HUAWEI nova 13 Pro Review

HUAWEI just launched its latest nova 13 series, and fortunately, we got our hands on the HUAWEI nova 13 Pro.

This device belongs to the upper mid-range market and offers competitive camera performance. But aside from its cameras, what else does this device bring to the table considering its price? Let’s find out!

Design and Build

First, let’s talk about its design. One thing I liked about the HUAWEI nova 13 Pro is its elegant and premium look. It features a fabric-like texture on its back panel, which feels soft to the touch.

On the lower part of the back, you’ll find the nova branding, which is a nice touch due to its symmetrical placement.

IMG 2 2

A closer look at the camera module reveals a slightly protruded design with a stylish camera bump that has small “nova” texts embedded on the side.

The back panel uses an all-glass material, making it more durable, and thanks to its textured finish, it resists fingerprint smudges.

In terms of dimensions, the device weighs 209g, which feels a bit heavy but sturdy. Despite the weight, it remains comfortable to hold, thanks to the materials used for the back.

As for the frame, the power button and volume rockers are located on the right side, while the top houses a speaker and microphone. At the bottom, you’ll find the SIM tray, microphone, USB-C port, and another speaker grille.

  • IMG 11 3
  • IMG 12 3
  • IMG 10 3

Design-wise, the HUAWEI nova 13 Pro doesn’t go overboard with flashy looks but instead focuses on being an elegant and premium device. Despite its weight, the well-thought-out design makes it durable and visually appealing.

Display

IMG 15 3

Moving on to its display, the HUAWEI nova 13 Pro boasts a 6.76-inch 1.5K LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 1224×2776. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR, and is protected by Aluminosilicate glass.

As for the user experience, the display is quite impressive. It delivers smooth and fluid animations, which is a big plus. The colors are vibrant and sharp, making it ideal for multimedia consumption.

IMG 22 2

The slightly curved edges enhance usability without the usual issues of accidental touches, and the display works great even in outdoor settings. Its pill-shaped notch houses dual lenses, and although there’s a gap between the two lenses, it’s not overly distracting.

Camera

When it comes to cameras, the HUAWEI nova 13 Pro features a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP OIS main sensor, a 12MP telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultrawide lens. For selfies, it has an 8MP telephoto and a 60MP ultrawide lens.

The rear cameras capture great-quality images, especially in well-lit environments. Outdoor shots have a wide dynamic range and accurate color reproduction, with sharp details. However, in certain scenarios, shadows and blacks may appear deeper than expected. Despite this, the results are social media-ready.

Rear Camera Sample Shots

  • IMG 27 3
  • IMG 29 3
  • IMG 28 3
  • IMG 26 3
  • IMG 30 3
  • IMG 31 3
  • IMG 32 3

For selfies, the 60MP ultrawide lens delivers high-quality photos in almost any setting. HDR processing is excellent, with impressive details and good color saturation.

Seflie Camera Sample Shots

  • IMG 33 3
  • IMG 34 3
  • IMG 35 3
  • IMG 36 3

In terms of video, both the front and rear cameras can shoot up to 4K at 30fps.

Performance

IMG 37 2

Under the hood, the HUAWEI nova 13 Pro is powered by the 7nm Kirin 8000 chipset. Our review unit comes with 12GB RAM (expandable by 3GB) and 512GB storage.

IMG 39 3

As a daily driver, the performance is more than adequate for apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Viber. App switching is smooth and lag-free, even with multiple applications running in the background.

For gaming, the device handles competitive titles effortlessly, with no visible frame drops, even during intense moments. Benchmarks reveal decent performance for this segment.

Benchmark Results

  • IMG 43 2
  • IMG 44 2

Battery and Charging

The HUAWEI nova 13 Pro packs a 5000mAh battery, which is an upgrade over its predecessor. In our video loop test, it lasted about 14 hours and 21 minutes. For casual users, the battery can easily last over a day with some charge left for the next day.

When it’s time to recharge, the included 100W fast charger can fully juice up the device from 0 to 100% in just 45 minutes.

Pricing and Verdict

IMG 49 2

Now, let’s talk price. The HUAWEI nova 13 Pro retails for PHP32,999 for the 12GB+512GB configuration.

Overall, the HUAWEI nova 13 Pro is a solid choice in the upper mid-range market. It features an elegant and premium design, an impressive display, a bigger battery, and superb camera performance. However, its lack of 5G support and the relatively underperforming chipset are notable downsides. If those aren’t deal-breakers, this is an excellent option for anyone looking for a camera-centric smartphone.

HUAWEI nova 13 Pro

IMG 6 3
  • OS: EMUI 14.2
  • Network: Dual SIM | 4G 
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 | WiFi
  • Refresh Rate: 120Hz
  • Dimensions: 163.4 × 74.9 Ã— 7.82mm
  • Weight: 195 g
  • Resolution: FHD+  2776 × 1224 pixels
  • Screen Size & Display: 6.76 inches OLED
  • Chipset: Kirin 8000
  • RAM: 12GB 
  • Storage: 512GB
  • Rear Camera: 50MP | 12MP telephoto | 8MP ultrawide
  • Front Camera: 60MP ultrawide | 8 MP portrait
  • Battery & Charging: 5000mAh | 100W 
  • Colors: Loden Green, White, Black

So, that’s our review of the HUAWEI nova 13 Pro. What do you think about this device? Let us know in the comments!

If you want to have a better look on HUAWEI nova 13 Pro, you might want to check out our review video on our YouTube Channel!

  1. Carl Rodriguez says:

    This phone is awesome! The camera is killer. 📸🔥

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

ManilaShaker is a tech media producing insightful and helpful content for our local and growing international audience. Our goal is to create a premier Philippine digital consumer electronics resource that provides the most objective reviews and comparisons globally.