If the average smartphone user were to put together a list of features they need from their smartphone for someone buying them one as a Xmas gift, what would it say? The eye-catching design has certainly been important to many users of late, as has great camera capabilities, specs that will futureproof the device, and fantastic battery life. HUAWEI’s nova 10 SE ticks all of these boxes and then some.
Firstly, like most devices from the brand it packs a great-looking design that feels premium in hand, all while remaining pocketable by measuring in at 162.39 x 75.47 x 7.39 mm and tipping the smartphone scales at around 184 g.
Front and centre on the front design of the smartphone is its 6.67 inches FHD+ (2400 × 1080 pixels) display that packs a feature mobile gamers would appreciate, which is a smooth scrolling 90 Hz refresh rate.
Keeping things smooth along with the display is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680 4G octa-core CPU, which packs in four Cortex-A73 clocked at 2.4 GHz, and four Cortex-A53 clocked at 1.9 GHz, along with an Adreno 610 GPU.
This CPU keeps Andriod 12 with EMUI 12 running smoothly and snappily, while multitasking and mobile gaming is also no challenge for this capable processor. The smartphone also features 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of ROM (onboard storage). It is worth noting though that apps are downloaded from the continuously growing HUAWEI AppGallery and for many smartphone users that will not be a problem. For people embedded in the Google ecosystem and heavy users of Meta’s apps, it will be somewhat inconvenient. There are workarounds ofcourse (phone clone, APK’s for Andriod etc.) and many app alternatives such as HUAWEI’s own Petal Search and Petal Maps especially work quite well. You just have to decide how dependent you on Google and go from there.
In terms of optics, you get a whopping 108 MP High-Res Camera (f/1.9 aperture) at the back in combination with an 8 MP Ultra-Wide Depth Camera (f/2.2 aperture), as well as a 2 MP Macro Camera (f/2.4 aperture). This makes for some highly capable snaps in all conditions and lighting situations. Selfie shooters will also appreciate the 16 MP Portrait Camera (f/2.2 aperture) on the front which is perfect for those portrait shots, vlogs and video calls.
To get you through a full working day, HUAWEI includes a 4500 mAh battery, which can be topped up quick thanks to the company’s SuperCharge (Max 66 W) with a quickcharger included in the retail box along with a clear phone cover to protect your device while still showcasing the gorgeous look of it.
Where it falls short is that the device is missing out on 5G which is fine for now but if you want to purchase a smartphone to use for 3-5 years then it might be a problem if 5G becomes more ubiquitous down the line.
Ultimately though, HUAWEI’s nova 10 SE is a very enticing smartphone proposition at a recommended retail price of R8500, which is a very good price for such a stunning design, fantastic camera capability, good mix of specs, and battery life. Some alternatives include the older but still good Xiaomi Note 11 Pro which sports the same size AMOLED display, a very similar camera setup, plus a slightly larger battery with less RAM at around R2000 less money. If a premium feel and eye-catching design are more of a priority for you though then the HUAWEI is better in that regard.
