Important Note:
- The Huawei Nova 11 Pro boasts an elegant design, impressive battery longevity, rapid charging capabilities, and a top-notch 60MP camera, perfect for capturing striking self-portraits.
- Although the device can operate certain Google apps via the Gbox virtual machine, the lack of native Google Services may deter a significant portion of potential users.
- Featuring a chic appearance, a luxurious vegan leather rear panel, and a spacious OLED screen that showcases vivid colors and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, the Nova 11 Pro is a smartphone that combines style and functionality seamlessly.
In the spring of 2023, Huawei introduced the Nova 11 Pro, a device characterized by its stunning design, excellent performance, impressive selfie capabilities, and the remarkable ability to charge from 0 to 100% in the time it takes for you to prepare to leave in the morning.
Priced at €700 (approximately $745), the Huawei Nova 11 Pro offers an attractive option without causing a significant dent in your wallet. This mid-range smartphone caught our attention primarily because it exudes the appearance and functionality of a more premium device.
Nevertheless, when we delve into the phone’s specifications, we find ourselves questioning what it truly brings to the table that justifies an upgrade from the Nova 10 Pro of the previous year.
Huawei Nova 11 Pro Features
Nova 11 Pro Features
The Huawei Nova 11 Pro stands out as a midrange smartphone boasting an elegant design, reliable battery longevity, and incredibly fast charging capabilities. Moreover, its 60MP camera promises to capture breathtaking selfies.However, its inability to offer native Google Services might discourage a significant number of potential users, despite the option to run certain Google apps via the Gbox virtual machine.
| Brand | Huawei |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 778G 4G |
| Display | 6.7-inch OLED, Kunlun Glass |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB - 512GB |
| Battery | 4,500mAh |
| Ports | USB-C |
| Operating System | EMUI 13 |
| Front camera | 60MP Ultra Wide Autofocus, 8MP Portrait |
| Rear camera | 50MP Ultra Vision, 8MP Ultra Wide Macro |
| Dimensions | 6.47 x 2.93 x 0.31 in |
| Colors | Green or Black |
| Weight | 188g |
| Charge speed | 100W |
| GPU | Adreno 642L |
| Material | Vegan leather back |
Unboxing
The Huawei Nova 11 Pro is presented in an elegant white packaging, containing not only all the essentials but also some additional items:
- Huawei Nova 11 Pro with a pre-installed screen protector
- USB Type-C charging cable
- 100W SuperCharge Turbo 2.0 charger
- Protective case
- SIM tool
The transparent silicone case provided by Huawei with the phone allows you to appreciate the design without any hindrance.
Design and Sensation
Upon unboxing the Nova 11 Pro, its appeal becomes evident, particularly in its design. The phone exudes a sense of sleekness and elegance, notably with the noticeable reduction in the flashy gold accents around the rear camera.
The highlight of the Nova 11 Pro lies in its back cover, which boasts a vegan leather material (essentially a form of high-quality plastic). This texture feels incredibly satisfying to the touch and introduces a novel element to the world of smartphones. Furthermore, it features debossed Nova logos, a term that might be unfamiliar to many.
In comparison to its predecessor, this model greatly improves the appearance of the camera island. Instead of the thick, shiny, almost gaudy golden border, it adopts a more refined look. In my case, with the green model, the camera island matches the same color, eliminating any gold accents. However, the black version still retains some of these accents, though in a more subdued manner.
Speaking of the Huawei Nova 11 Pro, it is offered in various color options. However, in Europe, you can only purchase it in green and black, while the white and gold variants are exclusive to China and do not come with vegan leather backs.
The phone’s frame is constructed from plastic and is exceptionally slim along the edges, providing just enough support for the side buttons. Both the volume and power buttons are slender, elegant, and respond well. The reason for the slim sides is to accommodate the curved screen.
The front of the Huawei Nova 11 Pro has a sleek and stylish appearance. The OLED display curves on both sides, terminating in extremely thin black borders. The top and bottom bezels are also relatively narrow, giving you ample screen real estate across the 6.78-inch display.
Upon close examination of the screen, you will notice a protective plastic film. It’s worth noting that this film doesn’t cover the entire screen, which is typical for a device with a curved display.
Removing it is relatively straightforward, leaving you with the exposed Kunlun glass. In case you’re unfamiliar with the name, Kunlun glass is Huawei’s in-house alternative to the popular Gorilla Glass.
On the front screen, you’ll also spot the selfie camera, or rather, cameras, as there are two of them positioned in the top left corner. The cutout for these cameras is relatively large due to Huawei’s dual camera setup, but it serves a purpose, so we’ll overlook its size.
Beneath the display, at the bottom of the screen, you’ll find the fingerprint reader. The technology behind it is impressive, and the phone quickly recognizes your thumbprint to grant you access.
Moving to the top of the phone, you’ll notice three openings for the speaker and an additional one for an extra microphone. On the opposite end, there’s the USB-C port, the primary speaker, a microphone opening, and the slot for the SIM card.
Nova 11 Pro’s Specifications
Let’s delve into the technical specifications of the Huawei Nova 11 Pro smartphone. In terms of dimensions, the Nova 11 Pro measures 6.47 x 2.93 x 0.31 inches (164.3 x 74.4 x 7.9mm) and has a weight of approximately 188 grams. This means that while it’s a relatively large phone, it remains lightweight and comfortable to hold, even during extended use.
The device boasts a 6.78-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1200 x 2652 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 429 pixels per inch (PPI). Notably, the screen supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, which is excellent for users seeking an enhanced visual experience while gaming or streaming content.
Users have the flexibility to choose from three different refresh rate settings: Standard (60Hz), High (120Hz), and Dynamic, which dynamically adjusts the refresh rate to strike a balance between screen smoothness and battery life.
Under the hood, the Huawei Nova 11 Pro is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset. This choice of processor raises some questions, as it’s the same model used in the Nova 10 Pro from the previous year. Typically, when new smartphone models are introduced, they come equipped with a newer processor.
However, this is not the case with the Nova 11 Pro. It’s important to note that the chipset is a 4G model, as Huawei faces export restrictions preventing it from accessing the 5G variant from the United States.
The GPU employed in the new Nova 11 Pro, namely the Adreno 642L, remains consistent with the one utilized in its predecessor.
However, there are notable alterations in terms of internal storage. The latest Nova 11 Pro is available in both 256GB and 512GB variants, whereas the previous model was limited to a maximum of 256GB. Our review unit is equipped with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The Cameras
The Huawei Nova 11 Pro distinguishes itself notably in the realm of its camera system, exhibiting several changes when compared to its predecessor.
On the front of the device, you’ll discover a 60MP ultrawide camera alongside a portrait module. In contrast, the rear camera setup maintains the 50MP primary camera and the 8MP autofocus ultrawide lens, but does away with the 2MP depth sensor. The good news is that it retains its 4K video recording capabilities, making it an ideal choice for capturing travel memories and creating engaging Instagram videos.
The camera application remains consistent with what you’d encounter on other Huawei models, functioning as expected. In the “More” section, you’ll find a variety of additional shooting modes, including Super Macro, Multi-Cam, and Story Creator, catering to those who prefer templates when producing content.
When using the rear camera, you’ll have access to a Pro mode, enabling you to fine-tune settings like ISO, shutter speed, exposure, and white balance to achieve your desired photographic results.
The Nova 11 Pro truly excels in the realm of selfies, as one would anticipate with its impressive 60MP front camera. The resulting selfies are of excellent quality, capturing sharp details regardless of the shooting conditions. Please forgive the quality of my own selfies, as I’m not particularly fond of taking them, and my pets tend to be quite restless.
Display
The Nova 11 Pro boasts an absolutely stunning display. The colors are vibrant, and even under bright sunlight, you can still see the screen clearly thanks to its impressive 800 nits of brightness.
However, I must admit that a design feature I personally find visually appealing can be a bit bothersome—the curved screen. While it feels wonderful to hold the device due to the curved edges, it can be less than ideal when playing full-screen games in landscape mode.
The upward swiping motion can accidentally dismiss the app when trying to access something at the bottom of the screen. Additionally, it can be somewhat challenging to accurately tap on elements located near the curved edge of the screen.
Sound
The Huawei Nova 11 Pro is equipped with a sizable speaker at the bottom edge and a smaller one at the top. The presence of two speakers ensures that you can still enjoy your audio content even if your finger inadvertently covers the bottom speaker.
Although the device can produce high volumes, there is some distortion when playing music at maximum volume. This distortion can become quite bothersome, so it’s advisable to use headphones for an optimal listening experience.
For everyday activities like scrolling through content or making calls, the speakers should perform adequately. However, if you intend to play music at a high volume, it’s best to use headphones or be prepared for a less-than-ideal audio quality.
Charging
Upon unboxing the Huawei Nova 11 Pro, one of the notable inclusions is the 100W SuperCharge Turbo 2.0 charger. With the phone already sporting a substantial 4500 mAh battery, you can expect to comfortably enjoy a full day of usage without any concerns.
However, when it comes to the charging aspect, you’re in for an impressive experience. This device has the capability to charge from 0% to 100% in less than half an hour. Regardless of your opinions on the phone’s design or performance, this charging speed is truly exceptional. Even a brief charging session of just a few minutes can provide sufficient power to see you through the remainder of the day.
OS (Operating System)
Now, let’s address the prominent topic at hand. The Huawei Nova 11 Pro operates on EMUI 13, which might resemble the Android interface you’re familiar with, but it lacks access to Google Services. Instead, you’ll have access to Huawei’s proprietary services, namely Petal Search and Petal Maps, with AppGallery serving as the designated app store.
Nevertheless, EMUI 13 boasts several noteworthy features, such as the ability to personalize the lock screen, a wide selection of skins and themes, widgets, and expansive app folders. Additionally, you can configure the leftmost screen page to display tailored content like newsfeeds, app recommendations, and health information.
Taking a cue from Apple’s iOS, there’s an interesting detail regarding how notifications and quick controls are accessed. Swiping down from the right corner reveals an array of quick toggles for functions like sound, flashlight, GPS, and WiFi, while swiping from the left corner reveals notifications.
Compared to last year’s Nova 10 Pro, the Nova 11 Pro offers a more extensive selection of Android apps for installation. Upon setup, the device suggests the installation of GBox, which provides convenient access to Google apps, including Maps, YouTube, and even the Play Store, enabling you to install additional apps.
GBox essentially functions as a virtual machine for your smartphone, granting access to all of Google’s services as if you were using the latest Android version. Any apps you install through the Google Play Store also appear as shortcuts on your home screen, simplifying accessibility.
Nonetheless, even though GBox provides a solution, it’s important to bear in mind that this isn’t purely an Android device, and the absence of native integration with Google’s mobile services may pose a significant drawback. While it’s possible to install certain apps via the virtual machine, there remain significant privacy concerns that might make one hesitate to add more sensitive applications.
FAQ:
Should You Get the Huawei Nova 11 Pro?
Ultimately, your decision hinges on your tolerance for the absence of Android and your personal perspective on privacy, which varies from person to person.
The Huawei Nova 11 Pro, on the whole, presents itself as a capable device. It boasts an appealing design, impressive speed, excellent camera capabilities, and the eye-catching vegan leather detailing on the back. Notably, its rapid charging capabilities are truly commendable.
Does all of this justify the €699 price tag? Perhaps. While the Nova 11 Pro doesn’t bring a significant upgrade in terms of specifications compared to the previous year’s model, it introduces some noteworthy elements. In our view, the standout features include the remarkable fast charging, the stylish vegan leather back, and the fact that it operates on EMUI 13 instead of EMUI 12.
However, if you can locate the Nova 10 Pro at a more budget-friendly price (and you don’t mind its distinctive design), it could be a viable alternative, especially since it can also be upgraded to EMUI 13.