The Huawei nova 3i arrived in July 2018 as a mid-range Android handset aimed at younger buyers who wanted a tall display, four cameras, and a clean modern design without paying flagship money. Built around Huawei’s then-new Kirin 710 chipset, it became one of the first phones to showcase the company’s 12 nm silicon and a refreshed EMUI 9.0 experience on top of Android 9.0 Pie.
Although the nova 3i is now discontinued, its specification sheet remains a useful reference point for anyone studying the late-2010s mid-range, comparing legacy hardware, or hunting for a budget secondary device on the used market. This article breaks down what the phone offered, where it still holds up, and where its age clearly shows.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology: | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 2G bands: | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands: | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands: | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed: | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
Launch
| Announced: | 2018, July 18. Released 2018, July 27 |
| Status: | Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions: | 157.6 x 75.2 x 7.6 mm (6.20 x 2.96 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight: | 169 g (5.96 oz) |
| Build: | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| SIM: | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
Display
| Type: | IPS LCD |
| Size: | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution: | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
Platform
| OS: | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.0 |
| Chipset: | Kirin 710 (12 nm) |
| CPU: | Octa-core (4×2.2 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| GPU: | Mali-G51 MP4 |
Memory
| Card slot: | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal: | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 |
Main Camera
| Dual: | 16 MP, f/2.2, PDAF 2 MP, (depth) |
| Features: | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video: | 1080p@30fps |
Selfie camera
| Dual: | 24 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.9µm 2 MP, depth sensor |
| Features: | HDR |
| Video: | 1080p@30fps |
Sound
| Loudspeaker: | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack: | Yes |
Comms
| WLAN: | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth: | 4.2, A2DP, LE, EDR, aptX HD |
| Positioning: | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| NFC: | No |
| Radio: | FM radio |
| USB: | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
Features
| Sensors: | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
Battery
| Type: | Li-Ion 3340 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging: | 10W wired |
Misc
| Colors: | Black, Pearl White, Iris Purple |
| Models: | INE-LX1, INE-LX1r, INE-LX1, Sydney 6353, INE-LX2r, INE-AL00, INE-TL00 |
| Price: | About 220 EUR |
Price and Availability
The Huawei nova 3i offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €220, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Huawei nova 3i converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of May 31, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $256
- Japan: ¥40,844
- United Kingdom: £191
- Australia: A$357
- Canada: C$354
- Taiwan: NT$8,043
- Denmark: kr1.642
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼962
- South Korea: ₩386,248
- Germany: €220
- Brazil: R$1.293
- Vietnam: ₫6.701.691
- Kenya: KSh 33,157
- India: ₹24,387
- Indonesia: Rp 4.579.259
- Nigeria: ₦346,824
- Pakistan: ₨71,503
- Philippines: ₱15,763
- Bangladesh: ৳৩১,৪৭১
Positioning and Value at Launch
At roughly 220 EUR around launch, the nova 3i sat squarely in the affordable mid-range. Huawei targeted shoppers who wanted a large 6.3-inch screen, a quad-camera setup on paper, and a notch-style modern look without stepping up to the pricier nova 3 or P20 series. Compared with rivals of the same era, the value proposition leaned heavily on the new Kirin 710 chip and the camera count rather than premium materials or fast charging.
Design and Build Quality
The nova 3i measures 157.6 x 75.2 x 7.6 mm and weighs 169 g, which kept it slim and manageable despite the large display. Huawei used a glass front with a plastic back and plastic frame, finished in Black, Pearl White, or the more eye-catching Iris Purple. The plastic rear keeps cost and weight down but does not match the all-glass feel of higher-end models. A rear-mounted fingerprint sensor sits within easy reach, and the dual Nano-SIM tray accepts microSDXC expansion in the shared slot.
Display Experience
The 6.3-inch IPS LCD panel runs at 1080 x 2340 pixels in a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, working out to roughly 409 ppi and a 82.2% screen-to-body ratio. For an LCD of its generation, the display offered sharp text, balanced colors, and respectable brightness for indoor viewing. There is no high refresh rate or HDR support here, so the screen feels dated next to today’s 90 Hz and 120 Hz competitors, but it remains perfectly usable for browsing, social media, and casual video.
Performance and Software
The Kirin 710 is built on a 12 nm process with an octa-core CPU pairing four Cortex-A73 cores at 2.2 GHz with four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7 GHz, alongside a Mali-G51 MP4 GPU. Three memory tiers were offered: 64 GB with 4 GB RAM, 128 GB with 4 GB RAM, and 128 GB with 6 GB RAM, using eMMC 5.1 storage. The phone shipped on Android 8.1 (Oreo) and was upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) with EMUI 9.0. Day-to-day tasks like messaging, browsing, and light gaming are comfortable; modern heavy 3D titles will struggle.
Camera System
On the back, a 16 MP f/2.2 main sensor with PDAF is paired with a 2 MP depth helper for portrait shots, supported by an LED flash, HDR, and panorama. Video recording tops out at 1080p at 30 fps, with no 4K capture. The front matches the rear approach with a 24 MP f/2.0 wide selfie sensor and a second 2 MP depth camera, helping with bokeh selfies that were a key marketing point in 2018. Results are best in bright light; low-light performance and dynamic range trail current mid-rangers.
Battery and Charging
A 3,340 mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery powers the device, paired with 10 W wired charging. In its day this was enough for a comfortable full day of mixed use, but charging speed feels slow compared with modern 33 W, 67 W, or 100 W solutions now common at the same price tier. There is no wireless charging and no reverse charging.
Connectivity and Sensors
Connectivity covers GSM, HSPA, and LTE Cat12 with download speeds up to 600 Mbps, plus Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD, and tri-system positioning via GPS, GLONASS, and BDS. There is an FM radio, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and microUSB 2.0 with OTG support. Notable omissions for today are NFC, Wi-Fi 5/6, and USB-C, all of which limit its appeal as a long-term modern daily driver. Sensors include a rear fingerprint reader, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass.
Who Should Consider the nova 3i Today
The nova 3i makes the most sense as a low-cost secondary phone, a basic device for a family member with simple needs, or a reference handset for collectors and reviewers studying Huawei’s pre-sanctions Android lineup. Buyers who need fast charging, NFC payments, 5G, current security patches, or strong low-light cameras should look at a newer model instead.
Conclusion
The Huawei nova 3i was a thoughtful mid-range package in 2018, blending a large 6.3-inch display, a fresh Kirin 710 chipset, and a quad-camera setup at a friendly price. In 2026 it is best viewed as a legacy device: fine for light everyday use or as a backup, but no longer a recommended primary phone given its dated software, slow charging, and missing NFC. Choose it only if you find a well-priced unit in good condition and your needs are modest.
Official references
- HUAWEI nova 3i Official Specifications – Official Huawei product specifications page covering dimensions, display, chipset, memory variants, cameras, battery, network bands, connectivity, sensors, GPS, and box contents.
- HUAWEI nova 3i Support Global – Official Huawei support page listing nova 3i model/download variants such as INE-LX1, INE-LX2, INE-LX1r, and INE-LX2r for cross-checking model names and support materials.
- HUAWEI Consumer Device Certification – Official Huawei certificate lookup for consumer-device declarations of conformity; useful for verifying regulatory/compliance documents by exact product model.
- HUAWEI Hong Kong nova 3 / nova 3i Press Release – Official Huawei launch/news reference for nova 3i positioning and key hardware claims, useful as secondary manufacturer context alongside the specs page.
