Huawei Nova 8 Overview, Features, and Buying Guide
The Huawei Nova 8 launched in August 2021 as a mid-range smartphone emphasizing sleek design, fast charging, and smooth display technology. This device targets style-conscious users and everyday smartphone enthusiasts seeking a balance between performance and aesthetics. The phone’s remarkably slim 7.6mm profile, blazing 66W fast charging, and vibrant 90Hz OLED display create an attractive proposition for users prioritizing design and convenience, though software considerations remain important for potential buyers.
The 6.57-inch OLED display captivates with its 90Hz refresh rate and support for 1 billion colors. Scrolling through social media, browsing web pages, and navigating apps feels noticeably smoother compared to standard 60Hz displays. HDR10 support enhances video content with improved contrast and color vibrancy. The resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels delivers 392 ppi density, ensuring text remains clear and images appear detailed. The screen occupies 89.3% of the front surface, creating an immersive viewing experience.
Camera capabilities center on a 64MP main sensor with PDAF for quick, accurate focusing. The primary camera captures detailed photos in good lighting conditions. An 8MP ultrawide lens with 120-degree field of view handles group shots and expansive landscapes. A 2MP macro camera enables close-up photography, while an auxiliary lens supports the overall imaging system. The 32MP front camera produces high-resolution selfies suitable for social media sharing.
Performance comes from the Kirin 820E chipset built on a 7nm process. This hexa-core processor features three Cortex-A76 cores for performance tasks and three Cortex-A55 cores for efficiency. The Mali-G57 6-core GPU handles everyday graphics tasks and casual gaming. Storage options include 128GB or 256GB paired with 8GB RAM, utilizing UFS technology for reasonable app launch speeds and file transfers.
Charging technology stands out with 66W wired capability that achieves 60% battery in just 15 minutes and full charge in 35 minutes. This extreme charging speed eliminates lengthy waiting periods. The 3800mAh battery capacity, while modest by current standards, charges so rapidly that the smaller size becomes less concerning. Reverse wired charging at 5W allows the Nova 8 to charge other devices through a cable connection.
The ultra-slim design measures just 7.6mm thick and weighs only 169g, making the Nova 8 one of the thinnest and lightest smartphones in its class. This featherweight build ensures comfortable one-handed use and minimal pocket bulk.
What Makes the Huawei Nova 8 Worth Buying?
The 66W fast charging delivers exceptional convenience in real-world use. Charging from empty to 60% in 15 minutes means brief charging sessions during breakfast, commutes, or short breaks provide substantial battery life. Full charge in 35 minutes eliminates the need for overnight charging and reduces battery anxiety throughout the day. Users can quickly top up before heading out rather than planning charging sessions hours in advance.
The remarkably slim 7.6mm profile and featherweight 169g design create a premium feel that stands out among chunkier competitors. The phone slips easily into pockets without creating bulk, carries comfortably for extended periods, and handles naturally during one-handed use. This thoughtful design prioritizes everyday comfort over maximizing battery capacity or adding unnecessary features.
The 90Hz OLED display provides smoothness that enhances daily interactions. Social media scrolling feels fluid, gaming appears more responsive, and general navigation seems snappier compared to 60Hz displays. The billion-color support ensures accurate color reproduction for photos and videos, while HDR10 compatibility enhances streaming content from compatible services.
The 64MP main camera captures detailed photos suitable for social media sharing and casual photography. The high resolution provides flexibility for cropping images while maintaining quality. The ultrawide camera’s 120-degree field of view handles group photos, architectural shots, and landscapes where fitting everything in frame matters.
The 32MP front camera delivers high-resolution selfies with impressive detail. Video calling benefits from the sharp image quality, while social media content creation gains from the capable hardware. The camera supports 4K video recording, enabling high-quality vlog creation and personal video content.
The lightweight build at 169g reduces hand fatigue during extended use. Users who spend hours daily on their phones for messaging, browsing, or content consumption will appreciate the minimal weight compared to heavier flagships approaching or exceeding 200g.
Video recording capabilities include 4K resolution from both front and rear cameras. The rear camera additionally supports 720p at 960fps for creative slow-motion captures and gyro-EIS stabilization to smooth handheld footage.
Things to Know Before Choosing the Huawei Nova 8
The absence of Google Play Services represents the most significant limitation. The Nova 8 runs Android 11 with EMUI 12 but lacks access to Google apps and services. Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Photos, and the Play Store remain unavailable through official channels. Huawei’s AppGallery serves as the alternative app store, but substantial gaps exist compared to Google’s comprehensive ecosystem.
Banking applications frequently refuse to function without Google Play Services due to security and authentication requirements. Popular productivity tools, social media platforms, and specialized applications may lack AppGallery versions or require technical workarounds carrying potential security risks. Users must invest time identifying alternatives or implementing solutions that may cease functioning after system updates.
Battery capacity at 3800mAh sits below the current market standard of 4500-5000mAh. While the exceptional 66W charging compensates by enabling rapid top-ups, heavy users streaming video extensively, gaming for long sessions, or using the phone continuously throughout the day may need multiple charging sessions. The battery serves moderate users well but might disappoint power users expecting all-day endurance under intensive use.
The phone lacks 5G connectivity, supporting only GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks. As 5G infrastructure expands globally and applications begin leveraging faster speeds, the Nova 8’s 4G-only limitation becomes more apparent. Users planning multi-year ownership should consider whether LTE-only connectivity meets long-term needs.
Camera hardware lacks optical image stabilization on the main sensor, affecting low-light photography and video recording. Handheld shots in dim environments may appear soft or blurry without the benefit of OIS to counteract hand movement. The 2MP macro camera serves primarily as a specification addition rather than a genuinely useful imaging tool for most users.
The device includes no expandable storage option. The lack of a microSD card slot means users must choose wisely between 128GB and 256GB configurations at purchase. Cloud storage services can supplement internal storage, but reliance on cloud solutions requires consistent internet connectivity.
Software update trajectory for EMUI differs from manufacturers offering guaranteed multi-year Android version support. While Huawei provides updates, the long-term roadmap and feature update commitments vary from Samsung’s or Google’s clear policies regarding major OS updates and security patches.
The hexa-core Kirin 820E chipset, while capable for everyday tasks, trails current mid-range processors in raw performance. Demanding mobile games at high graphics settings may show performance limitations compared to Snapdragon 7-series or MediaTek Dimensity alternatives.
Is the Huawei Nova 8 Right for You?
Style-conscious users prioritizing sleek design and minimal weight will appreciate the Nova 8’s ultra-slim 7.6mm profile and featherweight 169g build. The phone feels premium in hand, slips easily into pockets, and stands out aesthetically among bulkier competitors. Fashion-forward buyers who view their phone as an accessory will find the design appealing.
Social media enthusiasts and content creators can leverage the 32MP front camera for high-quality selfies and the 4K video recording for vlog content. The 90Hz display provides smooth scrolling through feeds, while the fast charging ensures the phone stays powered during content creation sessions.
Students and young professionals seeking a visually appealing device for everyday communication, browsing, and entertainment will find adequate performance. The lightweight design reduces fatigue during long study sessions or commutes. However, those relying on specific educational apps or Google services should verify AppGallery compatibility first.
Users comfortable with technical workarounds or those already using alternative app ecosystems can establish functional workflows. The device requires realistic expectations about app availability and willingness to invest time finding alternatives to Google services.
Casual photographers capturing everyday moments, social gatherings, and travel memories will find the 64MP main camera and ultrawide lens sufficient. The camera system handles well-lit scenarios effectively, though low-light performance shows limitations without OIS.
The Nova 8 struggles serving users deeply invested in Google’s ecosystem. YouTube Premium subscribers, Google One storage users, Gmail-dependent professionals, and families managing shared Google services face significant friction. The lack of Google Play Services creates daily workflow disruptions that workarounds can’t fully solve.
Heavy users expecting all-day battery life under intensive use should consider alternatives with larger battery capacities. While the 66W charging enables quick top-ups, the 3800mAh battery requires more frequent charging sessions compared to 5000mAh competitors.
Mobile gamers seeking peak performance for demanding titles should explore devices with more powerful processors. The Kirin 820E handles casual games well but shows limitations with graphics-intensive titles at maximum settings.
Best Alternatives to the Huawei Nova 8
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G offers similar mid-range positioning with Snapdragon 778G performance, 120Hz display, full Google services integration, and guaranteed software updates. The device provides conventional user experience with broader app availability and 5G connectivity.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G delivers comparable slim design at 6.81mm thickness, Snapdragon 780G performance, and complete Google ecosystem access. The phone offers similar aesthetics with more powerful internals and straightforward software experience.
The Realme GT Master Edition provides flagship-level performance at mid-range pricing with Snapdragon 778G, 120Hz Super AMOLED display, and Google services support. The device delivers strong value with fast charging and conventional user experience.
OnePlus Nord 2 combines MediaTek Dimensity 1200 performance with clean OxygenOS experience, 65W fast charging, and Google integration. The phone offers excellent value with guaranteed software updates and seamless app compatibility.
Huawei Nova 8 Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Google apps on the Huawei Nova 8?
The Huawei Nova 8 does not include Google Play Services and cannot officially run Google applications. The phone ships with Android 11 and EMUI 12 but lacks access to the Play Store, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, and other Google services. Huawei’s AppGallery serves as the official app store. While unofficial workarounds and sideloading methods circulate online, these violate Google’s terms of service, create security vulnerabilities, and may cease functioning after system updates. Banking applications and services requiring Google Play Services for authentication typically won’t work even with workarounds. Users should thoroughly research alternative apps for essential services before purchasing, as the ecosystem limitation significantly affects daily usability.
How fast is the 66W charging and is the battery big enough?
The Nova 8’s 66W wired fast charging ranks among the fastest available in its class, achieving 60% capacity in just 15 minutes and full charge in 35 minutes. In practical terms, a quick 10-minute charge during breakfast provides approximately 35-40% battery capacity—enough for several hours of moderate use. The 3800mAh battery capacity sits below current market standards of 4500-5000mAh, which raises endurance concerns. Moderate users who browse social media, message frequently, and stream occasional video will get through a full day. Heavy users gaming extensively, streaming continuously, or using the phone intensively throughout the day will likely need at least one mid-day charging session. The extremely fast charging partially compensates for the smaller battery by enabling quick top-ups.
Does the Nova 8 support 5G networks?
No, the Huawei Nova 8 supports only GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks—it does not include 5G connectivity. The Kirin 820E chipset provides 4G LTE capability but lacks 5G support. Users should consider whether LTE-only connectivity meets their needs, particularly as 5G networks continue expanding globally and applications increasingly leverage faster speeds for enhanced features. For users in areas with limited 5G coverage or those planning shorter device ownership periods, LTE connectivity remains adequate for streaming, browsing, and most smartphone tasks. However, buyers planning multi-year ownership should weigh the lack of 5G future-proofing against other device features.
How good is the camera for photography?
The Nova 8’s 64MP main camera delivers solid performance in good lighting conditions, capturing detailed photos suitable for social media sharing and casual photography. The high resolution provides flexibility for cropping while maintaining quality. The 8MP ultrawide lens with 120-degree field of view effectively handles group photos and landscapes. However, the camera system shows limitations in challenging scenarios. The absence of optical image stabilization affects low-light photography—handheld shots in dim environments may appear soft or blurry. The 2MP macro camera provides minimal practical value beyond specification padding. The camera excels at daytime photography, outdoor scenes, and well-lit portraits, but struggles compared to competitors with OIS in restaurants, concerts, or nighttime scenarios. Video recording supports 4K resolution with gyro-EIS stabilization for reasonably smooth footage.
Is the phone too thin and light to feel durable?
The Nova 8’s ultra-slim 7.6mm profile and lightweight 169g design might raise durability concerns, but the construction quality remains solid. The phone doesn’t feel fragile or cheap despite its minimal thickness and weight. However, the slim design does create practical considerations. Battery capacity suffers as a direct result of the thin form factor—physics limits how much battery can fit in 7.6mm thickness. The phone may feel less substantial in hand compared to heavier flagships, which some users interpret as premium while others perceive as flimsy. The lightweight build reduces drop impact forces potentially, though users should still employ protective cases. The slim design makes the phone more susceptible to bending forces if carried in tight pockets, though normal use patterns shouldn’t cause issues.