Huawei Nova 3i

Design and Build Quality

Materials and Construction

The Huawei Nova 3i really shows off this sleek, modern look , kind of like it has a glass-like finish that feels more elegant than it probably should. On the back you get a glossy panel with a gradient color vibe that shifts between different hues, so it just looks visually striking at a glance. There are a few color options too , Iris Purple, Black, and Pearl White, and each one gives the device a slightly different style.

On the front, it’s mostly taken over by a big display with minimal bezels which makes the whole phone feel contemporary , like it belongs in the current era. Then on the back you’ll find the dual-camera setup along with the fingerprint sensor , both placed in the center area and a bit raised. That placement not only gives it a cleaner look, it also makes the fingerprint sensor easy to reach , and honestly it feels convenient, not awkward.

Ergonomics

With dimensions of 157.6 x 75.2 x 7.6 mm and a weight around 164 grams, the Nova 3i kind of keeps a good balance between a larger screen and a manageable body. It’s slim and lightweight so it’s comfortable in hand, and yes it works well even when using it one-handed. The edges are curved, which helps with grip, and overall the build quality feels solid even though the finish is basically “glass-like”.

The power button plus the volume rockers are on the right side, easy to tap without much thinking. The fingerprint sensor on the rear panel sits in a spot that feels natural for quick access. Also, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom , which is becoming uncommon these days but still matters a lot to plenty of users.

Durability

The Nova 3i has a glass-like back panel ,and honestly it gives off a more premium vibe. But you should know it is more prone to fingerprints and smudges, like, you’ll notice them faster than you might expect. Also the phone doesn’t come with an official IP rating for water or dust resistance ,so it’s smart to stay away from moisture or dirty environments. If you use a protective case ,that simple add-on really can reduce the risk from accidental drops and scratch marks, helping it last longer over time.

Display

Screen quality

On the Huawei Nova 3i, you get that 6.3-inch IPS LCD display, at 1080 x 2340 pixels. That puts the pixel density around 409 PPI. Then the 19.5:9 aspect ratio plus this near-borderless, layout kind of makes the whole screen feel more up to date and immersive, like when you scroll, or you’re just watching something.

The IPS LCD panel usually brings out vivid hues and pretty solid contrast, so for media viewing, gaming, and day to day use it all looks fairly pleasing. Brightness is decent for most indoor scenes, and mixed lighting too, but if you’re in strong direct sunlight it can become a bit tougher to read, at least compared to brighter panels. Even so, the color accuracy and wide viewing angles help the screen stay clear ,so it doesn’t suddenly look washed out just because you’re viewing from the side.

Display Performance

The Nova 3i display performance is pretty commendable for a mid-range device. Its 1080p resolution keeps things looking sharp and detailed, so text and pictures appear crisp, even when you’re scrolling fast. The big screen size, plus those minimal bezels , really bumps up the multimedia experience. That means movies, videos, and games feel more immersive, and the whole view feels a bit more engaging then expected.

Also, the screen-to-body ratio is quite impressive, like it’s really going for that edge to edge look. This design choice , not only helps the phone look modern, but it also makes day-to-day use feel smoother because you get more display room for apps and content.

As Biareview once informed, Nova 3i is a 4-camera smartphone that has been officially launched by Huawei recently and is aimed at users who love photography and entertainment on mobile devices. Not only possessing good photography hardware in the price range, Nova 3i is also favored by Huawei with both artificial intelligence (AI) and a series of interesting photographic effects that are only seen on the production line. High-end products such as AR Sticker, 3D Qmoji help users transform into funny cartoon characters regardless of using the rear or front camera.

Naturally, as a product aimed at photography and entertainment, Huawei Nova 3i is also equipped with a massive capacity of 128GB. Compared to representatives in the current price segment of under $400, Huawei Nova 3i is almost a hegemonic of storage capacity. With this amount of internal memory capacity, plus the ability to expand storage space with microSD memory cards, Huawei Nova 3i users can impartly take photos, record videos or even install heavy graphics titles and take up more memory.

Compared to competitors of the same price segment, Huawei Nova 3i’s integrated memory capacity is almost unmatched. Quick test with speed measuring tool read ROM Androbench also shows Huawei Nova 3i smartphone clearly not inferior to the rivals or even higher priced products like Galaxy A6 Plus. Also by this test, it is clear that the data writing speed of the integrated ROM on Huawei Nova 3i is even better than the P20 Pro, also produced by Huawei or the Honor 10, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 smartphone that Biareview still used.

As mentioned earlier, Huawei Nova 3i’s hardware internal strength is formed by combining the Kirin 710 processor with 4GB of RAM. Huawei also applies GPU Turbo technology, which is designed to increase graphics processing performance, particularly with games. Practical experience shows that with the above hardware, plus equipped with good read / write ROMs as expected, Huawei Nova 3i smartphones hardly encounter any obstacles in daily multitasking.

Performance

Hardware and Specifications

So, under the hood the Huawei Nova 3i is powered by the Kirin 710 chipset, sort of an octa core kind of situation, mixing 4 Cortex-A73 cores at 2.2 GHz, and then 4 Cortex-A53 cores running at 1.7 GHz too. After that you get 4GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage, and there’s also the option to expand with a microSD card, up to 256GB. Basically this Nova 3i hardware mix lands in the “pretty capable mid range” zone , with good daily performance and a decent level of handling for casual not-too-heavy gaming.

Day-to-Day Performance

Day to day, the Nova 3i tends to feel smooth and fairly responsive. The Kirin 710 along with the 4GB RAM can cover most routine stuff like web browsing, social apps, and multimedia viewing without much fuss. Switching between apps usually works well, but when someone stacks a bunch of demanding applications at the same time, you might notice a bit of stutter or lag, and that’s pretty normal.

The 128GB internal memory gives plenty of room for apps , photos, media and files. The microSD expansion slot is a nice extra because it lets you grow the storage when you start collecting more content. Overall, the Nova 3i comes across as a balanced device for its cost , it’s a reliable choice if your daily routine involves browsing, messaging, and general phone use, not hardcore workloads.

Benchmarks

In some benchmark tests, the Huawei Nova 3i manages to stand pretty well within its own segment, you know. In Geekbench 4, it ends up around 1,600 for single-core performance and about 5,600 for multi-core performance. Those results kind of hint at the Nova 3i being mid-range minded , meaning it should manage most everyday tasks, plus common apps, fairly well.

When you look at 3DMark tests, the Nova 3i’s output feels decent for casual gaming and multimedia stuff. The Mali-G51 MP4 GPU brings enough graphical stability for games and videos, but if you jump into more demanding titles, you may need lower settings for better smoothness and overall stability.

Camera Performance

Rear Camera

The Huawei Nova 3i has a dual camera setup on the back , so it comes with a 16MP main sensor and an f/2.2 aperture plus a 2MP depth sensor. Together this kinda arrangement lets the phone grab fairly detailed, higher-quality photos, with solid color accuracy and some real depth-of-field type vibes.

The 16MP primary camera does a lot right across different lighting conditions , giving sharp shots and lively colors. The f/2.2 opening is helpful for darker scenes , yet if you’re taking pics in low-light , you might still notice a bit of noise, and the finer detail can look less crisp.

That 2MP depth sensor is mainly there to improve portrait shots, because it supports a bokeh style result that softens the background while keeping the subject more in focus. On top of that, the AI powered options—like scene detection and beautification—tune the capture automatically so the final images look more polished, and kinda more “ready to share” without too much fuss.

Front Camera

The Nova 3i comes with a dual-camera setup up front, kind of like a 24MP main sensor plus a 2MP depth sensor. That 24MP unit is made for taking high- resolution selfies , with pretty solid detail and clarity. On top of that the f/2.0 aperture on the front camera and those AI-tweaked features help noticeably with low-light scenarios, also making portrait shots look more flattering, sort of.

In daily use the 24MP front camera really does a great job, you get sharp and lively selfies, and the colors stay true. Then the 2MP depth sensor chips in for bokeh, so portraits get that soft, background blur that looks more professional instead of messy. There are also beauty modes and fun filters included, so you can quickly adjust your selfie vibe with different looks.

All in all the front camera on the Nova 3i is one of its standout parts, it’s especially good for selfies and smooth video calls too.

Battery Life

Battery Capacity and day to day performance

The Huawei Nova 3i comes with a 3,340mAh battery, which feels like a fair amount for a mid range phone. For a lot of people, battery life really decides if the device works for them, especially when you’re using it from morning to night. In normal use, the Nova 3i tends to hold up well, and it usually gets through an entire day of moderate activity. Think about web browsing, social apps, watching videos, plus some casual gaming. If someone is doing heavier stuff all the time, like lots of video or steady gaming sessions, then yeah, recharging by the end of the day might be needed, but still the general endurance is pretty solid for most users.

Charging Speed

When it comes to charging, the Nova 3i offers standard charging, not anything super fancy. Charging speed is decent considering the battery size. Typically, going from 0% up to 100% takes roughly 2 hours, though this can shift a bit based on the charger used and what you’re doing while it’s plugged in. The phone doesn’t bring fast-charging, but the standard pace is acceptable for the capacity it has.

Software Experience

Operating System

The Nova 3i runs Android 8.1 Oreo, with Huawei’s EMUI 8.2 on top. Android Oreo is generally steady and packed with features, while EMUI 8.2 brings extra tweaks and small additions meant for Huawei devices.

User Interface

The EMUI 8.2 interface on the Nova 3i looks pretty intuitive, and it feels kind of user-friendly too, because it brings in a bunch of customization bits and small features that really improve how you live day to day with the phone. For example the Home Screen is customizable, you can add widgets, shuffle app icons around, and switch wallpapers so the whole setup feels more personal, and less like you’re stuck with a default view. Then there’s multitasking, it supports split-screen mode, so you can run two apps at the same time… which is honestly useful when you’re juggling emails with something else. Also the app drawer is there to sort and manage everything, keeping the main home page from turning into a messy layout.

Software Performance

On the software side the Nova 3i performance is mostly smooth and responsive , a bit like it just gets out of the way. With the Kirin 710 chipset and 4GB RAM, the device manages most apps and everyday stuff without any noticeable stutter. Also the EMUI 8.2 upgrades from Huawei help tune things so the hardware fits better together, so overall it feels more refined, not only fast on paper, but also in real life.

Features and Customizations

Huawei’s EMUI 8.2 brings a bunch of features and tweaks that kinda improve the daily experience. Some parts feel pretty polished, others are more “nice to have”. Anyway, here are a few highlights that stand out a bit:

Face Unlock: The Nova 3i has a facial recognition setup for extra security. It works well enough most of the time, but honestly, it may not be as sturdy as fingerprint unlocking. Still, it’s a comfy way to open the device quickly without much fuss.

Battery Management: The software comes with battery saver tools, to help smooth things out while also stretching the charge. There are detailed battery usage screens, plus you can turn on power saving modes when you really need them, so battery consumption is easier to control.

AI Features: Huawei also baked AI features into the Nova 3i software. You get stuff like scene identification for the camera, which adjusts settings depending on what you’re filming. It also includes a range of system improvements that aim to boost performance in a subtle way.

App Twin: On EMUI 8.2 there is a feature called App Twin, it basically lets you keep two “copies” of the same app running at the same time. It can be pretty handy for messaging apps, or social networks ,because you can manage multiple accounts without always bouncing back and forth all day long.

One-Handed Mode: If you prefer using the phone with just one hand ,the Nova 3i includes a one handed mode. It makes the whole interface smaller, and somehow it helps everything feel reachable, even when the display seems kinda big, you know.

Navigation Gestures: EMUI 8.2 supports navigation gestures too. So instead of relying only on traditional on screen buttons, you can move around using swipes and patterns. It definitely gives a more modern feel, and the whole thing feels smoother.

Updates

So the Huawei Nova 3i first came out with Android 8.1 Oreo and EMUI 8.2, and after that Huawei kept pushing a few updates , mostly aiming to boost day to day speed, security fixes, and a couple extra options. Still , like a lot of phones the pace and how often updates land can change, depending on the country, plus the carrier you’re using. Basically it’s smart to stay alert to the update notices so your device gets the newest refinements and those important security patches.

Sound and Media

Audio Quality

On the Huawei Nova 3i you sort of get one bottom firing speaker, and honestly it’s alright for normal daily listening. For calls, alerts, and even casual video or music, the sound comes out fairly clear, but it can feel like it’s missing a bit of weight, and the loudness is not quite there compared to phones that have proper stereo setups. If you’re the type who really cares about richer audio for media, then using headphones, or even an outside speaker, may feel better.

The Nova 3i also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack which is honestly a nice touch for anyone who prefers wired audio. With that jack you get solid audio quality and it works well with a broad range of headphone models.

Multimedia Experience

With the Nova 3i, the 6.3-inch display really gives you an enjoyable sort of multimedia experience. That big screen size plus the high resolution makes it pretty much great for movies, gaming sessions, and even just browsing stuff casually. The IPS LCD panel brings lively tones and wide viewing angles , so the overall look feels better and smoother, kinda like you’re not fighting the screen the whole time.

Also, the phone supports a range of multimedia formats and popular applications, so users can access streaming services, media players and other entertainment options. With a large, sharp display, and audio that’s decent enough, the Nova 3i ends up being a capable device for media consumption, not flashy but definitely workable.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Network and Connectivity

Huawei Nova 3i comes with several connectivity options so you can stay linked in different places , and situations:

Network Support: Nova 3i supports 4G LTE, for quick and steady mobile internet. There’s also 3G and 2G on board , which helps keep compatibility across a bunch of different cellular networks.

Wi-Fi: This device comes with Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, so you can hop onto wireless networks without too much hassle. The data rate tends to remain stable , and it works with both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands as well.

Bluetooth: You get Bluetooth 4.2, which means you can link up and pair with headphones, speakers, and other gadget accessories. Pairing feels rather smooth for most everyday tasks, and the signal reach seems solid too.

GPS: The phone also includes GPS , helpful for location tracking and navigation. In general GPS performance is pretty dependable, you can grab a satellite lock fairly quickly , and the location readout stays accurate.

USB: This device comes with a micro-USB 2.0 port for both charging and moving data around. Honestly micro-USB is a bit old-ish compared to USB Type-C , but it still works, and it can handle usual data transfer speeds just fine.

Additional Features

Fingerprint Sensor: There’s a fingerprint sensor on the back, it feels responsive and it gives a fast , reliable way to unlock. Also it’s placed in a spot that makes touching it kinda easy, like you don’t have to search.

FM Radio: The Nova 3i also adds FM radio. So you can catch your preferred stations without relying on any internet. It’s handy for people who still like the more classic radio vibe.

Dual SIM Support: The phone supports dual SIMs , meaning you can use two numbers on one handset. This is good if you want to split personal and work calls, or if you are traveling a lot and need a separate SIM for that.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Design and Build: The Nova 3i shows up with a modern, kinda stylish vibe , got this glass-like back panel and a large display. It feels pretty comfortable in hand too, and overall it has that premium look and touch that people notice.

Display: The 6.3-inch IPS LCD screen brings vivid colors, solid contrast, and pretty wide viewing angles. So yeah, it’s great for watching videos , scrolling, basically multimedia.

Front Camera: The 24MP front camera is honestly a highlight, giving selfies with sharp detail and clear results. Also that dual front camera layout helps add bokeh for portrait shots, so photos look more “layered” without too much fuss.

Battery Life: The 3,340mAh battery should cover a full day with normal or moderate use. On top of that, the battery management stuff helps keep things efficient, and may stretch how long you can go between charges.

Software Experience: EMUI 8.2 gives a bunch of features and custom options, which makes day to day feel smoother. There are AI extras, one-handed mode, and the navigation gestures too, all together.

Cons

Performance: The Kirin 710 chipset is fine for daily routines, but with heavier apps or lots of multitasking , you might see small slowdowns or a little lag. Nothing extreme, just noticeable sometimes.

Charging Speed: there’s no fast charging going on here, and getting from 0% to 100% is about 2 hours, give or take. The newer phones usually have quicker routines, so it kinda feels a little behind, honestly.

Build Durability: that glass-like back really grabs fingerprints and smudges quite fast. Also, there isn’t an official IP rating for water or dust, so you need to watch it. A protective cover can help a lot with random drops and those little contact marks too.

Audio Quality: the single speaker down at the bottom does the job, but it might not bring the same depth or overall loudness you’d hear from stereo setups on more premium phones.

Conclusion

So the Huawei Nova 3i really is a nice all around mid-range smartphone, it hits that sweet spot between design, performance, and a bunch of features without asking you to pay a premium price. It has a clean modern look, a big display, and that front camera quality is quite impressive too, so if you want something stylish but also useful, this one feels like an easy pick. You get a 6.3-inch IPS LCD screen for immersive viewing, plus the 24MP front camera which helps with crisp selfies and good video calls.

Performance wise, it’s mostly dependable for daily stuff, but some people might notice occasional slowdowns when they try heavier apps or games, you know, the demanding ones. The 3,340mAh battery also stays consistent with everyday usage, and the connectivity setup is pretty complete: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and GPS are all there, so it should work smoothly across different networks and with various devices.

Sure, the Nova 3i isn’t perfect. There isn’t any fast charging, an it also doesn’t ship with an IP rating for durability, so yeah it feels kind of like a letdown if you actually care about protection. Still, overall it keeps up pretty well in the mid range market. The mix of a stylish look, a decent display, and a front camera that really stands out, makes it a solid pick for anyone who wants a modern smartphone, but without paying the full premium price tag.

Overall, the Huawei Nova 3i feels like pretty good value for the money you pay , especially for what you get in day to day use , like you still get a fairly rounded experience , with an emphasis on how it looks, how the camera performs, and the whole connectivity side of things . So if you are shopping for a mid range smartphone that brings a stylish design , plus decent power for common apps Nova 3i is worth a look , I mean really .

It can be affirmed that the Huawei Nova 3i is a valuable option in the smartphone category with a current price under $400, mainly because the hardware is strong, storage is huge and importantly, the speed is not inferior to a lot of models in the higher segment . If you want something that balances performance and investment costs without needing to worry too much about storage capacity, Nova 3i should be on your priority list. Also the design feels sleek, there are many interesting photo related features, it charges batteries quickly, and the battery life is not bad either.

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Định Bia

Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst

Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.