WHEN Huawei released the Nova 2i late last year, it quickly became a hit among Filipinos, especially those looking for a breakthrough device without breaking the bank. Selling 1,000 units in just an hour on the first day of its availability, it also became the most searched android smartphone in the Philippines, according to Google’s Annual Year in Search.
And for good reason.
Younger consumers polled around the world agree that camera quality is one of the top considerations in their smartphone purchase. According to statistics, people take 1 million selfies globally, 55 percent of which are taken by millennials. A survey of 1,000 young adults in 2015 indicates that this demographic spends an average of one hour every week just taking pictures of themselves.
This is why users came to love the Nova 2i’s selfie-centric features built into its dual front-facing cameras. Nothing ruins a selfie worse than grainy artifacts due to poor lighting—but thanks to the Nova 2i’s toning flash function, images come out looking bright, natural and flattering regardless of lighting conditions.
Whether its an #OOTD selfie, mirror selfie, groufie or gym selfie, the Nova 2i’s four-camera setup allows users to capture clear and vibrant snaps of memorable moments in less than a second, while the bokeh-style portrait shots simulate a pro DSLR camera experience.
Complementing the awesome camera technology of the Nova 2i is its dazzling FullView Display, a powerful processor that could handle the demands of the millennial user, and a battery that can keep up with one’s daily activities. The Nova 2i definitely set a new standard for midrange devices, earning awards from several media outlets, such as the Best Value Smartphone, Midrange Phone of the Year and Product of the Year.
And while other brands seem to quickly forget about their phones soon after its launch, Huawei responded to the support of its users by continuously introducing new features like AR and Face Unlock to the Nova 2i, while offering special discounts, promos, and even price drops to make it more accessible to those who want to own this smartphone superstar.
So in a way, while the Nova 2i became a way for users to experience flagship features, it became an instrument for Huawei to relate itself to the younger Filipino market.
That social and trendy DNA of the Nova 2i continues with the brand’s first offering for 2018: the Nova 2 Lite.
I’ve been using the Nova 2 Lite for a couple of weeks and even brought it during a recent high-seas cruise and was quite impressed with its features—but what surprised me even more was when Huawei announced its P9,990 price tag, which easily makes it a great buy.
True to its name, the first thing you’ll notice after picking up the device is just how light it really is. Weighing in at just 155 grams, the Nova 2 Lite is made primarily of polycarbonate plastic as compared to the all-metal body build of its bigger brother. Despite the difference in material, however, the Nova 2 lite is still a stunner (especially the shiny blue variant), and has a look that stands out even from other pricier models. The only problem with this mirror-like finish is that you may need to put it in a case because it attracts fingerprint smudges quite easily.
Looking closer at the device, you’ll see the volume rocker and the power button on the right side while on the left is the SIM tray. Now if you are using two sims, you’ll be glad to know that the Nova 2 Lite has a triple-slot tray, which means you don’t have to choose between extra storage or a second SIM.
The top of the device is clean while the bottom of the phone houses the 3.5 headphone jack, microUSB port and a speaker grille.
At the back of the device you’ll find the horizontal dual-camera setup, flash and the very responsive fingerprint scanner you’ve come to expect from Huawei. The main camera is 13 megapixels with an aperture of f/2.2, and is equipped with phase detection autofocus. This is complemented with a 2-megapixel secondary camera with an f/2.0 to give you that smooth bokeh effect I’m sure you’ll use quite often. Camera modes include HDR, Panorama, Filter, Watermark, Document Scan and Good Food. Hopefully, a future update could include pro mode, which will allow you to change the settings even more.
Up front, the Nova 2 Lite has a 5.99 display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and HD+ resolution (720×1440 pixels). The screen size is great for mobile gaming and watching videos and the panel dishes out pretty good color accuracy with good viewing angles and enough brightness even if you are using it outdoors.
Above the display, in its usual position, is the 8-megapixel front camera which has an aperture f/2.0, and a self-toning flash (which is less blinding) and could prove useful when taking those party/dark indoor selfies.
There’s also Panorama mode in case you want to take groufies, and a Beauty mode which allows you to tweak different settings and save it for that consistent “perfect selfie” every time. The front camera also supports augmented-reality (AR) functions similar to the Nova 2i, and it can replace backgrounds and add stickers to your photos, plus there’s a new karaoke feature, which, I think, would be fun for those who love to sing using their smartphones.
In addition to the fingerprint scanner, the Nova 2 Lite also features Face Unlock—yup, similar to the iPhoneX but easier to set up. It’s pretty accurate with an adequate amount of light, and it works whether I’m wearing my eyeglasses or not. But I still prefer and recommend the fingerprint scanner for security purposes as Face Unlock is a bit slower and you also need to turn the screen on (by pressing the power button or double tapping on the screen). Still it’s a pretty cool addition.
On the hardware side, the Huawei Nova 2 lite has 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 quad-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of expandable storage.
The Nova 2 Lite comes with Android 8.0 out of the box and is complemented by the latest Huawei EMUI. It feels mostly smooth and responsive when swiping between multiple screens and switching apps, and though it does take a bit longer when initially launching apps compared to higher-end phones, the difference isn’t really that noticeable.
The 3,000-mAh battery is also enough for an entire day of moderate use.
I also discovered a couple of preinstalled apps worth mentioning, like Game Suite and Ride Mode. Game Suite can ensure an uninterrupted gaming experience by blocking most onscreen notifications except alarms, calls and low-battery alerts when a game is running. You can switch between Gaming Mode (improves game performance but increases power consumption), Smart Mode (balanced) and Powersaving Mode (reduced game performance). Ride Mode, on the other hand, turns Bluetooth and headset off and calls will be automatically answered with voice or SMS messages based on your ride settings. It can also track your ride and provide you with ride analytics. And if you are a new Huawei user simply tap on Tips icon to access the user guide and learn some really cool tips on how to master your phone.
With the Nova 2 lite, Huawei again smashes expectations of Dual Cameras being exclusive to pricey flagships, and the inclusion of a FullView Display, AR-enhanced selfie cam, Android Oreo and the newest EMUI 8.0 makes it a very good option for those who want a new phone without having to sacrifice their summer adventure trip.
For a more in-depth review of the Nova 2 Lite and tips, check out www.whereiseduy.com.
XIAOMI RETURNS TO PHL WITH A VENGEANCE
WHEN it comes to fans, there are but a few who could match the passion of Xiaomi’s loyal followers. As mentioned in a few articles there are actually “Mi fans” who get together to sing songs about the company, while there are also those who have had the brand’s logo shaved into their hair.
While I’m aware there are a lot of Pinoys Xiaomi fans, I didn’t believe it until I saw the looooong lines during the opening of the first Mi Store at TriNoma a few weeks ago.
Founded in 2010, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun and other cofounders started the company based on the vision “innovation for everyone.” Xiaomi products are well-known for putting a lot of power into the palms and purses of people, while taking very little from their pockets. The company would later be known as one of the most exciting technology companies in the world for making innovative and cutting-edge devices accessible to more people.
On Tuesday the fourth-largest smartphone vendor in the world officially made its comeback in the Philippines after a two-year absence and proved just just how serious they are at regaining lost ground by announcing new partnerships and launching two new handsets that seeks to overthrow the current leaders in the entry-level and midrange smartphone categories.
Xiaomi also announced its partnership with Grimalkin Corp., which will distribute, market and support the highly innovative products from Xiaomi in the Philippines, as well as partnerships with online shopping giants Lazada and Shopee.
Both of them will have official store pages offering the latest Xiaomi products.
“Our online store will help Xiaomi products reach the farthest corners of the Philippine archipelago, while brick-and-mortar shops will help us connect with those who want to touch and feel the products before they buy,” said John Chen, Xiaomi Director for Southeast Asia. “All official channels will offer products with official warranties so consumers will have peace of mind with every purchase of Xiaomi products.”
Xiaomi then announced that the second authorized Mi Store will be opening today, March 17, at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. The store will carry a wide range of Xiaomi products, including a series of Mi Ecosystem products such as smart home products, wearables and other accessories.
REDMI 5A, ENTRY-LEVEL SMARTPHONE KING
LEADING Xiaomi’s product offerings for the Philippines is the Redmi 5A. Dubbed the entry-level smartphone king, the 5-inch Redmi 5A comes with an array of high-quality features never seen before in this price category, including a 13-MP rear camera, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor and a 3000 mAh long-lasting battery—at a price of just P4,590. No smartphone in the Philippines comes close to these specs at this price—in fact other smartphones with similar specs start beyond P5,000.
The Redmi 5A delivers fast and smooth performance and phone supports simultaneous use of two 4G nano SIM cards and a microSD card up to 128GB. Redmi 5A boasts a 5-inch fully-laminated HD display and houses a 3,000 mAh long-lasting battery, that can last up to eight days standby time. The camera on Redmi 5A is one of the highlights for an entry-level smartphone. Redmi 5A is equipped with a 13-MP rear camera with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) for fast focusing and an f/2.2 aperture that guarantees excellent picture clarity. For selfie lovers, it has a 5-MP front camera with an f/2.0 aperture and comes with Xiaomi’s Beautify mode.
The Redmi 5A comes with a metallic matte finish and will be available in three colors: dark grey, gold and rose gold. It comes with 2GB RAM + 16GB storage and is now available on the official Lazada Mi Store with a retail price of P4590.
Another smartphone which is likely to make a strong presence in the midrange segment is the Redmi 5 Plus. This marks the first time that full-screen display innovations have been introduced in this smartphone category. If you recall, Xiaomi was the first technology company to bring the full-screen display concept into the mainstream with its groundbreaking Mi Mix in 2016. Redmi 5 Plus now delivers this same concept to a new wave of mobile users, allowing them to benefit from the increased usable screen area while retaining a compact form factor. Other than the 18:9 FHD+ display, Redmi 5 Plus bring features previously unseen in this category, including Qualcomm’s 14nm eight-core processors, large pixel (1.25µm) sensors for the main camera, front selfie light, as well as a long-lasting 4000mAh battery that can last for up to two days.
Redmi 5 Plus (4GB RAM + 64GB storage) has a retail price of P9,990, and will be available starting today, March 17, at Authorized Mi Stores in the Philippines.