Huawei Nova 2016 Review: Stylish Mid-Range Smartphone

Huawei Nova (2016)

English Definition

The Huawei Nova (2016) is a mid-range Android smartphone announced in September 2016 and released globally in October 2016, positioned as a style-focused device targeting young users with a slim design, vibrant color options, and balanced daily-use performance. It features a 5-inch Full HD display, Huawei Kirin 658 chipset, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Huawei EMUI 4.1. The device competed against mid-range rivals like the Xiaomi Mi 5s and Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016), emphasizing portability and selfie capabilities at an accessible price point.

Core Specifications

Category	Details
Launch & Positioning	Announced: September 1, 2016; Released: October 2016; mid-range; variants: 3GB RAM+32GB storage, 4GB RAM+64GB storage; launch price: ~€299 (32GB variant); colors: Silver, Champagne Gold, Rose Gold, Black; model numbers: CAN-L01, CAN-L11, CAN-L21
Display	5.0-inch IPS LCD Full HD display; 1920×1080 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio, ~441 ppi); 16M colors; 450 nits peak brightness; capacitive multi-touch; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
Processor & Performance	Huawei Kirin 658 (28nm HPC+ process); octa-core CPU (4×2.1GHz Cortex-A53 + 4×1.7GHz Cortex-A53); Mali-T830 MP2 GPU; 3GB/4GB LPDDR3 RAM; 32GB/64GB eMMC 5.1 storage; microSDXC expandable up to 128GB (hybrid SIM slot)
Camera System	– Rear Camera: 13MP sensor (f/2.2 aperture, PDAF, 1/3.06-inch sensor size), LED flash, HDR, panorama mode; 1080p@30fps video recording- Front Camera: 8MP sensor (f/2.0 aperture, fixed focus), AI beauty mode, selfie panorama; 1080p@30fps video recording
Battery & Charging	3020mAh non-removable Li-Po battery; 9V/2A fast charging (Huawei Quick Charge 2.0); 5V/2A standard charging; micro-USB 2.0 port; up to 15 hours of 4G talk time, up to 400 hours of standby time
Connectivity	4G LTE Cat.6 (300 Mbps download/50 Mbps upload); Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz only); Bluetooth 4.1 (A2DP, LE); NFC (market-dependent); GPS/GLONASS/Beidou; 3.5mm headphone jack; dual Nano-SIM (hybrid slot, dual standby)
Build & Design	Metal unibody frame, plastic back panel; dimensions: 141.2×69.1×7.1mm; weight: 146g; rear-mounted physical fingerprint sensor; front-facing capacitive keys (menu, home, back)
Software & Features	Android 6.0 Marshmallow + Huawei EMUI 4.1; App Twin (dual app support); Smart Split (multi-window); Ultra Power Saving Mode; FM radio; no water/dust resistance rating

Key Features & Market Position

Compact & Stylish DesignThe 5-inch screen and 7.1mm slim body made the Nova one of the most portable mid-range phones of 2016, ideal for one-handed use. Vibrant color options (Rose Gold, Champagne Gold) catered to young users seeking a fashionable device, differentiating it from the more utilitarian designs of competitors.
Balanced Daily PerformanceThe Kirin 658 chipset paired with 3GB/4GB RAM handled basic tasks (social media, web browsing, video streaming) and light gaming smoothly. Expandable storage via microSD solved the 32GB base storage limitation, a key plus for media-heavy users.
User-Focused Camera FeaturesThe 13MP rear camera with PDAF delivered sharp daytime photos, while the 8MP front camera with AI beauty mode was optimized for selfies—a major selling point for the target demographic. The lack of advanced features like OIS was offset by the device’s mid-range pricing.
Fast Charging Support9V/2A fast charging enabled the 3020mAh battery to reach 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes, addressing the common pain point of slow charging in mid-range phones of that era.

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Compact, lightweight design with trendy color options, perfect for one-handed operation.
Fast charging support reduces downtime for the 3020mAh battery.
Expandable storage via microSD card (up to 128GB) supplements the base storage capacity.
EMUI 4.1 offers practical features like App Twin and Ultra Power Saving Mode for daily convenience.

Limitations

No 5GHz Wi-Fi support, limiting wireless data speeds in dual-band router environments.
Hybrid SIM slot forces users to choose between dual SIM cards or expandable storage.
No water/dust resistance rating, making it vulnerable to accidental spills or dust ingress.
Outdated micro-USB port instead of the more modern USB-C standard.
Kirin 658 struggles with heavy gaming or multitasking with multiple apps running.

Market Role

The Huawei Nova (2016) marked Huawei’s strategic push into the youth-oriented mid-range segment, filling the gap between its entry-level Y-series and flagship P-series/Mate-series devices. It competed directly with the Xiaomi Mi 5s and Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016), leveraging its stylish design and selfie capabilities to attract young users who prioritized aesthetics over flagship-level specs. The device laid the foundation for the Nova series, which later evolved into a major product line focused on photography and fashion for mainstream consumers.