THE Huawei Nova 2i is a phone of many names. It’s been called the Maimang 6 in other countries, or the Honor 9i, or even the Huawei Mate 10 Lite. Since it launched last month, it has added even more labels to its name—midrange wonder, king of midrange smartphones, best-value selfie smartphone, new standard of midrange phones, etc.
All for good reason, as it’s not every day that you get a flagship-looking device that’s packed with four cameras, a full-view display, high-end specs—at a price that probably left other brands both #shookt and #triggered.
I’ve been using the Huawei Nova 2i for the past few weeks, and I must say it didn’t make me miss my iPhone 7Plus that much.
COMPACT METAL BODY, FULL-HD FULL-VIEW DISPLAY
FOR some reason, I keep thinking about Ellen Adarna as I’m describing the Nova 2i’s compact, yet, big display. Should I be picturing Kim Domingo instead? Go figure. The Nova 2i is a sexy-looking smartphone and it’s the first smartphone from Huawei that sports an almost bezel-less display.
The 18:9 screen aspect ratio is becoming the norm this year, and the Nova 2i follows that convention. But unlike other smartphone manufacturers who are implementing similar displays just for the sake of joining the trend, the Nova 2i has a full-HD plus full-view resolution display of 2160 x 1080 (2.5D IPS panel). It also has an 83-percent screen-to-body ratio, so even though the display size is 5.93 inch, holding the device in your hand still feels comfortable.
The midrange market used to be composed of smartphones made up of plastic bodies, obviously to keep the costs down. In the case of the Nova 2i, however, Huawei opted for an all-metal body with a matte finish similar to the P10 Plus to give it a more premium look and feel. Just be sure to use the plastic case that comes with it, as the phone can be a fingerprint magnet (and a bit slippery).
On the right side, you’ll find the power button and volume rocker, while on the left is the hybrid SIM slot tray which supports dual nano SIMs. The second tray also functions as a microSD-card slot. Only the first SIM tray supports 4G LTE, while the second one only supports 2G.
Up top is the noise-canceling mic, while the 3.5-mm audio jack, microUSB port and loudspeakers are at the bottom along with the primary microphone.
At the back are the two rear cameras stacked on top of each other and a single LED flash that sits above them. Like most Huawei devices, the fingerprint sensor is also at the back, which I think is still the best location for it.
FOUR CAMERAS AND SO MUCH MORE
THE Nova 2i gets the distinction as Huawei’s first smartphone to sport a quad-camera setup—that’s two rear cameras and two front-facing cameras. Now let me ask you, how many flagship phones can you name that has four cameras? And to think, it’s also the only mid-ranger to have that many cameras. While more doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best, the Nova 2i has a pretty impressive camera setup that will more than satisfy the selfie shutterbug in you.
For the rear main dual camera, it uses a 16-megapixel (MP) + 2-MP sensor, while the front pair uses a 13 MP + 2 MP. The secondary 2-MP sensor on both sides acts as depth-sensing sensors to give your photos that artsy blur or bokeh effect.
I’ve been using dual-camera phones since the Honor 6Plus a couple of years ago, and I must admit that bokeh can make your photos look instantly better. With the Nova 2i, the bokeh effect is further improved, making it a lot smoother than previous devices. You can still adjust the focus after taking the photo of course, but it makes portrait mode more natural, and not look like digital cutouts.
For those who love selfies, the dual front camera also supports bokeh mode, and even has a smart ambient flash. That sensor, the company says, is smart enough to tell the distance between your arm and the selfie stick’s length, so depending on the distance, the flash will automatically adjust the brightness intensity. I haven’t noticed it much though, as I try to avoid looking at the flash when taking those dark room/party selfies.
The Nova 2i nearly has all the modes found on the higher-end Huawei P and Mate series, except for the Leica monochrome and color filters. Swipe left and be sure to experiment with wide aperture (bokeh), portrait, HDR, night shot and light painting (use a tripod). There’s even a pro-photo and pro-video modes. The front camera also has a new “effect mode” that gives you several cute effects that can turn you into a cat, a rabbit, dog, (bride!), etc.—the reasons for which can only be explained by people below 18 years old. I do love beauty mode (level 8 max), though, as it instantly removes 20 to 30 years off my age (which I use sparingly of course).
The Huawei Nova 2i performs quite well in general photography, especially when there’s good lighting. But as you might expect from a midrange handset, there’s a bit of decline in quality in low light or indoor shots. Now if you are going to ask me about how it compares to other Huawei’s phones, like the P9 and P10, or the upcoming Mate 10/Mate 10 Pro, they are called flagships for a reason, but compared to similarly priced smartphones, the Nova 2i can definitely stand its ground.
The Nova 2i is powered by a Kirin 659 octa-core processor with a top speed of 2.36GHz, and paired with a Mali T830 GPU, similar to the ones used in the Huawei G5 2017. This makes it a very good overall performer for most of your work and social-related tasks. The phone is snappy and responsive, and gaming is smooth even for some of those graphically intensive ones, such as Asphalt8 and NBA2k17 (on medium settings).
The Nova 2i has a built-in 3,340mAh Li-Ion battery, and based on my daily usage, mostly for mobile Internet and social media, it can last me the entire day with a bit of spare juice for “wazing” my way home. Sadly, Huawei opted to use the old microUSB port instead of the faster USB Type-C, so it doesn’t support fast charging. Charging time as such is quite long—about two to two-and-a-half hours.
Like I mentioned above, Huawei might be pushing for the Nova 2i’s four cameras, but the more you use it, the more you’ll be able to discover and appreciate its other features. The full-view screen is big, beautiful and sharp, which makes it perfect for watching videos, browsing the Internet and for other work apps. Performance is above average, and calls, text and mobile signals are very reliable and pretty much what you’d expect from a Huawei smartphone.
Overall, the Nova 2i is a well-balanced, well-designed and well-thought-out smartphone that deserves all the praise it has been getting. It’s elevated the standard for midrange smartphones without raising the price tag.
Besides the unavailability of the Aurora Blue color (as of this writing), there is really very little to complain about (again considering its price point)—the only thing that will probably leave you unsatisfied is that nagging feeling if you’re still undecided about getting yourself a Nova 2i right now.
‘PRIVILEGED’ AND ‘PREFERRED’
A FEW weeks ago, I was invited to a media launch for the Ayala Rewards Circle (ARC) app, so to get an idea of what the app was all about, I downloaded it and tried to create an account using my mobile number and e-mail—just like with any other app.
After a few tries, it kept displaying the error message “Information does not match our records. Please try again.” So I sent an e-mail to the customer service, and in just a few minutes I got a reply asking for a few other info.
It was then that I realized, this isn’t just some “reward” card, and you don’t get to apply for membership to the Ayala Rewards Circle: You get qualified—and invited.
Unlike most loyalty/rewards cards, which award you for your purchases at their establishments, the ARC goes beyond the point system offering services to their list of “preferred” and “privileged” clientèle.
“ARC is a multi-industry appreciation program for the Ayala group’s most-valued customers,” Maria Angelica B. Rapadas, president and general manager of ARC, told us over launch.
“We want to redefine what a customer loyalty program looks like. We go beyond discounts and promos, which our members also enjoy, and offer always-on mobile assistance, world-class concierge services and access to exclusive global events.”
“At Ayala, our customers are our lifeblood, and we want our most-valued clients to enjoy amazing rewards not just with one business but throughout the entire Ayala group. This means that if you’re a preferred BPI client, you will also be a preferred client across the Ayala group of companies and its hand-picked partners.”
In line with this commitment of providing its customers the most premium experience, is their unique 24-hour ARC Concierge. The concierge is customer support taken to the next level, and can offer a wide range of services—from getting a simple phone listing and making restaurant reservations, to more complicated requests, such as preparing a special birthday party, booking a dinner cruise or making travel arrangements.
“The concierge can arrange a member’s travel, hotel and dining reservations, as well as bookings to iconic events, such as the Singapore Grand Prix, the PGA Master’s Tournament, Wimbledon and London Fashion Week,” Rapadas added.
Since it was fully implemented in 2014, the ARC currently has 100,000 members with an average age of 47. Most of them are entrepreneurs or upper management, added Patricia Y. Manhit, COO of ARC.
Manhit says they are looking to increase membership to 200,000 in the next two to three years. Other perks of ARC members include priority handling at BPI and in select Globe stores, special deals and discounts with Ayala-owned Isuzu, Volkswagen and Honda dealerships, Ayala property promos and special rates at Ayala Hotels and Resorts, privileges from local and international retail, dining and leisure partners and invites to exclusive events. All of which you can check using the ARC app.
So how do you get invited to this very exclusive circle? Requirement for membership eligibility include any of the following: a single P1.25-million purchase at AC Automotive dealerships; an accumulated purchase of P2 million made in the last five years; a purchase worth at least P3 million from Ayala Land brands (Premier, Alveo and Avida) in the last seven years; a private or preferred BPI client account; and a Globe Platinum subscription.
“A membership lasts five years, after which, the company will reassess if a member is still eligible,” Rapadas said.
Think you are qualified for the ARC? Head over to www.ayalarewardscircle.com or www.facebook.com/ayalarewardscircle for more information.
/ Tech Thoughts: “While technology is important, it’s what we do with it that truly matters.”—Muhammad Yunus