Huawei returns to the fray with not one, not two, but three mid-range smartphones Nova 12 series. Under the title “Super Thin, Super Selfie”, the Chinese company introduced this new phone group, which offers interesting things like a 60-megapixel front camera in the most powerful model, with an emphasis on built-in camera and thickness.
The names of these smartphones are Huawei Nova 12S (actually Huawei Nova 12 Lite, which was introduced in China at the end of last year), Huawei Nova 12 SE and Huawei Nova 12i. Three terminals that seek to carve out a niche in the middle class and that we will recognize immediately, but before highlighting that their prices start from 279 euros.
Technical sheet of Huawei Nova 12S, Nova 12i and Nova 12 SE
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huawei nova 12s
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HUAWEI NOVA 12 SE
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HUAWEI NOVA 12I
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dimensions and weight
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161.29×74.96×6.88mm
168 grams
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162.39×75.47×7.39mm
186 grams
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163.3×74.7×8.4mm
199 grams
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screen
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6.7 inch OLED
FullHD+ resolution (2,412 x 1,084 pixels)
Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Touch sampling: 300Hz
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6.67 inch OLED
FullHD+ resolution (2,400 x 1,080 pixels)
Refresh rate: 90Hz
Touch screen: 270Hz
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6.7 inch LCD
FullHD+ resolution (2,388 x 1,080 pixels)
Refresh rate: 30/60/90 Hz
Touch sampling: 270Hz
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processor
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G
Adreno 642L GPU
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 680
Adreno 610 GPU
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 680
Adreno 610 GPU
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data store
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8GB
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8GB
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8GB
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internal storage
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256GB
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256GB
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128GB
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BATTERY
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4,500mAh
66W fast charging
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4,500mAh
66W fast charging
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5,000mAh
40W fast charging
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rear camera
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Main: 50 MP f/1.9, AIS
Wide angle 8 MP f/2.2
ToF sensor
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Main: 108 MP f/1.9, EIS
Wide angle: 8 MP f/2.2
Macro: 2MP f/2.4
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Main: 108 MP f/1.9
Depth: 2 MP f/2.4
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front camera
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60MP f/2.4
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32MP f/2.45
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8MP f/2.0
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OS
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EMUI 14
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EMUI 14
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EMUI 14
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sound
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Listen to Huawei
stereo sound
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Listen to Huawei
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Listen to Huawei
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connection
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dual sim
4G
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth 5.2
USB type C
NFC
GPS
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dual sim
4G
open wifi
Bluetooth 5.0
USB type C
NFC
GPS
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dual sim
4G
open wifi
bluetooth 50
USB type C
NFC
GPS
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others
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App Gallery
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App Gallery
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App Gallery
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price
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499 euros
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379 euros
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279 euros
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HUAWEI nova 12s Black 8GB+256GB
*Some prices may have changed since last review
HUAWEI nova 12 SE Green 8GB+256GB
*Some prices may have changed since last review
HUAWEI nova 12i Green 8GB+128GB
*Some prices may have changed since last review
Huawei Nova 12S: big brother
The most powerful model is Nova 12S, aka Nova 12 Lite, was introduced in China at the end of last year. This device, which weighs no more than 168 grams and is only 6.88 millimeters thick, offers a 4,500 mAh battery (with 66W fast charging, by the way). It’s not bad at all. It has an elegant design with straight edges, rounded corners and an eye-catching camera module, to say the least.
On the front, there is a 6.7-inch flat OLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 300 Hz touch sampling. Under the hood, there are eight Snapdragon 778G processors with no 5G modem (due to restrictions). gigabyte RAM and 256 GB internal storage; This is the only configuration available. All of this is powered by EMUI 14 (no HarmonyOS), which lacks the Google services ecosystem.
As for the camera, the bet of this terminal is a 50-megapixel main sensor with AI-based stabilization and an eight-megapixel wide-angle that acts as macro. There’s something not often seen on the front: a 60-megapixel camera. Clearly, it’s a phone focused on a younger audience, and these data provide more than clear evidence.
Huawei Nova 12 SE: the mid-size also has OLED
HE Huawei Nova 12 SE It looks like its big brother, but its rear design changes to favor two separate modules. It’s also slightly thicker and heavier, and its screen is slightly larger, although its resolution and refresh rate are lower. The difference in resolution is only a few pixels, while there is a difference in refresh rate as it drops from 120 Hz to 90 Hz.
The engine has a RAM/ROM configuration similar to the Nova 12S, but we find a difference in the processor: this is the Snapdragon 680, a more modest model than the Snapdragon 778G. The battery is the same: 4,500 mAh with 66W fast charging; As well as the EMUI 14 operating system without Google Mobile Services.
We find another strong point in the camera, which is the resolution of the main sensor: 108 megapixels with EIS (electronic stabilization). This is followed by eight megapixel wide angle and two megapixel macro. On the front camera we have a 31 megapixel sensor, which is an acceptable resolution, although not 60 megapixels.
Huawei Nova 12i: the most modest does not reach 300 euros
We finish the review Nova 12i, the most modest device. It’s the heaviest and thickest, and its design is more reminiscent of the Mate 40 than other members of the series. This device weighs 199 grams and is 8.4 millimeters thick, but it compensates for this with a larger capacity battery: 5,000 mAh with 40W fast charging.
This model, the cheapest of those offered today, has a 6.7-inch LCD panel (not OLED) with a refresh rate of up to 90 Hz. It shares the engine with the Huawei Nova 12S but offers less internal storage: 128GB instead of 256GB. It also repeats EMUI 14 as the operating system.
As for the camera, 108 megapixels for the main sensor and two megapixels for the depth sensor. In this case, we have neither wide angle nor macro. On the front we find an eight-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture.
Versions and price Huawei Nova 12S, Nova 12i and Nova 12 SE
new ones Huawei Nova 12S, Nova 12i and Nova 12 SE They can now be purchased from the Huawei website. They are available in a variety of colors and in only one configuration. Prices are as follows:
- Huawei Nova 12S: 499 euros.
- Huawei Nova 12 SE: 379 euros.
- Huawei Nova 12i: 279 euros.
HUAWEI nova 12s Black 8GB+256GB
*Some prices may have changed since last review
HUAWEI nova 12 SE Green 8GB+256GB
*Some prices may have changed since last review
HUAWEI nova 12i Green 8GB+128GB
*Some prices may have changed since last review
Pictures | Huawei
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