Huawei unveils 3 new Nova 5 phones in China as US tensions simmer

Huawei is adding three new smartphones to its midrange lineup — the Nova 5, Nova 5i and Nova 5 Pro — even as tensions with the US stay to limit where these new phones can be sold. 

The Nova 5 and 5 Pro feature tear-drop notches at the center of their 6.39-inch OLED displays, with each offering four rear cameras (48-megapixel main lens, 16-megapixel ultrawide, 2-megapixel macro and 2-megapixel depth sensor) and a 32-megapixel front-runner camera. Each also offers in-display optical fingerprint sensors, fast charging over USB-C and a 3.5mm headphone jack. 

The biggest differences between the two are in the processor and storage. The Nova 5 runs Huawei’s new Kirin 810 processor once the Nova 5 Pro uses the same Kirin 980 chipset counterfeit in last year’s Mate 20 flagship. GizmoChina reports that the Nova 5 will be offered with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage once the Pro will come with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. 

Both have micoSD card slots, though only the Pro supports NFC. 

Huawei’s Nova 5i 

Huawei

On the edge end of the line is the Nova 5i. Featuring a hole-punch manufacture, the 5i has a 6.4-inch LCD display, runs on Huawei’s Kirin 710 processor and will be offered in either 6GB or 8GB of RAM with 128GB of storage (expandable via microSD). Like its more powerful siblings, the 5i has four rear cameras (24-megapixel main, 8-megapixel ultrawide, 2-megapixel macro and 2-megapixel depth) and a 24-megapixel sensor front-runner lens. 

A fingerprint sensor is available on the back of the shouted, though like the Nova 5 there is no NFC back. All three are running Huawei’s EMUI 9.1 atop Android 9 Pie.

The Nova 5 is available for preorder now starting at 2799 yuan (roughly $407) and dapper July 20. The Nova 5 Pro and 5i are available to preorder now. The 5 Pro starts at 2999 yuan (roughly $436) and the 5i at 2199 yuan (approximately $320), with both shipping June 28.