Huawei Nova 12 SE

The Huawei Nova 12 SE is available in Qatar at a price of QAR 919 for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. This price positions it competitively in the mid-range segment, making it an attractive option for those seeking a balance between features and affordability.

Huawei Nova 12 SE Specifications

Feature	Specification
Display	6.67-inch OLED, FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels), 90Hz refresh rate
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm)
RAM	8GB
Storage	256GB (non-expandable)
Rear Camera	108MP main (f/1.9), 8MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), 2MP macro (f/2.4)
Front Camera	32MP (f/2.5)
Battery	4500mAh with 66W fast charging
Operating System	EMUI 14 (based on Android)
Dimensions	162.39 x 75.47 x 7.39 mm
Weight	186 grams

 

Design and Build

The Huawei Nova 12 SE sports a sleek and modern design. Its slim profile, measuring just 7.39mm in thickness, makes it comfortable to hold and easy to slip into pockets. The phone weighs 186 grams, striking a balance between a solid feel and portability. The device features a glass front, plastic frame, and plastic back, which helps keep the weight down while maintaining a premium look.

A 6.67-inch OLED display with minimal bezels and a centered punch-hole camera dominates the front of the Nova 12 SE. This design choice maximizes screen real estate, providing an immersive viewing experience. The rear panel houses the triple camera setup in a rectangular module, giving the phone a distinctive look.

Available in two colors – Green and Black – the Nova 12 SE offers options to suit different style preferences. The glossy finish on the back adds a touch of elegance, although it may be prone to fingerprints and smudges.

Display

The Huawei Nova 12 SE boasts a 6.67-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels (FHD+). This translates to a pixel density of approximately 395 PPI, ensuring sharp and clear visuals. The OLED technology provides vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast ratios, enhancing the overall viewing experience.

One of the standout features of this display is its 90Hz refresh rate. This higher-than-standard refresh rate results in smoother scrolling and more fluid animations, which is particularly noticeable when navigating the user interface or playing games that support high refresh rates.

The display also supports a 270Hz touch sampling rate, which improves touch responsiveness. This feature is especially beneficial for gaming and fast-paced interactions with the device. The screen can display up to 1.07 billion colors, contributing to more accurate and lifelike color reproduction.

With a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits, the Nova 12 SE’s display should be easily readable even in bright outdoor conditions. The phone also supports HDR10+, which enhances the dynamic range of compatible content, providing more detail in both bright and dark areas of the image.

Performance and Hardware

At the heart of the Huawei Nova 12 SE is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor. This octa-core chip is built on a 6nm process, which balances performance and power efficiency. The CPU configuration includes four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz for high-performance tasks and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.9 GHz for less demanding operations and improved battery life.

The Snapdragon 680 is paired with the Adreno 610 GPU, which handles graphics processing. While this setup is capable of running most day-to-day tasks smoothly, it may struggle with the most demanding games at high settings. However, for casual gaming and general use, the performance should be satisfactory.

The Nova 12 SE comes with 8GB of RAM, which is ample for multitasking and keeping multiple apps in memory. Huawei has also implemented a RAM extension feature, allowing users to allocate an additional 3GB of storage as virtual RAM, potentially improving performance in memory-intensive scenarios.

Storage-wise, the device offers 256GB of internal storage. This generous amount should be sufficient for most users, especially considering the lack of expandable storage via a microSD card slot.

Camera System

The camera setup is one of the highlights of the Huawei Nova 12 SE. The rear camera system consists of three lenses:

1. Main Camera: A 108MP sensor with an f/1.9 aperture leads the pack. This high-resolution sensor uses pixel binning technology to combine multiple pixels into one, resulting in 12MP images with improved light sensitivity and reduced noise in low-light conditions. The large sensor size and wide aperture should allow for good performance in various lighting situations.
2. Ultra-Wide Camera: An 8MP ultra-wide lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a 112-degree field of view provides versatility for landscape shots and group photos. While the resolution is lower than the main sensor, it still offers decent quality for wide-angle photography.
3. Macro Camera: A 2MP macro lens with an f/2.4 aperture rounds out the rear camera system. This lens allows for close-up shots of small subjects, though the low resolution may limit the detail captured in these macro images.

The rear camera system supports various shooting modes, including Night mode for low-light photography, Portrait mode for bokeh effects, and a Pro mode for manual control over camera settings. Video recording capabilities include 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second, with electronic image stabilization (EIS) to help reduce shake in footage.

On the front, the Nova 12 SE features a 32MP selfie camera with an f/2.5 aperture. This high-resolution front-facing camera should deliver detailed selfies and is capable of 1080p video recording at 30fps, making it suitable for video calls and vlogging.

Battery and Charging

The Huawei Nova 12 SE is equipped with a 4500mAh battery, which should provide enough power for a full day of moderate use. While not the largest in its class, the battery capacity is complemented by the power-efficient Snapdragon 680 processor and the optimizations in EMUI 14.

One of the standout features in the battery department is the 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge technology. This fast-charging capability can charge the device from 3% to 60% in just 31 minutes, according to Huawei’s claims. This rapid charging speed is a significant advantage for users who need quick top-ups throughout the day.

The Nova 12 SE also supports 5W reverse wired charging, allowing it to act as a power bank to charge other devices in emergencies. While not particularly fast, this feature can be useful for charging accessories like wireless earbuds or smartwatches.

Software and User Interface

The Huawei Nova 12 SE runs on EMUI 14, Huawei’s custom Android-based operating system. EMUI 14 brings a range of features and optimizations, including improved privacy controls, enhanced performance, and a refreshed user interface.

However, it’s important to note that due to ongoing restrictions, the Nova 12 SE, like other recent Huawei devices, does not come with Google Mobile Services (GMS) or the Google Play Store pre-installed. Instead, it uses Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and the Huawei AppGallery for app downloads and updates.

While the AppGallery has grown significantly and offers many popular apps, users accustomed to the Google ecosystem may find some of their favorite apps missing. Huawei provides alternative methods to install apps, such as Petal Search, which helps find and install APK files from various sources.

EMUI 14 includes features like Super Device, which allows for seamless connectivity between Huawei devices, and AI Voice, a voice assistant that can perform various tasks. The interface is customizable, with options for themes, icon packs, and always-on display settings.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Huawei Nova 12 SE supports 4G LTE networks, ensuring good cellular connectivity in areas where 5G is not yet available. It also features dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless accessory connections, and NFC for contactless payments and quick pairing with compatible devices.

The device uses a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, supporting USB 2.0 speeds. There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, but the phone does support audio output through the USB-C port or via Bluetooth.

For biometric security, the Nova 12 SE includes a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. This placement allows for quick and convenient unlocking of the device. Face unlock is also available using the front-facing camera, though it may not be as secure as the fingerprint sensor.

Other sensors include an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass, providing support for various apps and features that rely on device orientation and movement.

Comparison with Other Smartphones

When comparing the Huawei Nova 12 SE to other smartphones in its price range and with similar specifications, several factors come into play:

1. Huawei Nova 12i: The Nova 12i, a close relative of the 12 SE, offers a larger 6.8-inch LCD display but with a lower 90Hz refresh rate. It has a similar Snapdragon 680 processor but comes with a larger 5000mAh battery. The main camera is 48MP compared to the 12 SE’s 108MP, making the 12 SE a better choice for photography enthusiasts.
2. Huawei Nova 11 Pro: This model features a more powerful Snapdragon 778G processor and a dual 60MP front camera setup, making it superior for selfies and performance. However, it comes at a higher price point.
3. Huawei Nova 11: The standard Nova 11 offers a balance between the 12 SE and 11 Pro, with a 50MP main camera and Snapdragon 778G chip. It’s a good alternative for those wanting more processing power without the premium price of the Pro model.
4. Samsung Galaxy A54: This phone offers 5G connectivity and a 120Hz AMOLED display, giving it an edge in network speed and display smoothness. However, the Nova 12 SE counters with faster charging and a higher resolution main camera.
5. OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite: While offering 5G and a 108MP main camera like the Nova 12 SE, it has a lower resolution LCD display. The Nova 12 SE’s OLED screen provides better color reproduction and contrast.
6. Google Pixel 6a: Known for its excellent camera software and clean Android experience, the Pixel 6a is a strong competitor. However, the Nova 12 SE offers more storage and faster charging.
7. Realme 10 Pro+: This phone features a 108MP main camera and a 120Hz AMOLED display, making it a strong contender against the Nova 12 SE. The choice between them may come down to software preference and brand loyalty.
8. Oppo Reno8 T: With similar specs to the Nova 12 SE, including a 108MP main camera, the choice between these two might depend on design preference and software experience.

In the competitive mid-range smartphone market, the Huawei Nova 12 SE stands out with its high-resolution main camera, fast charging capabilities, and sleek design. While it lacks 5G connectivity and Google services, it offers a compelling package for users who prioritize camera performance and battery life.

The choice between the Nova 12 SE and its competitors will largely depend on individual needs, brand preferences, and the importance of specific features like 5G or Google services integration.

Performance in Real-World Usage

In day-to-day use, the Huawei Nova 12 SE performs admirably for most tasks. The Snapdragon 680 processor, while not the most powerful in its class, handles everyday activities like web browsing, social media, and video streaming with ease. The 8GB of RAM ensures smooth multitasking, allowing users to switch between apps quickly without noticeable lag.

For productivity tasks such as document editing, email management, and light photo editing, the Nova 12 SE proves more than capable. The large OLED display with its 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling through documents and web pages a smooth experience, reducing eye strain during extended use.

When it comes to gaming, the Nova 12 SE can handle casual games without issue. Popular titles like Candy Crush, Subway Surfers, and similar games run smoothly. However, for more demanding games like PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact, users may need to lower graphics settings to achieve stable frame rates. The Adreno 610 GPU, while competent, is not designed for high-end mobile gaming.

The camera system is a highlight in real-world usage. The 108MP main camera captures detailed photos in good lighting conditions, with accurate colors and good dynamic range. In low-light situations, the night mode helps to bring out details and reduce noise, though it may not match the performance of flagship devices.