Now, whether HUAWEI has plans to bring the rest of the lineup locally remains to be seen, but for now, the nova 15 Max will be the only taste we got of the nova 15 Series.
If we’re comparing the HUAWEI nova 15 Max relative to last year’s nova 14 Series, the nova 15 Max would probably slot somewhere between the standard nova 14 and the top-of-the-line nova 14 Pro in terms of specs. But if it’s called the “Max”, shouldn’t it sit above the Pro?
So, without further ado, let’s find the answer together and see where HUAWEI put the Max in the nova 15 Max.
Unboxing
If I were to describe the unboxing experience of the HUAWEI nova 15 Max into two words, it would be “No Frills.” Just a clean white box with minimal branding. No fanfare, just the basics, utilitarian even.
Inside the box, you’ll find all that you need to get started:
- The HUAWEI nova 15 Max itself
- A 40W charging brick
- USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable
- A transparent soft rubber case
- SIM ejector tool
- Quick start guide and warranty information
Design
The first thing you’ll notice when you first pick up the HUAWEI nova 15 Max is just how solid it is. At 232 g, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max is built like a tank. Most of it is due to the massive battery which we’ll get into later on. I can see how it can be straining for long periods of holding it but HUAWEI mitigates that by distributing the weight evenly throughout the entire device.
Ours came in the Blush Gold colorway but there’s also other colors to choose from: Lake Cyan and Golden Black. To keep costs down and to give way to other more important aspects of the device, HUAWEI chose plastic as its main material. But don’t let that fool you because holding it doesn’t feel like what you would expect from an all plastic build.
This specific colorway even reminds me of the last HUAWEI smartphone that we’ve reviewed, the Mate 80 Pro, although instead of a shiny piece of metal accent, it has a red accent around the base of the camera module that helps add a bit of pizazz.
On the right side you’ll find the volume rocker and the power button that also doubles as a fingerprint sensor, while the opposite side houses a customizable X Button that you can assign to whatever important apps you use or to AI assistants like Gemini, DeepSeek, ChatGPT, and many more.
Like what I’ve said earlier, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max is built like a tank, and I don’t mean that figuratively. The added thickness isn’t just there to house the massive battery, it also helps reinforce the structure of the device. HUAWEI even claims that the nova 15 Max can withstand bending forces of up to 100 kg.
Plus, with the Habagat season starting, the IP65 water and dust resistance could mean the difference between a seamless commute and an expensive trip to the repair shop.
Display
At 6.84-inch, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max is one of the biggest phones in HUAWEI’s current lineup (with the exception of course of their foldables). But despite that, the phone is still manageable to hold, even with smaller hands like mine. That’s thanks in part to the thin bezels all around that give the HUAWEI nova 15 Max a massive display without a massive footprint.
Now, having a big display is one thing, but utilizing all 6.84-inch of real estate is a whole ‘nother ball game. Flaws are much more noticeable because of how stretched the content will be. Luckily, HUAWEI didn’t skimp on the quality. At this price range, they’ve managed to squeeze in an intelligent 120Hz vivid OLED display that can go as bright as 4000 nits.
Battery
Ah yes, where the “Max” in the nova 15 Max shows. The HUAWEI nova 15 Max has the unique distinction of being the first mainstream HUAWEI smartphone to have the biggest battery to date. 8,500 mAh to be exact! Even the more expensive offerings in HUAWEI’s lineup only come with 5,000 to 6,000 mAh.
We haven’t tested its endurance but if the HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro managed to last 18 hours and 32 mins on a 5,750 mAh battery, imagine what 8,500 mAh can achieve.
Now, what’s the catch? The catch is that it only supports 40W SuperCharge. I mean it’s not a crawl getting from 0 to 100% but with a battery this big, you would expect something a bit faster.
But hey, at least the charging brick comes included. Plus, with such a big battery, I’m betting that you’ll only get the chance to plug this in after a long day, even two days of work, and you’ll mostly do that while sleeping.
Performance
Under the hood of the HUAWEI nova 15 Max is a Kirin 8000 chipset coupled with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It runs EMUI 14.2 out of the box which allows you to install your most favorite apps through HUAWEI’s AppGallery.
Because of our limited time with the HUAWEI nova 15 Max, we were only able to run AnTuTu Benchmark V11 and a few games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Call of Duty: Mobile. In AnTuTu Benchmark V11, it managed to score 670,410, not quite the powerhouse but more than enough for day-to-day tasks.
Gaming on it feels like what you would usually expect from a mid-range device. MLBB and CODM ran fine without any frame drops or lags, just don’t expect to run it at full tilt. The HUAWEI nova 15 Max also handled thermals just fine, it’s not cool to the touch by any means but it doesn’t get unbearably hot either.
Where I’m more interested in is in entertainment. With such a massive display, I think the HUAWEI nova 15 Max would appeal more to the binge-watching consumers more so than the gamers. Plus, the loud but clear dual stereo speakers will do wonders on binge-watching or your favorite Chinese telenovela.
Camera
If there’s one thing you could count on HUAWEI to never miss on, it’s the camera. Regardless if you’re buying their cheapest offering or the top-of-the-line model, HUAWEI always delivers on the camera experience.
Now, let’s temper our expectations a bit, even with HUAWEI’s magic touch, the nova 15 Max still won’t match the level that higher, more expensive nova phones have achieved. It’ll come close but that’s not really what the HUAWEI nova 15 Max is for.
For the HUAWEI nova 15 Max, it’s all about offering you the best bang for your buck across the board. That being said, the phone isn’t a slouch either.
Even with seemingly four camera cutouts, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max only has two sensors, a 50 MP RYYB Ultra-Clear Camera with an F1.9 aperture and a 2 MP Ultra Lighting Camera for depth, plus an 8 MP front facing camera for your selfie needs.
Based on our initial shots, the camera produces the vibrant yet accurate color that we’ve come to expect from HUAWEI. Skin tones look natural even in the most extreme conditions.
Even in low-light situations, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max does a good job at retaining detail, I mean just look at that creamy bokeh .Although we’ll need more time to see if that stays the same for every low-light condition.
Initial Thoughts
On the surface, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max has the markings of a great mid-range phone. Of course, we certainly need to do our due diligence before we label it as such. Now, it’s not perfect, no phone certainly is, but it also doesn’t pretend to be something it’s not.
It stays true to what it is, a reliable, durable, and affordable mid-range phone that you won’t be afraid to risk in the rain but still be able to slay when needed. It may not max out every spec, but it did manage to go big on the areas that matter the most. Giving us max battery, max durability, at max value.
So, if you’re looking for a reliable daily driver that prioritizes the things that matter the most then the HUAWEI nova 15 Max could be a compelling choice. The wait won’t be much longer either because HUAWEI will be holding the first sale for the nova 15 Max on June 12, where you can score one for just ₱19,888.
And, to sweeten the deal, HUAWEI is also including a 2-year complimentary battery replacement service worth ₱2,999, along with a free stainless steel thermos worth ₱1,499. You can do so through HUAWEI’s official online store, Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.