When I first got my hands on the Huawei Nova 13i, I was intrigued by its promise of being a stylish and affordable mid-range smartphone. Its sleek design and feature-packed spec sheet seemed to offer great value for money. However, after spending some time with it, I noticed a few shortcomings that are hard to ignore. Let me share my honest experience with you.
Elegant Design, but Too Familiar
The first thing that struck me was its elegant design. It’s lightweight, with a glossy finish that feels premium in hand. However, the overall build lacks innovation and feels too similar to previous Huawei models. For a mid-range phone, I expected something fresh, but this felt more like a recycled design.
While the side-mounted fingerprint scanner is convenient, I found its accuracy inconsistent. Sometimes it failed to register my finger, which was frustrating during quick unlock attempts.
Display: Vibrant but Lacking Resolution
The 6.67-inch IPS LCD with a 90 Hz refresh rate offers smooth scrolling and vibrant visuals, which are great for multimedia consumption. Yet, the display resolution capped at 1080p feels underwhelming compared to competitors offering AMOLED panels in this price range.
Watching videos under direct sunlight was also a challenge due to its low brightness levels. It’s a good display for indoor use, but outdoor visibility is not up to the mark.
Performance: Smooth, but Not for Heavy Tasks
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G processor with a 6 nm process, the Nova 13i delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks like social media browsing and multitasking. However, when I pushed it with gaming apps like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire, the performance dropped significantly.
The 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage help with multitasking, but heavy apps occasionally caused stutters. Additionally, it lacks 5G connectivity, which feels like a major drawback for a phone released in this era.
Camera: Impressive Numbers, Average Results
The 108 MP primary sensor in the dual-camera setup looks impressive on paper, but the actual results are hit or miss. In bright conditions, the camera captures decent shots, but in low-light scenarios, images appear grainy and lack detail.
The depth camera for portrait shots sometimes blurs parts of the subject, making the bokeh effect look unnatural. The selfie camera struggles with skin tones, and the beautification filters are overly aggressive, even when turned off.
Battery and Charging: Decent but Not Exceptional
The 5000 mAh battery easily lasts a day with moderate use, which is a plus. However, its 40 W fast charging is not as quick as I expected, taking longer than some competitors with similar or even higher wattage.
If you’re someone who needs quick top-ups during the day, you might find this slower-than-expected charging speed a bit inconvenient.
Software: Lacks Google Play Services
The Nova 13i runs on EMUI 14.2, which feels polished and user-friendly. But the elephant in the room is the lack of Google Play Services. While Huawei’s AppGallery has grown over the years, it still lacks several mainstream apps, forcing users to rely on workarounds or third-party APKs.
This limitation hampers the overall experience, especially for someone like me who relies heavily on Google apps for productivity.
Connectivity and Features: A Mixed Bag
On the connectivity front, the NFC support is a welcome addition, and the dual-SIM functionality works seamlessly. However, the absence of 5G is a glaring issue for a phone priced in this range.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is fast when it works, but its occasional failures make it less reliable. Other sensors, like the accelerometer and proximity sensor, work as expected.
Pros and Cons of the Huawei Nova 13i
Pros
- Elegant Design: Premium feel with a lightweight build.
- Decent Battery Life: The 5000 mAh battery lasts a full day.
- Smooth Scrolling: 90 Hz refresh rate enhances the user experience.
- Affordable: Good pricing for a mid-range smartphone.
- NFC Enabled: Useful for contactless payments.
Cons
- No Google Play Services: Limits app availability and usability.
- Lacks 5G Support: Falls behind competitors in future-proofing.
- Underwhelming Camera Performance: Struggles in low-light conditions.
- Average Display: IPS LCD is vibrant but lacks the punch of AMOLED.
- Inconsistent Fingerprint Scanner: Misses accuracy at times.
FAQs
Does the Huawei Nova 13i support Google apps?
No, it lacks Google Play Services, which means you’ll need to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery or third-party APKs.
Is the camera good for low-light photography?
The 108 MP camera struggles in low-light settings, producing grainy images with less detail.
How is the gaming performance?
While casual games run smoothly, heavier titles like PUBG Mobile cause noticeable lags due to the limitations of the Snapdragon 680 4G chipset.
Does the phone support 5G connectivity?
Unfortunately, the Huawei Nova 13i is limited to 4G, which is a drawback for a mid-range phone in 2025.
How fast is the charging?
The 40 W fast charging takes longer than expected, especially compared to competitors offering faster solutions.
Final Verdict
While the Huawei Nova 13i shines with its elegant design, decent battery life, and smooth everyday performance, its shortcomings are hard to ignore. The lack of Google Play Services, absence of 5G, and underwhelming camera performance make it feel less competitive in the mid-range market.
For someone looking for an affordable mid-range smartphone with a focus on style and basic functionality, it’s a decent choice. But if you’re after a well-rounded device with robust features, there are better options available in the same price range. I hope Huawei addresses these issues in future models, as the Nova 13i has great potential with a few tweaks.
