Huawei is back with another mid-range smartphone, this time it’s the nova 12i. The Chinese tech giant has unveiled its latest budget handset locally, boasting an eye-catching design and solid specs for the price – albeit without official Google support.
The stand-out element of the nova 12i is undoubtedly its rear camera housing, which Huawei has dubbed the “Super Star Orbit Ring”. It’s an attention-grabbing, symmetrical quad-camera array ringed with a bright gold trim that glistens in the light, mimicking images of black holes in space. While some may feel that it’s a little gimmicky, we quite like it as it helps the nova 12i stand out from the affordable Android pack.
Looks aside, the nova 12i packs a surprisingly decent 108MP main camera sensor for its R6,999 asking price. It’s joined by an underwhelming 2MP depth sensor and an average 8MP selfie cam, but Huawei reckons the AI smarts can elevate the camera performance. We’ll have to see about that.
Under the hood, the nova 12i opts for Qualcomm’s ageing Snapdragon 680 chip, so you won’t be getting 5G or flagship performance here. However, it should handle day-to-day tasks just fine and isn’t too much of a compromise at this price point. The 6.7-inch 90Hz display, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage round out a serviceable spec sheet.
The 5,000mAh battery is a plus, and Huawei includes a 40W charger in the box for a spot of fast charging – a rare freebie these days. Software is the latest EMUI 14 layered over Android, but without official Google services. However, Huawei appears to have found a workaround through the G-box app, allowing users to download apps like Gmail and Google Maps directly from the Play Store.
Early impressions suggest the nova 12i could be a decent shout for bargain hunters looking for non-Google Android software, even if it doesn’t move the affordable smartphone needle very far. The looks certainly help it stand out, as does the prospect of better Google integration thanks to G-box. We’ll need more time with it to see if the photography experience holds up, but Huawei with this and recent blockbuster devices overseas, Huawei may finally be getting its mojo back.
