Nova 3i comes with EmUI 8.2 based on Android 8.1 and is loaded with features.
Price: Rs 20,990
Rating: ***1/2
Specifications: 6.3-inch IPS 19.5:9 display, 2340 x 1080 pixels, octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 710 processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage (expandable), hybrid dual SIM slot, rear camera 16MP f2.2 + 2MP depth sensor, front camera 24MP f2.0 + 2MP depth sensor, rear fingerprint, WiFi n, BT4.2, 4G with VoLTE, Android 8.1, 3,340mAh battery, 169 grams
Pros: Vibrant display, premium glass finish, smooth performance, no heating issues, loaded with AI features, great rear and front camera performance, excellent battery life
Cons: Glass body prone to smudges, preloaded bloatware, low volume output of loudspeaker, placement of fingerprint scanner, faces tough competition from Honor Play and Poco F1
Huawei introduced the Nova range in India with two smartphones: the premium Nova 3 and mid-range Nova 3i. Both have a focus on design and this why the two look very similar. However, the Nova 3i, being a more affordable option, has a trimmed down hardware and feature set.
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Thanks to the metal and glass body, the Nova 3i appears and feels like a premium flagship. But, it also inherits the shortcomings of the Nova 3: the glass is prone to smudges and the rear fingerprint scanner is place too high for easy access. The Nova 3i has a 16MP + 2MP dual camera setup that delivers impressive photos in daylight with good details. Up front is a vibrant 6.3-inch display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and large notch. The notch is larger than usual since it houses two cameras: one on either side of the earpiece. We liked the screen’s brightness, viewing angles and slim bezels. You get the option to adjust colour temperature and to show or hide the notch. Keep in mind that Huawei’s smart resolution option is enabled by default — this means the screen switches between full HD and HD to conserve power. This is a handy feature and more manufacturers should be doing this.
The area where you feel corners are cut is the hardware. You get an octacore Kirin 710 processor along with 4GB RAM. The 710 is good enough for basic gaming but it’s not a flagship grade processor. When we started taxing it heavily with games like Asphalt 9, we noticed random frame drops and jerks. That being said, it’s still a good upgrade over the dated Kirin 659 (which the Huawei P20 Lite has). It’s also good that there were no heating issues even after 20 minutes of gaming. There is 128GB of internal storage which is good enough for most users. The 3,340mAh battery easily lasts one full day with around 20% battery to spare (even with heavy use).
Around the back, Nova 3i has a 16MP + 2MP dual camera setup. The camera delivers impressive photos in daylight with good details and even does good edge detection in portrait shots. You even get an option of 3D lighting similar to the Apple iPhone, but the results are inconsistent — photos look unnatural and flat. There is a dedicated AI button and you can choose to have it on or off. We found that with AI enabled, photos had better colour in most situations. The only thing we found odd is the phone can’t record 4k video. The front has a 24MP + 2MP dual camera setup which is the same as Nova 3 and delivers some great selfies. Photos are well detailed with rich colours and even the edge detection in bokeh mode is great.
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Nova 3i comes with EmUI 8.2 based on Android 8.1 and is loaded with features. Huawei has implemented AI in camera for scene recognition as well as 3D emoji usage (Huawei calls them Qmojis). AI also finds a place in the photo gallery to help sort and search faster. During a call, AI analyses noise and remove it for clearer audio output. The face unlock also works great even though it is not as fast as what we have seen on the OnePlus 6 or the Poco F1. What we did not like was that there are a number of preloaded apps.
In term of sound quality, the in-ear voice call speaker is loud and clear but the loudspeaker volume output is not up to the mark. Even at full volume, it is barely audible in an office environment.
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Overall, the Nova 3i is a great option for users who want a premium looking mid-range device with great cameras. A big issue is that the competition is very tough at this price band. Huawei’s own subbrand offers Honor Play with a better processor (Kirin 970) and similar rear camera performance at the same price. For performance enthusiasts, the recently launched Poco F1 offers a flagship level Snapdragon 845 at the same price but at the cost of premium look and feel.
Oppo Find X, Xiaomi Mi 8 & Other Upcoming Phones Worth Getting Excited About
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July is turning out to be one of the most interesting months for smartphone launches. We’re going to see a lot of action across price segments says Karan Bajaj, as he does a round-up of the most interesting ones.
In Pic: Oppo Find X (L) and Xiaomi Mi 8 (R).
July is turning out to be one of the most interesting months for smartphone launches. We’re going to see a lot of action across price segments says Karan Bajaj, as he does a round-up of the most inte..
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The Find X was launched just a few weeks ago and India is expected to be amongst the first lot of countries to get it. The Find X has a beautiful glass body with a motorized camera module. The front has a 6.4-inch curved Amoled display (without a notch) giving it a screento-body ratio of 93%. Inside is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage and a 3,730mAh battery. The motorized camera module hides a 16MP + 20MP dual rear camera and a 25MP front camera. It also has a 3D face scanning face ID feature (with infrared emitters, similar to the iPhone X) and VOOC fast charge support. Other features include dual SIM slots, USB Type-C port and Android 8.1.
Expected Price: Rs 60,000 onwards(Image: oppo.com)
The Find X was launched just a few weeks ago and India is expected to be amongst the first lot of countries to get it. The Find X has a beautiful glass body with a motorized camera module. The front ..
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The Zenfone 5Z will be the second smartphone to be available in India with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. It has a 6.2-inch IPS display in 19:9 aspect ratio with a resolution of 2246 x 1080 pixels. The phone is expected to be launched with 6/8GB RAM and 64/128/256GB storage options. In the camera department, it has a 12MP + 8MP dual camera setup with OIS on the rear and a 8MP front camera. Other features include 3,300mAh battery with fast charge support, Hybrid dual SIM slot, expandable storage, rear fingerprint scanner, USB Type-C port, and Android 8.0 with Face unlock. Asus seems poised to take on OnePlus and we therefore expect them to undercut OnePlus prices by a significant margin, making it one of the cheapest Snapdragon 845 phones around.
Price: Rs 29,999 onwards
(Image: asus.com)
The Zenfone 5Z will be the second smartphone to be available in India with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. It has a 6.2-inch IPS display in 19:9 aspect ratio with a resolution of 2246 x 1080 p..
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NEX is the other unique phone expected to arrive in India this month. Doing away with the screen notch, the phone has an 8MP selfie camera module that pops out on top. It has a 6.59-inch amoled display giving it a screen to body ratio of 91%. The phone comes in two variants: NEX A and NEX S — we expect Vivo to only launch the topend NEX S in India because they’re gunning for the premium market. The NEX S runs a Snapdragon 845 processor, 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage and has a 4,000mAh battery with fast charge support. It also has a under screen fingerprint scanner, 12MP + 5MP dual rear camera with OIS, dual SIM slot, USB Type-C port and Android 8.1.
Expected Price: Rs 50,000 onwards
NEX is the other unique phone expected to arrive in India this month. Doing away with the screen notch, the phone has an 8MP selfie camera module that pops out on top. It has a 6.59-inch amoled displ..
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Xiaomi’s previous premium device in India was the Mi Mix 2, launched last year. The company has announced the Mi 8 in China as their new flagship and it is expected that the phone will launch in India this month. The Mi 8 features a notched 6.2-inch amoled display in 19:9 aspect ratio and a 7000 series aluminium frame. It comes with an 3D Face unlock similar to the iPhone X (with infrared), rear fingerprint scanner, dual SIM support and runs the latest MiUI 10 based on Android 8.1. Hardware includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 6GB RAM, 64/128//256GB storage and a 3,400mAh battery with Quick Charge 4.0 support. It has a 12MP + 12MP dual camera setup with OIS and dual pixel phase detection autofocus on the rear while the front has a 20MP selfie shooter. The Mi 8 is also the first phone in the world with dual-band GPS (purported improved accuracy of 3 to 5 times).
Expected Price: Rs 35,000 onwards
Xiaomi’s previous premium device in India was the Mi Mix 2, launched last year. The company has announced the Mi 8 in China as their new flagship and it is expected that the phone will launch in Indi..
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Motorola’s E range of smartphones have always focussed on the budget conscious buyers. The upcoming smartphone in the range, Moto E5 Plus, features a 6-inch 18:9 aspect display with a resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels and weight of 197 grams. The primary reason for the 197 gram heft is probably the massive 5,000mAh battery. Other specifications include a Snapdragon 425 processor, 2/3GB RAM and 16/32GB storage. Motorola has also paid extra attention to the camera on the E5 Plus — it has a 12MP rear camera with f2.0 aperture, phase detection and laser autofocus. On the front, it has a 5MP camera with LED flash. Other features include fast charge support, dual SIM slots, expandable storage, rear fingerprint scanner and Android 8.0.
Expected price: Rs 9,000 onwards
Motorola’s E range of smartphones have always focussed on the budget conscious buyers. The upcoming smartphone in the range, Moto E5 Plus, features a 6-inch 18:9 aspect display with a resolution of 1..
