ThaGombami
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- Joined
- Feb 24, 2019
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Huawei Nova Series has rolled out the Nova 8 and Nova 8i into the South Africa market and as the norm with each device Huawei releases there is some interesting features and functions to expect. And yes the phone comes running on Android 10 though I was hoping they would have switched to Harmony OS by now. Due to the known fact GMS is absent but the growing alternative HMS is fully functional.
Huawei Nova Series has rolled out the Nova 8 and Nova 8i into the South Africa market and as the norm with each device Huawei releases there is some interesting features and functions to expect. And yes the phone comes running on Android 10 though I was hoping they would have switched to Harmony OS by now. Due to the known fact GMS is absent but the growing alternative HMS is fully functional.
So straight out of the box there is the 6'67 inch moonlight silver or stary black device with a pill shaped cut out where a 16mega pixel selfie camera is placed. On the right you find the power button doubling up as the fingerprint sensor, just above it is the volume control button. The striking part is the rear of the phone and the one I have in my possession is moonlight silver that has an imposing circular camera setup like the Mate 40 Pro camera set up. The Nova 8i main shooter is a 64mp that's complimented by a 8mp wide lens, a 2mp depth lens and a 2mp macro lens to suit any shooting scenario.
In the box the phone comes with a 66W charging brick, a type c cable and earphones. The back of the phone has a shiny smooth feeling that is a fingerprint magnet but fortunately the phone comes with a silicone clear back cover. The other contents are the manual and the warranty cards and sim ejector.
So far for me the highlights on the Huawei Nova 8i are the super fast 66W super charger that gives you 100% in just under 40minutes that's of the device is on 0% otherwise it's less. I simply plug it in when am going to shower and have my breakfast before I leave the house and I have a charged phone the whole day. My second highlight is how light the Nova 8i feels in the hand at 190g, it's much lighter than my 2nd device that's the Huawei P40 Pro. It's light in the hand and you can easily slip it into the pockets of a denim.
The Huawei Nova 8i has 128g space on board and is expandable to 256g using the Nani memory card. It runs on 6g/8g of ram differing network to network coupled with a 662 Snapdragon chipset. For an entry level to mid range level device the spec sheet is quite impressive though most consumers are only worried about space on the device except for heavy mobile device gamers.
Pros
. The design is stunning and the two colors are outstanding
. The battrey life is exceptionally good typical Huawei
. 66W super charging is one of the premium features brought to an affordable device.
. The camera takes crisp shots and has many great shooting options
. Comes with screen protector and silicone back cover
. Still comes with charger (66W) super charger
. Dual sim has become a necessity to many consumers
Cons
. At close glance I can't help but feel like am holding a p40 lite
. The back of the device is a fingerprints magnet you literally have to be cleaning the back each time you hold the device without the back cover
. The elephant in the room refuses to just leave the lack of GMS remains an issue with many consumers especially the not so tech savvy.
My verdict so far the Nova 8i is a value for money device especially for the younger generation who love pictures and social media junkies, it comes with good battrey life, complimented by super fast 66W charging and also a great camera for an affordable price. It remains to be seen if Huawei will get rid of the lower end Y series and replace it with features packed Nova Series.
A month down the line will come back with my thoughts on the Huawei Nova 8i as an everyday device.
Huawei Nova Series has rolled out the Nova 8 and Nova 8i into the South Africa market and as the norm with each device Huawei releases there is some interesting features and functions to expect. And yes the phone comes running on Android 10 though I was hoping they would have switched to Harmony OS by now. Due to the known fact GMS is absent but the growing alternative HMS is fully functional.
So straight out of the box there is the 6'67 inch moonlight silver or stary black device with a pill shaped cut out where a 16mega pixel selfie camera is placed. On the right you find the power button doubling up as the fingerprint sensor, just above it is the volume control button. The striking part is the rear of the phone and the one I have in my possession is moonlight silver that has an imposing circular camera setup like the Mate 40 Pro camera set up. The Nova 8i main shooter is a 64mp that's complimented by a 8mp wide lens, a 2mp depth lens and a 2mp macro lens to suit any shooting scenario.
In the box the phone comes with a 66W charging brick, a type c cable and earphones. The back of the phone has a shiny smooth feeling that is a fingerprint magnet but fortunately the phone comes with a silicone clear back cover. The other contents are the manual and the warranty cards and sim ejector.
So far for me the highlights on the Huawei Nova 8i are the super fast 66W super charger that gives you 100% in just under 40minutes that's of the device is on 0% otherwise it's less. I simply plug it in when am going to shower and have my breakfast before I leave the house and I have a charged phone the whole day. My second highlight is how light the Nova 8i feels in the hand at 190g, it's much lighter than my 2nd device that's the Huawei P40 Pro. It's light in the hand and you can easily slip it into the pockets of a denim.
The Huawei Nova 8i has 128g space on board and is expandable to 256g using the Nani memory card. It runs on 6g/8g of ram differing network to network coupled with a 662 Snapdragon chipset. For an entry level to mid range level device the spec sheet is quite impressive though most consumers are only worried about space on the device except for heavy mobile device gamers.
Pros
. The design is stunning and the two colors are outstanding
. The battrey life is exceptionally good typical Huawei
. 66W super charging is one of the premium features brought to an affordable device.
. The camera takes crisp shots and has many great shooting options
. Comes with screen protector and silicone back cover
. Still comes with charger (66W) super charger
. Dual sim has become a necessity to many consumers
Cons
. At close glance I can't help but feel like am holding a p40 lite
. The back of the device is a fingerprints magnet you literally have to be cleaning the back each time you hold the device without the back cover
. The elephant in the room refuses to just leave the lack of GMS remains an issue with many consumers especially the not so tech savvy.
My verdict so far the Nova 8i is a value for money device especially for the younger generation who love pictures and social media junkies, it comes with good battrey life, complimented by super fast 66W charging and also a great camera for an affordable price. It remains to be seen if Huawei will get rid of the lower end Y series and replace it with features packed Nova Series.
A month down the line will come back with my thoughts on the Huawei Nova 8i as an everyday device.
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