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It might have powerful internals, but the HUAWEI Nova 3 is all about its four cameras
- The HUAWEI Nova 3 features four cameras, two in the front and two around back.
- The phone also features a display notch, the Kirin 970 SoC, and visually striking color options.
- The Nova 3 is now available in China.
Huawei might have more than a few headaches in the U.S., but the company continues to churn out smartphones in more hospitable regions. The HUAWEI Nova 3 is one such smartphone that, while introducing several flagship-level features, focuses on its four cameras.
The phone features dual 24MP and 2MP cameras on the front and dual 24MP and 16MP cameras around back. The Kirin 970 chipset under the hood brings its neural processing unity (NPU) with it, which allows both camera arrays to use HUAWEI’s AI-enhanced features.
For example, the front cameras can recognize and enhance up to eight scenes and objects. The rear cameras, by comparison, can detect and enhance up to 22 scenes and objects. The camera arrays also detect your face and apply adjustments using beautification algorithms, though the feature will cater more to those in the East.
The front cameras are not just there to deliver portrait selfies, however. They also come into play with the Nova 3’s 3D Qmojis, which mimic your facial expressions and look absolutely awful. The bunny, in particular, looks like something that will obliterate your soul if you stare into it for too long.
The front cameras are also put to use with the phone’s face unlock feature, which promises to work in any lighting condition with an infrared sensor. You still have a fingerprint reader around back, should you want a different way to unlock the Nova 3.
Perhaps the face unlock feature is why the notch is not as small as it is on the OnePlus 6 or LG G7 ThinQ. As polarizing as it is, the notch allows for a 6.3-inch Full HD+ (2,340 x 1,080) display with minimal bezels on the sides. There is a bit of a chin at the bottom, but the display stretches to a very tall 19.5:9 aspect ratio.
Elsewhere, the Nova 3 features either 4GB or 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, a 3,750mAh battery, and EMUI 8.2 layered on Android 8.1 Oreo. The phone notably supports HUAWEI’s GPU Turbo, which supposedly increases performance when playing graphically-intensive games.
Finally, the Nova 3 comes in five colors: Airy Blue, Red, Black, Primrose Gold, and the jaw-dropping Iris Purple that features a gradient effect.
You can grab the Nova 3 in China for 2,999 yuan (~$446). There is no word on if the phone will be available in other markets.