Several new Huawei Nova smartphones have entered the Malaysian market this year. One of them is the Huawei Nova 12S with an emphasis on premium design and camera capabilities for a mid-range device. Generally it can be explained that the Nova 12S offers almost the same internal design and hardware as the Nova 11 Pro.
The only difference lies in the flat body construction, camera without variable aperature, slower charging and single selfie camera. To see if this mid-range device is still worth buying in a very competitive market or otherwise. Here's our review for the device.
Specifications
HUAWEI NOVA 12S
6.7-inch FHD+ screen (1084 x 2412 pixels)
120Hz, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi)
Snapdragon 778G 4G processor (6 nm)
4 x 2.4 GHz Kryo 670 chips
4 x 1.8 GHz Kryo 670
Adreno 642L Graphics Chip
RAM 8GB RAM
Internal Load 256GB ROM
Primary Camera 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), Laser AF, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultra-wide)
Selfie Camera 60 MP, f/2.4, 100˚ (ultra-wide)
4500 mAh battery
Wired 66W
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 4G
NFC Available
No Audio Jack
Waterproof None
Scan System Side fingerprint scan
Face Scan
Sale Price RM1,999 (8/256GB)
Front Screen
The use of an OLED screen is still maintained with a 6.7-inch size and FHD+ resolution (2412 X 1084 pixels) which still supports a 120Hz refresh rate. Although it is not of the LTPO type, there is a Dynamic Mode available that allows the screen to switch between 60-120Hz automatically depending on the content being used.
To be honest we have no issues with it as it can still be considered typical for a mid-range device. In fact coupled with the now completely flat screen construction makes the device more fun to use. The quality of the screen can also be praised with a level of brightness that is quite satisfactory, especially when used in closed areas.
The downside is that the icon color is less vibrant and difficult to read in bright sunlight. The screen will dim further limiting the view to see the content well. The Netflix app can be used without problems via data transferred from the old device since it is not offered by default. However the content is still limited to SD and no HDR.
Physical Design
Nova 12s has a thin body with a thickness of 6.88mm and weighs only 169 grams including the battery. A boxy build with a flat screen is also used this time. Followed by rounded sides to provide a more comfortable grip experience. The device also uses a round camera bump like the previous Nova 11 Pro.
Also visible is a giant lens paired with a small lens in a separate bump. In addition, Nova branding also dominates the panel for a more attractive match. Huawei also presents a collection of attractive designs available in three color options, namely Blue, White and Black.
Using two different concepts in two types of construction materials, the Blue and White collection features a design that has been given a new twist. It uses a dull back panel with an abstract design to show a charming effect. At the same time able to provide the best match especially to be styled in any situation.
Meanwhile, simple and plain designs are applied in the Black collection for those who value the concept of minimalism but still want to appear stylish. This is because the collection is designed with a concise back panel without excess in appearance. In this case the finish is beautiful but the plastic build makes it feel cheap to hold.
The right side houses the power button and audio adjustment with a good construction and comfortable to press. The power button also has a green finish to distinguish it from the audio adjustment button. The SIM slot can be found at the bottom along with the USB-C port and a speaker. Through it as many as two different SIMs can be fully used without having to share with the microSD card.
The Nova 12s also offers stereo speakers with another placed at the top of the device. There is no audio jack, which is not surprising because it has been done for several generations.
Biometrics
The Nova 12s has an in-display fingerprint scanner. It works best on clean, non-sweaty fingers. However, the use of the face scan system will be more recommended because of the consistently smooth performance even in the dark. Only when wearing glasses it will fail to detect faces well. Other biometric systems are also provided including Smart Unlock which allows the Nova 12s to be unlocked using other connected devices.
Software – EMUI 14
The new EMUI 14 launcher is used at the same time making the Nova 12s one of the first to support it. It can be clearly seen that this new EMUI launcher is no different from the existing HarmonyOS 4.0. Through it Huawei presents a new concept with more options for personal settings. For example, we can use a personal photo and then customize it with various patterns available to be used as the background image (wallpaper) of the main screen.
The choice of widgets is also more with various sizes that can be placed on the home screen. Also followed is the ability to change the font that suits our preferences. Panorama Weather has also been added to allow users to track daily weather forecasts in real time more accurately.
Another additional feature that exists is Live View which is cloned using the concept from Dynamic Island on Apple devices. It can show various system status such as call duration, unlock, timer, screen capture and charging. EMUI 14 also focuses on privacy through the Privacy Center function that can check how often applications access the device's data.
Benchmark – Snapdragon 778G chip
The Snapdragon 778G 4G chip is used with 8GB of RAM memory and 256GB of internal storage for the mainstay. No slot for microSD is included but the device can add up to 3GB of RAM virtually using the storage section. It is worth mentioning that it is activated directly by default as can be found on Honor devices. Several benchmark tests were also run on the device with scores as follows:
AnTuTu 3D
Huawei Nova 12s – 587,535
Samsung Galaxy A55 – 686,987
Nothing Phone (2a) – 685,115
Oppo Reno11 F 5G – 606,353
Geekbench 6
Huawei Nova 12s – 991/1879
Samsung Galaxy A55 – 1120/3338
Nothing Phone (2a) – 1110/2589
Oppo Reno11 F 5G – 884/2164
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Huawei Nova 12s – 2494 / 14.94
Samsung Galaxy A55 – 1049
Nothing Phone (2a) – 1157
Oppo Reno11 F 5G – None
It is not certain why the benchmark detects this device as Nova 11. Next, the use of the Snapdragon 778G chip here can be considered outdated when it has also been used since the Nova 9 device. It is even old because it was launched in 2021. Then the lack of a built-in 5G network is also a a significant drawback when the smartphone industry is already flooded with various better products.
However, it does not mean that this device is not able to function well for daily use. In fact more than enough without any critical issues found throughout the review period. This includes browsing the internet, taking pictures, replying to messages and so on.
Scrolling feels smooth with a consistent response. Applications can also be launched without any system failure issues. Heat production is good with an acceptable warmth in some situations.
Next, the main thing that is often discussed is of course about GMS services. For information, Huawei devices do not have GMS services, including the Google Play application store. But there are still other ways that can help users install Google applications on this Huawei device through the microG service. It should be emphasized that it is not an ideal official solution but simply an alternative to Huawei AppGallery for insufficient applications.
Camera And Picture Quality
The Nova 12s main camera combines a 50MP Ultra Vision (f/1.9) + 8MP Ultra wide and macro (f/2.2) sensor on the back. It's the same camera configuration used on the Nova 11 Pro without the variable aperture capability. On the front, only one 60MP sensor with fixed focus is used and can capture wide images.
As usual pictures can only be taken with 4:3, 1:1 and full aspect ratio. Video settings can record at a maximum of 4K30FPS with electronic stabilization (AIS) always on. Various camera mode options are also provided which include Night, Photo, Portrait, Video and More. The camera app is also improved with AI just like before. Also allows it to recognize and adjust settings according to the current scene.
The quality of the pictures can be seen for yourself through the attached examples. Reproduction is good especially in bright lighting situations. The details on the image are well maintained, there are no noticeable noise problems and the contrast is also high. Color reproduction is also good, just a little more saturated than it should be.
The same goes for the ultra-wide capabilities that look good with vibrant color tones and are also able to offer sufficient detail and exposure. But when taken in a dim situation the weakness will begin to show. The picture becomes less satisfactory with inconsistent color reproduction. Followed by noise problems and less sharp images that are clearly visible. Night shots are also less than satisfactory with the same problem.
Satisfactory zoom quality is only up to 2X but the result is a little softer than usual. Finally, selfies look satisfying with the ability to take wide-angle and portrait shots that are more than adequate.
Battery Endurance
The Nova 12s has a modest battery with a capacity of 4500mAh. On normal use it can last up to 21 hours with the screen on for up to 8 hours. This usage life drops to around 16 hours with the screen on for almost 6 hours. Recharging can be done via USB-C port and 66W wired fast charging. The battery can be fully charged in less than 60 minutes. No wireless charging provided.
Audio
The Nova 12s comes with a pair of stereo speakers with one on the bottom and one on the top. The listening experience is mediocre with an unbalanced audio cast. The bottom speakers sound louder than the top. Just like other Huawei devices, the Nova 12s speakers also support the Histen system which will operate when audio accessories are plugged in.
What's In The Box
Here's what's included in the Huawei Nova 12s box:
1 x Huawei Nova 12s.
1 x 66W Charger Head.
1 x USB-C to USB-A Cable.
1 x Silicone Frame.
1 x User Manual.
1 x SIM Extractor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Nova 12S is actually able to attract the interest of some users. It offers a unique finish along with a build that is comfortable to hold. The display quality is also great along with the ability of the device to function well for most daily use. The performance of the camera also gives sufficient results although it is not perfect.
It's just that no GMS is of course a big drawback and using MicroG is also not an ideal solution. Then this Huawei device also just supports LTE. If the things mentioned are not an obstacle for you then this device can only be considered to be owned.
Pro
Comfortable construction in the hand.
Beautiful OLED screen, 120Hz refresh rate.
Fast facial scanning system.
Camera performance is more than adequate.
Cons
There is no HDR support and Full HD resolution on Netflix.
Unbalanced audio.
No 5G.
No GMS.