Huawei Nova 5: The Ultimate Selfie Smartphone for 2019

Huawei Nova 5 (2019) – Mid-Range Selfie-Focused Flagship with Kirin 810 & Quad Rear Cameras

Definition

The Huawei Nova 5 (model code: SEA-AL10) is a mid-range Android smartphone launched by Huawei in July 2019, targeting young consumers and selfie enthusiasts with its high-resolution front camera and sleek design. It features a 6.39-inch FHD+ OLED display, Huawei’s flagship-level mid-range Kirin 810 chipset, a 32MP front camera optimized for portrait selfies, a 48MP quad rear camera system, and Android 9.0 Pie with EMUI 9.1. Positioned between Huawei’s entry-level Y series and premium P series, the Nova 5 competes with devices like the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE and Oppo Reno Z, emphasizing photography, performance, and a compact, lightweight form factor.

Core Specifications Overview (English)

Category	Details
Launch Date	July 2019 (China first; global variants later)
Model Code	SEA-AL10 (China dual-SIM); SEA-LX1 (global)
Chipset	Huawei Kirin 810 (7 nm; 2×2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 + 6×1.88 GHz Cortex-A55; Mali-G52 MP6 GPU)
Display	6.39-inch FHD+ OLED (2340×1080, 409 ppi); 60 Hz refresh rate; 19.5:9 aspect ratio; Dewdrop notch; in-display fingerprint sensor
Camera System	Rear: 48 MP main (f/1.8, 1/2″ sensor, PDAF) + 16 MP ultra-wide (f/2.2, 120° FoV) + 2 MP depth (f/2.4) + 2 MP macro (f/2.4); Front: 32 MP (f/2.0, autofocus, AI beauty mode)
Memory & Storage	8 GB LPDDR4X RAM; 128 GB/256 GB UFS 2.1; non-expandable (no microSD/NM card slot)
Battery	3500 mAh Li-Po (non-removable); 20W Huawei SuperCharge (USB-C 2.0); ~10 hours mixed usage
Connectivity	4G LTE Cat.19 (1.6 Gbps down); Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; Bluetooth 5.0; NFC; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou; no 3.5 mm headphone jack
Security & Build	In-display optical fingerprint sensor; glass front (Gorilla Glass 5) + plastic back + aluminum frame; IP53 dust/water resistance; colors: Crush Blue, Black, Purple, Coral Orange
Dimensions & Weight	157.4 × 74.8 × 7.33 mm; 171 g
Launch OS & Updates	Android 9.0 Pie (EMUI 9.1); upgradable to HarmonyOS 2 (China variants only); no further Android updates
Launch Price (China)	~CNY 2,799 (8GB+128GB variant)

Detailed Hardware & Software Breakdown

1. Display: 6.39-inch FHD+ OLED

A vibrant, compact panel for media and selfies:

FHD+ OLED Resolution: 2340×1080 (409 ppi) delivers deep blacks, high contrast, and vivid colors, ideal for photo editing and video streaming.
Dewdrop Notch: Minimal bezel design housing the 32MP front camera, maximizing screen-to-body ratio (~91%).
In-Display Fingerprint Sensor: Fast, convenient unlocking integrated into the OLED panel, replacing traditional rear or front-mounted sensors.

2. Camera: 32MP Selfie & 48MP Quad Rear Setup

The Nova 5’s core selling point, optimized for portrait and everyday photography:

32 MP Front Camera: Autofocus support ensures sharp selfies even in close-up shots; AI beauty mode offers customizable skin smoothing and tone adjustment without over-saturation. It captures 1080p@30fps video for high-quality video calls.
48 MP Main Rear Camera: PDAF enables fast autofocus for daylight shots; 4-in-1 pixel binning (48MP→12MP) boosts low-light performance by increasing light intake per pixel.
16 MP Ultra-Wide Camera: 120° field-of-view for landscapes, group photos, and architectural shots; supports distortion correction for natural-looking wide-angle images.
2 MP Depth + 2 MP Macro Cameras: The depth sensor enables bokeh effects for portrait photos; the macro lens captures details as close as 4 cm (ideal for small objects like flowers or jewelry).
Video Capabilities: 4K@30fps video recording with EIS; 1080p@60fps for smooth motion capture.

3. Performance & Battery

Kirin 810 Chipset: 7 nm manufacturing process delivers flagship-level efficiency and performance; the Cortex-A76 cores handle heavy tasks (gaming, video editing), while Cortex-A55 cores manage light tasks (calls, social media) to save battery. It runs games like PUBG Mobile at medium-high settings smoothly.
3500 mAh Battery & 20W SuperCharge: 20W fast charging fills ~50% of the battery in 30 minutes; mixed usage (social media, photography, streaming) lasts ~10 hours. The non-removable design and compact body limit battery capacity, but the 7 nm chipset offsets this with power efficiency.
Non-Expandable Storage: A key limitation— users must rely on built-in 128GB/256GB storage, with no option to add a microSD or NM card.

4. Software & Connectivity

Android 9.0 Pie (EMUI 9.1): Huawei’s custom UI adds features like AI Scene Recognition (optimizes camera settings for different environments), App Twin (dual app support), and GPU Turbo 3.0 (enhances gaming performance and reduces lag). China variants were later upgraded to HarmonyOS 2, bringing cross-device connectivity with Huawei tablets/laptops.
Full Connectivity: NFC supports Huawei Pay for mobile payments; Bluetooth 5.0 enables fast file transfers and stable wireless audio; 4G LTE Cat.19 delivers high-speed mobile data (global variants lack 5G).
No 3.5 mm Jack: Requires USB-C headphones or a dongle for wired audio, a common trend in 2019 smartphones.

Core Features & Market Position

Key Features

32 MP Autofocus Front Camera: Industry-leading selfie resolution for 2019 mid-range phones, with AI beauty and portrait modes.
Kirin 810 7 nm Chipset: Flagship-grade performance and efficiency at a mid-range price point.
48 MP Quad Rear Camera: Versatile setup for wide, macro, and portrait photography.
Compact OLED Display: Lightweight design with a vibrant screen, ideal for one-handed use.

Reception & Target Audience

Target Users: Young consumers, selfie enthusiasts, and users seeking a balance of performance and photography at a mid-range price; Huawei ecosystem users in China (for HarmonyOS upgrades).

Strengths: Excellent selfie camera, Kirin 810 performance, vibrant OLED display, fast charging, compact design.

Criticisms: Non-expandable storage, no 5G support, plastic back (feels less premium than glass), no wireless charging.