Huawei Nova 6: The Ultimate Mid-Range 5G Selfie Smartphone

Huawei Nova 6 (2019): Mid-Range 5G Smartphone with Selfie-Centric Flagship Features

The Huawei Nova 6 (model variants: WLZ-AN00, WLZ-TL10) is a 5G-enabled mid-range smartphone launched in December 2019, targeting young consumers and social media enthusiasts with its high-performance front camera system and flagship-level Kirin 990 chipset. Positioned as a crossover device between Huawei’s mainstream Nova series and premium Mate/P-series flagships, it combined 5G connectivity, a large immersive display, and versatile multi-camera setups, competing with devices like the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G and Vivo X30 5G. The Nova 6 marked Huawei’s push to bring 5G and flagship imaging tech to mid-range price points, emphasizing selfie capabilities that resonated with its core youth audience.

Core Identifiers

Item	Details
Brand & Model	Huawei Nova 6 (variants: WLZ-AN00 (unlocked), WLZ-TL10 (China Mobile))
Launch Timeline	Announced: December 5, 2019; Released: December 12, 2019 (China); Global rollout Q1 2020
Positioning	Mid-range 5G smartphone (selfie-focused)
Launch Price	~¥3,199 CNY (~$450 USD) for 8GB+128GB variant
Color Options	Proxima Violet, Magic Night Black, Angel Eye White, Forest Green
Key Differentiators	32MP + 8MP dual front cameras, Kirin 990 5G chipset, 6.57-inch dual-hole display, 40MP triple rear cameras, 4200mAh battery with 40W fast charging

Key Technical Specifications

Hardware & Performance

Category	Details
Operating System	Android 10; Huawei EMUI 10.0 (custom skin); No Google Mobile Services (GMS) in most regions
Chipset	Huawei Kirin 990 (7nm) + Balong 5000 5G modem (separate 5G solution, non-integrated)
CPU	Octa-core (2×2.86GHz Cortex-A76 + 2×2.36GHz Cortex-A76 + 4×1.95GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU	Mali-G76 MP16
Memory & Storage	8GB LPDDR4X RAM; 128GB/256GB UFS 3.0 storage; No microSD expansion
Display	6.57-inch IPS LCD (LTPS); 2400×1080 (FHD+) resolution; 400 ppi; 60Hz refresh rate; 19.5:9 aspect ratio; dual-hole punch-cut for front cameras; Corning Gorilla Glass 5; 450 nits peak brightness
Design & Build	3D glass back + aluminum frame; Dimensions: 162.7×75.8×8.98mm; Weight: 212g; No official IP rating

Camera System (Selfie-Focused Flagship Setup)

Component	Details
Rear Triple Cameras	– 40MP main (Sony IMX600, f/1.8 aperture, 1/1.7″ sensor, RYYB color filter, OIS, PDAF) – 8MP ultra-wide (120° FOV, f/2.4 aperture, fixed focus) – 8MP telephoto (3x optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture, OIS, PDAF) Features: 4K@30fps video, 1080p@60fps video, 720p@960fps slow-motion, Huawei AI Image Engine
Front Dual Cameras (Key Selling Point)	– 32MP main (f/2.2 aperture, autofocus, 4K video support) – 8MP ultra-wide (105° FOV, f/2.2 aperture, group selfie optimization) Features: AI beauty mode, portrait bokeh, super night selfie, 4K@30fps front video recording

Battery & Connectivity

Category	Details
Battery	4200mAh non-removable Li-Po; Huawei SuperCharge 40W (wired only); 0–70% charge in 30 minutes; Talk time: up to 20 hours (5G); Standby time: up to 300 hours
Network	5G (SA/NSA dual-mode, n1/n3/n41/n78/n79 bands); 4G LTE Cat.21; 3G WCDMA; 2G GSM; Dual Nano-SIM (dual-standby, dual-5G)
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) + Wi-Fi 5; Bluetooth 5.1 (A2DP, LE); NFC; USB Type-C 3.1; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo; No 3.5mm headphone jack
Sensors	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner (power button integration), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, ambient light, compass

Core Features & Innovations

Dual Front Camera for Selfie Excellence: The 32MP main + 8MP ultra-wide front combo delivered sharp solo selfies and distortion-free group shots, with AI beauty and night mode optimizing results for social media sharing— a key appeal for the Nova series’ youth demographic.
Kirin 990 + Balong 5000 5G: The flagship Kirin 990 chipset ensured smooth multitasking, gaming, and 5G connectivity, while the separate Balong 5000 modem supported both SA and NSA 5G modes, future-proofing the device for global 5G rollouts.
RYYB Rear Main Camera: The 40MP Sony IMX600 sensor with RYYB color filters captured 40% more light than traditional RGGB sensors, drastically improving low-light photography performance, a feature borrowed from Huawei’s flagship P30 series.
40W SuperCharge Fast Charging: The 40W wired charging delivered rapid top-ups, addressing the battery drain of 5G connectivity and ensuring minimal downtime for heavy users.
EMUI 10.0 with Huawei Services: Despite lacking GMS in most regions, EMUI 10.0 offered a smooth, customizable interface with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) apps, split-screen multitasking, and dark mode support.

Market Reception & Legacy

Legacy: The Huawei Nova 6 solidified the Nova series’ position as a selfie-focused mid-range lineup, demonstrating Huawei’s ability to downscale flagship camera and chipset tech for broader audiences. It also served as a key 5G device in Huawei’s portfolio during a period of global 5G expansion, though the GMS absence hampered its global market reach. The device laid the groundwork for subsequent Nova models (e.g., Nova 7 series) to double down on selfie and 5G features.

Strengths: Critics praised the excellent selfie camera performance, flagship-level Kirin 990 processing power, 40W fast charging, and versatile rear camera low-light capabilities. The dual-5G SIM support was also highlighted as a practical feature for users with multiple phone numbers.

Criticisms: The lack of GMS limited app access in non-Chinese markets; the 60Hz display felt outdated compared to 90Hz/120Hz rivals; no microSD expansion restricted storage flexibility; the absence of IP rating reduced durability.

Target Audience: Young consumers, social media influencers, selfie enthusiasts, and users seeking 5G connectivity and flagship chipset performance at a mid-range price.