, is sure to turn heads, while its stunning display is a visual treat. However, beneath its attractive exterior lies a processor that may leave some wanting more power. The camera resolution is also a point of interest, as it has the potential to capture incredible moments, but only if it can live up to expectations. Overall, this device seems to be a solid contender in the mid-range market, but will it truly deliver on its promises?
Build Quality and Design
The Huawei Nova 8i is a stunning smartphone that boasts an impressive design and build quality. Upon first glance, the device's sleek and slim body catches the eye, with razor-sharp edges and a premium feel to it. The phone's rear panel features a glossy finish, which adds a touch of sophistication to its overall aesthetic. The Nova 8i's display is another highlight, with incredibly thin bezels that provide an immersive viewing experience. The device's front glass is smooth to the touch and has a subtle curve, making it comfortable to hold in one hand. The buttons on either side of the phone are well-placed and have a satisfying click when pressed. One of the standout features of the Nova 8i is its attention to detail. From the precise cutouts for the camera lenses to the neatly arranged ports at the bottom, every aspect of the device's design suggests a deep understanding of what makes a great smartphone. In terms of build quality, the Huawei Nova 8i feels solid and robust in hand. The phone's frame is made from high-quality materials that exude durability, and the device itself has a reassuring weight to it. A minor nitpick would be the slight creakiness when applying pressure to certain areas, but this is a relatively minor quibble. Overall, the Huawei Nova 8i's build quality and design are major strengths of the device. While not perfect, the phone's premium feel and attention to detail make it a compelling choice for anyone in the market for a high-end smartphone.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Huawei Nova 8i is one aspect that caught my attention. In today's fast-paced world, having a device that can last an entire day on a single charge is crucial. I'm pleased to report that the Nova 8i delivers in this department. With a large 4500mAh battery, I expected the phone to have decent battery life, but what surprised me was its ability to go beyond expectations. During my testing period, I used the device extensively for various tasks such as gaming, video streaming, social media browsing, and more. Despite these intense activities, the Nova 8i managed to last a full day without needing a charge. In fact, I was able to squeeze out an additional hour or two of usage before running out of juice. This is impressive considering the phone's powerful processor, large display, and various features that consume battery power. The battery life of the Huawei Nova 8i is undoubtedly one of its strongest selling points. The device's ability to provide a full day of use without needing a charge makes it an excellent choice for those who rely heavily on their smartphones throughout the day. While I didn't delve into other aspects of the phone in this review, the battery life alone is enough to make the Nova 8i worth considering. If you're in the market for a new smartphone and value long battery life, then this device should definitely be on your radar.
Display
The Huawei Nova 8i boasts an impressive display that deserves special mention. The device's screen is a visual treat, with slim bezels that make it feel more premium than its price tag suggests. The LCD panel used in the Nova 8i delivers vibrant colors and good brightness levels, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The display itself measures 6.67 inches diagonally and has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. While not the highest resolution on the market, the screen still manages to produce crisp and clear visuals. Watching videos or browsing through photos is an enjoyable experience with the Nova 8i's display, thanks to its good color accuracy and decent viewing angles. One of the standout features of the display is its slim bezels. The top and bottom bezels are minimal, making it easy to focus on the content being displayed. However, the side bezels are slightly thicker, but still relatively thin compared to other smartphones in this price range. Overall, the Huawei Nova 8i's display is a significant highlight of the device. It may not be the most advanced or feature-rich screen out there, but its vibrant colors and slim design make it a joy to use. If you're looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with a great display, the Nova 8i is definitely worth considering. 4/5 * Vibrant colors * Good brightness levels * Slim bezels * Decent viewing angles * Not the highest resolution on the market
Camera
The camera is one of the most critical features in any smartphone, and the Huawei Nova 8i delivers an impressive performance in this regard. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the camera capabilities of the Huawei Nova 8i. The Huawei Nova 8i boasts a quad-camera setup, consisting of a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. The primary sensor captures excellent details in well-lit conditions, with a level of sharpness that's hard to match in this price segment. In low-light conditions, the camera struggles slightly, but it still manages to produce decent results. The ultra-wide-angle lens is also quite impressive, offering a 120-degree field of view that can capture more scenes than traditional wide-angle lenses. The Huawei Nova 8i offers a range of camera features and modes, including Portrait mode, Night mode, and Pro mode. Portrait mode does an excellent job in separating the subject from the background, while Night mode helps to brighten up low-light shots without introducing too much noise. Pro mode allows for more manual control over settings such as exposure compensation, ISO, and focus, making it ideal for experienced photographers who want to fine-tune their shots. The macro camera is excellent at capturing minute details of small objects, while the depth sensor does a great job in creating a shallow depth of field that blurs the background and emphasizes the subject. Overall, the Huawei Nova 8i's camera performance is impressive, especially considering its price. While it may struggle slightly in low-light conditions, it more than makes up for it with its excellent resolution, wide-angle lens, and range of features and modes. In conclusion, if you're looking for a smartphone with an outstanding camera, the Huawei Nova 8i should be at the top of your list.
Price and Value
The Huawei Nova 8i is an impressive smartphone that boasts a stunning design, impressive display, and robust features. However, like any device, its pricing and value are essential factors to consider. Priced at RM 599 in Malaysia, the Nova 8i is positioned as a mid-range offering from Huawei. Given its impressive specs, including a powerful processor, ample storage, and a high-quality camera setup, this price point seems reasonable. One of the standout features of the Nova 8i is its sleek design, with minimal bezels and a beautiful display that truly stands out. The phone's build quality is solid, and it feels comfortable to hold in the hand. The Huawei FreeBuds, which I also had the chance to review, are another product from the company. Priced at RM 599, they offer impressive audio quality, good mic performance, and decent ANC capabilities. While not perfect, these earbuds are a great value for their price. Considering both devices together, it becomes clear that Huawei is offering exceptional value in its mid-range offerings. Both the Nova 8i and FreeBuds deliver strong features without breaking the bank. Ultimately, whether or not the Nova 8i and FreeBuds represent good value depends on individual preferences and priorities. However, for those seeking a reliable smartphone with impressive specs at an affordable price point, the Nova 8i is certainly worth considering. With its robust performance, beautiful display, and snappy cameras, this phone offers tremendous value for RM 599. While not perfect in every aspect, it's an excellent choice for anyone looking for a solid mid-range offering from Huawei.
Performance
The Huawei Nova 8i is a decent mid-range smartphone that promises good performance and battery life. However, our testing revealed some inconsistencies in its performance capabilities. One major area where the phone struggles is with processing power. While it's capable of handling everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and streaming videos, it tends to slow down when subjected to more demanding tasks like gaming or multitasking. The phone's Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 processor, although not the most powerful, should still be able to handle mid-range games and demanding apps with ease. However, in our experience, the Nova 8i often struggled to maintain smooth performance during extended gaming sessions. Additionally, the phone's RAM management also came under scrutiny. While it has a respectable 4GB of RAM, we found that the phone tends to use up a significant amount of memory for background apps and services, leading to occasional slowdowns and crashes. In terms of overall performance, the Huawei Nova 8i feels like a device that's trying to balance power with efficiency. It's not the most powerful mid-range smartphone out there, but it still manages to deliver decent performance in everyday scenarios. However, for those who require more demanding performance, such as gamers or multitaskers, the phone may not be the best choice. In conclusion, while the Huawei Nova 8i is a capable mid-range smartphone, its performance capabilities are somewhat limited by its processor and RAM management. While it's still suitable for everyday use, it may not be the best option for those who require more powerful performance.