Huawei has introduced its latest affordable midrange phone, the Huawei Nova 13i. A report on Huawei Mobile’s Facebook page announced the phone’s price and preorder freebies. The Nova 13i is the direct successor to the Nova 12i, launched last year, and is more affordable than its predecessor.

Huawei Nova 13i is now available in the Philippines
The Huawei Nova 13i is now listed on its official Shopee store, and Lazada with a retail price of PHP 12,999, including FreeBuds SE 2 TWS earbuds (worth PHP 1,599). However, a PHP 1,000 discount will reduce the price to PHP 11,999 from January 17 to 31, 2025.
The phone sports a 6.67″ FHD+ IPS LCD with ultra-thin bezels and an always-on display. The display has a 2388 x 1080 resolution at 391 ppi, adaptive dynamic 30/60/90Hz refresh rate, and a 270Hz touch sampling rate.
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The design features a shimmering, glimmering, stylish star orbit ring design for the rear camera island. The phone measures 163.3 mm x 74.7 mm x 8.4 mm, weighs approximately 199 grams, and comes in white and blue colorways.
It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 octa-core processor with an Adreno 610 GPU. It offers 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage and runs on EMUI 14.2 (without Google Play services).
The camera setup includes a 108MP Main Camera (f/1.9 aperture), a 2MP In-depth Camera (f/2.4 aperture), and an 8MP punch-hole selfie shooter (f/2.0 aperture).

The 5,000mAh battery uses a USB Type-C port and supports Huawei’s 40W SuperCharge Turbo, charging the battery to 62% in 30 minutes.
Connectivity options include dual nano SIM, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, a Type-C earjack, NFC, and GPS. Additional features include a gravity sensor, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, compass, and ambient light sensor.
Huawei Nova 13i Specifications:
- Dimensions: 163.3 mm x 74.7 mm x 8.4 mm
- Weight: 196 grams
- Display: 6.67-inch FHD+ IPS LCD, Adaptive 30/60/90hz refreshrate, 270Hz touch sampling rate, 1080 × 2388 pixels
- RAM: 8GB
- ROM: 128GB, 256GB
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 680
- CPU: 4 × Cortex-A73 Based 2.4 GHz + 4 × Cortex-A53 Based 1.9 GHz
- GPU: Adreno 610
- Back Camera: 108 MP Main Camera (f/1.9 aperture), 2 MP In-depth Camera (f/2.4 aperture)
- Front Camera: 8 MP Selfie Camera (f/2.0 aperture)
- OS: EMUI 4.2 (no Google Play Services)
- Battery: 5000mAh, 40W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo 2.0
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, AGPS/GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo, GALILEO, QZSS, USB TYPE-C, NFC
- Sensors: Magnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Gyro-meter, Acceleration Sensor, Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, Compass
- Others: Huawei Histen, TYPE-C earjack
- Colors: Blue, White
- Price: PHP12,999
- Freebies: FreeBuds SE 2 a TWS earbuds worth PHP 1,599.
Huawei Nova 13i Price and Availability in the Philippines
The Huawei Nova 13i is available for pre-order at the early-bird price of PHP 11,999 (with Freebuds SE 2 worth PHP 1,599) from January 17 to 31. Visit their official online stores for more details.
Source: Huawei Mobile
Huawei Nova 13i: Pros and Cons
The Huawei Nova 13i presents a compelling package for budget-conscious consumers seeking a stylish smartphone with impressive camera capabilities and long battery life. However, the lack of Google Play services and 5G connectivity might be dealbreakers for some.
Pros:
- Premium design and build quality: The Nova 13i boasts a sleek and stylish design with a comfortable grip and a premium feel.
- Vibrant 6.7-inch display with 90Hz refresh rate: The display offers smooth scrolling and a vibrant viewing experience, enhancing multimedia consumption and gaming.
- Impressive 108MP camera: The high-resolution main camera delivers detailed and vibrant photos, especially in well-lit conditions.
- Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with 40W fast charging: The large battery provides excellent longevity, and the fast charging technology ensures quick top-ups.
- Smooth and reliable performance for daily tasks: The Snapdragon 680 chipset delivers smooth multitasking and reliable performance for everyday use.
Cons:
- Lacks Google Play services: The absence of Google Play services could be a major drawback for users who rely on Google apps and services.
- No 5G connectivity: The lack of 5G support might limit future-proofing and network speeds.
- Limited gaming performance for heavy users: The Snapdragon 680 chipset may struggle with resource-intensive games.
Conclusion
The Huawei Nova 13i is a solid mid-range offering with a great design, vibrant display, strong battery life, and a capable camera. However, the lack of Google Play services and 5G connectivity might be dealbreakers for some buyers. If you’re looking for a stylish, camera-focused smartphone with solid battery life and don’t rely heavily on Google apps, the Nova 13i is a compelling choice. However, if you need Google Play services or 5G connectivity, you might want to consider other options.
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