The Huawei Nova 12s, released in April 2024, is a sleek mid-range smartphone offering excellent performance in a lightweight design. Featuring a 6.7-inch OLED display, 50MP camera, Snapdragon 778G chipset, and 66W fast charging, the Nova 12s brings a premium experience to users at a competitive price point. In this review, we will explore the Nova 12s’s design, display, performance, battery life, and camera features.
Key Features at a Glance
- Release Date: April 13, 2024
- Display: 6.7-inch OLED, 120Hz, HDR
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G (6nm)
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256GB (no card slot)
- Battery: 4500mAh with 66W wired charging
- Main Camera: 50MP dual-camera with PDAF
- Selfie Camera: 60MP ultrawide
- Price: Approximately €479.00 / £533.16
1. Design and Build Quality
The Huawei Nova 12s is impressively lightweight at 168g, with a thickness of only 6.9mm, making it one of the slimmest phones in its class. Its glass front, plastic back, and aluminum frame give it a premium feel despite being a mid-range device. The phone’s design is sleek and minimalistic, and its dimensions make it easy to hold and use with one hand.
The Nova 12s is available in four elegant colors:
- Black
- Green
- White
- Gold
The in-display fingerprint sensor ensures secure and quick unlocking, adding a modern touch to the phone’s design.
2. Display: Vivid OLED with 120Hz Refresh Rate
The 6.7-inch OLED display on the Nova 12s delivers a stunning visual experience with its 1B colors and 120Hz refresh rate. The display’s resolution of 1084 x 2412 pixels and 395 ppi density ensures sharp and crisp visuals, making it perfect for watching videos, playing games, or browsing the web.
The screen supports HDR, enhancing color depth and contrast, while the 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations. With an 89.5% screen-to-body ratio, the Nova 12s offers an immersive viewing experience, whether for media consumption or multitasking.
3. Performance: Snapdragon 778G for Reliable Power
The Huawei Nova 12s is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset, built on a 6nm process. The octa-core CPU consists of:
- 4x Kryo 670 cores at 2.4 GHz for high-performance tasks
- 4x Kryo 670 cores at 1.8 GHz for energy efficiency
The Snapdragon 778G delivers reliable performance for everyday tasks, gaming, and multitasking. Paired with 8GB of RAM, the phone provides smooth performance across most applications, including light gaming, video editing, and multitasking.
With 256GB of internal storage, the Nova 12s offers plenty of space for apps, photos, and videos, though it lacks a microSD card slot for additional storage.
4. Camera: Impressive Dual-Camera System
The Huawei Nova 12s comes with a versatile 50MP dual-camera setup that excels in most lighting conditions. The camera system includes:
- 50MP wide-angle main camera with f/1.9 aperture and PDAF for fast and accurate autofocus. This sensor delivers sharp and detailed photos in various lighting conditions.
- 8MP ultrawide camera with a 112˚ field of view, perfect for capturing landscapes and group photos.
The 4K video recording capability at 30fps ensures high-quality videos, while gyro-EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) helps stabilize videos, making them smoother even when shot handheld.
Selfie Camera:
The 60MP front-facing camera is ideal for selfie enthusiasts. Its 100˚ ultrawide lens captures more in each frame, and it supports 4K video recording at 30fps, making it perfect for vloggers and content creators.
5. Battery Life: Long-Lasting with Fast Charging
The 4500mAh battery on the Huawei Nova 12s ensures long-lasting performance, easily lasting a full day of heavy use. Whether you’re browsing, gaming, or watching videos, the battery is designed to handle it all without needing a recharge in the middle of the day.
The phone supports 66W wired charging, which can charge the battery from 3% to 62% in just 15 minutes and 3% to 100% in 30 minutes (as advertised). This fast charging capability is a major selling point, ensuring you spend less time tethered to a charger.
6. Software: EMUI 14 Without Google Play Services
The Nova 12s runs on EMUI 14, which is based on Android but lacks Google Play Services. Instead, users rely on Huawei’s AppGallery for downloading and installing apps. While the absence of Google services may be a downside for some, Huawei’s ecosystem continues to grow, and its AppGallery now offers a wide variety of popular apps.
EMUI 14 offers a clean and intuitive interface with customization options and features like multi-window support and gesture navigation, which improve multitasking and user experience.
7. Connectivity: 4G and Wi-Fi 6
The Huawei Nova 12s supports 4G LTE connectivity, ensuring fast internet speeds for web browsing, streaming, and more. While the lack of 5G may be a drawback for users looking for future-proof connectivity, the Snapdragon 778G ensures stable 4G performance.
Other connectivity features include:
- Wi-Fi 6 for faster and more reliable wireless internet.
- Bluetooth 5.2 for seamless connectivity with wireless devices like headphones and wearables.
- NFC for mobile payments and quick data transfers.
- USB Type-C 2.0 with OTG support for fast data transfers and charging.
Price and Availability
The Huawei Nova 12s is available for around €479.00 (EUR) and £533.16 (GBP). Considering its lightweight design, strong performance, and advanced camera capabilities, the Nova 12s offers great value for mid-range smartphone buyers.
Conclusion: Is the Huawei Nova 12s Worth It?
The Huawei Nova 12s is a strong mid-range contender, offering a vibrant OLED display, lightweight design, powerful 50MP camera, and 66W fast charging. Its Snapdragon 778G chipset provides solid performance for everyday use, while the sleek design and excellent camera setup make it a great option for those who prioritize aesthetics and photography.
The lack of Google Play Services might be a drawback for some users, but for those who can work within Huawei’s ecosystem, the Nova 12s offers a premium experience at a mid-range price.
Full Specifications Table:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch OLED, 120Hz, HDR, 1084 x 2412 pixels (~395 ppi) |
| Operating System | EMUI 14 (no Google Play Services) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G (6nm), Octa-core |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB (no card slot) |
| Main Camera | 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide |
| Selfie Camera | 60MP ultrawide |
| Battery | 4500mAh with 66W wired charging, reverse wired charging |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC |
| Dimensions | 161.3 x 75 x 6.9 mm |
| Weight | 168g |
| Colors | Black, Green, White, Gold |
| Price | €479.00 / £533.16 |
Disclaimer: We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
