HUAWEI nova 11 Pro Review | Geek Lifestyle

The current smartphone arms race has seen HUAWEI going head-to-head with its brand competitors in releasing quality gadgets with a stylish edge. Taking center stage this time around, we have a new flagship-level contender that boasts sleek aesthetics and the specs to back it up, the brand-new nova 11 Pro.

Producing visually appealing gadgetry has been HUAWEI’s calling card, with the Mate series being subtle yet chic, and the new P60 Pro turning out gorgeously. The nova 11 Pro doesn’t fall far from the flagship family tree. With a bold, ornate design, it’s an eyecatcher for sure. In terms of hardware, we can’t deny its quality.

This begs the question. Is it all for show, or is there a sufficient amount of substance beneath the gaudy surface? Let’s check out the HUAWEI nova 11 Pro.

Geek-sthetic

The box’s simplicity belies what’s inside. The nova 11 Pro comes clad in its patented nova Monogram Vegan Leather Design which is quite nice to the touch. Ours comes in a nice, emerald green but this model also comes in elegant black as well. The design is intricate with its aesthetics but rugged enough to take a beating–if the occasion arises.

Going up top, we get a gander at its Super Star Orbit Ring that houses its dual Ultravision shooter. You can see a bit of a similarity to its bigger P60 Pro sibling, but you’ll see later on that the nova 11 Pro has a few tricks of its own up its sleeve.

Overall, when it comes to looks, it’s one luxurious experience in your hands. It also helps that it’s pretty thin and light at 6.88 mm and 168 g.

Binge-Watching Factor

Now, onto the 6.7-inch OLED straight screen. With some e extremely narrow bezels at 1.75 mm and 1.98 mm on the upper and lower bezels respectively, and 1.59 mm left and right, we get a very sweet 93.4% screen-to-body ratio that is great for any viewing purposes. The bezels almost disappear.

Now, regardless of what you’re watching you’re guaranteed a clear vibrant viewing experience. After all, what use would you have for all that binge-watch real estate if you don’t have any vibrant colors? The nova 11 Pro’s Display Turbo and ultra-high-resolution of 2652 x 1200 offers a feast for your eyes. The 1440 High-Frequency PWM dimming also ensured you won’t get a flashbang to the face if you suddenly decide to switch off the house lights. It’s a solid display.

The 120Hz refresh rate adds a nice touch, whether you’re zipping through a multitude of apps on your screen or surfing the web in real-time. As for any streaming platforms or video hosting sites, you won’t encounter any non-ISP-related problems. After all, your internet speed factors into your overall viewing enjoyment.

Gaming Prowess

Ah, yes. Once again, it’s time to play “Can it run Genshin Impact without dying?” Well, sadly for those waiting patiently for a smartphone to fail this test and spontaneously combust, the nova 11 Pro passes with flying colors. Of course, one must curb their expectations to get the best results. Thanks to its Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G and 8GB of RAM, you can run good ol’ Genshin at high settings, no sweat. Cranking things up to 60 FPS might see a few jitters, but it doesn’t take away from the experience. However, things got a bit interesting with Genshin’s newest relative, Honkai Star Rail.

Of course, we’re taking into account the fact that this game isn’t as “open world” or action adventure-esque. Naturally, the demands would be lower. Still, being able to play at very high settings plus 60 FPS is quite the chef’s kiss. It was so nice to see both versions of my faithful husbando Gepard smack each other in the face at full graphical settings.

Since the nova 11 Pro can run these two demanding juggernauts of a game, rest assured you can run anything else at max settings. That goes for your favorite MOBAs, FPS titles, and other gacha games that don’t take up a quarter of your 256 GB storage–which the nova 11 Pro has.

Geek Photoshoot Capabilities

The nova 11 Pro’s bread and butter. Surely, the prior features already make this phone quite the premium item. But its cameras just might help seal the deal for you. Not only does it have some pretty powerful peepers, but it also has a few special quirks that might entice you even more.

Now, there’s a lot going on with the nova 11 Pro’s dual camera setup. The 50 MP main shooter and 8 MP ultrawide lens are quite the tandem. Making use of the XD Portrait feature for the first time, users are guaranteed highly detailed and vibrantly colored photos. This also makes use of low-light portrait enhancement technology, and it’s quite evident in the shots we took. The detail is definitely there, and the colors do pop. One thing worth pointing out is how seamless the bokeh effect is.

As for normal and 2X zoom, you get the same amount of clarity and detail, which is great. However, once you crank the zoom up to 10, you get a teensy bit of noise. While this isn’t a telephoto lens, it’s still nice to see a bit of detail way up close.

As for low light and night shots, we were pleasantly surprised. Whatever aggression was lacking in the portrait bokeh was made up with how any dim settings were made luminescent. That XD portrait technology really kicks in. Aside from pitch darkness, you can expect some very nice low-lit night shots if ever that tickles your fancy.

The dual selfie camera is a heavy hitter. Packing a 60MP ultrawide and 8MP portrait lens that works in tandem with QPD Full-Pixel Precise Focus, you can expect some gorgeous photos that suit your gorgeous face. If you enjoyed the clarity and detail from the main shooters, you’ll have a blast up front. This doesn’t apply to my face, though. Mine is beyond redemption.

Now, for the special features. Of course, you get the usual loadout of any good camera like a Pro Mode, an adjustable aperture, and more. However, the nova 11 Pros’s “Vlog Mode” is one feature worth highlighting. This definitely helps you step up your content creation game, and despite its namesake, you aren’t limited to just vlogging. Whether it’s TikTok videos, Reels, Youtube shorts, or whatnot, this feature will make life easier for you.

Lastly, video capabilities. You’re a bit spoiled for choice here as you can shoot 4K video from both front and rear cameras, albeit at 30 FPS. However, this also means that you get a solid 1080p 60 FPS from the same shooters. You also make use of the aforementioned AI-powered cameras, so expect some quality clips.

Everyday Reliability

The nova 11 Pro has the potential to be your powerful, yet stylish daily driver. With its aesthetics and specs, it’s a worthy contender if you’re in the market for a reliable smartphone. The rugged durability extends to its display, adorned with Kunlun Glass–providing quite the nigh unbreakable screen. It’s also worth noting that the nova 11 Pro is equipped with a 4500 mAh battery with 100W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo7, allowing you to top up to 60% in 10 minutes, and can be fully charged in 20 minutes when the screen is off. You’ll be up and about in no time.

You’re guaranteed a smooth experience with EMUI 13, and app management is easy with the help of the HUAWEI App Gallery. If you’re curious about how to manage without Google Services, there’s a way around it. Given how the Snapdragon 778G is optimized, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll have a smooth experience, regardless.

Final Geek Lifestyle Verdict

The HUAWEI nova 11 Pro offers style and class in a no-nonsense package. While it does scream “extravagance,” it offers efficiency that can go toe-to-toe with some flagships out on the playing field. If you’re in the market for a phone that has powerful cameras, gaming capabilities, and a lovely display all packed in a deceptively rugged yet chic exterior, this might be the one you’ve been looking for.

The nova 11 series is available for pre-order and along with it, a few freebies. In terms of pricing, the nova 11 Pro comes at PHP 33,999. The nova 11 will be priced at PHP 24,999. For the nova 11i, you can score it for PHP 11,999 for the 8GB/128GB variant, and PHP 13,999 for 8GB/256GB.