Huawei Nova 12i comes with a mid-range Snapdragon 680 chipset that is adequate to perform normal tasks such as browsing, social media usage, and video streaming. But the moment you engage in playing games with heavy graphics or multitask heavily, is when you will realize the limitation of this device.

During game testing, the likes of PUBG and Call of Duty had to be played under lower graphical settings, while power-hungry ones stutter and experience frames dropped. The phone even stutters from time to time even while opening apps and navigating the UI, detracting from the overall UX. Despite being energy efficient, the Snapdragon 680 is not ideal for those looking to use their phone heavily.

Nova 12i includes a 6.7-inch IPS LCD screen, with a resolution of 2388×1080 at 391 ppi. It is responsive in terms of touch through a 270Hz touch sampling rate, especially while gaming or quick scrolling. It comes with a maximum peak brightness of 500 nits, providing an adequate level of clarity while outdoors, although it may be trailing in contrast and saturation levels behind that of an AMOLED display.

Design-wise, Huawei Nova 12i is in a traditional style with Huaweis Star Orb ring design surrounding the camera module, adding a touch of uniqueness. It is 163.3mm x 74.7mm x 8.4mm in size and tips the scales at about 199 grams, rather heavier and larger compared to some competition. Disappointingly, the rear panel is plastic, less premium in terms of touch, and slightly wobbly, with some creaks and bending under stresses put upon it. Missing a headphone port and lacking water and dust-resistance certifications further suggests some compromises in construction.

Huawei Nova 12i uses a 108MP main rear camera that comes with a wide f/1.9 aperture and 1/1.67-inch sensor and it is supported by nine-in-one pixel fusion technology from Huawei. It supports taking precisely detailed images that look colorful and balanced in every light. Night Mode, Professional Mode, Panoramic Photo and High Pixel mode are some of the many modes that let users take creative and flexible shots.

The selfie camera on the phone is an 8MP f/2.0 lens with the ability to take pictures with a max 3264 x 2448 resolution and offers portrait mode, voice control and gesture control. While not nearly as advanced in tech terms as the back camera, it will suffice in the event of video calls and regular selfies.

You can also use the phone to record video at 1080p. While this is fine for normal work, it does not have the extra features and quality of the highest resolution videos found in some top-range phones. People who care about value and taking photos are most attracted to Huawei Nova 12i because of its high-quality camera module.

Huawei Nova 12i comes with a strong 5000mAh (typical) battery, allowing users to use it for a whole day without charging. You can charge the phone to 62% battery in just half an hour using Huaweis 40W SuperCharge Turbo which suits people who are always on the go.

In addition, it has AI features that manage apps in the background and study user habits to help save the battery. This kind of equilibrium between capacity, fast charging, and intelligent management renders Huawei Nova 12i a solid partner for those who require endurance without frequent fill-ups.

Despite all of its many strengths, Huawei Nova 12i does possess a number of real weaknesses that should be taken into consideration by prospective owners. First and most obviously, the build of the phone is less-than-perfect; the phone comes with a plastic back cover that, while adding to the devices light weight, is slightly less premium in quality and flimsy. Users have reported creaks and flexibility when put under stress, and this naturally brings into doubt the durability of the phone.