Today we have two of the hottest phones collide: one is known for setting the bar high on mobile photography and another one for the usability. Both units are poised to take the midrange smartphones beyond its borders.
Huawei Nova 3i is dubbed as the present day king of the midrangers, with its features—specifically its four AI-powered cameras—setting another matchpoint among the said category of mobile phones in the market. On the other hand, the OPPO F9 is making waves with its new feature that defines longevity anew: the industry-leading VOOC Technology which makes it possible to charge this phone for five minutes and can handle talktime for a mere two hours.
Let’s see how things would fare on each other and who will get the upper hand at the end if we compare its specifications.
Huawei Nova 3i vs. OPPO F9 Specs Comparison
Huawei Nova 3i OPPO F9
OS Android 8.1 OreonEMUI 8.2 Android 8.1 OreonColor OS 5.2
Display 6.3 in IPS LCD with 19.5:9 Aspect Ratio 6.3 in IPS TFT with 19.5:9 screen aspect ratio (1080x2340)
Processor Octa Core: 2.2GHz Quad Core Cortex-A73 + 1.7GHz Quad Core Cortex-A53nChipset: Huawei Kirin 710nGPU: Mali-G51nRAM: 4GB 2.2GHz Quad CorenChipset: MTK P60nGPU: ARM Mali-G72 MP3 80MmHznRAM: 6GB
Memory and Storage 128 GB; expandable to 256GB 64GB; expandable to 256 GB
Network and Connectivity 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+, 2G EDGE & GPRS NetworksnWi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 4.2, A-GPS, USB OTG, Micro USB 2.0n 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+, 2G EDGE & GPRS NetworksnWi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth 4.2, A-GPS, USB OTG,n
Sensors Fingerprint, proximity, ambient light, Compass Gyroscope, Accelerometer E-Compass, Proximity, G-Sensor/Accelerator, Lightn
Battery 3340 mAh Li-ion 3500mAH, w/ VOOC Technology
Rear Camera 16 + 2 Megapixels (f/2.2 Aperture) w/ Pgase detection autofocus 16MP (f/1.8+f/2.4)
Front Camera 24 + 2 Megapixels (f/2.0 Aperture) Fixed Focus 25MP (f/2.0)
Dimensions 157.6 x 75.2 x 7.6 mm 156.7 x 74 x 7.90 mm
Weight 169g 169g
Colors Black, White, Gradient Purple Sunshine Red, Twilight Blue, Starry Purple
SIM Dual SIM Dual SIM
Pricing Php 15,990 Php 17,990
Design & Construction
Huawei Nova 3i holds a slight advantage on the size, but the OPPO F9 makes up through its slight thickness. It has a premium build just the same as its flagships P20 and P20 Pro. Both phones weighted at a relatively light of 169 grams. But while the Nova 3i can be availed on three sophisticated variants, the OPPO F9 can be seen on five different colors—which gives consumer more available options to choose from upon purchasing the item. It also has its industry-first petal-shaped pattern graved inside gradient-color built that makes it an eye-candy.
Display
Straying away from the usual trend, the OPPO F9 patents its waterdrop-like notch that aims to maximize the display space; thus, showcasing a new visual experience for its users with its 90.8% screen with 19:5.9 screen aspect ratio. Though it has a bigger notch, Huawei’s Nova 3i was still able to max out the same display size but with a lower screen-to-body ratio—both phones clock in at 6.3 inches of display. But with that said, the Nova 3i also has its Smart Resolution on to save more power and still allow solid viewing angles without a sign of a color shifting.
In addition, OPPO F9 is using an LTPS TFT IPS screen, while the Huawei Nova 3i has the TFT LCD IPS on it. An LTPS LCD (Low-Temperature PolySilicon) screen is hands-down a better choice when it comes to achieving higher picture resolution by providing large pixel densities, and low power consumption that standard LCD and controlled temperature ranges. But don’t take the TFT IPS (Thin Film Transistor In-Plane Switching) out of equation yet: previous issues on the early LCD treatment led to this development by means of arranging and switching the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules of standard LCD Display, and having enhanced viewing angles and improve color reproduction as a result. And apparently, most of smartphone manufacturers having them as the usual go-to display technology, which helps the growth of the product’s market.
Camera
The Nova 3i has four cameras with artificial intelligence manning the image system which can produce impressive photos with high-clarity and bokeh effect. Its rear shooters has a 16MP camera (with f/2.2 aperture and Phase Autofocus feature) that’s backed up by a 2MP camera for a better picture-taking experience. But that’s not all, as the Nova 3i also has a 24MP+2MP camera (with f/2.0 aperture) front camera. Its AI feature automatically enhances any images and has the beautification algorithm that intelligently recognizes the subject’s age, gender, and even skin tone.
Meanwhile, the OPPO F9 boasts a dual rear 16MP camera (f/1.8+f/2.4) that can take pictures and tell the story on all its own: thanks to its HDR sensor, and a 25MP camera (f/2.0) on the front that makes the brand live up to its moniker as a selfie camera phone. It can also provide excellent depth of field effects plus the AI technology that’s capable of recognizing various photography scene modes.
With all that said, it looks like the OPPO F9 gains the usual edge on selfies, while the Huawei Nova 3i is more gunning for serious mobile photography.
Memory
The Huawei Nova 3i runs on an octa-core 2.2 GHz CPU, and has a base RAM of 4GB but the OPPO F9 is been equipped with a 6GB base RAM: instantly giving the F9 the upperhand. If you are looking for a phone to use for mobile gaming or if you plan to run heavy apps, you are better off with the OPPO F9. It’s hard to say which one should take a point in this round, because even though the Nova 3i has a smaller RAM, it has twice the storage capacity as the F9 which makes up for its lack of a dedicated microSD slot.
Performance
When it comes to processing power, the two smartphones have differing strengths. The Nova 3i is powered by a Kirin 710 chipset, which is designed to deliver superb gaming performance especially with the presence of the GPU Turbo update that significantly boosts its graphics processing capabilities. Comparably, OPPO F9‘s Helio P60 processor may not be as good for gaming but can offer higher energy efficiency and camera performance when paired with suitable sensors. Both chipsets have nearly the same configuration, but given the price, the Nova 3i offers great value at roughly the same processing power.
As for battery, OPPO has joined the bandwagon by boasting the VOOC Flash Charge Technology together with its 3,500 mAH battery capacity which is impressive compared to other units in the market today. This is a solid option for people who are always on the go and are always using their smartphones all the time. Huawei’s Nova 3i is at a complete disadvantage in this round, with a lower capacity of 3,400 mAH but can still get you through the day.
In the end, it can be concluded that the OPPO F9 wins this showdown. Even though the Nova 3i is packed with promising features and specs, the price difference between it and the F9 is justifiable. For an additional Php 2,000, OPPO’s higher RAM, VOOC technology and larger battery capacity is definitely well worth it. Though it lost to the F9’s distinct advantages, the Huawei Nova 3i is still an amazing smartphone on its own. What it lacks in certain areas explains how Huawei was able to make it affordable.
Both phones are great options if you are looking for a competitive midrange smartphone, and can deliver amazing performance in terms of processing power, camera quality and are also very stylish. The OPPO F9 is fit for taking high quality photos, while the Huawei Nova 3i is more in tune for mobile gaming. Depending on your preferences as a user, these units are capable of giving you exactly what you need from a smartphone.
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