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Huawei Nova 8 Pro Review: Fast Charging & Dual Selfie Cameras

2026-01-20

Huawei Nova 8 Pro (2020) – Mid-Range 5G Smartphone with 66W Fast Charging & Dual Front Cameras

Definition

The Huawei Nova 8 Pro is a mid-range 5G Android smartphone launched by Huawei in December 2020, positioned in the Nova series targeting young users with a focus on selfie photography and fast charging. It is powered by the Huawei Kirin 985 5G chipset, runs EMUI 11 based on Android 10, features a 6.72-inch FHD+ OLED display, a dual front camera system (32MP main + 16MP ultrawide), a quad rear camera system (64MP main + 8MP ultrawide + 2MP macro + 2MP depth), and a 4000mAh battery with 66W wired super fast charging. Due to external restrictions, the device lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS), relying instead on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) for app support. It was mainly released in the Chinese market, with a starting price of around CNY 3,999 (8GB+128GB variant).

Core Identity & Release Context

Launch: December 23, 2020, in China; focused on the youth consumer market, emphasizing selfie and vlogging capabilities, paired with flagship-level fast charging.
Key Differentiators: 66W super fast charging (0–100% in ~30 minutes); dual front cameras for group selfies and portrait shots; 120Hz high refresh rate OLED display; thin and lightweight design with curved edges.
Market Role: Competed with mid-range flagships like Xiaomi Mi 10S and OPPO Reno5 Pro; positioned as a “selfie-focused 5G phone” for daily photography, media consumption, and social media sharing.
Legacy: Highlighted Huawei’s strengths in fast charging and imaging algorithms under HMS ecosystem constraints, continuing the Nova series’ tradition of catering to young users’ aesthetic and functional needs.

Full Technical Specifications

Design & Display

Aspect	Details
Form Factor	Candybar with curved OLED display; centered punch-hole dual front camera; circular rear camera module; in-display fingerprint scanner.
Display	6.72-inch FHD+ OLED; resolution 2676×1236 pixels (19.5:9 aspect ratio, 440 ppi); 120Hz adaptive refresh rate; 10-bit color depth (1.07 billion colors); 800 nits peak brightness; curved glass design for immersive viewing.
Build	Aluminum alloy frame + glass back; IP68 water/dust resistance; dimensions: 163.32×74.08×7.85 mm; weight: 184g; color options: Starry Black, Silver Frost, Bright Red, Fantasy Purple.
Controls & Ports	Volume rocker, power button; USB-C 3.1 port (charging/data), no 3.5mm headphone jack; dual Nano-SIM slots (dual-standby, 5G+5G dual card dual standby).

Performance & Software

Component	Specifications
Processor	Huawei Kirin 985 5G (7nm process); octa-core (1×2.58GHz Cortex-A76 + 3×2.4GHz Cortex-A76 + 4×1.84GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G77 MP8 GPU; integrated 5G modem.
Memory	8GB LPDDR4X RAM; internal storage: 128GB/256GB UFS 2.1; non-expandable (no microSD slot).
OS	EMUI 11 based on Android 10; supports Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), Huawei AppGallery; no Google Mobile Services (GMS) or Google Play Store.
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, ambient light sensor, in-display fingerprint scanner, hall sensor.

Camera System

Feature	Details
Rear Quad Cameras	– 64MP main (f/1.9 aperture, 1/1.72″ sensor, PDAF, OIS)- 8MP ultrawide (f/2.4 aperture, 120° field of view)- 2MP macro (f/2.4 aperture, 4cm focus distance)- 2MP depth (f/2.4 aperture, for portrait bokeh effects)- LED flash; video recording: 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps (EIS supported).
Front Dual Cameras	– 32MP main (f/2.0 aperture, autofocus, portrait mode optimization)- 16MP ultrawide (f/2.2 aperture, 105° field of view, group selfie support)- Video recording: 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps; AI beauty, HDR selfie, vlogging mode.

Connectivity & Battery

Aspect	Details
Network	5G (SA/NSA dual-mode, n1/n3/n41/n77/n78/n79 bands); 4G LTE, 3G WCDMA, 2G GSM; 5G+5G dual card dual standby.
Wireless Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), dual-band; Bluetooth 5.1; NFC (for Huawei Pay); GPS (GPS L1+L5, BDS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS).
Battery	4000mAh non-removable Li-Polymer battery.
Charging	66W Huawei SuperCharge wired fast charging (0–60% in 15 mins, 0–100% in 30 mins); no wireless charging support.

Key Features & User Experience

66W Super Fast Charging: The 4000mAh battery can be fully charged in about 30 minutes, solving the pain point of low battery anxiety for heavy users.
Dual Front Cameras: 32MP main + 16MP ultrawide combination meets the needs of both individual selfies and group photos, with AI beauty algorithms optimized for young users’ preferences.
120Hz Curved OLED Display: Delivers smooth scrolling and vibrant color reproduction, enhancing the experience of watching videos, playing games, and browsing social media.
Kirin 985 5G Performance: Balances power and efficiency, supporting smooth multitasking, casual gaming, and 5G high-speed data transmission.
HMS Ecosystem Support: Preloaded with Huawei AppGallery, Huawei Video, and Huawei Music, providing alternative app services for users in regions where GMS is unavailable.

Market Reception & Limitations

Reception

Fast Charging & Display: Highly praised for its 66W super fast charging speed and 120Hz curved OLED display, which delivered a flagship-level experience in the mid-range segment.
Selfie Capability: Dual front cameras and AI optimization were favored by young users, making it a popular choice for vlogging and social media content creation.