I’ve been following the Huawei Nova series since 2018 when they announced the Nova 3 and 3i. Back then, Huawei changed the mid-range smartphone game by producing smartphones with high-end specs. They upped the ante with the Nova 5T by including a flagship processor in a mid-range phone. This year, the nova series returns with the nova 8 and nova 8i as they are raring to get back into the competition. Huawei sent us a Huawei nova 8 review unit a few days ago, and today we will share with your our unboxing and first impressions.
HUAWEI NOVA 8 UNBOXING SPECS:
| OS: | Android 11 with EMUI 12 |
|---|---|
| Processor: | Huawei Kirin 820E 2.2 GHz Hexa-Core processor | MALI-G57 |
| Display: | 1080 x 2340 6.57" Full HD+ 19.5:9 OLED Display with 90Hz refresh rate |
| Wireless Connections: | LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Memory: | 128GB Internal Storage, 8GB RAM |
| Connectors: | Type-C USB |
| Cameras: | 64 Megapixels f/1.9 + 8 Megapixels ultra-wide angle f/2.4 + 2 Megapixels depth f/2.4 + 2 Megaixels macro f/2,4 (Main) 32 Megapixels f/2.0 (Front) |
| SIM Card Slots: | 2x Nano SIM Card |
| Battery: | 3,800 mAh |
| SRP: | P19,999 |
HUAWEI NOVA 8 UNBOXING
Box is predominantly white similar to the P and Mate series. Nova logo on top and the App Gallery logo at the bottom. The latter is a reminder that users of this phone will have to download apps from the AppGallery since Google Play still doesn’t exist in the Huawei ecosystem.
Package reveals the nova 8 review unit, Type-C USB Cable, 66W Fast Charger head, and Silicon Case. Not in the photo are the SIM Card tray ejector, and user manuals.
HUAWEI NOVA 8 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The last Nova phone I reviewed was the Nova 5T Crush Green last year. The nova 8’s design does not resemble any of the previous models. I like the new sexy slim looks of the nova 8. I reckon they copied some parts of the P40 Pro and incorporated it in the new nova.
Aside from its slim profile, the nova 8 is surprisingly light to hold! It’s a bit slippery though and I had a terrible experience when I broke the P40 Pro’s back glass panel when it slipped off my desk. I’m currently using the silicon case to protect the phone and avoid accidental slips.
Even the nova 8’s back also looks premium. Back panel is made of glass and produces different shades of colors under the light. I’ve mistaken it for a white/silver color when it is actually Blush Gold. The camera module is based on the new P-series phone based on leaked photos online.
The nova 8 is the first phone to have Harmony OS pre-installed but it still feels the same thanks to EMUI 12. Navigating the phone feels very smooth and snappy and I noticed some parts of the User Interface are similar to iOS. I will try to tackle more on these in my full review.
So far, cameras are a joy to use and we enjoy playing Genshin Impact on the nova 8. We will be sharing our experiences in our full review next week! Meanwhile, follow us on Facebook or on Twitter for occasional updates about the nova 8.
