Huawei Nova 12 SE Review: A Stylish Mid-Range Smartphone with Impressive Features

The Huawei Nova 12 SE is one of the latest entries in Huawei’s popular Nova series, offering a sleek design, powerful performance, and an impressive camera system—all at a competitive price point. Designed for users who crave a high-performance smartphone without breaking the bank, the Nova 12 SE balances modern technology with affordability. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the key features, design, performance, and overall value of the Huawei Nova 12 SE to help you decide if it’s the right device for you.

Overview of the Huawei Nova 12 SE

The Huawei Nova 12 SE is part of Huawei’s ongoing effort to provide well-rounded smartphones for the mid-range market. With features such as a high-quality display, an advanced camera system, and a long-lasting battery, the Nova 12 SE aims to appeal to a wide range of users. Whether you’re into photography, gaming, or social media, the Nova 12 SE is built to handle it all without the premium price tag of flagship devices.

One of the key selling points of this device is its blend of performance, design, and value—perfect for those who want a reliable smartphone that doesn’t compromise on style or functionality.

Design and Display

Huawei has always prioritized design in its smartphones, and the Nova 12 SE is no exception. Featuring a sleek, modern aesthetic, the Nova 12 SE sports a glass back with a smooth, reflective finish that gives the phone a premium look and feel. It is available in several eye-catching colors, allowing users to choose the one that best suits their style.

The phone has a 6.67-inch OLED display with Full HD+ resolution, which provides sharp, vibrant colors and deep blacks. The 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and responsiveness, whether you’re browsing social media, watching videos, or playing games. The OLED panel enhances the viewing experience by offering more contrast and detail compared to typical LCD displays, making the phone a great option for media consumption.

In terms of size, the Nova 12 SE strikes a good balance between screen real estate and portability, making it comfortable to hold and use for extended periods. The slim profile and curved edges add to the overall ergonomic feel, ensuring a comfortable grip.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Huawei Nova 12 SE is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G chipset, which provides reliable performance for day-to-day tasks. While this chipset may not compete with the high-end Snapdragon or Kirin processors found in flagship models, it offers more than enough power for browsing, social media, and light gaming.

With 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, the Nova 12 SE provides plenty of memory and storage for most users. The phone runs smoothly when switching between apps, streaming media, or even using multiple apps at once. For users who need additional storage, the Huawei Nova 12 SE supports expandable storage through a microSD card, which is a bonus at this price point.

The phone runs on HarmonyOS 2.0, Huawei’s custom operating system. While HarmonyOS is still evolving and lacks access to the Google Play Store due to ongoing restrictions, it has its advantages, such as seamless integration with other Huawei devices and a range of smart features. If you’re already in the Huawei ecosystem, you’ll find that HarmonyOS offers an excellent user experience with enhanced multitasking capabilities and app management. However, users outside of the ecosystem may face a learning curve, particularly when it comes to app compatibility.

Camera Performance

The camera system on the Huawei Nova 12 SE is one of its standout features, especially in the mid-range segment. It comes equipped with a 64MP primary sensor, a 5MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. This camera setup enables users to capture high-quality images in a variety of settings, from bright outdoor landscapes to low-light environments.

The 64MP main camera delivers sharp, detailed shots with vibrant colors, thanks to Huawei’s advanced AI image processing. The camera’s AI scene recognition automatically adjusts settings for different types of shots, whether you’re capturing portraits, landscapes, or food photography. The 5MP ultra-wide camera expands your shooting options, allowing you to capture more of your surroundings in a single frame. While the 2MP depth sensor is a basic addition, it enhances portrait shots by offering a more natural background blur (bokeh effect).

For selfies, the Nova 12 SE comes with a 16MP front-facing camera, which performs admirably in both well-lit and low-light conditions. Huawei’s AI beautification mode helps refine facial features and skin tones, ensuring that your selfies look polished and flattering.

In terms of video, the Nova 12 SE supports 1080p recording at 30fps. While it may not offer the 4K video capabilities of higher-end devices, the video quality is solid for everyday use, with good color reproduction and decent stabilization.

Battery Life and Charging

The Huawei Nova 12 SE features a 4000mAh battery, which provides a full day of use under moderate conditions. Whether you’re browsing, chatting, or streaming music, the device has enough power to last you throughout the day without needing a recharge. Heavy users may need to charge the device in the evening, but the battery should suffice for most day-to-day tasks.

One of the highlights of the Nova 12 SE is its fast charging capability. The phone supports 66W SuperCharge technology, which allows you to charge the battery from 0% to 70% in just 30 minutes, making it one of the fastest-charging devices in the mid-range segment. In just over an hour, you can fully charge the device, ensuring that you spend less time waiting and more time using your phone.

While the phone does not support wireless charging, the SuperCharge wired charging is fast enough to make up for this limitation, especially given the affordable price point of the device.

5G Connectivity and Additional Features

The Huawei Nova 12 SE supports 5G connectivity, ensuring fast internet speeds for streaming, gaming, and browsing. This makes the phone future-proof, as 5G networks continue to expand globally. In addition to 5G, the phone also supports dual SIM functionality, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6, and NFC—all features that enhance its connectivity and usability in a modern digital environment.

The in-display fingerprint scanner provides convenient biometric security, offering a quick and secure way to unlock your phone. The face unlock feature also works well in good lighting, giving users an alternative option for accessing their device.

Conclusion: Is the Huawei Nova 12 SE Worth It?

The Huawei Nova 12 SE stands out as one of the best mid-range smartphones in its class, offering a strong mix of performance, design, and camera capabilities. Its 64MP primary camera, impressive OLED display, and fast charging make it a solid choice for users who want a feature-rich smartphone without the premium price tag.

While the lack of Google services and access to the Google Play Store may be a downside for some, HarmonyOS provides a smooth and user-friendly alternative for those who are already in the Huawei ecosystem. With 5G connectivity, solid battery life, and a sleek design, the Nova 12 SE is a well-rounded device that offers great value for money.

If you’re looking for a mid-range smartphone that offers flagship-like features at an affordable price, the Huawei Nova 12 SE is a great option to consider. It’s an excellent choice for users who want a phone that excels in camera quality, display performance, and battery life.