Advantages and disadvantages of the Huawei Nova 2i smartphone

Huawei has been manufacturing mid-range and budget gadgets for a long time. In 2017, she introduced her new model - Huawei Nova 2i. This article will describe the relevance of buying this smartphone in 2018, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.

Main technical characteristics and equipment

• Processor: 64-bit, eight cores, 2.36 GHz, Kirin 659;
• Front camera: 13 MP (f / 2.0) + 2 MP, LED flash;
• Body material: aluminum, matte finish;
• RAM: 4 GB LPDDR3 type;
• Weight: 164 grams;
• Dimensions: 156.2 x 75.2 x 7.5 mm;
• Battery: 3340 mAh, non-removable;
• Main camera: 16 MP (f / 2.2) + 2 MP;
• Main memory: 64 GB;
• Cord length (USB): 27 cm;
• Expandable memory: microSDXC, up to 128 GB;
• Cards: nanoSIM + nanoSIM or microSD;
• OS: Android 7.0 Nougat;
• Launcher: EMUI 5.1;
• GPU: ARM Mali-T830 MP2;
• Networks: 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE-FDD;
• Working time: 2 days of active use (22 days in "sleep" mode);
• Display: IPS, diagonal 5.93 inches, 2160 × 1080, 407 dpi;
• Package contents: USB cable, warranty card, power adapter, headphones.

Camera overview

The presence of 4 cameras is the main feature of this device. They are divided into 2 modules, which are located on the front and back of the phone. This design allows you to take high-quality pictures by applying a blur effect to secondary content, thereby focusing on the main details. This result is achieved by software, which allows you to adjust the degree of blur not only before but also after shooting.

Here is an example of such a photo:

The main rear photo module has a 16-megapixel camera and aperture at f / 2.2. He is responsible for the filming itself. The camera is capable of taking pictures with high resolution (4608 × 3456). The auxiliary front has 2 MP and is responsible for the sharpness of the background. The main front has 13 MP with an aperture of f / 2.0. The front secondary camera provides background blur and is only 2 MP. The maximum image resolution of the front camera is 4160 × 3120 pixels, with an aspect ratio of 4: 3. She photographs well both at night and during the day. But in low light, a small amount of noise may appear in the picture.

And here is how it “takes pictures” at night:

Both cameras are capable of shooting in Full HD resolution, with a frame rate of 30 FPS. This is enough for everyday shooting. In addition, the cameras support both time-lapse and time-lapse recording. Slow-mo effect is able to slow down the video by 4 times, but the picture is lost in quality, and the video sequence itself has a resolution of only 640x480 pixels. Time-lapse photography, in terms of resolution, is slightly better than slow motion, since it is capable of recording in HD quality (1280 × 720).

Filling

The iron component of the Nova 2i is not much different from mid-range smartphones. The phone is powered by a 64-bit 8-core HiSilikon Kirin 659 processor, the maximum frequency of the first 4xCortex-A53 cluster is 2.36 GHz, and the second - 1.7 GHz.The smartphone has 4 GB of RAM (random access memory) of the LPDDR3 type, which at the time of 2018 is the standard for mid-range smartphones.

The processor integrates a weak Mali-7830 MP2 graphics chip, which is unlikely to be suitable for active games like WOD. The gadget has a whopping 64GB of main memory, which is not bad for a mid-priced smartphone. There is also a combined slot for nanoSIM or any other memory card up to 128 GB, which makes it possible to increase the total memory up to 192 GB.

The capacity of the built-in battery is small, only 3340 mAh. Nevertheless, a full charge is enough for 2 days of active use, and in "sleep" mode Nova 2i can work up to 22 days. Although the phone supports Quick Charge technology, the battery can be fully charged in only 2.5 hours.

There is Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX codec, which allows you to listen to music in Bluetooth headphones. There is also a built-in FM receiver, which makes it possible to listen to the radio. True, to make it work, you need to connect headphones. The NFC chip is unfortunately missing. In addition to the NFC interface, the smartphone lacks support for Wi-Fi networks in the 5 GHz range.

Screen and sound

The screen has a protective glass and has a bright 6.93-inch display with IPS matrix, and the screen resolution at an aspect ratio of 18: 9 is 2160 × 1080 pixels. The number of dots per inch is 407. The white balance, saturation and color reproduction are at a high level, which makes you think that the phone has not an IPS, but an Oled matrix. On the whole, the screen performs well in the sun, displaying a juicy and bright picture. The display can track up to 10 simultaneous touches, which indicates the presence of multitouch. Saturation, contrast and color temperature are adjusted in the screen settings. This allows you to choose the display parameters for yourself.

The Nova 2i supports Huawei's proprietary Histen audio processing, which optimizes audio playback for the device of your choice, be it on-ear, in-ear or in-ear headphones. Also, Huawei Histen has a built-in equalizer with which you can adjust the frequencies. In addition to the equalizer, there is also a 3D audio function. With its help, you can select the method of sound reproduction: frontal, close or surround. It should be noted that this is only post-processing, so you shouldn't expect perfect 3D sound.

Design

Externally, the case is quite large, but the 5.9 display and small bezels make up for the large case size. Due to the matte finish on the back, the phone fits comfortably in the hand and does not slip. The rounded edges in tandem with the 2.5D bezel-less screen give the phone the ability to look like high-end smartphones, and the screen itself takes up as much as 83% of the front of the device. The body is all-metal and made of aluminum.

Also, on the back of the device, there are rounded antenna strips at the top and bottom, which laconically fit into the overall design picture, while following the latest design trends. Huawei recently fell in love with the blue color, however, the choice of coloring still remained with the buyer. The phone can be painted in the following colors: gold, blue and black. The gadget itself is only 7.5 mm thick and as much as 156 mm high, while the width of the smartphone is 75.2 mm. It does not weigh much, only 164 g, for this reason the hand does not get tired from prolonged use.

Protective 2.5D glass completely covers the front of the device, including the phone screen.

Below is the name of the manufacturing company, namely Huawei. This decision may seem strange, since the inscription occupies the lion's share of the screen and does not look particularly prestigious. In addition to the inscription, there are touch buttons at the bottom of the screen that are responsible for navigation. The location itself and the number of buttons can be changed in the phone settings.

On the left side of the phone is a hybrid slot, into one cell of which you can insert exclusively nanoSIM, and into the second a microSD memory card or the second nanoSIM.

On the right side there is a standard volume control button. Below is the screen on / off button. The large gap between them prevents you from accidentally turning off the phone instead of lowering the volume level.

For some reason, the developers decided to take a step back by replacing USB Type-C with a cheaper and outdated microUSB. This is strange, since the predecessor was equipped with USB Type-C, which significantly speeds up the process of charging the phone. To the right of the USB port is a speaker with a decorative grill. On the left there is a spoken microphone and a 3.5 mm jack.

A microphone is installed on top, which is used to suppress noise.

On the back panel, in the center, is the main photo-module, the edges of which are rounded. There is a fingerprint scanner under the camera, which is very convenient, since a finger resting on the camera immediately bumps into the scanner. The scanner itself is slightly recessed into the body. A LED flash is located just above the photo module.

At the very bottom of the back of the case is the basic information: the country of the manufacturer, the model number and the name of the company itself.

Results and how much it costs

Huawei Nova 2i ranks well in the ranking of quality mid-range models. We can note the presence of 4 cameras capable of taking high-quality pictures. The screen is great for watching videos in high quality and displays a good picture even in daylight. There is also a "smart" fingerprint scanner, which is why unlocking the screen takes little time. The processor and video chip are hardly suitable for active games that require a high FPS. Nevertheless, the processor is more than enough for Internet surfing.

The sound in the device is one-channel, but this does not prevent the speakers from producing clear sound without noise. There is also a proprietary Huawei Histen sound setting, which allows you to optimize the sound for any chosen headset. Apart from the advantages described above, the phone has a large amount of both built-in and built-in memory. The main disadvantages are: the lack of an NFC interface that allows you to make contactless payments using your smartphone, as well as the lack of USB Type-C, which allows you to quickly charge the device.

In general, the Nova 2i performs well among the competing phones, both in terms of price / quality ratio and in comparison of merits. For example, the Oppo F5 phone, which has a 6-inch display. It has 2 times less internal memory and a weaker battery (3200 mAh). Among other things, it lacks dual cameras. Considering that they have the same hardware, the Oppo F5 nevertheless costs a third more. The average price of the Nova 2i is 18,000-19,000 rubles or 102,000 tenge, while the Oppo F5 is sold at a price of 25,000 rubles (138,000 tenge).

Advantages and disadvantages

• Robust aluminum case with brushed finish;
• "Frameless" widescreen display with high resolution (18: 9, FullHd +);
• Good post-processing of sound, which can be configured in the phone itself;
• Fast fingerprint scanner;
• 2 photo modules;
• Sufficiently productive processor;
• A large amount of initially installed memory, both built-in and RAM.

• Lack of USB Type-C;
• Lack of NFC interface;
• No Wi-Fi support operating in the 5 GHz band.

If you are thinking which smartphone is better to buy, but funds for popular models are not enough. Then Huawei is definitely one of the best manufacturers of low-cost phones. For many years she has been producing budget and, most importantly, reliable smartphones. Huawei Nova 2i, if not overtake the new mid-range segment of 2018, is definitely a great competition for them. And the reviews only confirm the level of quality of the Nova 2i.

Answers to basic questions

How to choose the right phone and what are the selection criteria?

When choosing a phone, you should determine the reason for the purchase. If you need a smartphone for video games, then you should pay attention to the processor, video card and RAM. For watching videos and reading, a high-quality display is important, which will not strain your eyes.Looking for quality pictures? Then you need to be careful when choosing a camera.

Where is it profitable to buy so as not to overpay?

It is important to understand that few people are protected from overpayment. Since it is impossible to accurately determine the "real" price of the device. It can only be compared with other phones in this category, drawing conclusions along the way.

One of the most common ways to buy is online. Few would argue that prices are significantly reduced with this method. Especially if it is a purchase of a used product. But there are risks here. When purchasing a smartphone via the Internet, the opportunity to “touch” the product is lost. This implies the main disadvantage - unreliability. Unreliability both during transportation and in the absence of preliminary inspection. Therefore, you should carefully consider the choice of the seller, and if it is a purchase in an online store, then the reputation of the delivery company.

Which firm is the best?

There is no definite answer here. It all depends on the requirements for the phone. It is foolish to expect that Huawei's budget smartphone will outperform Samsung's flagships. As of 2018, the main manufacturers of budget phones are Huawei, Meizu and Xiaomi.