By Samrat Amatya
Huawei in Nepal has been on a roll recently launching a bunch of new smartphones. Among them is the Huawei Nova 3, a phone that stands out from the crowd. For a price of Rs 59,900, the phone brings a quad-camera setup, a notched display and a gorgeous design. But is the phone worth the premium price tag? Well, let’s find out!
Multi-media experience
The Huawei Nova 3 is a multi-media powerhouse! At the heart of the whole experience sits a large 6.03-inch Full HD+ (1080 x 2340) display with 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Watching movies, catching up on some YouTube videos and playing a few games are all an enjoyable experience on the device. The panel also gets very bright, useful especially for outdoor visibility.
Speaking of gaming, the phone with its 6GB of RAM and Mali-G72 MP12 GPU flew through every title I threw at it. I also didn’t notice any visible lags or shutters while doing so either. For anyone looking a powerful multi-media device, the Nova 3 will be a great choice.
Photography Experience
In the camera department, the Huawei Nova 3 packs a quad-camera set up with two lenses on either side of the device. At the rear, we have a combination of f/1.8 16MP and a 24MP sensor accompanied by an LED flash. While the front boasts f/1.8 24MP and 2MP sensors equipped with a screen flash. Images taken from the cameras have excellent quality because of proper vibrancy, sharpness and depth.
Something that surprised me was how good the cameras worked in low light conditions. It definitely takes some positive cues from its cousin, the P20 Pro, which as of now is the best camera phone in the market.
Besides being an excellent shooter, the phone also packs a ton of features. Among the many, I enjoyed using the new 3D Qmoji. Although a bit limited, it is a fun little feature to have. Another great addition is the inclusion of AI right into the main camera app. This feature aids in picking the suitable mode to shoot a picture. It also learns to use the right settings while taking a photo, over time.
Day-to-day Experience
The Huawei Nova 3 is an amazing smartphone that was able to keep up with all my day-to-day needs. Performing tasks like scrolling through Facebook and browsing the web was no problem for the phone. The octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor was above par. On a side note, the phone packs a whopping 128GB of internal storage which is commendable for a phone at this price range. Adding to that is the fact that the phone supports storage expansion via a micro-sd card up to 256GB.
The battery life is another area worth talking about in this phone. The inbuilt 3750mAh non-user removable battery gave me 5-6 hours of on-screen time which is amazing. Normal users will easily be able to get a day and a half worth of battery life out of this phone. That Nova 3 also supports Quick Charge 2.0 for faster charging time.
Not only the software but also the hardware of the phone is pleasant. The phone comes encased in a metallic chassis with a glass back which gives it a premium look. Besides the look, the whole in-hand feeling of the phone is quite meticulous. This plays a huge role in making up a splendid day-to-day experience.
Software Experience
At the software end, the Huawei Nova 3 runs EMUI 8.2 based on Android 8.1 Oreo. This iteration of EMUI is minimal in appearance but packed to the gills with features. All the usuals like the Hi-board, Game Suite and the customisable navigation keys make a return. These features perfectly co-exist with one another; thereby, makes using the phone an experience. Although the software is one area that I feel Huawei still needs to work on. The UI on the Nova 3 is good, it really is, but it could have been better!
Verdict
If you want a capable smartphone with flagship grade specs but don’t want to spend the extravagant price, the Huawei Nova 3 is for you. The phone brings much of the loved feature from its flagship phone, the P20 Pro, into a more affordable and youth friendly avatar. With specs and price like this, the phone is sure to win the hearts of Nepalis.
