The first batch of mid-range smartphones for the year has finally arrived.
Here we have the Huawei Nova 7i — a rebranded Nova smartphone that was launched in China late last year. Unlike the China-exclusive model, this new one is expected to arrive in more countries, possibly including here in the Philippines.
Just by looking at the renders, you can already tell the Nov 7i has a lot of things to offer. There’ the bizarre cameras on the back, a punch-hole on the screen, and a unique color gradient design.
But, a smartphone’s outer shell can only tell so much. What’s more important, especially on a midrange device like this, is the amount of power you can get out of it.
Which is why we’re comparing it with one of its biggest competitor in this sub-Php13k price range — the POCO X2. Coming from a popular line of Xiaomi devices, POCO is now its own brand. And being their first release, the POCO X2 aims to impress.
So, here in our Huawei Nova 7i versus POCO X2 specifications and features comparison, we’ll see which between the two can provide better value for the money. Let’s begin.
POCO X2 | Huawei Nova 7i | |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Android 10 MIUI 11 | Android 10 EMUI 10.0.1 (No GMS) |
SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Hybrid) | Dual SIM Dual Standby (Hybrid) |
Display | 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution Corning Gorilla Glass 5 HDR 10 120Hz refresh rate | 6.4-inch FHD+ LCD 2310 x 1080 pixel resolution ~398ppi |
Processor | 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G octa-core | 2.27GHz Kirin 810 octa-core |
RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB |
GPU | Adreno 618 | Mali-G52 |
Storage | 64GB/128GB/256GB expandable | 128GB expandable via NM card up to 256GB |
Front camera | 20-megapixel 2-megapixel punch-hole front cameras | 16-megapixel |
Rear Camera | 64-megapixel (f/1.9) 8-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.2) 2-megapixel (macro) 2-megapixel (depth sensor) PDAF Dual-tone flash AI Scene Detection | 48-megapixel (f/1.8) 8-megapixel (ultra wide) 2-megapixel (macro) 2-megapixel (depth sensor) PDAF LED flash AI Scene Detection |
Audio | Headphone jack Super Linear Speaker Golden Ears audio experts | Headphone jack Single loudspeaker |
Security | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Face unlock | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
Connectivity | 4G LTE, VoLTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 dual-band GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BDS, A-GPS Headphone jack USB Type-C | 4G LTE, VoLTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, MIMO Bluetooth 5.0 dual-band GPS, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, Galileo Headphone jack USB Type-C |
Dimensions | 165.3 x 76.6 x 8.79mm | 159.2 x 76.3 x 8.7mm |
Weight | 208g | 183g |
Colors | Phoenix Red Atlantis Blue Matrix Purple | Sakura Pink Crush Green Midnight Black |
Battery | 4,500mAh 27W charger | 4,200mAh 40W Huawei SuperCharge |
Price | 6GB/64GB: Rs 15,999 (~Php11,500) 6GB/128GB: Rs 16,999 (~Php12,200) 8GB/256GB: Rs 19,999 (~Php14,300) | MYR1,099 (~Php13,400) |
POCO really nailed the POCO X2 that it’s almost no match to the new Huawei Nova 7i. The first big win is seen in the display department. The X2 features a bigger 6.67-inch Full HD+ LCD screen, versus the 6.4-inches on the Nova 7i.
What’s more interesting is, the POCO X2 has HDR 10 support, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, and a fast 120Hz refresh rate. A feature that we only see in more expensive devices like the Galaxy S20 series, as it easily provides a way smoother experience, even if you’re just browsing the interface.
The POCO X2 also has a better primary camera. This handset uses a 64-megapixel primary shooter. Easily outshining the 48-megapixel on the Nova 7i.
They do share the same 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel macro, and 2-megapixel depth-sensors. The two also have punch-hole displays for the selfie snappers. But then again, the X2 gets the one up with its 20-megapixel and 2-megapixel dual-cameras, while the competition only comes with a single 16-megapixel front-facing camera.
The POCO X2 also has a 4,500mAh battery, which is slightly bigger than the 4,200mAh on the Huawei Nova 7i.
But to Huawei’s credit, the Nova 7i does come with key features that are better than the X2. One of them is its Kirin 810 processor. Based on a lot of performance reviews, it outshines the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G in synthetic and real-world workloads.
It also features an ultra-fast 40W Huawei SuperCharge, which used to be exclusive to Huawei’s flagship devices. That’s much higher than the 27W charger that the POCO X2 comes with.
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But still, all of the better features you can get from the POCO X2 clearly outshines the advantages of going with the Huawei Nova 7i.
Plus, there’s the big issue of the Nova 7i’s lack of Google Mobile Services support. It’s missing a Google Play Store and other Google apps, so you’d be relying on Huawei’s own App Gallery and hope that all the apps you need are right there.
We also have the pricing. The Huawei Nova 7i is available in Malaysia for MYR1,099, which costs around Php13,400 when directly converted to Philippine peso.
On the other hand, the POCO X2’s price starts at Rs. 15,999 or approximately Php11,500. On the downside, it only comes with a 6GB/64GB configuration, instead of 8GB/128GB. However, POCO does give you an option to get the X2 8GB/256GB model instead.