Helpful hints for the hit phone of this year
By now you’ve probably heard of Huawei’s Nova 2i, that 18:9 aspect ratio’d phone with quad cameras and a very competitive price tag. We’ve already done our full review of that particular phone, and now we’re going to give you a couple of tips when you buy one for your own.
Invest in tempered glass protection
While Huawei’s Nova 2i already comes with its own screen protector pre-installed, we really suggest getting tempered glass case for the device ASAP. The plastic screen protector scratches and mars easily and should be considered as a temporary solution at best, not something that’s permanent. Also, try not to use the phone without the included case, since the aluminum body will scratch easily without it.
Learn the extra features that EMUI gives you
All of Huawei’s phones feature their Emotion UI, their own take on Android. While we’re fans of devices that put a priority on a pure Android experience, Huawei’s custom UI does allow you to customize and configure a few things in the phone that you wouldn’t be able to do without re-skinning or flashing. Lock screen shortcuts, additional fingerprint features as well as home screen adjustments abound in the UI if you’re willing to take the time and experiment. Pocket Lint made an exhaustive guide on the ins and outs of the custom UI, which you can read here.
Don’t abuse the bokeh settings on shots
The front and rear cameras of the Nova 2i are complimented by depth cameras that allow you to add artificial bokeh after shooting. While it’s tempting to just add maximum bokeh to your shots at all times, that’s not really ideal since your photos will look like pretty fake and unconvincing.
To prevent that, try to keep your bokeh settings at f/4.0 if possible. Try shooting a single, clearly defined subject at most when using artificial bokeh as well, so that the software applies the effect convincingly.
Keep a powerbank handy
While we managed to squeeze out a day’s use during our review, the Nova 2i isn’t the most power-efficient smartphone around. Additionally, the phone also doesn’t have fast-charging built-into it, which is another big limitation to its longevity. Because of that, we highly suggest bringing a powerbank with you, just in case since your usage patterns may drain the phone’s battery before you get the opportunity to charge it at home or the office.
Keep the graphics settings on mid
While Huawei’s newest star does a lot of things well, it comes up a little short when it comes to graphical processing. Its GPU isn’t the fastest or the best, so you’ll have to keep the settings toned down a bit if you want fluid gaming in graphically demanding games. Keep the settings on mid and low to get nice, smooth frames.
