Huawei nova Y90 review
The mid-range smartphone market is heating up, and the Huawei Nova Y90 has arrived as a contender with its impressive design, long-lasting battery, and affordable price tag. Huawei's design choice for the Nova Y90 is a departure from their usual style, opting for a more industrial and boxy look that fits in with the 2022 trend. The phone features chamfered edges on its polycarbonate frame, available in a range of colors including a striking emerald green hue. A side-mounted fingerprint scanner works reliably, and there's also support for dual SIMs. One standout feature is the impressive 6.7-inch edgeless full-view display with an 94% screen-to-body ratio, making multimedia and gaming a pleasure on this device. While it's not OLED at this price point, it still delivers vibrant colors and consistent performance. The Nova Y90 boasts a 5,000mAh battery that easily lasts all day, and the included 40W Huawei Supercharge can top up the battery to 50% in just under 30 minutes. The phone is available with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM paired with 128GB of storage, but it's worth noting that there's no 5G support. The Snapdragon 680 chip and Adreno 610 GPU make for smooth performance in day-to-day use, although gaming might not be the strongest suit due to lower frame rates. The camera features a 50-megapixel main sensor with a 2-megapixel macro and depth sensors, producing decent photos in daylight but struggling in low-light conditions. Overall, the Huawei Nova Y90 is a solid mid-range contender that checks many boxes: impressive design, long battery life, and an affordable price tag. While it may not excel in gaming or camera performance, it's a great choice for those seeking a reliable phone with everyday capabilities.
Build Quality and Design
The Huawei Nova Y90 boasts an impressive design that sets it apart from its mid-range competitors. The phone's industrial and boxy look is in line with the current trend for 2022, featuring chamfered edges on the polycarbonate frame. Available in a range of colors, including a striking emerald green option, the Nova Y90's textured look adds a premium feel to the device. One of the standout design features is the side-mounted fingerprint scanner, located next to the volume rocker and working reliably. The phone also supports dual SIM capabilities, which is a welcome feature for those who need separate numbers. Another nostalgic touch is the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack, a rare sight in modern smartphones. The rear design features Huawei's "space ring camera" layout, giving the Nova Y90 a clean and familiar aesthetic. The phone's industrial design extends to its build quality, with a sturdy and well-constructed frame that feels substantial in the hand. One minor drawback is the mono speaker, which while adequate for multimedia and gaming use, lacks the punch and bass response of more premium devices. However, the overall design and build quality of the Huawei Nova Y90 are impressive, making it a solid contender in the mid-range market.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Huawei Nova Y90 is its impressive battery life. The device boasts a 5,000 milliamp hour battery, which is more than enough to keep up with your daily needs. I've been using the phone for an extended period, and it has consistently delivered over 8 hours of on-screen time without any issues. But what's truly remarkable is the Nova Y90's charging capabilities. The device comes with a 40-watt Huawei Supercharge, which can fill the battery to 50% in just under 30 minutes. And the best part? It doesn't compromise on battery health, even after multiple charge cycles. The combination of a large battery and fast charging makes the Nova Y90 an ideal choice for those who need a phone that can keep up with their busy lifestyles. Whether you're a gamer, a social media enthusiast, or just someone who likes to listen to music or watch videos on the go, this phone has got your back. Overall, the Huawei Nova Y90's battery life is a significant advantage in its favor, making it an excellent option for anyone looking for a reliable mid-range smartphone.
Display
The mid-range smartphone category is heating up, and one of the new contenders is the Huawei Nova Y90. This device boasts a nice design, impressive battery life, and an affordable price point. One of the standout features of the Nova Y90 is its display. The phone sports a 6.7-inch edgeless Full HD+ screen with a 94% screen-to-body ratio. While it's not OLED, the display still does an excellent job with consistent colors and vibrancy. The 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth visuals, making multimedia and gaming experiences great on this device. However, it's worth noting that the display is not perfect. The mono speaker, while sufficient for casual listening, lacks punch and may require headphones for better sound quality. Additionally, the camera lens arrangement at the back has a familiar "space ring" design, which is more of a design choice than a feature. In terms of display quality, the Nova Y90 delivers well within its price range. The screen size and resolution are adequate for general use, and the 90Hz refresh rate helps with smooth scrolling and animations. While not OLED, the display still manages to provide a good viewing experience. The only notable limitation of the display is its lack of brightness in very sunny conditions. However, this can be mitigated by using the phone's built-in light sensor or adjusting the screen settings manually. Overall, the display on the Huawei Nova Y90 is a strong point, offering a great balance between price and performance.
Camera
The camera is one of the key features that I'd like to dive into in this review. The Huawei Nova Y90 boasts a 50-megapixel main camera, which is paired with a 2-megapixel macro and 2-megapixel depth sensor. While it would have been nice to see an ultra-wide or telephoto lens, the phone's main snapper does a decent job in capturing images. In well-lit conditions, the Nova Y90's camera produces clear and colorful photos with good contrast. The AI-powered snapshot feature also helps to enhance the overall quality of the images. However, when it comes to low-light photography, the results are somewhat mixed. While the super night mode does help to reduce noise, the image can still appear a bit grainy. Macro shots taken with the 2-megapixel macro sensor are decent, and the phone's portrait mode also produces good results with a nice bokeh effect. However, I did notice some minor issues with edge detection in certain scenarios. In terms of video recording, the Nova Y90 is capable of capturing footage at up to 1080p at 30 frames per second. While it's not 4K resolution, the video quality is still acceptable. However, the front-facing camera struggles to produce clear and stabilized footage, particularly when panning around. One of the standout features of the Nova Y90's camera is its dual video mode, which allows users to film with both the rear and front cameras simultaneously. This feature is perfect for vloggers or content creators who want to capture themselves while also recording what's happening in front of them. The ability to zoom in while filming is an added bonus. Overall, the Huawei Nova Y90's camera performs decently well, but it's not exceptional. While it may not be the best camera phone on the market, it still gets the job done for casual users who don't require top-notch imaging capabilities.
Price and Value
The mid-range smartphone category has become increasingly competitive with the arrival of new contenders. One such device is the Huawei Nova Y90, boasting an impressive design, robust battery life, and affordable price point. Priced at a level that makes it hard to ignore, the Huawei Nova Y90 offers an industrial and boxy design aesthetic, complete with chamfered edges on its polycarbonate frame. This design choice is reflective of current market trends, making the device feel fresh and modern. A side-mounted fingerprint scanner adds an element of convenience, while dual-SIM support and a 3.5mm headphone jack cater to users' practical needs. One area where the Nova Y90 truly shines is in its battery performance. The device boasts a generous 5000mAh battery that easily lasts for over 8 hours of on-screen time, with fast charging capabilities courtesy of Huawei's SuperCharge technology. This feature ensures that users can quickly top up their battery when needed, without compromising overall health. In terms of value, the Nova Y90 delivers solid performance for everyday use, thanks to its Snapdragon 680 chip and 6/8GB RAM options paired with 128GB storage. While gaming may not be its strong suit, offering lower frame rates in popular titles like Ken Shen Impact and Call of Duty, it still manages to deliver a smooth experience. Considering its impressive battery life and robust performance, the Nova Y90 is an attractive option for those seeking a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank. Priced affordably, this device offers great value for users looking for a no-frills, functional smartphone that won't drain their wallet.
Performance
The Huawei Nova Y90's performance is a highlight of its mid-range capabilities. Powered by the Snapdragon 680 chip paired with the Adreno 610 GPU, this phone handles day-to-day tasks efficiently. Browsing the web, social media, and general productivity are all handled without any issues. For gaming, the Nova Y90 performs decently but not exceptionally well. You can play popular titles like Call of Duty and Kenshin Impact at low to medium frame rates. While it's not ideal for serious gamers, casual players will find it suitable for light gaming sessions. The phone also comes in 6GB or 8GB RAM options, paired with 128GB storage. This setup ensures smooth performance even when running multiple apps simultaneously. The Adreno 610 GPU handles graphics rendering decently, but don't expect it to handle demanding games at high frame rates. One notable aspect is the phone's ability to balance performance and power consumption. During our testing, we observed solid 8 hours plus of on-screen time with moderate use. This suggests that Huawei has optimized the Nova Y90's hardware and software for efficiency. Software-wise, the phone runs on EMUI 12, which provides a clean interface and decent features. However, don't expect any major innovations here. The camera app is well-designed, but we'll discuss its capabilities in another section. When it comes to charging, the Nova Y90 supports 40W Huawei Supercharge, which quickly tops up the 5,000mAh battery. This makes it easy to get back to a full day's use in under 30 minutes. In conclusion, while the Huawei Nova Y90 may not break any performance records, its balanced approach ensures efficient daily use and decent gaming capabilities. It's a solid option for those looking for a reliable mid-range device without breaking the bank.
Pros
1. The Huawei Nova Y90 boasts a nice design with an industrial and boxy look that's perfect for 2022.
2. The phone has an impressive 6.7-inch edgeless full-view display with a 94 screen-to-body ratio, which is great value at this price point.
3. The battery life on the Nova Y90 is excellent, with up to 8 hours of on-screen time and fast charging capabilities via Huawei's SuperCharge.
4. The phone performs well for day-to-day use, thanks to its Snapdragon 680 chip and Adreno 610 GPU.
5. The camera takes decent photos in daylight, with good colors and contrast, and there's a super night mode for low-light shots.
6. The phone has a range of useful features, including a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, dual SIM support, and a headphone jack.
7. The Nova Y90 is available at an affordable price point, making it a great value for money.
Cons
1. The screen is not OLED, which might be a drawback for some users.
2. Gaming performance may not be the strongest, with lower frame rates in popular titles like Call of Duty and Kenshin Impact.
3. There's no 5G support on this device, which might be a concern for some users.
4. The rear camera lacks an ultra-wide or telephoto lens, which might limit its capabilities.
5. The front-facing camera only shoots at 1080p and 30fps, which is not the best quality.