It is no surprise that HUAWEI named their midrange line of smartphones “nova,” which comes from the Latin word novus meaning “new.” Coincidentally, it is also the term used when a star becomes much brighter for a short period of time.
Why did I bring that up, you may ask? Well, like a star, the newest addition to the HUAWEI nova family is both new and bright, but unlike a star, its brilliance is not just for a brief moment. Meet the HUAWEI nova 14 Pro, the best and brightest that the nova family has to offer.
What’s Inside the Box?
Starting off with the unboxing, the HUAWEI nova 14 Pro comes in a mostly white box, devoid of any images of the phone. It is a simple yet elegant affair, with the text printed in a color-shifting gradient that transitions between yellow, orange, blue, and purple.
The simplicity continues with the accessories. Inside the box, you will find the following:
- The HUAWEI nova 14 Pro itself
- A transparent phone case
- A SIM ejector tool
- Quick Start Guide and Warranty Information
- The 100W SuperCharge Turbo power brick
- Type-A to Type-C charging cable
Premium Feel, Every Curve Counts
Usually, photos provide a good enough look at a phone’s design, but in the HUAWEI nova 14 Pro’s case, the cameras really just don’t do it justice. It’s something you have to see and feel for yourself to believe.
While the standard nova 14 uses a flat edge design, the HUAWEI nova 14 Pro opts for a more elegant quad curved design that feels amazing to hold. I don’t even know whether to call it an edge or a rim because of how seamless it looks and feels in the hand.
At just 7.78 mm thick and weighing 207 g, it has a bit of heft to it, but not to the point where it becomes tiring to hold.
The only gripe I have about the design is that the shiny rounded metal frame and glass back panel make the nova 14 Pro a bit slippery and prone to smudges. Thankfully, there’s an included transparent case that adds grip without muting the design.
Speaking of the glass back, the ice crystal design reminds me of frost, the thin layer of ice that forms from water vapor. It’s quite pretty to look at and, dare I say, suits the rounded edges of the HUAWEI nova 14 Pro more than the standard version.
It’s available in three colors, with the crystal design exclusive to the Blue and White variants. If that is not your cup of tea, there is also a Black option that’s clean and pattern free.
As for ports and buttons, up top you’ll find one of the speaker grilles and a microphone pinhole. The right side houses the volume rocker and power button, while the left side remains clear. Lastly, the bottom holds another speaker grille, the Type C port, a second microphone pinhole, and the SIM card tray.
A Display That Flows Like Water
That seamless quad curved design continues to the front, where you’ll find a 6.78-inch LTPO OLED Flawless Quad Curved Display. Because it uses LTPO technology, it can dynamically adjust its refresh rate from 1 Hz to 120 Hz depending on the content being displayed.
This not only improves the smoothness of every swipe and tap, it also optimizes power consumption, saving precious battery life.
The King of AI Selfies is Back
Let’s talk about one of the HUAWEI nova 14 Pro’s strengths, the camera. Camera performance has always been the bread and butter of the nova line, and this time, HUAWEI has outdone itself, borrowing cues from the flagship Pura 80 Series not just in the rear camera but the front as well.
Front Camera: The 50 MP AI Portrait Dual Camera
The HUAWEI nova 14 Pro isn’t called “The King of AI Selfies” for nothing. I mean, where else would you find a dual front camera system? That’s right, nowhere but the nova line.
Shooting high-speed subjects isn’t unheard of in the smartphone world. In fact, almost every manufacturer has their own take on it. But that’s usually for the rear camera. HUAWEI on the other hand, made the impossible possible by implementing the same feature in the front camera with its Ultra Speed Snapshot.
But Justine, why on God’s green earth would you need an Ultra Speed Snapshot when you’re only taking selfies? Well, what if you’re taking one with your child or your furbaby? Without that feature, you’d be forced to take multiple shots just to get one good photo.
Even the slightest movement, whether from the subject or your hand, can ruin a photo. HUAWEI ensures crystal clear results by eliminating motion blur through its dual shutter technology.
The dual front camera system also gives users industry leading versatility, offering a wide range of zoom options from 0.8x ultra-wide for group selfies to 5x telephoto for detailed makeup or fashion shots.
Rear Camera: Ultra Chroma Prowess
Of course, HUAWEI didn’t leave the rear camera behind. On the back, the Ultra Chroma Camera is calling the shots, headlined by a 50 MP RYYB Adjustable Aperture Camera (F1.4-F4.0).
What is RYYB, you ask? For photographers, that is a familiar term. But for everyone else, it stands for Red, Yellow, Yellow, Blue, a sensor arrangement that captures more light than the traditional RGGB pattern, allowing for better low light performance and higher image quality.
Alongside the 50 MP main sensor, you get a 12 MP telephoto lens and an 8 MP ultra wide sensor. For video, both the front and back cameras can shoot up to 4K with gyro EIS and HDR Vivid support.
Smart Features That Actually Work
Almost every smartphone these days has some form of AI. Some are useful, while others are mostly gimmicks. HUAWEI took the smarter route, focusing on how AI enhances the camera experience.
Here’s a few useful AI features that the HUAWEI nova 14 Pro has:
- AI Best Expression intelligently analyzes multiple frames to find the best facial expression for everyone in the photo, creating the perfect composite shot.
- AI Beauty Effect, which offers three distinct styles: Natural, Delicate, and Stylish Portrait. It delivers radiant portraits through subtle intelligent adjustments.
- AI Gesture Control might seem gimmicky at first, but it’s surprisingly fun. You can swipe, scroll, or even take a screenshot in midair, perfect for reading recipes when your hands are busy or wet.
Kirin Power Under the Hood
Powering everything is HUAWEI’s in house Kirin 8020 chipset, paired with 12 GB of RAM and either 256 GB or 512 GB of storage. It runs EMUI 15 out of the box, which means, as expected, there are no Google Play Services.
Thankfully, HUAWEI has been hard at work improving the AppGallery. While we do not have the exact number of available apps, a quick look shows that most of the popular ones are already there.
If your app of choice is not available, you can still sideload apps or use platforms such as GBox, just be cautious about where you download from.
In our brief testing, the HUAWEI nova 14 Pro ran Genshin Impact smoothly with mixed settings. You will have to wait for our full review for detailed benchmarks and performance tests in other graphics intensive games.
Full Power in Minutes
On paper, the 5500 mAh battery might seem average compared to competitors with capacities above 6000 mAh. But remember, capacity is not everything. Optimization and display efficiency also matter.
Don’t get me wrong, 5500 mAh is still plenty, especially with an operating system as efficient as HarmonyOS and LTPO display technology helping to conserve power.
If that’s still isn’t enough, the 100W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo can top you up from zero to 100 percent in just 38 minutes. Can you imagine that? Plug it in while you’re getting ready in the morning, and it’s fully charged by the time you step out.
First Impressions: Bright, Bold, and Promising
After a short time with the HUAWEI nova 14 Pro, it is clear that HUAWEI went all out to make this phone stand out. The frosted glass back and curved display give it a premium feel, and the performance from the Kirin 8020 is smooth so far.
The cameras are impressive, especially the dual front setup that really lives up to the “King of AI Selfies” name. Battery life also looks solid, and the 100W charging is just insanely fast.
Overall, the nova 14 Pro leaves a great first impression. It feels stylish, powerful, and packed with features that actually matter. We will have more to say once we put it through a full review, but so far, it is looking very promising.
Do you think the HUAWEI nova 14 Pro deserves the title ‘King of AI Selfies’?
Let us know what you think!