Huawei Y3 (2017/2018) Overview: Key Specs & Features

Huawei Y3 (2017/2018) – English Detailed Specifications

The Huawei Y3 (2017/2018) is an entry-level budget smartphone released in two successive variants (2017 base model, 2018 upgraded model) by Huawei, targeting cost-conscious first-time smartphone users, students and daily basic-use consumers. It features a compact 5-inch HD display, entry-level quad-core performance, a basic 8MP rear camera, and runs Android 7.0/8.0 with Huawei’s EMUI custom skin, striking a balance between affordability and essential smart features.

Basic Information

Huawei Y3 (2017)

Release Date: Q4 2017
Model Numbers: MYA-L22 (global), MYA-L03 (Europe), MYA-L13 (Asia/Africa)
Form Factor: Slate (candybar); plastic unibody chassis; side-mounted volume/power keys; rear physical home key with integrated fingerprint scanner (select variants)
Dimensions & Weight: 143.8 × 72 × 8.8 mm, 150 g
Color Options: Black, Gold, Silver
Build: All-plastic construction; no official IP rating for water/dust resistance
Target Audience: Ultra-budget users seeking a basic Android smartphone with core communication and multimedia features

Huawei Y3 (2018)

Release Date: Q2 2018 (minor upgrade, regional rollout)
Model Numbers: MYA-L41 (global), MYA-L53 (emerging markets)
Form Factor & Build: Identical to 2017 variant (plastic unibody, same dimensions/weight/color options); refined texture on back panel for better grip
Key Upgrade: OS version (Android 8.0) and minor EMUI optimizations; no hardware changes

Hardware & Display (2017/2018 – Shared Hardware, OS Difference Only)

Category	Detailed Specifications
Display	5.0-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen; 1280 × 720 pixels (HD), 16:9 aspect ratio, ~294 ppi pixel density; 16M colors; multitouch support (2-point); scratch-resistant glass coating (non-Gorilla Glass)
Chipset & CPU	MediaTek MT6580M (28nm process); quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7; Mali-400 MP2 GPU (500 MHz)
Memory	1 GB RAM; 8 GB internal eMMC 4.5 storage; dedicated microSDXC card slot (expandable up to 128 GB, no SIM slot sharing)
Battery	Removable Li-Ion 2200 mAh; 5V/1A wired charging (micro-USB 2.0 port);- Talk time: Up to 8 hours (3G)- Standby time: Up to 300 hours (3G)- No fast charging support
Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor;Fingerprint scanner (rear, integrated in home key) – select regional variants only; basic face unlock (software-based, 2018 variant only)

Camera System (2017/2018 – Identical Across Both Models)

Rear Camera

8 MP fixed-focus lens, f/2.2 aperture, 1/4.0″ sensor size, 1.12 μm pixels; LED flash (single);
Photo features: HDR, panorama, digital zoom (up to 4x), AI scene detection (basic); max photo resolution 3264 × 2448 pixels;
Video recording: 720p (HD) @30fps only; no video stabilization, no 1080p support.

Front Camera

2 MP fixed-focus lens, f/2.4 aperture; no front flash;
Selfie features: Basic beauty mode, digital zoom (2x);
Video calling: 480p (VGA) @30fps only.

Software & User Interface

Huawei Y3 (2017)

Original OS: Android 7.0 Nougat + EMUI 5.1 Lite (Huawei’s lightweight custom skin, optimized for low RAM);
Key Software Features: Simple launcher, app cloning (for social apps, limited), basic privacy protection, Huawei AppGallery (Google Play Store pre-installed on global variants);
No official OS upgrades (locked to Android 7.0/EMUI 5.1 Lite).

Huawei Y3 (2018)

Original OS: Android 8.0 Oreo + EMUI 8.0 Lite (streamlined UI, better battery optimization, improved app performance);
Key Software Upgrades: Faster app loading, enhanced doze mode for battery savings, updated Huawei Mobile Services (HMS);
Google Services: Google Play Store + full Google Mobile Services (GMS) pre-installed on all global variants (no HMS-only version);
No further official OS upgrades (locked to Android 8.0/EMUI 8.0 Lite).

Network & Connectivity (2017/2018 – Identical)

Cellular Network: 3G only (no 4G LTE support); Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), Dual-band HSPA+ (900/2100 MHz, up to 21 Mbps download / 5.76 Mbps upload);
SIM Support: Dual Nano-SIM (dual stand-by) – all variants;
Wireless Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz only, no 5 GHz); Wi-Fi Direct / Wi-Fi hotspot; Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP, LE) – basic file transfer and hands-free headset support;
Navigation: GPS (A-GPS only, no GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou);
Ports & Audio: Micro-USB 2.0 (charging/data sync); 3.5 mm audio jack (standard); mono loudspeaker (rear); no NFC (all variants);
Other: FM radio (with RDS, no wired headset required for tuning); OTG support (limited, for basic USB storage).

Multimedia & Core Features (2017/2018 – Identical)

Audio: Supports MP3/AAC/WMA/FLAC playback; Huawei Histen 2.0 basic audio tuning; mono loudspeaker (low volume, no stereo);
Video: Supports 720p MP4/H.264 playback (no 1080p/4K support); basic video player with simple controls;
Productivity Tools: Pre-installed calculator, calendar, alarm clock, memo pad, file manager;
Gaming: Basic casual games only (e.g., Candy Crush, Temple Run) – no heavy gaming support due to entry-level chipset;
Customization: Pre-loaded themes/wallpapers; simple home screen layout customization (EMUI Lite limitation).

Market Positioning & Pricing

Launch Price: ~€80 (2017 variant) / ~€90 (2018 variant) (global emerging markets);
Key Competitors: Xiaomi Redmi Go, Samsung Galaxy J2 Core, Moto E (2017);
Market Position: Ultra-budget entry-level Android smartphone for emerging markets (Asia, Africa, Latin America); primary use for calls, SMS, social media (Facebook/WhatsApp), light web browsing and basic photography;
Strengths: Compact 5-inch display, expandable storage, removable battery, 3.5 mm jack, FM radio;
Limitations: 1 GB RAM (slow multitasking), 3G-only (no 4G), entry-level chipset, fixed-focus cameras, no fast charging, plastic build.