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.

Huawei-Nova-7i

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.

POCO-X2-NoypiGeeks-5392

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 X2Huawei Nova 7i
Operating SystemAndroid 10
MIUI 11
Android 10
EMUI 10.0.1
(No GMS)
SIMDual SIM
Dual Standby (Hybrid)
Dual SIM
Dual Standby (Hybrid)
Display6.67-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
Processor2.2GHz Qualcomm
Snapdragon 730G
octa-core
2.27GHz Kirin 810 octa-core
RAM6GB/8GB8GB
GPUAdreno 618Mali-G52
Storage64GB/128GB/256GB
expandable
128GB
expandable via NM card up to 256GB
Front camera20-megapixel
2-megapixel punch-hole
front cameras
16-megapixel
Rear Camera64-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
AudioHeadphone jack
Super Linear Speaker
Golden Ears
audio experts
Headphone jack
Single loudspeaker
SecuritySide-mounted
fingerprint scanner
Face unlock
Side-mounted
fingerprint scanner
Face unlock
Connectivity4G 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
Dimensions165.3 x 76.6 x 8.79mm159.2 x 76.3 x 8.7mm
Weight208g183g
ColorsPhoenix Red
Atlantis Blue
Matrix Purple
Sakura Pink
Crush Green
Midnight Black
Battery4,500mAh
27W charger
4,200mAh
40W Huawei SuperCharge
Price6GB/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-X2-PH

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.

POCO-X2-NoypiGeeks-5394

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.

Related

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.

POCO-X2-NoypiGeeks-5393

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.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *