Huawei Japan's SIM-free smartphone "HUAWEI nova lite 3" has been announced. It is the third generation of the popular mid-range model series "nova", and in addition to improving basic performance, the camera function has been further enhanced. Let's deliver the first impression immediately.
The nova lite 3 is a middle-class smartphone with excellent cost performance at 26,880 yen (excluding tax), and a new model appeared about one year after the release of the previous model "nova lite 2". The portrait display is even more elongated with a 19.5: 9 (aspect ratio), which is even more portrait.
Therefore, the display size is 6.21 inches, which is larger than the previous model's 5.65 inches. Along with that, the body size has also increased, but it is a relatively easy-to-hold body size.
The "3D curved design" on the back contributes to the ease of holding. The rounded design fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.
In addition, the screen occupancy rate has been expanded from the conventional 82% to 89% by the narrow frame full-view display that expands the display to the limit of the main body and the "drop-shaped notch" that further reduces the notch of the in-camera to the limit. bottom.
Punch-hole type smartphones with holes in the display have also appeared, but the design is such that the drop-shaped notch is minimal and does not get in the way so much.
The big evolution point is "camera"
The big evolution of this nova lite 3 is the camera. In particular, the point is to enhance the AI function called "master AI". The master AI, which is also installed in the flagship models "HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro" and "HUAWEI P20 Pro", has a scene recognition function that recognizes the scene where the camera is pointed and automatically applies the optimum camera settings. It is a feature.
This time, the out-camera recognizes 22 categories and more than 500 scenes, and has the same recognition performance as the upper model. It recognizes not only general people and subjects such as dogs and cats, but also pandas and bicycles in interesting places.
The upper model is said to be able to perform high-speed AI processing by the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) installed in the SoC, and it is the master AI that utilizes this. However, the nova lite 3 processor (HUAWEI Kirin 710) does not have an NPU. The CPU is in charge of AI processing, and as a result, it seems that the processing speed will be affected.
In fact, when compared to the Mate 20 Pro, it seems to be inferior in recognition speed and accuracy. However, considering the Mate 20 Pro over 100,000 yen and the nova lite 3 under 30,000 yen, the impression is that it has sufficient performance and accuracy.
The main out-camera is a dual lens with 13 million effective pixels and a 2 million pixel camera. The 2-megapixel camera is in charge of depth information and is used for background blur. The F value of the lens is F1.8. The specifications are the same as before, but according to Huawei, the sensor size is getting bigger.
As an AI function, the "AI Vision" function, which recognizes the subject and searches for information via the Internet, is now available. AI Vision provides a function that recognizes historical buildings, a shopping function that searches for products from Rakuten, Yahoo, etc., and a function that calculates calories.
Since this also uses AI, recognition is slow compared to the upper model, but it is reasonably practical. Unlike the upper model, calorie calculation cannot measure the size of food, so there is also the difference that it displays calories per 100 g.
Equipped with AI function in the in-camera
Another feature is the in-camera. In addition to the evolution of the number of effective pixels from 8 million pixels to 16 million pixels, it also supports master AI. There are 8 categories of corresponding scenes, but especially if you are indoors by taking a selfie or the background is a bright blue sky, it will be the optimum setting according to each scene.
Rather, this is a function that the upper model does not have, and it will be a very effective function for users who mainly take selfies.
As a function other than the camera, "HUAWEI Party mode" is installed. Similarly, one smartphone that supports HUAWEI Party mode becomes the master unit, and up to seven smartphones (slave units) can play music in synchronization. You can use your smartphone as a pseudo surround speaker, or you can get together and play the same music on everyone's smartphone (just Party mode), which seems to be an interesting function.
The nova lite 3 is characterized by its high cost performance, with its low price and performance taken into consideration. It seems to be one of the popular ones this time as well.
